he seeth hym selfe howe directly it were againste the lawe againste the ryght and lybertie of the Empyre agaynste promyse and conuenaunt and the fayth that he oweth to the common wealth confyrmed by a solemne othe Moreouer howe incommodiouse also it were for hym and howe chargeable to the whole Empyre to haue two Rulers at one tyme whome they must obeye And because they woulde be sory if any suche thynge shoulde be layde to his charge for breakynge his fidelytie or also vnto them for their sloughtsulnes in defending the cōmon wealth therfore do they ernestly beseche him to impute this their writing to the loue of him their coūtrey and to the world that now is that he would call to his remembraunce thynges past and by his office and aucthoritie prohibite the creation of this new kinge that he woulde consyder well wyth hym selfe to how many euils mischiefes this thinge wyll hereafter geue occasion vnlesse it be forseen signifyeng howe they wryte also touching the same matters to the resydue of the electours trusting that they wyll worke for the profit of the cōmon wealth and do their endeuour that there be no diuision made amonges the states of the Empyre for the rest they will doe as muche for his sake as their habilitie and power wyl extende to Afterwardes the Duke of Saxon writeth his seuerall letters to the Prynces hys colleges that for as muche as he was somoned to Collon by the arche byshop of Mentz therfore hath he sent thither his sonne and certen of his coūsayle which shal do in his name that shal be requisite He requireth them to leaue of their enterprise and to waye with them selues what a preiudice and discommoditie this wil be vnto thē and al theyr posteritie for to breake the right libertie and honour of the Empyre he desyreth them also that in suche thinges as his sonne and counsellours haue to treate with them of they woulde so vse them selues as it may appeare and be perceiued that they loue the common wealth of their countrey The Duke of Lunēburge the Lantgraue Counte Anhald and the Erles of Mansfelde wrote vnto the Electours at the same time long letters of the same effect admonishing them righte ernestlye that they doe not suche an open wronge to the lawes to their countrey sayeng howe it is reported that the matter is handled with brybes and promesses whiche is also openly agaynst the lawe Caroline After this the laste of Decembre as well the Princes as cities before named by cōmon assent wryte their letters to the Emperour wherin they recite the treatie of religion at Auspurge how long they sued for peace what aunswer he made also what maner of decree was there made afterwarde And al be it he him selfe did mitigate the wordes of the Electour of Brandēburge affirming that he had made a compact with the rest of the Princes for his owne defence only and not to offende others Yet if that authoritie be committed to the chambre imperiall as the decree purporteth to whome can it be doubtful but that the same thinge apperteyneth both to force and violēce but seyng that both they and their aūcesters haue shewed many testimonies of great good wyll to him and his progenitours they beseche him in as muche as he hath mitigated the saying of the Electour of Brandenburge he woulde also qualifie in deede and take away the terrour of confiscation to the intent they may be assured that vntyll the ende of a Godlye and free counsell they shall nede to feare no violence The causes which the Emperour alledged to create a king of Romains at the first cōmunication with the princes in Collō were these First because that he had the rule of sondry realmes nations could not be always in Germany agayne for that the state of christendom was troublesome namely in Germany by reason of the dissention in Religion and for the violent power of the Turkes for the late sedition and rurall warre and for disobedience within the Empyre Wherfore he thought it very necessary and for the profit of the common wealth that there should be a kyng of Romaynes chosen vnder hym as it were an other head of the Empyre in his absence which should be wyttie cyrcumspect industrious of great power that loued peace and concorde and were skilfull in matters of the Empyre and in euery poynte suche a one as he myght repose his whole truste and confidēce in And he knoweth none more mete for that charge than his brother Ferdinando king of Boheme and of Hongary For his realmes and dominions are a defence vnto Germany against the Turkyshe oultrage The Princes electours after delyberation had intreate the Emperour that he woulde not forsake Germany but to sette and plante himselfe there but where he persisteth stiffe in his opinion conferrynge their counsels together The fyft daye of Ianuary they proclayme Ferdinando kynge of Romaynes The Duke of Saxon as muche as laye in hym by his sonne protested that this election was faultie and shewed the causes why and that he coulde not allowe it Longe before they departed from Auspurge The brute was that Ferdinando should obtayne that dignitie Afterwardes they went all from Collon to Aquon where Ferdinādo was crowned kyng the .xvj. day of Ianuary and streightwayes were letters dispatched into al partes of Germany to signifie the same Cesar also commaundeth by his letters patentes that all men shall acknowledge him for kyng of Romaines and therof sent his seueral letters to the Protestantes This done from Aquon the Emperour wēt to Brussel in Brabant ✚ The eyght 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 eyght Booke THe Protestauntes from Smalcalde sent letters to the kinges of Fraunce of Englande agaynst sondry false reportes and sollicite the kyng of Denmarcke and the cities by the sea coaste to entre into their league Into this league the Swycers are not admitted The kyng of Fraunce who is descended of the Almaines aunswereth their letters so doeth also the kynge of Englande About the strife of the creation of kyng Ferdinando An assemble was holden at Franckforth where was also debated the controuersic betwixt the byshop of Bamberge and George Marques of Brandenburge The Emperour appointeth a metyng at Spyre whether the Duke of Saxon being moued to come excuseth hym selfe Conditions are put in wryting whiche graunted the Protestauntes offer them selues to be there The fyue Cantons geue battell to them of ʒ uricke wherein ʒ wynglius is slayne Shortly after dieth Ecolampadius A peace is graunted to the Protestauntes vntyll a counsell Christierne kyng of Denmarke is committed to pryson The Turke inuadeth Austryche but he is thence repulsed The Pope by his Ambassadour sent to Duke Iohn Fredericke who had lately succedeth his father the conditions of the counsell The Duke and his associates
not alter their purpose they were bannyshed the town Luther in his letters to them of Lipsia called Duke George the Apostle of Sathan whiche thinge breade muche trouble For Duke George did accuse hym before his cosyn the Electour of Saxon howe he had not only rayled on hym but had also styred vp his subiectes to rebellion The Prince Electour in his letters charged Luther withal and amonges other thynges sayth that vnlesse he can make his purgation herein he must of necessitie punyshe hym Wherfore vpon this occasion Luther wryteth a booke wherein he confuteth this accusation declaryng howe he gaue them counsel not to resiste their Prince commaunding them not to doe wickedly but rather to suffer death or exile whiche concerneth no rebellion For that is to be ascribed vnto them that teache howe the Magistrate shoulde be resisted by force of armes and they are sedicious in deede of whome also Peter the Apostle hath prophecied but this belongeth to the profession of the Gospel to be condempned as seditious Christ hym selfe was for this cause put to death moste vnworthy as though he would haue bene kyng of Iewes and haue made the people to rebelle against the Emperour After to the same booke he adioyneth an epistle wherwith he doth comforte those banyshed men of Lipsia admonishyng thē to take their exile paciently and also to geue God thankes whiche hathe graunted them his constancie of mynde and perseuerance I shewed you of the league concluded betwene the Emperour and Clement the seuenth but when the Emperour was retourned into Spayn Clement at the request of the Frenche kyng toke shipping and arriued at Marceilles in haruest tyme and for the more intier frēdship he marrieth his niece Katherine Medices vnto Henry the kynges sonne Duke of Orleans a younge Prynce of fiftene yeares of age And because the occasion serueth I purpose here to speake a litle touching the house of Medices and Syluester Euerarde Iohn were the first accompted of that name whiche were all Senatours of Florence but the fyrst that ennobled that house was Cosmus who was the rychest marchaunt not only of his owne citie but also of all Italy His sonne Peter had two sonnes Laurence and Iulian. And Iulian had a sonne borne after he was dead called Iuly who was afterwardes Clement the seuenth Not withstanding that they reporte diuersly touching his byrth Lawrēce had the sonnes Peter Iulian and Iohn Who was made byshop of Rome Leo the tent Iulian had no chyldrē Peter expulsed out of Florence and at the lenght drowned in the mouth of Lyre by reason of a tēpest left a sonne named Lawrence who married Galla of the house of Bolonois and by her had this Katherine of whome here mention is made Clement which made his abode at Marseilles a moneth and somewhat more to gratifie the kyng and his nobles made foure frenche Cardinalles whome he perceiued to be moste in fauoure with the kyng Odet Chastilion Philip Bolon Claude Gifrie and Iohn Uenerie byshop of Lisiens No man doubted but this affinitie pretended an alteration of the state of Italy and many marueled at the vniqualitie of the mariage In so muche that Clement hym selfe as the report goeth was doubtfull and woulde not beleue that they ment good ernest before the mariage was solempnised Within a fewe monethes after the Lantgraue goeth to the French king the cause wherof was this In the yeare of our Lorde 1519. Ulriche Duke of Wirtemberge was driuen out of his countrey by the confederatours of the Sweuicall league for takyng of Rutelyng a towne imperiall whiche was in confederacie with them Which Prouince first the Emperour had of the rest and after in the diuision of the inheritaunce Ferdinādo receiued it of the Emperour In the assemblie at Auspurg certen princes were peticioners that the Duke whiche had bene eleuen yeares in exile might thā be restored But it was in vayne for the Emperour reciting the causes from the beginning for whiche he was exiled dyd create his brother Duke there openly of that countrey Wherfore the Lantgraue being a dere frende and a nere kinsman to Duke Ulriche thought to attempte some thing at this present but being disapoynted by certen which had promysed theyr ayde he differred the matter vntyll better oportunitie serued And nowe in the Emperours absence cōsidering how the Sweuicall league made for eleuen yeares was dissolued he goeth into Fraunce and layeth to pledge the Countrey of Mount Pelicarte vnto the kyng for a summe of mony in the name of Duke Ulriche vpon condicion that if he redeme it not within thre yeres to be than the inheritaunce of the realme of Fraunce Besides this some of money the kyng also promysed him to lende hym another som in hope that the lande should not be redemed At this tyme fortuned a wonderfull alteration in Englande and the occasion was this Henry the seuenth kyng of Englande had two sonnes Arthur and Henry Arthur maried Katherine daughter to Ferdinando kyng of Spayne diyng without ishewe Henry the father who coueted much that this alliaunce with the Spanyarde myght continue by the lycence of the byshop of Rome Iuly the seconde deuyseth to marrie this Katherine to his other sonne also whiche was kyng after him who departed the yeare of grace 1509. Wherfore Henry the eight of that name after he had maried her his father beyng dead and he nowe of manye yeares sufficiently establyshed in his kyngdome propoundeth this scrupulositie of his conscience to certen byshoppes and calleth in questiō whether it were lawfull to marrye his brothers wyfe and of longe tyme abstayned from her company The byshoppes hauynge priuate talke with the Quene by the kinges assignement declare vnto her that the byshop of Romes lycence was herein neyther good nor lawfull She aunswereth that it is to late nowe to examyne the licence whiche so longe synce they had allowed She had dyuerse tymes miscaried of chylde and brought forth none that prospered sauynge one daughter called Marie The byshop of Rome committeth the hearynge of the matter vnto two Cardinalles Campegius whome he sent into Englande and the Cardinalle of Yorke After longe and muche debatyng whan the kynge was put in hope from Rome that sentence should be geuen on his syde Campegius in maner at the same instant that iudgement should haue passed by the byshop of Romes admonyshement began to drawe backe and fynde delayes The cause wherof as men suppose was that through the death of the Duke and captaine Lawtrech and distruction of the Frenche armie about Naples that Androwe de Aurie the moste experte man of the sea forsakyng the Frēch kyng was fled vnto the Emperour All the whiche thynges chaunced so at the same tyme that the byshop was afrayde to offende the Emperour being nephewe to Quene Katherine whiche had suche lucky successe in all his assayes in Italy Wherfore Campegius in fyne retourned without
the Ambassadours had sent these requestes vnto the king going than to Wittemberge they passed away the rest of the wynter there And in the meane whyle reasoned with the diuines there of certen articles but their chiefe controuersie was about the mariage of Priestes the Lordes supper the Popyshe masse and monasticall vowes But their chief desyre was that the diuines would approue the kynges diuorsement but they sayde they coulde not do it by the scriptures And whan they had alledged many thinges to perswade the matter and this one chieflye that the byshop Clement varied in his sentence and had declared to the Frenche king in priuate talke what he thought The diuines answered that in case it were so the king had great cause so to do But where they vrged theÌ„ to say the cause was most iust to that would they not grauÌ„t And now when letters were come out of Englande pourporting the declaratioÌ„ of the kynges mynde herein the Ambassadours do aduertise the prince Electour hereof And the .xij. day of Marche at Wittemberge whether the Duke was at that tyme come speaking first many thinges of the kynges great good wil declare how the most part of the requestes do content him if a fewe might be amended And albeit that in England all thinge is quiet neither is there any cause wherfore the kynge should feare any man and if happely any cause hath bene the same is now taken away by the death of his wyfe forsaken neuerthelesse to recouer and mayntayne the true doctrine he doth not refuse to deâ—ray the somme of money whiche they requyre so that the league goe forwarde and hereof wyll treate more at large with theyr Ambassadours And where they offer vnto hym this honour that he shoulde be defendour and paîrone of the league he geueth them great thankes and acknowledgeth their good wil. And although he vnderstandeth with howe muche enuie and displeasure the same is annexed yet for the common wealthes sake he could be contente if they can agree vppon the fyrst and seconde demaunde For vnlesse there be an vniformitie in doctrine he supposeth that this charge can not be greatly to his honour But he would chiefly wyshe that the learned men of his Realme and theirs myght be wholy of one opinion And where he seeth well that the same wyll not be vnlesse certen places of the confession and Apologie of their doctrine maye before through priuate talke be some thynge qualified Therfore he desyreth them instantlye to sende their Ambassadours and amonges them some one that is excellently learned whiche may conferre with his diuines of the whole doctrine and ceremonies and determine the matter And where he sheweth him selfe so lyberall vnto them he requyreth agayne that in case anye man attempte warre againste hym fyrste they wyll ayde hym eyther with fyue hondreth horsemen or els with ten Shippes well manned and fournyshed for foure monethes Further more that vpon his own charges they shall prouyde hym two thousande horsemen and fyue thousande fote men Finally that the sentence whiche the diuines of Wittemberge prononced touchinge the diuorcement made they wold approue also and defende in the next counsell The Duke aunswereth that for as muche as the whole matter concerneth his consortes he wyll make them priuie to it and vse their counsell in the same After the foure and twenty daye of Aprill was assigned for all to mete at Franckeforth both for this and other causes And firste they prescribe there a fourme for their Ambassadours to followe whiche should be sent into Englande wherein it was prouided amoÌ„ges other thinges that whan they shall come thether perchaunce coÌ„clude vpoÌ„ a league that in al thinges they do except by expresse wordes the Empire the Emperour vnto whom they are bounde by their othe fidelitie Ambassadour for the citie was appointed Iames Sturmius and the diuines were Melanchthon Bucer and George Draco In this assemblie were receyued into the league Ulriche Duke of Wyrtemberge Bernine and Philippe brethren Dukes of Pomerane George and Ioachime bretherne Countes of Anhalde Moreouer the cities of Auspurge Franckeforte Kempten Hamborough Haunobria they treated also of other thynges appertayning to the league and defence therof of the iudgement of the imperial chaÌ„ber It was decreed moreouer to sende messengers and letters to the Emperour thereby to aunswere to the Epistle sent them froÌ„ Naples And where as George Duke of Saxon for the exceadyng hatred he bare to Luthers doctrine was oftentymes at great coÌ„tention and sute with the Prynce Electour of Saxon this mans father and at the last an agrement was made and nowe broken againe by the sayde Duke George diuerse wayes The Prynce Electour declaringe the whole matter by his Ambassadours to his consortes in this assemblie requestyng to be assisted with their ayde and counsell in case he attempte anye force or violence After the assemblie brake vp the tenth day of May. And in the begynning of Iune the kynge of Englande hauyng coÌ„dempned his wyue Quene Anne of adultrye and inceste but vniustly as it is supposed and proued synce causeth her head to be stryken of after that she had borne hym a daughter calleth Elizabeth And with her were executed certen Gentlemen of the kynges priuie chaumbre Noreis Weston Brewton and one Markes whiche contrary to his conscience as it is reported for hope of preferement subscribed to a byll whereby he condempned both hym selfe and all the reste For where the Lorde Admirall Fizt Williams that was after Erle of Southhampton sayde vnto hym subscribe Markes and see what wyll come of it he subscribed and receyued therfore a rewarde vnloked for And also the Lorde of Rochforte the Quenes brother through the false accusation of that errant strompet his wyfe whiche afterwardes suffered therfore accordynge to her desertes Whiche doulfull tragedie toke cleane awaye the Ambassade that should haue been sent into Englande Whan the warre was hotely begonne betwene the Emperour and the Frenche kyng Paule the thyrde publisheth a wrytinge vnder his Bulles of lead the somme wherof is to call a counsell at Mantua against the .xxiij. day of May in the yeare followyng commaunding al Archbishops and byshops other heads of churches to be there at the same day vnder the penaltie by the ecclesiasticall lawes prescribed for disobedieÌ„ce Furthermore he chargeth desireth the Emperour kings and princes al others which either by lawe or custome haue interest to be there for the loue of Christe the coÌ„mon welthes sake to come in persone or if they be otherwyse letted thaÌ„ to send their Ambassadours with their full authoritie to remayne tyll the ende of the counsell that the churche may be refourmed heresies weded cleane out and warre attempted against the ennemies of ReligioÌ„ This was the effect therof whereunto subscribed sixe and twenty Cardinalles The seuenth of Iune kyng Ferdinando sent Iames Sturcelly a Ciuilian Ambassadour from Insprucke to the Swycers I
counsell Uicentia and sende thither suche Prelates as they had than in theyr companyes And also to sende commaundement to the rest at home to repayre thither in like maner But when they had excused them selues of both those thinges And the Cardinals whiche he had sent thither aduertised him that there was great solitarinesse Againe he deferreth the day of the Counsell till Easter folowyng sendyng abrode his letters touching the same matter the fourth kalendes of Iuly whan he was retornyng homewarde at Genes At the fyrst metyng the kyng kissed his right foote as he sate in his chayre and after the rest of the nobles Notwithstandyng there were diuerse in the kinges traine that refused to do it although the Conestable had warned them before as Christopher Duke of Wirtemberge william coūtie Furstemberge Germanes Mareschall Marchan a Frencheman and George Gluchie the Ambassadour of the kynge of Denmarke At the selfe same time departed out of this life Charles Ecmonde Duke of Gelders In the former boke you haue harde howe he was in a maner turned out of al his possessions And brought to this distresse whā he laye sicke he deuised with his cosin William duke of Cleaue who after by the consent of the nobilitie and commons brought all to hys owne gouernement not without themperours highe displeasure as shal be declared in his place A litle before that dieth also Erarde Marchian Cardinall Bishoppe of Liege no man tourmented more for Religion than he In the Cathedrall churche of Liege he had many yeares before builded him a Tombe most sumptuous and had Masse and Dirige songe for him yerely as the Papistes are wonte for the deade For he iudged these merits of priestes to be more auaileable to him beyng a liue wherunto they do attribute the deserte and rewarde of eternall life They that knewe the man well affirme that he did this for a certen ostentation for that he was most desyrous of vayne glorie and toke pleasure in that pompe and solemnitie This time were the Englishe Bibles in printyng at Paris which by the kinges commaundement should be had in all churches through out Englande but after it was knowen it was prohibited and the Printer was in daunger In Fraunce they haue not commonlye the Scripture in the vulgare tongue neither doth it want suspicion if any man chaunce to read the Newe Testament or suche a like thinge in Frenche neyther is is lawfull for any to studye the Scripture but such as professe Diuinite but the common sort of men know nothing at all and the towne wiues whan they go to here Masse cary with them bokes of Latin prayers which they mūble vp after a sorte knowing not what they saye at all and are perswaded that the same is to God more acceptable than if they should praie in their mother tonge This is a practise of the priestes vnto whom the ignoraunce of others is gainefull The Bishoppe retourning home in the begynnyng of August was receiued into the citie of Rome with a merueilous pompe and triumphe And all the stretes and waies beyng hanged and spired with rich and costly carpets and posies written in euery place wherin they extolled him wonderfully for restoryng peace vnto the world and recōciling the Princes This yeare at Strauseborough was erected a Colledge or a grāmer Scoole for youth by the meanes chieflye of Iames Sturnne a principall Senator whiche in shorte time thoroughe the diligence of learned men so florished that there repared thither not onely from the furthest partes of Germany but also out of foreine nations the maner of teaching the youth and diuiding them into fourmes and the whole order was deuised by Iohn Sturmie whiche he fyrst exhibited to the Senate and afterwardes in a booke put forth he declareth it more at large And wheras many were fayne to flie for Religion and consciēce sake out of Fraunce and Flaunders and the Senate appointed them a churche wherof Iohn Caluine was fyrste for certeine yeres the superintendent and after him Peter Brulie of whose ende I wil speake herafter But in Englande Thomas of Canturbury was of long time had in great reuerence And his body was shryned in siluer and hanged rounde about with costly Iewelles of Gold and precious stones beyonde measure And amonges others there was one riche Iewell called the Regal of Fraunce This yeare did king Henry take him out of his shrine and burne his Reliques This Thomas surnamed Becket was in time past Archebishop of Canturbury And where he stode styffe in defending the liberties of the Clergie he fell into the displeasure of the kyng of Englande Henry the seconde of that name commaunded into exile he fledde to the Bishoppe of Rome Alexander the thyrde who at that tyme for themnitie of themperour Friderick Barbarousse was in Fraunce At the length Thomas Becket by the intercession of him and of Lewes the vij kinge of Fraunce was reconciled and retourned home the seuenth yere of his exile And when afterwarde he troubled certen Bishoppes that toke the kynges parte and did excōmunicate them the kyng beyng againe offended said he was in a miserable estate that could not liue in quiet for one priest he lamēted also that there was no man aboute him that woulde deliuer him from suche disquietnes whiche wordes so ticled many that knowing it should be no displeasure to the kinge they went to Cantorbury and slewe Thomas The kynge pretended a great sorowe And sendynge Ambassadors to Rome to make his purgation in fyne entreated the Bishoppe to sende inquisitours into England to enquire and examine the matter And what time the Bishoppe at the laste had sente two Cardinals and the murther could not be searched out the kyng pourgeth him selfe by an othe And because of the former hatred and wordes spoken there was some suspecion and fault in him in conclusion he was reconciled vpon this condicion that after the yeares he shuld go into Syria and warre vpon the Saracenes This murther was committed in the yeare of mans saluation M.C.lxxi And not longe after the memoriall of Thomas waxed famous throughe miracles which the Monkes of Canturbury sayd he wrought Whereof when the Bishoppe of Rome was aduertised by the Legates that came out of Englande he Canonised him and made him a saint What time the metyng was at Nice Ioachim Marques of Brandenburge prince Electour the sonne of Ioachin in the beginninge of Iune sent his Ambassador Eustace Schlebie to the Duke of Saxon with these instructions howe Sigismunde kinge of Pole and Iohn Wayuode kynge of Hungary had aduertised hym that the Turkes made great preparation to inuade Hungary and so fortifiyng Buda to make an incursion into Germanye And this same did themperour of Turkes signifie vnto Uayuode And where it was once inioyned his father in an open assemblie that whan he had any intelligence of Turkishe matters he should aduertise the other states therof therfore can not
Turke This is nowe only the surest and fittest meane to establysh the cōmon wealth With these letters he sent away the Ambassadour about the eyghtene daye of October For asmuche as the Duke of Longeuille and Martyn Rossen had leuied their armye in the dominions of the Duke of Cleaue the emperialles by the conduiet of the Prince of Orenge inuade Gulicke and distroye the countrie with fyre farre and wyde and take by composition Dure the chiefest Towne in those parties For Gulicke Mounten came to the Duke of Cleaue by his mother At this time also the Emperiall armie in Hongary no exploite done when they had attempted in vayne to wynne the Towne of Pesta retourneth home and through infection dyed many thousandes Duke Maurice of Saxonye serued in thys warre voluntarily a yonge prince aboute xxi yeares of age who on a certen daye ryding out of the campe and but one mā with him meting by chaunce with certē Turkes foughte with them and hauing his horse slayne vnder him was smitten to the ground Than his sernaunt being a gentel man borne lay downe vpon hys lorde and with his body couered the Duke and defended him and bare of the stripes so longe vntill certen horsemen came and rescewed the Prince And so he saued hys lyfe but his man hauing receiued many woundes was caried into the Camp and dyed shortly after Thus ended the warre in Hongarye The bisshop had sente ayde of thre thousand footemen whiche wer led by Alexander Uitellius At thys tyme also began hote warre betwene England Scotland the occasion wherof was ministred a yere before for that the Scottish king when he had promised to mete hys vncle the king of Englande at Yorke to make an accorde touching theyr limites being diswaded by hys mother and certē of his nobles came not And it fortuned that the Scottes had this yere in the beginning of december a great ouerthrowe at a place called Solymosse In the whiche battell were taken the most part of all the lordes in Scotelande For the which losse the kynge toke suche thought that retournyng home he dyed within a fewe dayes after which was the day before the Ides of December when the eight day before the quene had brought him forth a daughter Mary whiche thinge also did greatly augmente his sorrowe for that he wanted an heyremale For in the yere before he had loste two sonnes in sondri places within the space of foure and twenty houres And he had to wyfe Marye daughter to the Duke of Guyse of the house of Lorayne When the Scottes werre in thys calamitie the Frenche kynge sent them monye and munition After the kynge was dead the gouernement was committed to Iames Hamelton Erle of Arrayne whiche was the kinges greate cosyn The next place vnto hym had the Cardiuall of S. Andrewes most addickte to the kynge of Fraunce I shewed before how Henry the Prince of Saxonie had for him selfe and his sonne Maurice entred into league with the Protestantes But after his death Duke Maurice being moued herein sayed how hys father coulde not bynde hym neyther wolde he be tyed to the bondes of his father Whē Henry Duke of Brunswicke was expulsed as before is sayd he accused the Duke of Saxon the Lantzgraue and theyr consortes to the imperial chamber Who being afterwarde cited in the moneth of December do refuse theyr iudgemente in all thinges and sendinge ambassadours thither declare this vnto them and also do protest that they doe not refuse a lawfull and ordynarye Iurisdiction but take exceptions to the Iudges themselues which are all of a contrary relygion which prayse the decree made at Auspurge twelue yeres past and haue confirmed the same by an othe which for the same cause dissent from them exceadingly and beare thē greate mallice whiche take them for heretikes and thinke them vnworthy to haue any iustice ministred which by sōdry preiudices haue oft tymes vttered and bewreyed this theyr hatred In the conuentiō at Regenspurg it was decreed that the chamber would this yeare in the moneth of Ianuary be refourmed This did the Protestantes allow so that men also of theyr rellgion might be admitted to be of that nombre which thing Themperour graunted them and king Fernando renewed after in the assemblie at Spier and appoynted the moneth of Iune for the same reformation and by this meane obteined of them ayde for the Turkishe warre For yf it had ben otherwyse they tolde him that tyme plainely that they wolde not only beare no charges frō henceforth touching the iudges of the chamber but also wold refuse hereafter to obey theyr decrees When therefore nothinge was donne hitherto they as before is sayde sending Ambassadours doe refuse theire iudgment And agayne the iudges after in a wrytyng set forth dooe reiect that same refusall They agreed in theyr last metinge at Norrinberge there to assemble agayne about the Turkish warre the xiiii daye of Nouember but the matter was differred And in the most sharpe time of winter the Duke of Cleaue besegeth and recouereth Dure What tyme the Frenche kynge beseged Perpignan there arrose a rebellion at Rochel an hauē towenin Pantois verey famous and situated in a place right commodious It was ones possessed of Englysh men but it was rendred Frenche in the tyme of Charles the first sonne and heire to his father Iohn The cause of that commotyon was for a garison placed there by the king vnder the gouernemēt of Iarnacke the Admirall his kinsinā And in other places also there aboutes they were vp for a tribute of Saltepittes and droue awaye with reproche the kinges officers and treasurers that came thither So soone as the kinge vnderstode it he sente thither a new garrison of horsemen and footemen Iarnake also taketh from them all they re munition and armure and kepte the gates with watche and warde The laste day of December followyng the kyng hym selfe came thyther and the next daye settyng in place of iudgement whan both the Townes men theyr neyghbours aboute them laye prostrate before hym and besought hym of mercy Albeit sayeth he what tyme I and my thildren were occupied in moste weightie affayres for the defence of oure whole Realme and of you al you forgetting your dewtie that you owe vnto vs haue made a rebellion and an vprore in suche wyse as we haue iuste cause to punnishe you and for the estate of oure person and enormitie of your offence myght dryue you to fyne Yet for that we accompt it no lesse honorable and prayse worthye for a prince to extend mercy to his people than it is honest for hys subiectes to remain in their duty againe because we set more by this your submission and wyllyng myndes than by the rigour of the lawe we doe intende to forget the iniurie that you haue done vnto vs and to haue a consideration not so much of your errour and trespasse as of
the reformation of the chamber shal now be shortely he exhorteth them they would not refuse to contribute theyr ayde agaynst the Turk of whose not only preparation that is exceading greate but also of hys commyng he is credebly certifyed both by letters messaugers He was infourmed of all that was dooue in the conuention by Nauius that wente vnto hym At the same tyme also he calleth a counsell of thempire at Spier agaynst the laste daye of Nouembre Departyng than frō Genes he spake with the Bisshop of Rome at Busset which is a Towne by the Riuer of Tare betwixte Placence and Cremone There agayne in lyke case as he did before by letters he required him to proclayme hymself enemie to the French Kynge but he sayde howe that was not expedient for the common welth and herin perseuered The Bisshop had geuen to hys sonne Peter Aloise Parma and Placence whiche he had obteyned latelye of the College of Cardinalles by an exchaunge made and because these Cities were sometyme the Dukes of Millan he required that the Emperour by hys authorytie would for a pece of monye confirme hys sonne in the possession of thē and create hym Duke of the same But that did themperoure which helde Millan and wolde deminishe no part of hys ryght refuse They saye moreouer howe the Bysshōppes intente was to haue perswaded themperour for a somme vfmony to haue made his Nephew Octauian Duke of Millan The Emperour breaking of this talke that he might be no longer letted whan he had deliuered vnto Cosmus Medices Duke of Florence the Casteles of Florence and Liburne which he had vntill that time in his owne custodye receyuing of hym therfore two hondreth thousand ducates he procedeth on hys iorney Before he came out of Spayne he had created hys sonne Philip kynge and gaue vnto hym in marriage the Ladye Marye Daughter vnto Iohn kynge of Portugall This yere also did Sigismunde the sonne of Sigismund kyng of Polle mary the Lady Elyzabeth the daughter of Fernando kyng of Romanes Henry the Duke of Brunsewicke going to mete Themperour in Italy heynouslye accuseth the Protestantes at Cremoise Whan Themperour was now comming out of Italy with hys armie the Protestantes whiche had lately receyued hys letters dated at Gene mete together at sinalcalde the .xxiiii. daye of Iune to consulte of sending to hym Ambassadours of matters apperteyning to the defence and kepyng of the Dutchie of Brunswicke and to theyr league to sollicite Duke Maurice of the king of Swecia of Otto Henry Palatine Wuolfange Prince of Bipounte of the Bisshop of Munster whiche than desyred all to be receyued into their league This assemblie ended the .xxi. of Iuly And moche aboute thys same tyme the Emperoure and the Kyng of England make a league agaynste the Frenche Kynge whiche ayded the Scottes as before is sayde But this confederacie the Bisshop of Rome toke in maruelous euill part and therfore thoughte the French frendeship to be nedefull for hym Whan themperour was commen to Spier about th ende of Iuly the Protestantes sende thither Ambassadours Fraunces Burcart George Bemelberg Christopher Ueninger and Iames Sturmius Being admitted the second of Auguste they speake in a maner the same in effecte that they did before to king Fernando the conclusion of theyr tale was that in case they might be sufficiently warraūted to haue peace yf the Iudgement of the chamber myght be refourmed as it was lately decreed at Regenspurg yf the inequalitie of cōtributyng may be takē away they wil not fayle to beare theyr partes in publicke necessities As touchinge the Duke of Brunswicke they re desyre is that the matter maye come to hearyng and they saye howe they will proue manifestly that he whiche firste had done open iniurye to the cities of Goslarie and Brunswicke to haue benryghtlye expulsed and dryuen oute of hys countrey Hereunto Themperoure by Nauius in the presence of Granuellane two dayes after that there was no more to bee required For they were well enouge assured of peace by the fourmer decrees the iudges of the chamber can not bee remoued before theyr cause be heard In the moneth now of October inquisitiō shal be made of them and if any fault may be found in them they shall not escape vnpunnished the moderation of contributinge can not be made without the comon assent of all states let them consider the present state of the publicke weale and because it is a matter of moste daunger vnlesse it be holpen in time let them geue theyr ayd agaynste the Turke lyke as other states doe He muste hym selfe goe now with hys whole force agaynst the Frenche Kyng and the Duke of Cleaue to thentente he maye defende hys subiectes from Iniurye The Duke of Brunswick vrgeth sore to be restored therfore let them saye theyr fantasye in that matter They desire to haue this aunswere deliuered them in wryting that they may the better consyder it Thēperour was content and the nexte day he went frō Spier to Mentz so farre the ambassadours followed hym and whan they had receyued the wryting they shewe Granuellan and Nauius wherfore they are not satisfyed touchinge the peace and because theyr desyre is that the cause of Brunswick might be hearde they haue no further comission in that matter The archebisshop of Collon came to themperoure at Spiers to intreate for the Duke of Cleaue but that was in vaine For excepthe wolde fyrst departe from the posession of Gelderlande Themperour wold heare no mention of peace And where the ambassadoure of Saxonye by hys Princes commaundemente made suite for the Duke of Cleaue to Granuellan at Mentz and to perswade dyd saye howe a priuate iniurye muste bee forgeuen for the common welthes sake especially now that the Turk inuadeth The other maketh aunswer that Themperour wil not goe frō hys pourpos what inuasyon soeuer the Turkes shall make I tolde you before how they of Heldesseme had forsaken the popisshe Religion entred into league with the Protestantes Whom Ualentyne the Bisshop of that Cytye had accused heynousely before to the chamber and to kynge Fernando and nowe also to Themperoure that they had chaunged the religion and Ceremonyes of the churche howe they had appoynted new preachers to teache the people put downe the Masse punnisshed the followers of the olde relygyon howe they haue broken and beaten downe not only aultars and fontstones but also the churches howe they haue taken into theyr handes custody all the mouables goods and Iuelles of the clergie and that of late also they haue setfoorthe gameplayes to mocke and deryde openly the Uirgin Marye and other sainctes that they pourposynge to forsake hys Iurisdiction had lynked themselues in confederacie with the Protestantes and constreyned Monkes and such others to obserue theyr religyon through violence and those that wold not obey them haue put to open shame and also bannished When Themperour had heard thys complaynte the syxte daye of
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
chayne of Golde as a token of honour Fiue of them studied at Losanna Frenchemen in dede borne but founde at the charges and liberalitie of the Lords of Bernes Whan therfore they had heard that they were taken and vnderstode their daūger they made diligent sute to the king desiring him thei might be geuen to them But it was in vayne where the kyng alledged that he might not doe it by the lawes The Cardinall of Tournon was thought to haue bene the occasion hereof I spake a litle before of the death of the moste noble Prince Edwarde the sixte kyng of England He was in a consumptiō and in the moneth of Ianuary he fell sicke And where as his sicknes increased being carefull for his Realme and Religion he conferreth with his counsell of the matter and inquireth of them vnto whome chiefly he should committe the gouernmēt For albeit that king Henry his father whā he died had appointed next in succession vnto him Mary and Elizabeth as before is sayd yet for so muche as he him selfe was of lawefull yeres he accoumpted it to lie in his power to make his heire especially seing that moste men doubted of the lawful birth of his syster and Mary was also of the Byshop of Romes Religion which if she should haue the gouernment he sawe howe there was great daunger least both this present Religion should be subuerted and the Realme also be gouerned by a straunger Wherfore after deliberatiō had it was agreed to chose the lady Iane of Suffolke daughter to the Lady Fraūces nece to kinge Henry the eight Whan the rest of the Counsell and the Maior of London and the Lordes of the Realme had this allowed The Archebyshop of Cantorbury primate of Englande was sent for to the court that he myght subscribe whiche he refuseth to doe vnlesse he maye first heare the kyng speake Wherfore being admitted to his speache whan he had reasoned the matter with him familiarly as he laye he assēted being of him earnestly required hereunto Whan the kyng was departed whiche was the syxt daye of Iuly as before is sayd the fourth daye after the Lady Iane is proclaimed Quene and a proclamation openly set forth howe kyng Edwarde by the consent of his Nobles for moste weighty causes had disherited the Lady Mary and the Lady Elizabeth his systers and lefte the succession of the Realme to the Lady Iane. The Nobilitie and commons toke this moste displeasauntly not so muche for the loue of the Lady Mary as for the hatred of the Duke of Northumberlande where no man in a maner doubted but that he was the authour of this counsell to the intent that by this meane he myght as it were conuey the kingdome into his own house Whylest these thinges were a workyng the Lady Mary fleeth into Norfolke and from thence to the castell of Framingham in Suffolke and wryting abroade for ayde taketh vpon her as Quene That knowen the Duke of Northumberlande assembleth a power and setting forth of Londō marcheth towardes her by the consent of the reste to apprehende her But in the meane season the counsellours that remayned in the citie perceiuing the hartes of the people that the forces of Norfolke and Suffolke resorted to Quene Mary chaunging their myndes and pourpose proclaimed Quene Mary and kepe the lady Iane in pryson After these newes came into the Campe al mē for the moste parte bycause they serued against their wylles hated the Duke do reuolte And whan letters and commission came from Frammingham thei take the Duke at Cambridge and the .xxv. daye of Iuly bryng him agayne into the citie It is vncredible with what rebukes railinges the people receiued hym whylest some cal him traytour some parracide others the murtherer of the moste innocent kyng For in as much as he was thought to haue brought his sonnes wyfe to the Roial crowne there arose a suspicion that he had imagined these thynges longe before and layde in wayte for the kynges lyfe After were apprehended his sonnes and his brother and certē other Nobles and the kynges scholemaister Sir Iohn Cheke knight a mā of great vertu and learning Yet was he discharged afterwardes but put in a maner from all his lsuing After came Quene Mary to London entring into the holde which they call the Towre deliuereth out of prison the Duke of Norfolke who had bene almoste seuen yeares in captiuitie Gardiner Byshop of Winchester and Tunstall Bishop of Duresme and certen other Byshops of the popyshe Religion whiche had bene put from their Byshoprikes and restoreth them to their fourmer places And certenly that byshop of Winchester although in bookes set forth he had defended the doing of king Henry what tyme he diuorsed him selfe from the Lady Katherine the mother of Quene Mary as in the .ix. booke is mentioned yet nowe he obteined the place of the chauncelour whiche is there the highest degree of dignitie For where the lady Katherine alledged the Byshop of Romes licence Iuly the second who had confirmed that matrimony and the kyng againe sayde it was naught and therfore sent the Byshop of Winchester before he was Byshop to Rome that Clement might pronoūce thesame frustrate Who comming thither in the moneth of February in the .xxix. yeare was an importune suter The Bishop of Rome who as the prouerbe is helde the woulfe by both eares where as both he coueted to gratifie the kyng and also feared themperours displeasure aunswereth that he wyll wryte to themperour that the true licence vnder seale might be shewed He assenteth in dede but he requireth to haue two monethes only appointed for the same matter Whan that tyme shal be runne out Gardener requireth the the licence might be compted vnlawfull But that thought the Byshop of Rome both straunge and also vnreasonable and seketh with gentle wordes to satisfie the kyng But the Ambassadour tolde hym playnly that vnles he might obteyne the kynges request it would be to the great hinderaunce of the See of Rome Agayne the Emperour and kyng Ferdinando the .xxvii. daye of Aprill by Ambassadours declare their grief and expostulate with byshop Clement that he fauoured the kyng onermuche and would haue the matter iudged in Englande and also appointed their procurers with large and ample commission whiche should treate and followe the cause in their names at Rome Wherfore the Byshop commaunding at the last Campegius to retourne home reuoketh the suite to him selfe so much the rather for that he vnderstode by the Cardinall of Yorke of the kynges new loue as I said in the .ix. booke The .xxii. daye of August the Duke of Northumberland cōdemned of treasō was beheaded and whan he was brought to the Scaffolde made an oration and amonges other thinges he exhorteth the people to perseuer in the same religion whiche they had receiued of their forefathers as it wer from hand to hande For he iudgeth this to be the only cause of
length to Emden a towne in east Friseland and there remayned The fourth day of Marche the Quene of England set forth ecclesiasticall lawes wherin she cōmaundeth bishops their officers that they receiue no man that is suspected of heresie into holy orders that they rote by cleane all heresies that they abolyshe al naughtie and pestiferous bokes that they prescribe an order to Scholemaisters and preachers that they take awaye from maried priestes their wyues and benefices and inioyne them punishement condigne for their misdoing yet so that suche as by the cōsent of their wiues wil proteste to make a diuorsemēt they do handle more gently and suche as amende to be also restored Moreouer that all prayers at common supplications be sayde in the latin tongue after the olde custome that all holy daies be obserued and the Ceremonies of fourmer tyme be restored that bigge children before christened be confirmed of the Byshops and that they be taught in Scholes howe to helpe a priest to saye Masse and serue him at the aultar What tyme the kyng of Englande Henry the eight banished the Byshop of Rome as I sayd in the .ix. boke he made this lawe amongest others that no man should be admitted to any office or ecclesiastical dignitie except he would first proteste by a solemne othe both him and his successours also to be supreme head of the Englishe churche ouer the whiche the Byshop of Rome hathe no authoritie neither to be any other thinge than Byshop of the citie of Rome with whome they wyll haue nothinge to doe Whiche othe the Quene whan she published these thinges did nowe release also and chargeth the Byshoppes that from henceforth it be required of no man secretly after a sorte restoryng the supremacie of the bishop of Rome Where she speaketh of cōmon prayer thus it is By the kyng her fathers commaundement procession was sayde in the vulgare tongue Wherin God was prayed to amonges other thinges that he would deliuer them from the sedition conspiracie and Tyranny of the Byshop of Rome This fourme therfore set forth in print the Quene nowe commaundeth to be abolished Not long after the Lady Elizabeth the Quenes sister a Lady very well learned was cōmitted to the Tower for that she was thought priuie to the fourmer conspiracie At the ende of Marche the ennemies of Marques Albert retourne to the siege of Schninfurt In the moneth of Aprill came into Germany out of England men of great learning sir Richarde Morisine Knight of whose Ambassade I haue spoken in the fourmer boke sir Anthony Coke and sir Iohn Cheke Knightes both the kinges scholemaisters and they went after into Italy Thither came also Iohn Pomet Byshop of Winchester whiche by reason of this alteratiō of Religion was displaced as likewyse were diuerse others About this time where as the forces of the Duke of Florence and the Byshop of Rome besieged Senes Peter Strosse who in the Frenche kinges name defended the citie vnderstanding certen thinges by espiall set vpon them sodenly and slew of them a great nomber They notwithstanding restoring their strength continued the siege Wherfore the Frenche kyng hyreth about thre thousand Swisses to ayde those that were besieged The Duke of Florence had fiaunced his daughter to Ascanio the Byshop of Romes nephewe and meanes were deuised to auaunce hym by this mariage In these daies the gouernour of Millan Ferdinando Gonzago being sent for came to the Emperour in Brabant Thither came also Babtista Castaldus whome the Emperour as I sayde in fourmer yeares sent Ambassadour into Hongarie About the middes of Aprill Sir Thomas Wiat was executed at London Before he suffered excusinge the Lady Elizabeth and the Erle of Deuonshyre diligently he affirmed that they were not priuie to this conspiracie Than also the Archbishop of Cantorburye the Bishop of London and Hugh Latimer were caried first to Windsore and after to Oxford and after they had disputed with the diuines of that vniuersity and also of Cambridge perseueringe in theyr opinion they are committed to prisone At the same time againe the Quene helde a Parliament Wherin she propounded two thinges chieflye concerning her owne mariage and restoring the supremacy to the bishop of Rome wherof she obteined the first vpon certain conditions but this other the Nobility being chiefly againste it she coulde not perswade Cardinal Poole after he had bene a certen time with themperor wente to the French kinge and was a counsellor of peace to them both but he preuailed nothing At th end of Aprill Marques Albert receiuing lx thousand crownes sendeth away Duke D'anmalle his prisoner wher a little before he had lost Holansperge an other fortresse of his dominion Not long after themperor sending his letters from Bruissels where he was in the winter before outlawed by the chamber he outlaweth him again and complaininge that he should worke so much mischief vnpunished commaundeth with wordes most waighty that all Princes and states but chiefly those that are nexte him do put the Proclamation of outlawrye in execution They had met twise before this at Roteburge to treate a peace but wheras nothinge was concluded themperoure decreed this againste him and for the same the states assembled after at Wuormes al such as belonge to the prouince of the Rhine Of the cōmon assemble of thempire that shuld be holden at Auspurge I haue spoken oftner then once because themperor being impeched both with sicknes and also with warres could not be ther king Fernando at his request taketh this charge vppon him and the Princes being of him desired to come excused them selues by reason of the troublesome state of Germany Themperor had all ready sent thither certen of his counsell and had also chosen out the Cardinall of Auspurge for the same purpose but what time for the cause aboue named no man came the matter was differred til a time more conueniēt Marques Albert had written certen thinges spitefully and bitterly against the Norinbergians as though in the former war they had priuely aided the French king and his fellowes and had paid mony as though they shuld haue had a great suspitiō of themperor both they also the bishops theyr fellowes had spoken contumelious words that they shuld fauor the french king more then themperor that they them selues had attēpted this war against him that they do what they are able that the bishops shuld not kepe couenants as though they shuld seke to destroy al the nobility as though they shoulde haue broken theyr promise expressed and signed in wryting as though they should haue made a wicked and a cruel warre against the people of his dominion as thoughe they had corrupted the iudgemente of the Chamber with bribes He called them also traitors to theyr country dispersing abrode libels therof throughe out Germany This knowen the Norinbergians whan after the taking of Holansperge they had found certaine thinges of the lyke sort the .xviii. day
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
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
118 The cruelty of Iohn Morine 118 The pryce of a Masse is somtime 118 The Pope the old Marchant 119 Thieuish Marchauntes 119 The maner of executiō in Fraunce 120 The Lutherians are abhorred 120 The Lantgraue is recōciled to Fer. 121 Thēperours voyage into Barbaria 121 The duke of Saxon answer to ver 121 The protest answer to Uergerius 122 The Popes craft is espied 122 Themperour may order Coūselles 122 Themperous letters to the Iudges 123 The answer of the protest to the frēch 123 The dutie of Princes 124 The kinges opiniō of matters in eod The comō places of Melanthon eod The masse mainteneth purgatory eod The kinges of Fraūce Nauar ex 125 The prot would make no league 125 The oration of Bishop Foxe ambassadour for the king of England 125 The state of the church troubelsome 125 The protest league is renewed 126 The Erle of Nassowe hath mitted 126 The Gospell receiued at Auspurge 126 The papistes cōfesse their ignorāce 128 The papiste for sake their Citie eodem Thei of Mūster oppresse the papiste eod They Anab. banished the Citie eod The constauncie of Fabricius 129 The prophecie inspired with fury 130 The diuition of Germany into prouente eodem The falsed of Iohn Berdan eodem The euyll Iudges eodem The madnes of Knipperdolan 131 The Appose of munster 132 The preachers of munster eodem The preachers raked eodem The preachers obstinacy eodem The king taketh hede to him self eod The diuition of the world 133 The presente age cōpared to Esaie 133 The craft of an ignoraunt deuill 134 The assemble at wormes 135 The citie warre requered to render 135 Two escaping betrayed the Citie 135 The king is taken 136 The king his fellowes taried ab 136 The cruell death of the King 137 The popes coūsel to inuade Sauoy 137 The house of Uicecountes in Lōb 137 The Frēch kinges title to Millain 138 Themperours oratiō against the French King 138 The duke of Florence maried the Emperours basterd 138 The kinges letters to the protest 139 The king of England requered a conference of learned men 139 The protestant sent to themprour 140 Themperours letters to the prot 140 The death of Frances Dolphin 141 The Pope wil refourme the court 141 The king of Scottes maried the Frēch Kinges doughter 141 The duke of slorener slaine by his 142 The Swicers sewe to the king for 142 The protest ambassadour to thēpe 143 The dukes of Saksones answer 144 The place of the Counsell 148 The protest decree mariyng of mi. 149 The authoritie of Iudgment in y◠150 The crafte of the Pope 151 The of spring of Cayne 152 The protest letter vnto the Frēch 152 Terwine besieged in vaine 153 The pope intendid to make Eras 154 The pope hath a duble office 155 The Couls maketh not the Mōcke 157 The cardinal of Cappira can abide 158 The Coloquie of Erasmus eodem The duke of Pruse is outlawed eod The metyng of the emperor the. 159 The bishop of lige made his graue 159 Thomas Becket archbishop of cāt 160 The Markes of Brandenburg of ye. 161 The lady Elizabeth sister to the lantzgraue is referred into the league 162 The secte of the Antinomions 162 The citie of Mynden outlawed 163 The duke of Brūswick desirous of 163 The Lantgraue intercepteth the. 163 The death of Iohn duke of cleane 164 The duke of Saxson wold not giue to Ferdinando the title of the king 165 The Cannons comenly called of y◠167 The sixe Articles eodem The lady Anne of Cleaue eodem Thēperour passeth through fraūce 168 The emperour entreth into Paris 168 Themperors French kings amb 168 The secrete of the senate vttered to 169 The treators executed eodem Themp. arriueth in Flaunders eodem The prot write to the French king eod The Lord Cromwell eodem The answer of the prot to Crōwel 170 Themp. letters to the protestantes 171 The protest answer to themperour 171 The protest comparid to Turkes 172 The duke of Cleaue ioyned with eod The pope warreth vpō the perusians eo The lord Cromwell beheadid eodem The king marieth Katherine Haw eo The duke of Brunswick accused eod The assembly of Hagenaw 173 The decree of Hagenaw 173 The death of Iohn vaynode king of 173 Three prote burnt three papistes 174 The death of Budey 174 The euill that cometh of discēsion 174 The Turke receyueth the infant of 175 The papistes seke delays 175 The admiral of Fraunce condēned 176 Themperour goddes Clyent 177 The blasphemie Friere Tecell 177 The maner of making this Palle 178 These fires were set on by the duke eo The treatie of Regenspurge eodem The chosen by themp eodem The rashnes of Eckius eodem The contentes of the boke 179 The protestauntes letters to the Frēch king for such as were persecuted 179 The Duke of Cleaue goeth priuely 179 The duke of Cleaue marieth the. 179 The Admirall restored 179 The Cōstable put out of the Court. 179 The colloquie of lerned mē at Reg. 180 The worse part ouer cometh by ye. 180 The Popes legate 181 The diligence of the prot in teach 181 The diuines of the prot answers 181 The princes electours answer 181 The answer of the popish princes 182 The bishops are inioyned to ref eod The presumptuousnes of Eckius eod The protestantes confute his lett 183 Themperours cōplaint of the duke 183 The princes make intercession for 183 The oration of the French ambass 183 The French ambassadors intercep 183 The emperours iorney into Barb. 184 The plague in Germany by the. 185 The nobilitie of Austrich put vp a. 185 The plages that God sent to Aust 185 The Turke is the scourge of God 185 The chiefe article of doctrine is in 186 The nobles reiterate theyr sute eodem The oration of the French ambass 187 The policie of the Romaines in est 187 The concord of England 187 The opinion of the popes Ambassa 188 The Pope suspecteth Germany 188 The pope cōpared with the Turke 189 Two mighty tyrannes eodem The turke shal not be of such force eo The last acte of the Turke eodem The praier of Luther 161 The Markes of piscare accuseth the. 191 The Frēch king proclaymeth war 192 The Duke of Languile Martin van Rossen inuade Brabant 192 The māner to serche out the Luth. 192 The articles of the Sorbonistes 193 Two Friers preach the gospell at Metz. 193 The duke of Saxon lantgraue moue war against the Duke of Brunswike who flieth 193 The Chaūcelor of Fraunce put in 194 The Palsgraue the Gospell 195 The enterprice of fregose Rincō 195 The French king is accused of ambission 196 The presidentes of the coūsell at Tret 196 The Scottes taken at Solymosse eod The king of scottes dieth eod The Duke of Saxon and Lantzgraue refuse the iudgment of the chāber 197 The duke of Cleaue recouereth Dure 197 The kinges oration to them of Rochell eodem The Clemency of king Fraunce eod The assembly of
house of Lucenburg 406 The battaile of Cressie eodem The Frenche kynges aunswere to the intercessours 407 Themp. letters to thintercessours 408 Their aunswere to themperour eodeÌ„ The Ambassadours commentaries intercepted 409 The aunswere of Strausburge 410 The death of Bernard Archebishop of Colon. 412 The duke of Saxon goeth home to his owne house eodem The Emperour goeth with his armie toward Loraine 413 TheÌ„perorentreth into Strasburg eod The spoyle of the souldiours eodem The death of Caspar Hedio and Andrewe Osiander eodem The Emperour besiegeth Metz. eodem The batterie of Metz. 414 The Duke of Brunswik driuen out of his countrie eodem The duke of Guise defended Metz. eod The Frenche kinges writyng against the Emperour 415 The Emperours letters of aunswere to Marques Albert. eodem The armes of Electourship eodem The Cardinall Lenoncourtes ambicion eodem The father and the sonnes contend for inheritaunce 417 Terwen raced eodem The Ladie Iane of Suffolke maried Guilford Dudley 418 The Marques maketh war i Sar. eodeÌ„ The spoilyng of Albert. 419 The complainte of Duke Moris vpon Marques Albert. eodem The marques answer to duke Mo. 420 The Bishop in his absence inuade his countrie 421 The great crueltie of marques Al. eode The death of good kyng Edward eodeÌ„ The vertues of Edward the sixt eodem The wonders before Duke Maurice death 422 The death of Orace Fernese eodem The blasphemie of the lieutenanÌ„t 424 The ladle Iane. eodem The lady Mary proclaimed quene eodeÌ„ The Duke of Northumberlande condempned 425 Thomas Palmer knighte professeth the doctrine of the Gospell eodem The constancie of the Archebishopp of Cantorburse eodem The bishops caried to prison 426 The Popishe religion restored in Englande eodem The Turkishe naute taketh the Iland of Corsica 427 The FreÌ„che king atteÌ„pteth Cam. codeÌ„ The bloode of Innocentes gainfull to many 428 The Duke of Brunswickes letters to the Duke of Saxon. eodem The Duke of Brunswicke is reconciled to the duke of Saxon. eodem The Turke hanged his sonne Mustapha 429 The Archebishop of Cantorburie and others condempned eodem The Godlie lawes of good kynge Edward repealed 430 The duke of Norffolke forsaken of his menne eodem The duke of Suffolke 431 The Ladie Iane and her husbande beheaded eodem The duke of Suffolke beheaded eodem The godly ende of IhoÌ„ Frederick codeÌ„ The godlines of his wife 432 The Lady Elizabeth committed to the Towre eodem The slege of Senes eodem The death of Wiat eodem Thassemble of Auspurge 433 The death of Char. duke of Sanot 436 The letters of king Ferdinando to his subiectes of the lordes Supper eodeÌ„ The states make aunswere to the kinges letters eodem The Abbot of Newstat accused of Hereste eodem The Frenche kyng inuadeth the Emperours countries 437 The Frenche kynges letters 438 The Emperour giueth to his soonne the dukedome of Millane eodem The Cardinall giueth the Lordes absolution 439 The Emperours letters against Marques Albert. eodem Themperiall counsel of Auspurg 440 The ministers exiled out of Boheme 442 The Towne of Cassell taken by the Frenchmen 449 The letters of the princes of Saxon to the Emperour eodem The archbishop of Metz dieth 450 The death of Pope Iuly the third eodeÌ„ Theâ— of Senes render theim selues to themperour eodem The secte of Iesuites eodem The trauaile of Cardinall Poole to make peace betwene the Emperour and Frenche kyng eodem The Emperours letters to the States of the Empire 451 The duke of Alba sent to Millane eodeÌ„ The Emperours mother dieth eodem The Frenche kinges Proclamacion again condeÌ„ned of thinquisitors 452 The Lucernates require of the Swisses the doctrine of the Gospell eodeÌ„ The Naute of the Kyng of Denmarke 453 The Spanish Flete intercepted by the Frenche kyng eodem The controuersie about the lordes supper is renued by the Bremers eodeÌ„ The aunswere of the Parliamente of Paris by the kynges Proclamacion of Lutherians 454 The meting of princes about the LaÌ„tzgraues matter 455 Themperour Charles giueth the gouernement to his sonne Philip. eodeÌ„ The office of the Archbishops 456 The aunswere of the Protestantes to the writyng of the Papistes 457 The bishops which chaunge their religion should lâ—se their promocioÌ„ 459 Thecclestastical lawes shal not be exercised against the Protestantes 461 The wife of IhoÌ„ Frederick dieth eodeÌ„ The ambassadours of Austrich require of Ferdinando that true Religion male be permitted vnto them 462 Truce taken betwene the Emperoure and the kyng of Fraunce 463 The aunswere of Ferdinando to the Ambassadours of the house of Austrich eodem The Emperours Sigismonde burned Husse eodem The Ambassadours aunswere to Ferdinando 464 The aunswere of Ferdinando eodem The bishop of Treuers dieth 465 The Duke of Pruse professeth the confession of Auspurge eodem The Archebishop of Cantorburie burned for Religion eodem The Pope was displeased that peace was graunted to Religion 466 The Duke of Arestat brake out of prison eodem The Cardinalle of Auspurge purgeth hymself by writyng eodem The Cardinall of Auspurge addicte to the olde religion 468 The good will of the Cardinall of Auspurg toward the Duke of Wittenberge eodem The loue of the Cardinall of Auspurg toward the Germaines 469 Twelue burnt at Stratford bow eodeÌ„ The marques of Barden receiueth the Gospell eodem Themperour goeth into Spaine with bothe his sisters 470 VV. WHy the Bisshoppe of Rome is extolde 3 Whiche are properlie called Sacramentes 24 Who is aucthour of single life 35 What nedeth gold in the churche 47 What is true confession eodem What thyng Rebellion is 58 Wee are all blinde in our owne cause 61 Who be the aucthours of dissencion 81 Uergecius the Popes ambassadour 86 Upon what condicions the duke of Saxon will come to the assembly 103 Warres in Swiserlande 104 Whereof sprang the dissencion in Religion 110 Wilâ—e Marchauntes 120 Uergecius message to the Duke of Saxon 121 Uergecius spake with Luther 122 Who wrote against the Anabaptistes 131 Uergecius sent to the Emperour 138 Who ought to be at the Counsell 150 Why Innocentes be in perill 151 Whereof cometh contempt of the clergie 155 Who ought to be made bishop eodem Unlawfull to giue benefices by legacis eodem Why Cardinalles wer first made 156 Uergecius his oracion 176 Why the Protestantes desire a Counsell 177 What moued Luther to write against Papistes eodem Willyam Farell 192 Warre betwixte England and Scotlande 196 William Countie forsaketh the FreÌ„ch kyng 206 Whether we shal knowe eche other in the life to come 232 What Counsell the Protestauntes desired 237 What profite hath the Emperour out of Germanie 239 Ulmes reconciled to the emperour 273 Unreasonable tormente is a perillous matter 283 Wittenberg rendered 286 Wittenberge a Towne of Electorship 287 Uogelsburge apprehended 312 Uogelsburge coÌ„stancy at his death 312 Workes of superogacion 313 Whilest the Masse is set vp in Germanie it is put doune in England 317 Uiolence is not to be vsed in Religion but reason and truthe 318
Reliques of the holy gost The Cardinall writeth to the Duke of Saronis Campegius oratioÌ„ to the Princes at Norinberge The princes aunswere The decre of Wormes repeted The pope is wel monied The Suises are offended with them of Zuricke Yeare for the Hoste The Marchaundise of the clergie The answer of them or zuricke Authors of Scismes Matrimonie lawfull for all men What nedeth gold in the churche What is true coÌ„fessioÌ„ Howe the yoke of the Papistes is to be shaken of The Bishop of CoÌ„stance maketh a booke in defence of Images Images breÌ„t at Zuricke The decre of Norinberge Suite betwixt the Bishop senate of Strauso Thomas Murner Campcgsus raileth agaiâ—â— holye Matrimony A decree of Papistes against gospellers The lamentatioÌ„ of Lut. The golden Rose sent to the kynge of Englande Erasmus boke of Free will A decree of the duke of Loraine Henry Zutphan The Emperor biameth the Princes Themperor defendour of the Romishe churche Lut. coÌ„pared with Mahomet The duke of BourboÌ„ besieged Marfelles The begynnynge of the rustical war The Papistes fight for their bely The coÌ„plaiÌ„te of them of Zuricke The cause of theyr hatred To serue foreine princes is vile The eraâ—t of the Papistes Ecksuc theÌ„ Popes champion The pouertie and boundage of the Swices The riches and libertie of the same The constaÌ„cie of them of Zurieke The FreÌ„che kyng taken prisoner The vnconstaÌ„cie of Clement The victors of themperâ—alles The coÌ„motion of the bulgare people Theyr demaundes The duke of Wirtemberge atteÌ„pteâ—â— warrs The fyrste slaughter of Bowres Another slaughter The great crueltie of the Bowres A most cruel maner of burnynge The warre of Bowres in Loraine The slaughter of Bowres The crueltie of the Archebishop of Treuers Geismer captaine of the Bowers The league of Swelane The Masse abolisshed at Zuricke Muncer a great anabaptists Muncer will haue a token ared of God He teacheth that all thinges should be common Muncer maketh gonnes Phifer his companion Phifers enterprise The death of Fridericke the noble duke of Sax. The princes make a power A seditious oration of Muncer The saith of Abraham obteined of god great benefites Muncer rai leth on the Princes A blouddy Preacher bloweth the Crompet Gods power appeareth in sewest men Iud vii .i. Sam .xiiii. and .xvii. Muncer disceaueth the people by the Rainebowe Fearein MuÌ„cers Campe. A messenger slaine agaist the lawe of Armes An exhortaci on of the Lantzgraue The madnes of the Munceriane The slaughter of the MuÌ„cerians Muncer is taken His cruell answere He is reproued of the Lantzgraue The vnreasonable laughter of Muncer At the houre of death he repenteth Lut. diswadeth theÌ„ from sedition ii Thess .ii. The dewtie of a good Magistrate How the Magistrate shold deale wyth the Papistes Gods wrath is slowe but yet sore Thauthors of rebellion are wythout excuse What thing rebellion is How wicked dominion is to be shaken of The best way to ouer threw the popes authoritie Lu. did more with that word thaÌ„ cold haue bene don by force of Armes It appereth by the Prophecies of Briget and others The Practise of the deuill The popishe kingdoÌ„ maie not long indure Preachers ought to be circumspect Theyr demaundes Huntinge Haukyng Fishyng prohibited Lut. answer to the Bowres The Bours vse Godlye titles Gen. 7 Gene. 19. Math. 26. Roma 13. We are all blind in our own cause The state of a magistrate wherin it coÌ„sisteth The Magistrate is as necessary as the seune to the worlde The law of nature aloweth a Magistrate The christiaÌ„ lawe Math. 5. The christeÌ„ profession is harde The nature of veritie The craftes of the deuill to oppresse the Gospel Aunswere to the demaundes of the bowers No maÌ„ may be kept from the Gospell Howe ministers shoulde be ordayned Tithes must be payde Christianitie taketh not away boÌ„dage Bondage is not let to christen libertie Luters office The false title of the bowers Psal 107. The Gospel is sclasidered with rebellioÌ„ The rasers of tumultes The part of a wyse man The dutie of a Magist The ende of tyranny Of Not Daniel and â—ob Luther bloweth the troÌ„pet against the boures Ther can be nothig worse then sedicioÌ„ Lut. to vehement TheÌ„perors letters to the princes of Germany An assemble called at Auf. Carolostadius writeth against Lu. Carolostadius maketh his porgatioÌ„ Faith ought not to vauer Luther maried a NuÌ„ne Luther and Zwynglius met at Marpurge The Popes letters to theÌ„ of Paris Faber driueÌ„ out of Paris The kynges letters for Faber The story of Pruse Lut. letters of submissioÌ„ to the kynge of England The chief point of Lu. doctrine The ende of the Papistes doctrine Luth. letters to George Dake of Saxon. Duke George hateth the Gospel Thomas wulley Cardinal a Butchers sonne A league betwene EnglaÌ„d FrauÌ„ce Godlines is not to be sought for in the court The peace of Madrice The lady Elenor The kynges sonnes are pledges Counsell at Spyres The Emperours letters The Turke inuadeth HuÌ„gary A league betwene the venetians Pope FreÌ„che kyng Against false Freers The noÌ„ber of holy days A decree for Religion The begynninge of the ProtestaÌ„tes league The kynge of Hungary slayne The Emperour maried a wyfe A disputatioÌ„ at Baden A Priest burnt Discorde in Hongary The FreÌ„che league agaist the Emper. The Popes benefites to the Emper. The Emperours aÌ„swer The kyngdoÌ„ of Naples A point of that lawe Rome is the treasure house of that whole worlde The Pope the Emper. are two gret lyghtes The Pope is a warrier A counsell promysed The frenche kyngs leters to the prynces of Germany The Empe. confuteth the letters An apologie for the freÌ„ch kyng The princes letters to the Emperour An assemble at Regensburg Iohn Fridmarrieth Sibille of Cleue Rome is sacked The king of Englande The begynning of Anabaptistes The FreÌ„che Armye The Duke of Baurbon conoempned at Paris Englande hath title to Fraunce Leonarde Cesar Hopocrisy of byshops The power of Bernes Lawes of their disputacion Theames or conclusions Prayers for the dead are superfluous Religion reformed The prebids departe Ambrose Blaures Religion reformed at Geneua The victory of the gospel The kinges of FrauÌ„ce EnglaÌ„d Amballade to the Emperour The FreÌ„che kings inuectiue against the Emper. He offereth the Emper. the combat The letters of Iohn Uaiuode to the states of the Empyre His Ambassadours takeÌ„ Kyng FerdinaÌ„do forsoke kyng Lewis FerdinaÌ„dos title to Hongary The duke of Saxon the Lantgraue prepare theÌ„ to warre Paccen beheaded The Emperours aunswer to the FreÌ„ch king Themper Heraulde came at Paris An assemble at Spires Lantrech be segeth Naples Contention about the Masse The papists forboden to preache The Ambassadour of the chamber imperiall to Strausbor The bishops letters The Masse put down at Stansbor Dissentid at Basil for religion They of Basill take armure Images put downe The Masse put downe Images breÌ„t on â—sh wednesday The assemblie of Spir. The papists iÌ„ SwicerlaÌ„d make leage with kynge Ferdinando The Ambâ— of Srausborough excluded The
decres of Spires Certen princes resist the same Who be the authors of dissention Howe scripture shoulde be expouÌ„ded The decre of Wormes Thorigicall of Protestantes Ciuil warre emong the Swicers Mishappes of the freÌ„che kyng The peace of Canbrey The Turke besegeth Uienna The sweating sicknes Sondry plages Two clerks brenct at Collon Luther and Zwinglius dispuie at Marpurg The maner of their agrement Erasmus boke againste Gospelers Fraunces Sfortia The Ambassadours of the Protestants to the Emp. The Emperours aunswere Daunger of the Turke The Ambassadours appeale GraÌ„unulane A boke presented to the Emperour The honeste of a byshoy An assemble at Smalcald A league of theÌ„ of Stransborough Zuricke and Bernes The chambre wryteth to Straush The Protestantes asseÌ„ble at Norinberge An assemble at Auspurg The Emperours coronatioÌ„ at Bonony The diuines of that protest The lady Eleuour commeth into Fraunce Uergerius that popes ambassadour The princes that woulde not heare Masse The office of the Duke of Saxon. The Turks victorye in Hongary The Turks crueltie The oration of Cardinall Campega The coÌ„plais of the Ambassadour of Austriche The confession of the protestantes A consultation of the ProtestaÌ„tes doctryne A confession of the Zwinglians Thinges refused Matters receiued That the Masse is a sacrifice A fayre exposition of Daniel Good ghostly fathers The Lantgraue departeth from Auspurg Duke of Saxon Marschall of the Empyre The warre of Florence The Pope made a league with the Emperour Florence rendred Florence loseth her libertie Certen chosen to accord Religion The Protestantes were laboured Erasmus writeth to Campegius The Power of the Turk The Bohemers The Empeoracion to the ProtestaÌ„tes Their aunswere to the Emperour A decree made A counsell promysed Scripture is the touche stone of all doctryne An Apologie deliuered but not receiued The Emp. to the Protest Prayers mixt with threatnings The conspiracie of the Papistes againste the ProtestaÌ„tes The protest spoyle no maÌ„ The protest accused of sedition The drone bees desyre to be restored into the hyue The excuse of some to the ProtestaÌ„tee A deluge at Rome in Selande A coÌ„futatioÌ„ of Zwilius doctrine Their aunswer to the same Poore Luther maketh many men ryche The decree of Auspurg Luth. wrote a booke to the byshoppes Luther comforteth Melancton Luthers opinion of mis-traditions The church oppressed with Tyranny is to be excused The papists are accused of rerages Bucer laboreth for a coÌ„corde The Lantgraue made a league with Strausbotough Zurick and Basyn The league of the Protestantes at Smalcalde The coÌ„plait of the Pope to the kynge of Poole The Pope is a sayler The Protestauntes letters against Ferdinando The duke of Saxons letters to the Princes The causes of creating a kyng of Romaines Ferdinando proclaimed kyng of Romaines The protest letters to the kynges of Fraunce of Englande Gerson Collet Their appelation The bishops of DeÌ„marke resute the Gospell The lawes permitte that the inferiour Magistrate maye in som cases resist that superiour Newes of that Turkes coÌ„myng The Archebyshop of Treers departeth Bucer set order in that churches at Uimes The quene of Hungary made regeÌ„t of FlauÌ„ders The aunswere of the FreÌ„ch kyng to the protestauntes The amitie of Fraunce and Germa A story of that kyng of fraunce Charles the great Lewys the fyfte Hugh Capet The answer of the kynge of England The commoÌ„wealth hath nede of many remedies The opinsoÌ„ of the cities of the kynge of Romains The Duke of Saxons doubte of that Swycers The Palsgraue and that archbyshop of Mentz intercessonrs A controuersy of the byshop of BaÌ„berge with the Marques of Brandenburg The Appellation of the Marques The Erles of Nassowe Neuenar Upon what conditions the Duks of Saxon wyll come to the assemble The intercessours and Protestant Letters of that Duke the Lantgraue to the intercessours Warres in SwycerlaÌ„ce Condicions or peace Thei of Zarick disconfited The death of Zwyng A beastlye cruelite An other slaughter The death of Oecolampadius The Assemble of RegeÌ„spurge Conditions of a peace betwene the Emperour and Protest Conditions of creatinge a kynge of Romaynes The othe of theelectoars The Dukes of Bauer misliked the election of FerdinaÌ„do The aunswer of the Duke to the itercessours The craft of the Papistes A cancorde The Emperour of necessitie graunteth peace to Germany The â—â—ibre of Protest The assemble at RegeÌ„spurge Christierne kyng of Denmarck is taken The Turck inuaded Austriche The death of the Duke of Saxon. The slaughter of that Turkysh warre A blasyng Starre The Empe. goeth into Italy The Pope serueth the tyme. The OratioÌ„ of the Popes Ambassad to the Duke of Saron The Popes policie The OratioÌ„ of the Emperours Amb. The Duke of Saxons aunswere The Prote aunswere to the Pope Emperour Wherof sprang the dissention of Religion How a free counsel is to be vnderstaÌ„d The couÌ„sels are swarued from their old puritie The Empe. part to d 〈…〉 d Religion The Pope is plentife defendauÌ„t iudge The Popes snares The bishops office Uergerius The Pope sleeth the couÌ„sell The craft of Duke George to fynde out the Lutherians Luthers couÌ„sell Luthers purgation Christe was called seditious He comforteth the eriâ—es Pope Clement coÌ„meth to Macilles For many suppose hym a bastarde A consecrating of Cardinalles Unmete mariage The Lantgraue goeth to the FreÌ„ch kyng Duke Ulrich expulsed The Lantgraue boroweth monye of the FreÌ„ch kyng A great alte ratioÌ„ in Englande Kyng HeÌ„ry The inconstancie of Pope Clement The vniuersities of Paris others quene Anne loued the Gospell The death of Cardinall Woolsey The Lady Mary a bastarde The kinges hatred against the Pope Inas kyng The conteÌ„tion betwen Erasmus Luther The traged of the Grey freers The soleÌ„ne burieng in Fraunce False doctours The dume Spirite Questions moued to that dome spirit The game prayers called to paris The condeÌ„pnation of fal 〈…〉 rs Persecution against Lutherians Spirites in the Popyshe kingdome Luthers apt 〈…〉 oÌ„ touching the spirites The victory of the Lant Conditions of peace Condicions betwixt Ferdinando and Duke Ulri The liberal 〈…〉 tie of that freÌ„ch kyng The Lantgraues letters to the Emperour The Empe. aunswere Sfortia married that Emp. Nece The death of Clement the seuenth Paule the .iii. Paule was 〈…〉 r than Clement The practise of Prelates Andrewe Gritte Lewys his sonne Hongary Persecution in Fraunce The punyshment of the Godly The crueltie of Iohn Morin A booke of marchauÌ„ted Crafty marchauntes Busy marchauntes A straunge chaunge The Price of the masse is derer som tyme after as the parsoÌ„ is the od marchaunt Pope Iohn a woman Couetous marchaunts Proude marchauntes Theuishe marchaunts Brawlynge Freers Selling of benefices Angry salutes Wyly marchauntes Idle N 〈…〉 S. Geneuefa that goddes of Paris The kinges oration The maner of execution in Fraunce The Lutherians are ab borred The FreÌ„che kinges letters The Lantgraue The Emperour voiage into Barbaria Barbarossa Rochestr More beheaded Rochester Cardinall The death of Sfortia Uergerusto the Duke of Saxen The Dukes aunswer Uergerus
the Duke of wittemberge The Duke of Saxon the Lantgr write to the FreÌ„ch kyng Duke George of Saxon â—irth Ambassadours sent to his brother Henry The Can 〈…〉 coÌ„monly called of the Apostles are false A Freers were maketh the deuyll afrayd Langelius Oration against the Lutherians The syr Articles The Lady Anne of Cleaue Barbarouse taketh Castel newes Rebellienat Gaunte The Emperour passeth throughe Fraunce 1540. The Emperour entreth into Paris The Emperours and FreÌ„ch kings Ambassade to the Uenetians The Uenetians Ambassador to the Turke The secrets of the senate vttered to the Turke The trators executed Themp. arriueth in Flaunders The Prote wryte to the FreÌ„che king An assembly at Smalcald Latimer Shaxton The Lorde Cromwell A wrytinge exhibited by the diuines The Emp. aunswer to the Protest Hatred betwixt counsellers The false perswasioÌ„ of the Emper. The answer of the Prot. to GraÌ„uellaÌ„ A confutatis of the six Articles Great execution done at Gaunt The Emp. letters to the ProotestaÌ„t The answer of the Prot. to the Emp. letters An oratieÌ„ or a yeuÌ„g Cardinall The Prote 〈◊〉 to Turkes A priuy hatred of that freÌ„che kynge against the Emperour The Duke of Cleaue ioyned with the Frenche kynge The Pope warreth vpoÌ„ the PerusiaÌ„s The Lorde Crumwell beheaded The kynge marieth Katherine Hawarde The Duke of BruÌ„swik accused the Protestaun The assemble of Hagenawe Preachyngs forbydden FerdinaÌ„dos request The decree of Hagenaw The death of Iohn Uayuode king of Hungary Fyres in Saxony Doctor Bernes burnt in Smithfielde Thre Prot. burnt and thre Papistes hanged all at one tyme. The death of Budey An erceadig hote soÌ„mer Nauius hath the place of Heldus The oratioÌ„ of Granvellan at Wor. The euils that coÌ„meth of the discention in Religion The Turke receiueth the infant of Uayuode Lascus committed to prised The papists seke delayes A disputation betwixte Eekius and Melancton The oratioÌ„ of Uergerivs The admiral of frauÌ„ce condemned A greate assemble at RegeÌ„spurg Luthers boke agaist the Duke of Brunswick Why the Protest desyre a counsell Themperor Gods client What moued Luth. to writ against the papistes The blasphemie of frere Tecell A most costly stole or palle A meane to get money by pardons Luther is cursed of the Pope A wolleÌ„ halter to strangle the pope The maner of makynge this Palle Complaints of pillage These Fyeres were set on by the duke of BruÌ„swike The treatie of Regenspurge The chosen by themp The rashnes of Eckius A boke presented to the Collocutours The conteÌ„ts of the boke The Protestantes letters to the FreÌ„ch king for suche as wer persecuted for the gospell The Duke of Cleaue goeth priuely into Fraunce The Duke marieth the daughter of Nauarre The Admirall restored The constable put out of the courte The colloquie of lerned men at Regtnspurg The worse parte ouer cometh by the nomber of voyces Meanes to restore thecclesiasticall function Simons must be takeÌ„ awaye The popes Legate The diligence of the protestantes iu teaching of children The diuines of the Prote aunwer to that Popeslegate The princes electours answer Themperour The answer of the popish princes The bishops are inioyned to reforme their church The presumtuousnes of Eckius The protestantes confute his letters and reasons The Emperours priuat wrytiug for the Protestantes The Emperours complaynte of the Duke of Cleaue The princes make intercession for the Duke of Cleaue The oratioÌ„ of the FreÌ„ch Ambassador The FreÌ„che ambassadors intercepted by thimperiall Langens letters to Alphonse George of Austriche apprehended at Lyons Ferdinando besegeth Buda His armie discomfited The Emperours torney into Barbarie A great tempest distroyed hys ships Syr Henry Kneuet The plage in Germani by the Rhine Ioye in Fraunce at temperours losse The nobilitie of Austrich put vp a supplication for the Gospell Kingdoms distroyed for â—dolatry The plages that god seÌ„t to Austriche and Germany The Turke is the scurge of God God offereth his word before he plageth The chiefe article of doctrine is iustification Ferdinando desfateth the request of his uobles The nobles resterut their â—â—te Strife about the bisshop ricke of NuÌ„ burge 1542. An assemble at Spires Gropper coÌ„mended Bucer The king of EnglaÌ„d maried the syxte wyfe Theioration of the freÌ„che ambessrdour PerswasioÌ„s to warre against the Turke The policie of the Romaines in establishing their empire The concord of England Howe the Turkes acheued their empyre GwelphiaÌ„s Wibellines The opinion of the Popes Ambassad The Pope suspecteth Germany A soden fear in the FreÌ„ch courte An Army agaynste the Turke Contention betwixte the elector of saxon Duke Moris Luthers oretion for the field The Pope â—â—pared with that Turke Two mighty Tyrantes Any pleasant lyfe is not to be loked for The Turke shal not be of such force as were the Romaines The last act of that Turke A cousolatioÌ„ of the prysoners with the Turkes The prayer of Luther Of the originall of the Turkes The Markes of Piscare accuseth the FreÌ„ch king The kinges purgation A counsell called at Trente The FreÌ„che king proclaimeth warre The Duke of Languile and Martin van Rossen invade Brabant Perpigusan beseged The maner to sâ—rche out that LutherinÌ„s S. Genefeua The articles of the Sorbe nistes Two friers preache the Gospell at Metz. WilliaÌ„ Farell grashoppers in Germany and Italy The Duke of Saxon the Lantgraue mouewar againste the duke of BruÌ„swicke who flieth An assembly at Noriberg Ambassadors to the Duke of Saxon the Lantzgraue Contarene in displesure with that pope cardinalles Hys death The ChauÌ„celour of Fraunceput in prison The Palsgraue receyueth the Gospell The Empe. aunswered the Popo The enterprises of Fregose Rincon Peace is disceiptful The FreÌ„che king is accused of ambition Cardinalles sent to maks a peace The Presydentes of the counsell at Trente Dure is taken Warre betwixte England Scotlande The Scotes taken at Solymosse Theyr king dieth The Duke of SaroÌ„ and the Lantzgraue refuse the iudgmeÌ„t of the chaumber The Duke of Cleauerecouereth Dure A rebellion at Rochelle 1543. The kynges oratioÌ„ to theÌ„ of Rochell The clemeÌ„cy of king FrauÌ„ces The assemblie of Nurrenberge The treatye of Norinberge A supplication of the protestantes The Turks increase by the losse of christians The decre of Norinberg The Duke of Cleaue refuseth truce The death of the bishop of Auspurg The French kinges aunswer to the Emperours letters Kinges of Fraunce most addicteth the pope The Dukes of Sauoye frend to theÌ„peroure The death praise of W. Bellay Frances LaÌ„der coÌ„mmitted to prison His weknes before the kynge His recantation Depensius driuen to recante The prayse of Clements Marot Psalmes translated by Marot The Archebisshop of Collon calleth a convocation Bucer preacheth at Bomia The bisshops boke of reformatioÌ„ Melancthon and Pistor come to Collon A booke called Antidagma Gropper forsaketh the Gospell Duke Moris maketh lawes for the ministers of the churche He foundeth three scooles He is beneficiall to the Uniuersitie of Lipsia Lawes agaynst deflowerers of Uirgins adulterers An assemble at Spier
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
the counsell The Pope createth xiii Cardinals A decree of penaunce A discipline amongst the fathers The Ambassadours of Wirtimb deluded Thambassadours of D. Mauris and the Marques of BrandeÌ„b to the Emp. Their Oration The Lantgraue kepte prisoner againste the leage made The Lantgraue blodâ— to supper was kepte prisoner The names of the Princes that intreated for the Lantgraue The OratioÌ„ of the Prices aÌ„bassadours to the Emp. The Empe. aunswer to the Ambassabours The Lantgraues son cometh to D. Maurice Maximilian entreth into Trent The railing of Groppes A Cardinal of Dalmatia slayne in his owne house 1552. The Empe. letters to the Byshops Eleciours There is craft in dawbyng Wyly begyâ—ed Kings haue long armes ThaÌ„bassad of Du. Maurice come to the counsell D. Maurice feared of the Emperour The Duke of Somerset beheaded D. Maurice Ambassad sent awaye The saufecoÌ„duict altered The franke speache of D. Maurice Ambassad to the Fathers The Ambassadours of the Protest deluded How muche the papistes esteme the Scripture The diuines come to Norinberge The bitternes of freer Pelarge againg that protestauntes Duke Maurice letters to his ambassadours A brute of war against themperor Pardons New ambassadors from WirteÌ„berge The diuines of Wyrtemberge The confession of the duke of Wirtemberge Thambassador of Strasburge deteyned The blasphe my of a gray Frier The requestes of the protestantes deuines Duke Moris taketh Auspurge by coÌ„position The fathers fle froÌ„ Trent The answer of the protestantes ambassadors Diuers mindes in the counsel of Trent Refourmation of the papistes The Church can not erre The counsel of Basil purer theÌ„ TreÌ„t The last session of that couÌ„sell The frenche Kinge hathe peace with the Pope The ende of the Counsel at Trent The death of the popes Legate The seconde cause of war The Lantzgraue deteyned prisoner against sidelity The thirds cause The boÌ„dage of Germany Marques Alberts letters agaynste the Emperoure The heauye burthens of Germany The story of Lewes Auila of the protestants war The frenche kingsletters Germanye the fortresse of Christendoe CouÌ„tryes oppressed bi the Emperoure Tharmes of liberty Duke Moris goeth to the field The Prince of Salerne reuolteth from themperor The frenche subdueth Loraine The Cardinall betraied the Citye of Metz. The pledges of Fraunce Germanye Conditions of peace offered by Duke Moris The couÌ„trie of Oto Henry recouered The iudges of the chamber slie The Conestable chideth with them of Strash The request of the Prynces to the kyng D. Maurice letters to the kyng The kinges answer to the Prynces Martin van Rossem spoyleth ChaÌ„panye The suite of the Swisses to the Kyng Skirmyshes of the Princes with the in Eperialles Erenberge take agayne RebellioÌ„ in D. Moris caÌ„p Duke Morisuye slayne The Empe. sleeth away by nyght The Duke of Saxon set at libertie The Empe. staffe spoiled Crueltie against godly preachers The princes restore the ministers of the churche The Marq. Albertes armie Albertes crueltie to them of Normberg Bamberge redemeth peace dearelye Norinberge hath peace with the Mar. Albert to theÌ„ of Wolmes The FreÌ„che king destroyeth Themperour couÌ„trie Thassemble at Passawe The coÌ„plain te of Prynces Elect. The oration of the Frenche Ambas Thaâ—â—nitie of FreÌ„chmeÌ„ and Germaines The libertie of Germany restored by the power of Fraunce The way opened for the Prynce of Spayne to be Emper. The princes aunswer his oration The house of LuceÌ„burg The battell of Cressie Albert of Austriche Marques Albert warreth for himselfe The FreÌ„che kinges aunswer to thin tercessours D. Maurice weary of delayes The Empe. letters to the intercessours Their aunswer to the Emperour D. Maurice retourneth to his fellowes George Du. of Megelbu slayne Conditions of peace offered by the Emperour Thambassadors commeÌ„taries intercepted Duke Moris admitteth peace The French king dischargeth his army Marques Albert y scourge of priests His requests to Strasbo The answer of Strausbo Conditions of peace Marques Albert refuseth the peace The deathe of Herman Archebishop of Colon. His wish Marques Albert entreth Treuers The duke of Saxon goth home to hys owne house Themperor goeth wyth his army toward Lorain Ambassadors of Strasburge to the Emperor Themperor entreth into Strasburge Sir Richard Morisine ambassadour of England Marques Antonius Ambassadour of Uenise The spoil of the soldiors The deathe of Caspar Hedio Andrew Osiander Themperor besegeth Metz. Marques Albert reconciled to themperor Albert ouerthroweth the French men Duke de Anmalle taken prisoner The greate battery of Metz. The duke of Brunswicke driuen out of his country The duke of Guise defended Metz. 1553. The french kinges wryting against themperor The Emperours letters of aunswere to Marques Albert. Tharmes of Electorshyp The Cardinall Lenoncourtes ambition The spoylinges burninges of Marques Albert The father the soÌ„nes coÌ„tend for inheritaunce Terwen rased The Lady Iane of Suffolke maried to Buylford Dudley Kinge Edward sore sicke War in Italye The Mar. maketh war in Saxonye King FernaÌ„do proclameth warre agaynste Albert The spoylinges of Al. The complaint of D. Moris vpon Marques Al. Duke Mor. league with the Duke of BruÌ„swicke The Mar. annswere to duke Moris Marques Albert sendeth to the Emperor The bishops in his absence inuade his counitie The great crueltie of Mar. Albert The death of good kyng Edward The vertues of Edward the sixt A battell fought betwixt Duke Maurice and Mar. Albert. D. Maurice wan that fielde and lost his lyfe The woÌ„ders before his death Great frendship betwixt D. Maurice and Marqu Albert. The Marq. letters to that states of D. Maurice The death of Orace Farnese Augustus brother and hesre to Du. Maurice Iohn Frederick demauÌ„deth his landes and dignities Nyne burnt at Lions Lewys Marsake The blasphe my or that lieftenaunt Fiue studeÌ„ts of Losanna The lady Iane. The Lady Mary proclamed Quene Winchester made ChauÌ„celour The Duke of Northumberland condemned His incoÌ„stancie at hys death Thomas Palmer The coÌ„stancie of the archebyshop of Cantorbury The bishops caried to prison The popishe Religion restored in Englande Warres reuiued betwixt the D. of Brunsw Marques Albert. Albert recoÌ„ciled to Augustus The Turkishe Naute taketh the Iland of Corsica The FreÌ„che king attemteth CaÌ„bray Pestilence firing at Paris The bloud of innoceÌ„tes gaynfull to many Brunswick beseged The Duke of Brunswletters to the D. of Saxon The Du. of Brunswick is reconciled to the Duke of Saxon. A disputatioÌ„ in England Serueto a Spanyarde burnt at Geneua Reynold Poole Cardinall Uercelles surprised The Turck hanged his sonne Mustapha The Archbyshop of Cantorbury and others condemned Marques Albert outlawed The Godly lawes of good Edward repealed Quene Mary affiauÌ„ced to the Emperours sonne 1554. Commotion in Kent The Duke of Norfolke forsaken of his men The quenes oration to that commons in yelde hall The Duke of Suffolke Wiat taken and committed to PrisoÌ„ The Lady Iane her husband beheaded The Duke of Suffolke beheaded Sibille Duches of SaxoÌ„ departeth The Godly end of Iohn Friderick An end made betwixt him and Augustus The Godlines of
as it is reported in the Campe before the cytie of Ptolomais After wardes dyd they subdue Pruse lande when Frederick the second was Emperour And after they had kept warres of long tyme with the kynges of Polande beyng vanquyshed in battell they became subiect geuyng their fidelitie by an othe to Casunire kyng of Pole the father of Sigismund From the first maister to the Marques Albert of BrandeÌ„burg were thritty and thre This Albert being chosen the yeare of our Lorde M.D.xi. kept great warres for two yeares together with Sigismunde kyng of Polle And in the yeare M.D.xxi. there was a trewce takeÌ„ for .iiij. yeares In this tyme Albert sued oft to the Emperour and the states of the Empyre for ayde and commyng to the councell at Nurrenberg wherof we haue ofte tymes spoken had his place amonges them as a Prynce of the Empyre For the cause of the warre was that he wold not be sworue to the kyng But what tyme the Emperour was empeched with the Frenche warres and the Turke inuaded Hongary and Germany was so tourmoyled with the sedition of the communaltie that no ayde was to be looked for from thence and the tyme of the trewce was expyred he maketh peace with the kyng of Pole geuyng hym him his faythe as to his suprome Magistrate receyue the doctrine of the Gospell alteryng the order he taketh Pruse for his own And he that before was maister no we by the kynges assente is called Duke of Pruse And shortly after he maried Dorothe the daughter of Frederick kyng of Denmarke and foundeth the vniuersitie of Conningsberge called the kynges mount Wherby he had the displeasure of all the order for al be it he kept the countrey and was supported here in by the kyng of Pole yet by a common assent was chosen in his rowme Walther Cronberge which shold represent the auncieÌ„t name and dignitie who after in all assemblies complayned vpon hym greuously Againe he defended his cause by wrytyng declaryng howe he was dryuen by extreme necessitie beinge vtterly forsaken of the Empyre to submytte hym selfe vnto the kyng There is an epistle of Leo the tenth to Sigismunde and Alberte exhorting them vnto concord and eyther to committe their matter to his legate whiche he wold sende or to the counsell of Laterane for that it is moste conuenient that the coÌ„trouersies of Princes shold be decided and determined by generall counselles ✚ The syxthe Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the Empire of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the syxth Booke LUther wrote to the kyng of England and to Duke George but thei both reiected the same Christerne kyng of DeÌ„marke had moued Luther to do so the sycknes of the Frenche king duryng his imprysonment hasted the treaty of Madrice The king being deliuered his two Sonnes were geuen as pledges Whylest the estates were assembled at Spyres aboute matters of Religion the Turke entreth into Hongarry A disputation was hoïoen at Baden in Swycherlande Pope Element and the Frenche kynge make a league The Emperour and the kyng complayne sore the one of the other Rome is sacked by the Duke of Burbon The Frenche kyng sendeth Lawtrecke into Italy The secte of Anabaptistes beginneth A disputation is kept at Bernes for a reformation A contention betwyxt Ferdinando and the Uayuode Paccius is beheaded at Andwarpe The Emperour and the Frenche kyng offer them selues to the combat The Masse is abolished at Strasburge Troubles at Basyll for relygion The CaÌ„â—ous Papistes make a league with Ferdinando An assembly is holden at Spyres where the name of Protestauntes hath his begynning Ciuile warre emonges the Swychers a treate of peace at Cambray Uienna beseged of the Turke The sweatyng sycknes The Protestantes make a league YOu haue heard heretofore howe the kynge of Englande wrote agaynst Luther and Luther agaynst hym But when he had hearde certen thynges that sounded muche to the kynges coÌ„mendation delighted with that reporte he writeth to hym with great submission Doubting not but he had sore offended his hyghnes by setting forth his booke neuerthelesse he dyd it not so muche of his own accorde as by the instigation of others And where as he is so bolde to trouble hym with hys letters at this present it proceadeth of his Prynclyke humanitie whiche is hyghly commended of manye Moreouer for that he vnderstandeth howe the bookes set forthe agaynst hym were not of hys owne doynge but wrytten of certen Sophisters whiche full craftely tooke an occasion And speakynge here by occasion of the Cardinall of Yorke he calleth hym the plage of Englande And that he heareth moreouer to his great comforte howe that his grace mislyketh that naughtye sorte of men and gyueth his mynde to the knowledge of the truthe Wherfore he besecheth hym to pardon hym that one facte And that it woulde please hym to remembre that syns he is a man mortall he ought not to beare ennemytie immortall And if he shal commaunde him he wyl confesse his faulte openly and commende his pryncelike vertues in an other worke After he exhorteth his maiestie to gyue no eare to sklaunderous tales that reporte him to be an heretyke For the chief point of his doctrine is how al we must be saued by fayth in Christ whiche bare the punyshement of our synnes on his necke shoulders and al his body who dyed for vs rose agayne reigneth with his father for euer And this to be the doctrine of all the Prophetes and Apostles This foundatioÌ„ ones layde he teacheth the dewty of charitie what one ought to do for an other howe we must obey the magistrate and applye our whole lyfe to the profession of the Gospel If there be anye errour or wyckednes in this doctrine why do not his aduersaries shewe it hym Why do they condeÌ„pne and banyshe him beyng neyther examined nor conuicted where as he writeth against the byshop of Rome and his adherentes he doeth it for that they teache contrary to Christ his Apostles for their owne gayne and lucre to the intent they may coÌ„maunde all men lyue lyke gluttons in all voluptuousnes for vnto this ende tende all their denises and doinges whiche thing is so well tryed and knowen that they them selues can not deny it but in case they wold amende their liues and not leade this idle beastly lyfe to the losse iniury of manye the stryfe myght sone be quieted Diuers prynces and cities in Germany haue embraced his doctrine acknowledging it reuerently to be Gods benefite and he woulde gladlye wyshe that he myght also be accoÌ„pted in that nombre And where as the Emperour and certen others do attempte thynges agaynsthym it is no newes For Dauid hathe prophecied longe synce that kynges and other people should conspire and imagine many thynges agaynst the Lorde and his annoynted reiectyng his lawes and commaundementes So that when he considereth suche places of Scripture he maruayleth
that there is anye Prynce that should fauour the doctrine of the Gospell Fynally he requyreth hym that he may receyue a gentle aunswere And not longe after he wryteth also to George Duke of Saxony signifyinge howe God hath accustomed in the beginning to chastise mē seuerely sharpely but after gētly louīgly to embrace the same he was aterrour a feare to the Iewes whā he gaue thē the law by Moses but after by the preachig of the gospel he shewed thē great ioye gladnes that he hath followeth the same maner in hādling some ouer roughly euen him for one but yet since hath he writtē other thingesful of fruite cōsolatiō wherby it is easy to se that he taketh al this payn to profit others of no euil will but of a zeale he beareth to the truth And where as he heareth that he relenteth nothing in the displeasure that he beareth hym but increaseth his malice against him daily more and more that is the cause whye he nowe wryteth vnto hym desyryng him to surcease to persecute his doctrine whiche is consonaunt to the writinges of the Prophetes and Apostles he admonysheth him also to haue no respect to the basenes of his persone for the matter is not his but Gods almighty Al be it that all men should fret fume therat yet shall this doctrine continue for euer And therfore it greueth him the more that he is so muche offended with the same which he may in no wise forsake and yet for that he seketh to gratisie him he desyreth to be forgeuen if he hath spoken any thing sharpely against him he wil agayne craue pardon of God for him in that he hath persecuted the Gospel doubteth not but he shal obtein so that he leaue of in time seke not to extin gwishe that great lyght of the Gospel that appereth nowe vnto al the worlde For if he so procede he will pray for Gods helpe against him doubteth not but his prayer shal be heard whiche he taketh to be strōger than all the craftes of the deuyll which alwayes is his refuge and moste assured defence Whan the kyng of Englande had receiued Luthers letters he made a sharpe aunswer defendeth his boke whiche he sayeth is well accepted of diuers good and well learned men And where as he hathe rayled on the reuerend Father the Cardynall of Yorke he marueyleth nothing therat which can not abstayne frō the contumelies both of men sainctes he sayth the Cardinall is a necessarye instrument for hym and his whole Realme And where he hath loued hym before dearelye well nowe wyll he set by hym ten tymes more consyderyng that he myslyketh hym For amōges other thinges this doeth he forsee with great dylygence that none of his Leprosye contagion and heresye do infecte any parte of his Realme After he casteth in his teeth his incestuouse marryage whiche is a vyce moste detestable This Cardinalles name was Thomas Wulsey a Buchers sonne of Ipswyche but in hyghe authoritie wyth hys Prynce Lykewyse Duke George made Luther suche an aunswere as a man myght well perceyue what mortall hatred he bare hym When the Ambassadours of Fraunce whiche were sent into Spayne for a peace amonges whome was Margaret the Frenche kynges syster a wydowe could brynge nothyng to passe Ales his mother whiche had the gouernaunce for her ayde and defence founde the meanes to bryng into her league and amitie Henry the kynge of Englande whiche was done in the moneth of Auguste The fyrst and chiefest poynt of this league was that the violens of the Turkes and the pestiferous secte of Luther should be dryuen kept out which is no lesse daungerous then the Turkes be The Cardinal of England whiche might do al at the tyme was thought to haue perswaded the king vnto this league for he bare the Emperour no great good wil for that he toke him to haue bene thonly let that he was not chosē bishop of Rome after the death of Adriā as in dede certē of thēperours haue expressed in their writinges Whan Luther red the kyng of Englandes aunswere in printe and sawe that he ascribeth to him vnconstancie as though he had chaunged his opinion considering how this did not concerne his owne priuate iniurie but the professiō of the gospel he toke the matter heuely that to gratifie his frendes he made so humble a submission In lyke maner he intreated gētly both by word and writing Christerne kyng of Denmarck that he wold receiue the pure doctrine trusting to haue preuayled with gentlenes and nowe he perceiued how farre he is abuse The lyke thinge happened vnto him in Cardinal Caietane in George Duke of Saxonie in Erasmus of Roterdame vnto whome he hath written frendly at the request of others and hath obtayned therby nothynge els but made them more fierce cruell to be fondely done of him to thinke that he coulde haue foūde godlines in the courtes of Princes that sought for Christ wher sathan ruleth or loketh for John Baptist amonges thē that were clothed in purple Wherfore seing that he can not preuaile by this gentle and frēdly kinde of writing he wil take an other order frō henceforth The frenche kyng for that the treaty of peace toke not place through a great thought and pensiuenes fel syck but comforted again by the gentle talke of the Emperour who bad he should be of good chere he began to be somewhat better The Emperour also waying with hym selfe what a pray he should lose if any thyng chaunced vnto him other wise then wel inclyned his mynde to peace daylye more more wherfore the .xiiii. daye of January then concluded of all thynges at Madrice in the whiche wryting emonges other thynges is this recited that the Emperour the kyng haue this respect chiefly that the ennemies of the christian religion and the heresies of Luthers secte should be extyrped and that the peace being concluded they shall set an ordre in the common welth and moue warre against the Turkes and Heretikes that be out of the communion of the churche for this is verye nedefull and the byshop of Rome hath often warned them and bene in hande with them to applye this thing diligently wherfore the rather to satissye his request they are determyned to entreate hym that he would appoynte a certaine daye in some place conuenient for the Ambassadours of all Prynces to assemble in hauyng ful power authoritie to agree vpon all suche thynges as shal be good and requisite as well for the Turky she warres as also for the wedyng out of Heretikes In this peace makyng was Elenor the Emperours syster which had bene maryed to Emanuell kyng of Portugall beyng espoused to the Frenche kynge the Emperour promyseth to gyue hym for her dowery two thousand ducates certen landes in high Burgundy For the which they were at controuersie And the kynge shall within two monethes
after he is retourned home restore to the Emperour the Duckdome of Burgundy whiche the kynges of Fraunce haue kepte in their possession syns the death of Charles Duke of Burgundye by the space of fyftie yeares Moreouer he shall renounce Naples Millan Gene Aste and Flaunders He shall gyue no ayde to Henry kyng of Nauarre Charles Duke of Gelders Ulryche Duke of Wirtēberg nor to Robert Erle of Marche He shall attempte no secrete deuises or counsels in Italy When the Emperour wyll go into Italy by Sea he shall assiste him with a nauie of sixtene Galleis vitayled and fournyshed with all thynges sauing soldiours and also two hūdreth thousand crownes to arme them The yerely pension that the Emperour is bounden to paye to the kynge of Englande all shall the Frenche kynge paye to the kynge of Englande He shall restore Charles the Duke of Burbon and his fellowes to all their ryght landes and goodes permittyng them to vse the same dwellyng where they lyste For suche action or title as the Duke of Burbon hath to the Prouince of Marseilles the kyng shall abyde the ordre of the lawe at any tyme. When he had gyuen the Emperour his fayth to obserue these conditions he was set at lybertie to retourne home And departyng out of the borders of Spayn leaueth behind him his two sonnes Fraūces Henry verey yonge for pledges as it was agreed vpō And vnlesse he obserue couenauntes he promyseth to yelde hym self prysoner agayn After this the Princes of Germany assemble at Spires as I told you in the last boke it was appointed Emonges whome was Duke Iohn electour of Saxony and Philip Lantgrane of Hesse The Emperour deputes here were Ferdinando his brother Barnarde Byshop of Ttent Casimire Marques of Brandenburge Philip Marques of Baden William Duke of Bauarre and Ericus Duke of Brunswyck When they had begunne the counsell the .xxv. daye of June and had declared the causes of that assemblye they added this moreouer that the Emperour aboue all thynges wylled and commaunded that the states of the Empyre shoulde with common assent take order howe the Christian religion and auncient custome of the church of lōg tyme obserued might be still reteyned in his former estimation of al men and how they are to be punyshed that will attempt the contrary and also to be resisted if they make any force in the matter to the intent that both Cesars decre made at Wormes and publyshed fyue yeres syns and the decre of this assembly also may be obserued of al men and put in execution When certen were chosen of all degrees to treate of these matters and emonges them also the Lantgraue Iames Sturmius of Straisborourgh and Cressus of Norinberge The Emperours deputes call an assembly of all states the .iii. daye of August and saye how they vnderstande that they haue chosen a certayne nombre to conferre of these matters propounded Who as they suppose wyll first consulte of religion But to the intent that the Emperours pleasure may be accomplyshed and that they intreate of nothing which they can not determine but be a losse of time and a lette and hynderaunce to other matters therfore wyll they let them vnderstande what the Emperours commaundement is in this behalf After this they read the Emperours letters dated at Hispale the. xxiii of Marche Wherof the some was this Howe he intended to go to Rome to be inuested and also to treate with the byshop for a generall counsell but in the meane tyme he wylleth and commaundeth that the states in this assemblye decree nothynge that shall be in anye wyse agaynst the olde custome lawes and Ceremonies of the church and that in theri dommions they do establyshe all thinges according to the decre made at Wormes by their common assentes And take well in worth this delay tyll he haue deuised with the hyghe Byshop concernyng a generall counsell whiche shal be very shortly for in such priuate assemblies there is not only no good to be done but also errours and licenciouse lybertie of the people more cōfirmed About this tyme the Emperour of Turkes settyng foreward with his armie frō Belgrade whē he was passed ouer the riuers of Danubie and Saue he marched the ryght way into Hongary Wherfore king Lewys sendyng agayne his Ambassadours to Spyres requyreth ayde Further more out of Italy came certen newes that Clement byshop of Rome and the Venetians hadde made a legue with the Frenche kyng that was lately retourned home out of Spayne to warre vpon the Emperour as you shall heare afterwarde Whan the Emperours letters before mentioned were read in the assemblie the cyties for the moste parte namely of hygh Germany put vp their aduise in writing declaring how they desyred by all meanes to obey and gratifies the Emperour nowithstanding the controuersie about religion encreaseth dayly especially touchyng ceremonies and mens traditions hitherto the decre of Wormes could not be well obserued for feare of sedition and vprores but nowe is the daunger muche more as in the laste assemblye before the Legate of Rome it was also wel declared In so much that if the Emperour him selfe were here present and infourmed of the state of thinges he could iudge none otherwyse He maketh promyse in his letters of a counsell but what tyme they were wrytten the Byshop and he were frendes and nowe it is farre otherwyse seynge the byshop hath altered his mynde leuied an Armie against hym wherfore it can not synke into their heades that in this trouble some tyme they should haue any generall counsell wherfore they thynke it beste to sende ambassadours to the Emperour whiche maye informe hym of the whole matter and of the state of Germany and howe daungerous a matter it is also to delay the cause of relygion any longer and no lesse perilous to put in vre the decree of Wormes And therfore to entreate hym that for the auoydynge of a further inconueniencie he would permitte them to holde a counsell prouinciall of Germany to treate of all matters in controuersie Whiche thyng was agreed vpon at Norenberg and the place appoynted here in this same citie many of the states had made preparation for the same But when it was agayne defeated by the Emperours countremaundemēt it opened the waye to rebellion sedition and to ciuile warres al the which thinges myght easelye haue bene eschewed in case at the same tyme the cause of relygion had bene heard indifferently And if he wyll not allowe a counsell of Germany than to entreate him to differre the execution of the decree of Wormes vntyll the generall councell for otherwyse it wyll come to passe that the wounde newly healed wyll waxe rawe agayne another that shal be worse breake out Furthermore in this discorde so long as euery man is carefull for his owne estate it wylbe very harde and paynefull to collecte any money for the ayde of others Besydes this wrytinge exhibited to the Prynces the
auoyd the daunger they haue determined to differ the same vntil the next assemblie of the Empyre whiche they haue appointed at Regensburg the first day of April next folowyng to treate of the Turkysh warre trusting the either by that time they shal haue some better occasiō to sende or that he shal haue some intelligence of the thing in the meane time Al be it that Cesar wrote thus to the byshop of Rome his Cardinals yet wold it preuaile nothing but the cōfederatours sending vnto him Ambassadours as was agreed vpō require him to depart frō his armies to restore Sfortia Duke of Millan to receiue the money for his raunsome send home the kyngs sonnes whome he deteineth as pledges to repay the money that he borowed of the kyng of England hereunto answered the Emperour at Ualolete the .xij. of February That he cā not dismisse his armies in any short time notwithstāding he wil not refuse to take truce for thre yeres or more to sēd the armies on both partes agaīst the Turke our cōmon ennemie in the meane time to treate of peace Sfortia holdeth his landes of the Empire and is accused of treason he can not therfore be restored before his matter be examyned Wherfore let hym answere to the lawe and his accusers and he wyll appoynt hym indifferent iudges To restore the kynges chyldren vpon the receipte of the money he can not and the same is agaynste the kynges promesse othe and fidelitie Where they require him to repaie the kinge of England his money he marueleth not a litle consydering they haue no cōmaundement of him in this matter for the kyng he be such frendes as a mony matter can not breake their frendshyp Wherfore seinge the requestes be vnsitting he willeth them to bryng forth others for his part he wyl do nothyng obstinatly but shal be content to beare with many thinges for the cōmon wealthes sake Wherfore the Ambassadours thus departing without any thing concluded they renewe the warres againe with all their force power In those daies Iohn Frederick sonne heire to the prince electour of Saxony married Sibille daughter to Duke Iohn of Cleaue the lady Catharine that Emperours yongest sister was promysed him writinges made of the same But when this alteratiō of religion chaūced in Saxony they swarued frō their couenauntes And Hawnart which was then Emperours Ambassadour in Germany sayd plainly that there was no promise to be kept with Heretikes following herein as I suppose the fote stepes of the coūsel at Constance as in dede the Duke of Saxony reciteth in a certen writing Emōges others of themperours captaines was Charles Duke of Bourbon who going with a certen power to Naples by the way toke the citie of Rome sacked it the next daye after he there arriued being the sixt day of May. Clemēt the byshop the Cardinals and other prelates fleing in to Castell aungell were beseged a certen tyme being trenched in on euery syde whiche after they had endured siege seuen monethes were at the laste deliuered by the Emperours commaundement It is harde to expresse with wordes the great crueltie and oultrage of the Germanes and Spanyardes at Rome For besydes the cruell slaughters destruction spoyling and raueshynge of women they left of no kynde of contumelious reproches mockinges of the bishop and his Cardinalles The Emperour excused the facte diligently affirmyng that it was not done by his commaūdement And chiefly he wrote therof to the king of England that albeit he supposeth the thyng to haue happened vnto hym by the iust iudgement of God who auenged the wronge and iniurie done vnto hym yet he sayeth he wil so vse the matter that this same calamitie shal be the beginning and occasion of the helth of the common wealth Whan newes were brought into Spayn of the sackīg of Rome Cesar immediatly cōmaūded to cease frō playing of pageantes interludes whiche were thē set forth for ioy of his son Philip newly borne The king of Englād answe red nothīg to themperours letters and the bishop of Rome being captiue vnto whom he bare a great zeale reuerence themperours power increasing daily he fixed his mind vpō warre sending the Cardinal of yorke ambassadour into Fraunce To the coūsel of Regēsburg came the Prynces but sent their Ambassadours only Wherfore there was nothing cōcluded sauyng that they sent letters to the Emperour the xviij day of May signifiyng that for diuers causes his presence were requysite and nedefull In this tyme sprange vp a newe kynde of doctryne of suche as are called Anabaptistes They condempne the baptisme of infantes and are baptysed agayne them selues teachyng that all thynges should be common Against these wrote Luther Zwynglius and diuers others And the magistrates punished in euery place They boaste of visions dreames and at Sangal a town in Swycerlande one of them cut of his brothers head in the presence both of father and mother whome he had perswaded that God had cōmaunded hym so to do but being apprehended of the magistrate he suffered the lyke punyshment Now how muche they increased and what cōmotions they styred vp in Germany hereafter shal be declared This yeare the Senate of Strasborough decreed that none shoulde from henceforth be buried within the citie and appointed certen places for the buriall of the dead without their citie When the Frenche kynge heard that Rome was taken makyng league with the kyng of Englande he sent a great armie into Italy by the conduicte of Lautrech a Gascon to rescewe the byshop Who comming into Lumbardy and ayded by the Uenetians taketh first Alexādria and after Pauie partly by force and partly by composition but the souldiours in their rage and fury for that the king was there taken after a woūderful slaughter of the townes men spoyled the citie The .xxvij. day of Iuly Charles Duke of Burbon lately stayne in the assaulte at Rome was condempned at Paris by the court of parliamēt of treason his name and memoriall accursed his Armes plucked downe and his landes and goodes confiscated Anthony Prate Chauncelour gaue the sentence This Duke bare a mortall hatred to the kynge and what tyme he went to besege Marseilles as is mentioned before in the fourth boke for because at the same tyme the kynge of Englande toke the Emperours parte he wrote to the Cardinall of Yorke emonges other thinges that he would spare no paynes nor peryll that kyng Henry might by his helpe recouer the ryght and tytle that he hath to Fraunce For Englyshe men doe clayme all Fraunce to be theires for a two hundreth yeares since and aboue especiallye Normandye Gascoyne and Gwyne In these letters therfore did Bourbon prouoke the kynge to clayme and chalenge his ryght Whiche letters the Frenche kyng afterwardes chauncing vppon conceyued muche more hatred against hym There was in the dukedome of Bauarie one Leonarde Cesar a professour
haue no suche councell as hathe bene promysed what sorowe and grief that thynge wyll be to mens hartes it is easy to coniecture Agayne if the byshop shall refuse the dewe examination triall of the matter it is to be feared lest the cōmon welth and state of the churche shall be tourmoyled with sorer tempestes thā it hath bene hitherto But where as the states of the Empyre haue in all theyr assemblies cōdescended vpon an vpright counsel they distrust not but they will perseuer also in the same vtterly refusing the snares and bondes wherwith the bishop intendeth craftly to catche thē trusting that other kynges Princes wyl do the like For the bonde that he goeth about is full of craft deceitfulnes neyther can there be true iudgement vnlesse the myndes of all men be franke free so that if he procede thus hold the counsel after his owne pleasure they wyll cōmitte the whole matter vnto God whiche doubtles will defende his owne cause doctrine Howe be it in case the matter should so come to passe that the byshop should be permitted so to do they wold take further aduisement what were thā nedeful to be done And if perchaunce they shal be sūmoneth se that they shal be able to do any thing for the glory of Gods holy name they wil come thither by saufe cōduict whā they are made wel assured or send their Ambassadours to propounde what soeuer the necessitie of the cause shall requyre neuerthelesse vnder that condition that they wyll in no wyse admytte those requestes of the byshop nor acconsente to any counsell that is contrarye to the decrees of the Empire For they can not see howe this interprise of the byshop can make for the contynuall peace of the churche and the common wealth Neyther is it also semelye for hym so to doe in case he would execute the office of a true Pastour whiche is to haue a care for all men and to feede them with the true doctrine of Christ Whiche thynges standing thus they desyre them to cary this theyr aunswere to the Emperour and the bishops and that the Emperour whom thei do reuerently acknowledge to be their chief souereigne appointed of God do not take the same in euyll parte but that he woulde fynde the meanes that the counsell myght be had according to the decrees of the Empyre and that the whole controuesie may be decided by vertuous men and nothyng suspected For certenly this appertayneth to his cōmendation and vertue to employe al his power and aucthoritie to the aduauncement of true doctrine and not to the establyshynge of theyr crueltie whiche nowe these many yeares haue persecuted innocent persones only for the profession of the Gospell and holsome doctryne For the residue they committe all that euer they haue vnto the Emperour neyther is there any other thyng whiche they wyll not be glad to doe for his sake At the same tyme with kyng Ferdinando was the byshoppes Ambassadour Peter Paule Uerger whome I spoke of in the former booke And because the byshop of Rhezo was an aged man and sickly Clement commaunded Uerger that in case any impedimēt happened vnto him he should supplie his rowme but he geueth hym an especiall charge that he beare alwayes in memory what his mynd and wyll is touchyng the counsell Let hym loke therfore that in no wyse he doe passe the boundes of his commission no not one fynger breadth nor that he dryue not hym to suche an exigent that he must of necessitie kepe a counsel though king Ferdinādo would neuer so fayne haue it so and vrged hym streightly therunto ✚ The nynth 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 nynth Booke GEorge Duke of Saxon marketh suche as fauoured the Gospel and accuseth Luther to the Electour of Saxony his cosyn Pope Element meting the Frenche kyng at Marseilles geueth his Niece in marriage to Henry Duke of Orleaunce The Dake of Wirtenberge dryuen out of his countrey Henry the eight kyng of Englande putteth away Quene Katherine his wyfe and forsaketh the Pope The Pageaunt of the spirite of the graye freers of Orleaunce is recited The Lantgraue recouereth the Duke dome of Wittemberge The agrement betwene kyng Ferdinando and the Duke of Saxon and the articles of peace betwixt Ferdinando and 〈…〉 ich Duke of Wirtemberge are rehersed Clement dieth Paule of the house of Fernese succedeth persecutiō at Paris by reason of certen placardes the kyng pourgeth him selfe to the Germaynes therfore The Emperour taketh the citie of Tunnes Moore and the byshop of Rochester are beheaded Pope Paule by his legate Uergerius sommoneth the counsell of Mantua wherfore the Protestauntes metyng at Smalcalde sende their aduyse in wrytinge The Lorde Langey being sent thether by the kyng of Fraunce solliciteth them to a league and debated diuers matters wher vnto the Protestauntes made aunswere The kyng of Englande also sent thether to declare what woulde be the ende to attende for suche a counsell The league of Smalcalde is renewed into whiche are newly admitted sondry Prynces and Cities WHan they had made this aunswer they appoynted diuines and lawyers to delyberate vpon the action for the counsell to come and determined to set forth the byshops aunswere in prynte and communicate the same to forein kynges and nations Also to sende Ambassadours to the Iudges of the chamber who contrary to the Emperours proclamatiō graunted out proces against certen in causes of Religion whose iudgement vnles they surceased they would refuse Moreouer to sende an Ambassade to the Archebyshop of Mentz and to the Palsgraue which were intercessours And last of all to reporte vnto the Emperour the whole matter in wryting I haue tolde you oftener than ones howe Duke George of Saxony bare malice to Luther priuely and hated his doctrine openly And where as he vnderstode that diuers of his subiectes did holde opinion that they ought to receyue the Lordes supper after the commaundemēt of Christe he charged the Ministers of his churches to geue vnto all suche as after the olde custome at Easter confessed their synnes and receiue the Sacrament after the byshop of Romes lawe certen tokens whiche they should afterwardes deliuer vnto the Senate to the intent it myght be knowē who were of the Romyshe and who were of Luthers opinion So were there founde in Lipsia whiche is the head Towne of that countrey to the numbre of lxx without tokens They had consulted with Luther before what was nedefull to be done Who wrote vnto them that suche as beleued certenly howe they ought to receiue the whole supper should doe nothing against their owne conscience but rather suffer death Wherfore being thus encouraged they sticke vnto it and whan the Prince called them before hym geuing them two monethes respite to deliberate and they woulde
any thyng determyned wherwith the kyng toke excedyng muche displeasure Neuerthelesse lest it should appeare that he should do anythyng vniustly the kynge sent into Fraunce Italy and Germany to enquyre the opinions of all vniuersities And the moste part consented to the kyng and emonges other the diuines of Paris approued the kynge by the vniuersitie Seale and as it was thoughte were lyberally rewarded therfore But amōges others of the quenes maydes there was one of an excellent beautie called Anne Bolen whome the kyng began to fantasy in so muche as men myght easelye perceyue that he entended to marrie her to his wyfe Whan the Cardinall of Yorke perceyued this whiche was chief about the kyng and as they saye authour of the diuorsement he chaunged his purpose admonyshyng the byshop of Rome by his letters that he should not approue the diuorsement For than shoulde an other succede Quene Katherine whiche was infected with Luthers opinions Whiche thyng whan the kyng vnderstode by his Ambassadour that was ledger at Rome he was sore offended And not longe after for this and other thinges whiche he had practised in 〈…〉 e where he was Chauncelour of the Realme and had thre of the beste byshop 〈…〉 hes York Duresme and Wynchester first he displaced hym from his office and after taketh away two of his byshoprikes And in conclusion what time he leading a priuate lyfe at home had spooken certen wordes that were arrogant and importing a desire of reuengement the kyng sent Syr William kingstone Captaine of the garde to discharge his house and brynge hym to London but fallyng in to a vehement 〈…〉 ixe by the way he dyed and was buried at Lecester But the byshop of Rome to the intent Campegius myght haue some excuse to departe reuoked the sute into his own handes And perceiuing that the marriage of quene Anne would be to hym preiudiciall he warneth the kyng full ofte and goeth about also to feare him with threateninges that he should leaue of his enterpryse But whan he could not preuayle to please the Emperour he gaue sentence with his a 〈…〉 t Katherine this yeare the .xxiij. of Marche where as the kynge had a yeare before married an other forsakynge Katherine proclaiming his daughter Marie a bastarde But after he perceiued that sentence was geuen against hym he conceaued a mortall hatred against the byshop And immediatly maketh a lawe whereby he declareth him self to be head of the church through out Englande abolishyng the byshop vtterly and commaundeth vnder payne of death and maketh it treason if any man ascribe vnto the byshop of Rome the supremacie he denieth also the yearely pension whiche was wont to be geuen to the bishoppes Collectour And with moste weightie wordes enacteth that from henceforth no monye be conueyed to Rome and this did he by the consent of the whole nobilitie and commons of the Realme by ordre of the hyghe courte of parliament Fraunces the Frenche kynge was thoughte to haue furthered very muche this diuorcement to the intent he myght thus cleane with drawe him from the frendshyp of the Emperour concerning the trybute payed to Rome thus it standeth Inas kyng of Britane aboute the yeare of our Lorde fiue hundreth and forty for the opinion of Religion and deuotion made the Realme tributory to the byshop of Rome as it is leaft in memory in ioynyng euery house to paye a penny Wherfore the byshoppes had their Collectours cōtinually there to gather this annuall stypende called of the common people Peter pence The byshoppes collectour at this tyme was Peter Uan who retourned not to Rome but remayned styll in Englande And where as this money had bene continually payed frō that time vnto these our daies kynge Henry firste of all men made a restrainte therof and an inhibitiō that it should be payed no more You haue heard how Erasmus and Luther wrote one againste the other of free wyll in the fourthe booke And this yeare their contention began a freshe And Luther takyng an occasiō by one of his frendes epistles chargeth Erasmus sore as though he should call the christian Religion in doubt mocke it and condempne it And also alledgyng certen places of his owne workes goeth about to proue the same and sheweth that in his wrytyng he is ambiguous and with his eloquence practyseth a kynde of Tyraunye And for as muche as in Godly thynges he trifleth dalieth thus with doubtfull wordes where as he coulde oughte to speake more playnly he aduoucheth that all thynges ought to be construed agaynst him Wherunto Erasmus afterwarde aunswered and that ryght sharpely for he feared most of al other thynges left his workes should lose their grace and authoritie About this tyme in Fraunce the Grey freers of Orleaunce wrought a terrible and a bloudy enterpryse And thus the thinge was The Mayers wyfe of the citie prouided in her wyll that she would be buried without any pompe or noyse For whan any departeth in Fraunce the Belmen are hyred to goe about the Citie and in places moste frequented to assemble the people with the sounde of the bell and than to declare the name and title of the partie deceased also wher and whan they shal be butied and last to exhorte the people to praye for the dead And whan the coarse is caried forth for the moste parte these beggyng freers go with it all to the churche and many torches are borne before it and the more pompe and solempnitie is vsed the more is the concourse and gasyng of people but this woman wold haue none of all this gere done for her Wherfore her husbande which loueth her well followed her mynde herein and gaue vnto the Graye freers in whose churche she was buried besydes her father and her grandfather syxe crownes only for a rewarde where as they looked for a great deale more And afterwardes whā he cut down a wood folde it the freers craued to haue part therof without money and he sayde them nay This toke they in maruelous euyll parte And where as they loued hym not before they deuise now a waye to be reuenged saying that his wyfe was damned euerlastingly The workers of this tragedy were Coliman and Stephen of Arras both doctours of diuinitie and the first in dede was a coniurer and had all his trynkettes and furniture concerning suche matters in a redinesse And they vsed the matter thus They set a yoūg man that was a Nouice aboue ouer the vaulte of the churche And when they came to mumble vp their mattyns at mydnyght after their accustomed maner he made a wonderfull noyse and shryking a lofte than goeth this Colman to crossynge coniuring but the other aboue woulde not speake beynge charged to make a signe to declare if it were a dume spirit he rustleth maketh a noyce agayne that was the signe and token Whan they had layd this foundation they go to
byshop vsurpeth ouermuche authoritie whan he taketh vpō hym to depose kynges and Emperours whiche nowe he entendeth to put in practyse against the kynge of Englande albeit that the kynge also diuers Cardinalles iutreate him to the contrary The diuines say he is head of the churche by Gods lawe but when the kyng demaunded the place they could not shewe it He misliketh also the defence of pourgatory For of that wel spryngeth masse dirige and al theyr marchaundise But if the masse were taken away their combes were cut and they should no lōger be able to defende their authoritie And whā the kyng had graūted them certen monethes wherin they shold proue purgatory by Scripture they aunswered at the lengthe howe they oughte not to reache their enemies weapons whiche they myght vse against thē As touching monasticall vowes the kyng supposeth that it might be obteined of the byshop that none should be taken in yong and before the vowers were of type yeares and that it should be lawfull for them to depart thence whan they woulde and mary And thinketh not good to deface theyr houses but to conuerte them in to Colleges wherein yought may be brought vp in learnyng and vertue The diuines would in any case haue priestes to liue vnmaried but the king had deuised this meane waye that suche as haue maried wyues shold remayne so styll but the rest not to mary or if they did to absteyne frō the ministration of the churche For concerning y◠whiche is alledged of Paphnutius who in the counsell of niece perswaded the mariage of priestes the diuines aunswere that it can not be proued that priestes haue maried at any tyme Not withstandynge they wyl not deny but that they had wyues before they were admitted to the ordre of priesthod As concerning the lordes supper to be receyued wholye or vnder both kyndes as they terme it the kynge had conference herein with Clement the seuenth and trusteth also that it wylbe obtayned at this byshoppes handes that it shal be lawfull for euery man to receiue after his conscience Moreouer the kynge affirmeth that a hondreth yeare synce in Fraunce they receiued the whole supper not in the myddes of the churche but in chappelles as he had heard old men make relatiō And agayne the kynges of Fraunce do receyue the whole communiō And where as the kynge obiected this vnto them the diuines made aunswere that kynges were anoynted as well as priestes and that the Scripture speaketh of a Priesthode Royall And that the same whiche is lawfull for kynges is not to be permitted to others in lyke case Furthermore in mattins and other dayly seruice the kyng doth acknowledge that many thinges may be cut of and many taken cleane away And that Clemēt the seuenth committed the charge here of vnto Cardinall Crucei a Spaniarde whose boke of the same thing remayneth whiche the diuines of Paris haue condempned for heresy whiche be suche a kynde of men that wyll condempne not onlye the Germaines as wicked and erring in Religion but also the byshop hym selfe with all his Cardinalles and the case require it But seynge the whole matter is full of difficultie the kyng is altogether addicted to haue the churche restored to vnitie and concorde And how he hath talked herein with the Dukes of Bauier whom he fyndeth stiffer thā the diuines of Paris Finally he exhorted them to admitte no place of counsel but by the kyng his maisters and also the kyng of Englandes aduise whiche wyll consent both in one Moreouer how certen yeres past Lewys the Frenche kyng contended that it was not laweful for Iuly the byshop to appointe a counsel without the consent of the Emperour and other kynges And the kyng of Nauarre was than of the same opinion and where as Iuly did excommunicate them both Ferdinando kyng of Spayne by this title inuaded Nauarre And that the kyng is nowe also of that mynde and opinion neyther wyll he admitte any counsel vnlesse the place be sure and not suspected or apt for iniury and wherin a man may speake his mynde frely Besydes the talke before mentioned he was earnestly in hand with them to enter into league with the kynge And this was the principall cause of hys Ambassade But where they did except the Emperour against whom they sayde they myght attempte nothynge he departed without his purpose and to certen he spake in counsell how he marueled that they would neglecte so mightie a kyng and sayde the tyme woulde come wherin they would wyshe to haue redemed his frendshyp derely The kyng of Englande also Henry the eyght sent thether his Ambassade the chief wherof was Edward Foxe byshop of Hereforde who in the begynning made his relation For as muche as the aliaunce and kinred is great betwene the kynges of England the Princes of Saxō the kyng can not but beare muche good wyll towardes hym and hys cōsortes especially synce their chief endeuour is to set forth Gods true knowledge vnto others And al be it that for this cause only they haue susteyned great reproche yet doth he mislyke them neuer a whyt therfore nor iudgeth otherwyse of them than of suche good men as contrary to their dutie and without a reasonable cause wyll doe nothing and to haue this respect only that through the true preachynge of the Gospell Gods glory myght be aduaunced And of the same desyre is the kyng also whiche is sufficiently enough declared by the alteratiō that is now in Englād For by the kinges cōmaundemēt a great part of Errours are abolyshed and by commō assent of the whole Realme the byshop of Rome with all his deceiptfull iugglynges are frō thence cleane banyshed in lyke case as it is in Saxony And for so muche as the same desyre and good wyll is common to them both the kyng hath a wonderfull great affection towardes them that they woulde thus procede and professe al one doctrine for that should doubtles establysh a continuall peace and quiet And what commotions haue arrysen of the diuersitie of opinions the kynge vnderstandeth And the Anabaptistes by theyr example haue declared The byshop nowe pretendeth as though he would calle a counsel and certenly if there remayne any dissention and they doe not agree in their doctrine it wyl make much against them whan they shall come to the counsell Wherein notwithstandyng he imputeth not the fault to the diuines for the state of the churche was neuer so quiet but at some tyme there hath been dissention Whiche thynge is also proued by the example of Peter Paule Barnabas Therfore is an vniformitie to be sought for that maye be grounded vpon the sure foundation of Scripture And the byshop of Rome endeuoureth with all his myght to let that peace and concord Wherfore the kynge is of this opinion that so longe as his authoritie tyranny and crueltie endureth it is vnpossible to come to agrement
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
Ascanius Wherof Lewis inuaded the Dukedome and begot two sonnes Maximilian and Fraunces The Duke of Orleaunce had by Ualentine Charles Philippe and Iohn Charles was father to Lewis Duke of Orleaunce whiche was after king of Fraunce the twelfth of that name Philippe died without issewe Iohn Erle of Engolesme had a sonne named Charles father to kyng Fraunces who toke Maximilian Sfortia prisoner and subdewed all Lumbardie But Leo the tenth and the Emperour dispossessing hym agayne restored Fraunces Sfortia an exile Who being nowe dead kyng Fraunces to reclayme his ryght as he saieth and to be auēged moueth warre agayne For that after the death of Sfortia the Emperour had taken the possessiō of Lumbardie by Anthony Leua whō he left his depute there what tyme he sayled into Barbaria as before is mentioned Wherfore so sone as he had anye knowledge of the kynges enterpryse he leuieth immediatly all the power he myghte in Germanye and other places to come into Italy And coming frō Naples to Rome in the beginning of Aprill within a fewe dayes after his repayre he required that a Senate might be called wherin before the byshop and a great numbre of Cardinalles and the Ambassadours of foreyne Prynces he had a graue and a vehement oration against the Frenche kyng who breakyng league of an olde hatred and malice hindreth impecheth his moste worthy and Godly enterprises The ende of his oration was to declare that he was ready to fight with him the combat to the intent that through the priuate losse of one of them two rather than by publique domage of the whole worlde the warre might ones haue an ende Before he departed from Naples The Uenetians entred into league with him against the Turke the rather for that they hoped well that he would delyuer the possession of Millan to some priuate man For the states of Italy chiefly the Uenetians wouldneyther that the Emperour nor yet the Frenche kyng should enioye the goodly Dukedome of Millan And therfore in these former yeares they conspyred oftentymes one whyle against the Frenche kynge an other whyle against the Emperour that Fraunces Sfortia myght be restored of whome they supposed to stande in lesse daunger For the league which Clement and the Uenetians made against the Emperour ten yeares before was for this cause only Thinkyng that the Emperour hauyng displaced Sfortia would haue kept to his owne vse all Lumbardie whiche in dede they supposed would be to their great hinderaunce And where at the intercession of Byshop Clement sixe yeares past he restored Sfortia at Boloigne la grasse he got him wonderfull fauour and great good wyll At Naples also the Emperour finished vp the mariage of his bastarde daughter with Alexander Medices whome he had made Duke of Florence as I tolde you in the seuenth booke This Alexander was the bastard sonne of Laurence Medices which had to father Peter whiche was drowned in the mouth of Lire as in the last boke is mentioned You haue heard howe Uergerius was sent into Germany Whan the Emperour was arriued at Naples the byshop calleth hym home againe who returning with great expedition whan he came to Rome declareth his Ambassade how the protestauntes required to haue a free and a Christian counsell and that within the precinct of the Empyre in a place conuenient as the Emperour had made them promyse Of Luther and the rest there is no hope vnlesse they be dispatched out of the way And as concerning the king of Englande the Protestauntes wyll not assente to it and the reste of the Princes are very colde Howe George Duke of Saxonye affirmeth that there is great daunger of the Lutherians whiche can not be otherwise eschewed or auoyded vnlesse the Emperour and the Byshop make warre against them ryght shortly Whiche thynge whan the Byshop vnderstode he sendeth hym to Naples with all spede to recite these thynges to the Emperour especially concernyng the warre to be attempted agaynste the Lutheriās Aterwardes whā the Emperour was come to Rome he was earnestly in hande to haue a counsel called and coueted greatly to cary with hym the letters patentes of the same The Byshop said he was content notwithstāding he woulde chouse some citie in Italy and prescribe therein certen conditions necessary for the churche of Rome Hereunto the Emperour so that he woulde do it ones he cared for no more For he would bryng the greater parte of Germany to followe hym herein so therfore the Byshop chouseth out nyne of that nūbre to make the wrytte Those were Campegius Cesius Simonet Ginucius Cōtarene Poole Cardinals The Archebishop of Brunduse the Byshop of Rhezo and Uergerius thā made byshop of Modruse and not long after of Instinopulis All these together first in the Byshops presence afterwardes seuerally by them selues deuise the forme of Somoning the counsell You haue heard before of the Ambassadours of Englande with whome it was accorded at Smalcalde vpon certen conditions that the kyng should set forth the pure doctrine of the Gospell whiche they professed at Auspurge and maynteyne the same with them in a lawefull counsell if any suche shal be that neyther of them admitte the calling or place of a counsell but by cōmon assent Neuerthelesse if it may appere by certayne and manifest reasons that any suche counsel is like to be as hath bene declared to Peter Paule Uerger the Byshoppes legate that it be not refused but in case the byshop continue his purpose that than his enterpryse be letted and by open protestation be refused And lyke as the kynge hath ioyned hym selfe to their religion so lykewyse to ioyne with them in league also and to be called the Patroneand defendour of the same That common opinion of the supremacie of the Byshop of Rome to be vtterly reiected for euer If anye warre be attempted against other parte for Religion or other cause that no ayde be geuen vnto hym that inforceth the same That for the defence of the league the kyng shal paye one hundreth thousand crownes wherof the one halfe the confederatours shall and may employe whā nede shall requyre the rest of the charges to be borne of their own money whiche they shall contribute amonges them but if the warre shal longe endure and the force of the ennemy driue them to it thā the king to disburse two hundreth thousand crownes for as much as they if the lyke chaunce should fortune stande also bounde not only to spēd their goodes but their bloud and lyfe also And of this somme also the like consideration to be had as before and that it be not emploied to any other vse than to defende the league and the remainder to be restored whan the warre is finished That the Ambassadours shall wryte to the kyng hereof and whan they knowe his mynde to aduertise the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue therof that after a commō Ambassade maye be sent vnto hym Whan
heare saith he how the Frēche kyng hath requyred your ayde but not obteined which was to me great pleasure and I haue aduertised the Emperour hereof And certenly reason would it should so be For the Emperour gaue none occasion of this warre but was fully resolued this sommer to haue warred vpon the Barbarians and the ennemies of our Religion Notwithstanding the Frenche kynge immediatly after the death of Fraunces Sfortia Duke of Millan albeit he hath no right nor title therunto a composition made touchyng the whole matter certen yeares paste contrary to the conuenauntes sought to renewe warre and to recouer Lumbardy And at the same tyme passing the Alpes with a great armie inuaded the Duke of Sauoye a Prynce of the Empyre to the intent that hauing ones subdued his countrey he might haue the way open to passe further And nowe that the Emperour hath leuied an armie to resiste hym as he was in dede constreined I am informed that he craueth nowe ayde agayne of you Neuerthelesse for as muche as he breakyng his fidelitie hath commenced warres a freshe I desyre you that you doe not assiste hym Whereby you shall do the Emperour and me pleasure and preserue the quiet of your owne commō wealth In this meane while the Protestantes had sent an Ambassade to the Emperour in Italy to make their purgation in that he had charged them by letters to haue taken the churche goodes and further more to complayne of the iudges of the Emperiall chamber But before the Ambassadours were arriued the Emperoure the seuenthe of Iulye had sent letters to the Protestauntes from the Towne of Sauilie signifieng how he hath at al tymes both present and absent by his letters and Ambassadours sought the quiet of Germany and hath both promysed them peace in theyr Relygion and also perfourmed the same And nowe for as muche as the Frenche kynge against whome he is enforced to rayse an armie maye perauenture by false suggestion perswade with them that he would now take occasion to breake that treuce of Religion therfore hath he thought good to admonyshe them by his letters to beleue no suche thinge but assure them selues that he woulde obserue his promyse neyther would he moue warre vpon any man for religion nor styre vp any trouble in Germany for all this preparation of warre is to mainteyne his ryght and authoritie Wherfor let them quiet them selues and styre not what so euer they shal heare For this shall be both to hym acceptable and to them also profitable Whan the Emperours power was come altogether he marched through the myddest of Italye with a stronge armie tyll he came in to prouynce of Fraunce The kynge had incamped hym selfe at Auignion betwyxte the Ryuers of Rhosne and Druence and destroyinge the countrey Whereinto he perceiued the Emperour woulde come and kepyng hym selfe from geuynge the battell he brought his ennemies into great perplexitie and myserie For the Emperour enforced through the penurie and scarscitie of all thynges and the losse of manye thousandes whiche died for famine and pestilence and also for the death of Anthony Leuie dischargeth the reste of his Armye and retourneth to Genes An other Armie of his that warred this sommer in Uermandoys beseged the towne of Peronne by the cōduicte of Henry Erle of Nassowe but preuayling not leuied the siege about the same time that the Emperour retyred in the prouince and the reporte of eyther newes brought vnto Paris the same daye reioysed the citie exceadynglye For they were in verye great feare and the Preachers in their Sermons to the people inuehed sore against the Emperour And the kynges Lieutenauntes began to intrenche the cytie and kepte the gates with watche and warde William Furstemberge a Germane serued the Frenche kynge in this warre About the begynning of this warre ended his lyfe the Frenche kynges eldest sonne Fraunces the Daulphin eyghtene yeares of age the reporte went that he was poysoned and one Sebastian de moute Cuculo an Italian beyng had in suspicion was fyrste racked and after torne in pieces with sondrye horses at Lions And the kynge afterwardes in his letters to the Prynces of Germanye amonges other made a greuous complainte hereof against Anthony Leuie and Ferdinando Gonzage the Emperours Lieutenauntes in whome he layd all the blame Herman Archebyshop of Collon of long tyme intending a reformation of his churche holdeth at this tyme a counsell of his owne prouince callynge to it as the maner is the Byshoppes within his iurisdiction of Liege Utreicht Munster Osenbridge and Myndes Herein were decrees made of ceremonies and doctrine and after set forth in a booke compyled by Iohn Gropper wherein were al Popyshe Ceremonies for the moste parte paynted out with new colours whiche booke dyd not contente the Byshop than as hereafter shal be declared About this tyme also in the moneth of Iuly Erasmus of Roterdam departed out of this lyfe an olde man of thre score and ten yeares and was buried at Basill Howe excellently learned and howe eloquent a man he was and howe muche al learnyng is bounde to hym his own workes shall testifie By occasion of puttyng downe papistrie in Englande and suppressing of certen Abbeyes vnder thre hundreth markes of yearely valewe there arose a commotion in Lynkcolneshyre in a market towne they call Lowthe styred vp by Doctour Mackerell a false Monke who named him selfe captayne Cobblar and after that it was appeased by the Duke of Southfolke the kynges Lyeutenaunt an other began in Yorke shyre a grear deale worse For those Rebelles were manye and stronge and came as farre as Dankcaster where the Duke of Northfolke met them with the kinges power and when they should haue ioyned together in battell by the mediation of the Erle of Shrewisbury which was a man welbeloued of the commons the matter was taken vp without bloudshed Their chief Captaine was Robert Aske who was after executed for his treason with certen others of the Nobilitie his adherentes Unto the letters which the Emperour wrote in Iuly the Protestaūtes answer the nynth day of Septembre and where it pleased hym to wryte so gentle and so lyberally they shewe hym howe they conceaue great pleasure in theyr mindes for albeit they did neuer distruste his promise yet for as much as diuerse reportes of his displeasure came to their eares and agayne for that the iudges of the imperiall chamber and others makyng none accompte of the peace concluded did procede diuerse wayes agaynste them they had some cause to doubte and feare the matter But nowe that he hath wrytten againe so louingly and playnly they are out of all doubtes that he wyll perfourme the same and refuse the sclaunderous reportes of their aduersaries lykewyse wyll they doe and geue no credite vnto suche as shall otherwyse reporte of him and in al other thinges also doe according to their dutie than came they to the counsell which the
Byshop had lately appointed at Mantua And for as muche as the Emperour had oftentymes promysed them a free counsell in Germany and especially in the peace concluded at Norinberge and what this shall be they can not perceiue by the wryting they desyre hym that he woulde see the matter myght be indifferently heard and vsed In this same moneth the byshop of Rome publysheth an other wryting and sayeth howe in the meane tyme tyll the counsel begynne he wyl refourme the holy citie of Rome the head of all christendome and maistres of doctrine maner and disciplyne and washe it cleane from all spottes and vyce to the intent that his owne house being first well pourged he may after more easely take ordre for the rest and because the nature of man is full of imbecillitie neyther can he do so great a thing alone and also dispatche other affaires of the common wealth therfore hath he chosen certen Cardinalles whome the liuing God hath ioyned to hym as the coadiutours and companions of his cure and of office to be the workers of this necessary and holsome busynes the Cardinall of Ostia Sauseuerine Ginute Simonet and with them thre byshops whome he commaundeth all men to obeye vnder a great penaltie In the moneth of Octobre the Emperour imbarketh him selfe at Genes to sayle into Spayne The Frenche kynge came afterwardes to Paris and on new yeares day gyueth in mariage madame Magdalene his eldest daughter to Iames the fift kynge of Scottes who came into Fraunce in Autumne before And in maner about the same tyme Laurence Medices through treason in the nyght murthered Alexander Medices Duke of Florence of his owne kyndred and familie whan he had allured hym home to his house putting hym in hope to enioye a noble matrone that was his neyghbour who in beautie honest fame farre excelled others Who being slayne the gouernment came vnto Cosmus Medices which after by the Emperours consent married Elenor daughter to Peter Toletane Uiceroy of Naples At the Ides of Ianuary the kyng of Fraunce came in to the court of Parliament at Paris whiche thinge is seldome accustomed And there in a great audiēce he maketh a sore complaint of the Emperour and declared causes why the countries of Flaunders and Artois whiche the Emperour holdeth of the kynges of Fraunce as his elders haue done also ought to be called againe to the patrimony of Fraūce The speaker hereof was Capell the kynges aduocate and he named hym not Emperour but Charles of Austriche In the meane tyme the cities of Zuricke Bernes Basyll and Strausborough make sute to the Frenche king for such as were imprisoned for Religion intreating hym that the exiles myght be restored the kyng graunted partly vnto their requestes but yet accomplished not their desyre Wherfore whan they had receyued their aunswere the foure and twenty of February by Annas Momorantie the Conestable and suspected that the kynge through his impulsion dealt the lesse frendly with them the Ambassadours vsed afterwardes the helpe of the Quene of Nauarre the kinges owne syster a very good ladye and whiche bare a great zeale to the true doctrine In this meane whyle the kyng hauing mustred his men in the beginning of Marche leadyng his army towardes Arras besegeth the towne and strong castell of Hesdine whiche he had rendred to hym within a moneth At the selfe same tyme came to the kynge an Ambassadour from the byshop of Rome Reignalde Poole an Englysh mā borne of the bloud roial lately made Cardinal The cause of his ambassade was thought to be to worke some mischief against the kinge of Englande About the same tyme that the kyng of Scottes maried the Frenche kynges daughter the byshop had sent him for a present a fayre sworde riche well wrought and did exasperate him against the kyng of Englande For the byshoppes are accustomed on Christmas daye at nyght amōges other thinges with certen ceremonies to consecrate as thei terme it a sworde whiche after for an honour and token of beneuolence they geue or sende vnto some man to whome it lyketh them Sixtus the fourth was first authour of this custome as is mentioned in the booke of their ceremonies Afterwardes Cardinall Poole wrote a booke whiche he had intitled a defence for the vnitie of the churche And he addresseth his style and speache vnto king Henry and reprehēdeth him sore that he toke vpon him to be head of his churche for that title to be longe only to the Byshop of Rome whiche is the Uicar of Christe and the successour of Peter whome Christe appointed Prince of the Apostles For he it was only that aunswered how Christe was the sonne of God vpon hym as vpon a Rocke Christe buylded his churche And howe Christe prayeth for his fayth that he being conuerted myght also conuerte his brethren And that Iohn after Christes death did euer obeye Peter And what tyme they made haste bothe to Christes Sepulchre he wold not go in before but gaue him this honour The cure and charge to fede the shepe was committed chiefly to hym of Christ And the nette also ful of fysshe whiche many were not able to hale vp was drawen vpon the shore by Peter alone Than hath he a long discourse of the deathes of the byshop of Rochester and syr Thomas Moore detestinge his crueltie Moreouer howe the kyng had afflicted all the states of his realme And into how muche mysery he had brought a moste floryshynge kyngdome what daunger he stode in of the Emperour for the diuorsement of his Aunt and subuersion of Religion and sheweth hym how he neyther can nor ought to loke for any ayde eyther of his owne subiectes or any other men whiche hath deserued so euyll of the common wealth And tourning his tale to the Emperour with many wordes stireth him vp prouoketh him and prycketh hym forewarde to auenge that notable reproche done vnto his familie and sayeth howe the Turkyshed seede is sowen abroade in Englande and in Germany signifiyng the doctrine that is contrary to the byshop of Rome Finally after many opprobrious wordes and sharpe rebukes he prouoketh hym to regentaunce telleth hym howe there is none other remedy but to retourne agayne to the bosome of the churche whiche ones he defended by setting forth of bookes greatly to his honour This booke printed at Rome bearyng no date was of long tyme kept close and at the last after manye yeares it came to one or two in Germany And he sayeth the cause of his wrytinge therof was for that the kynge had desyred hym to wryte his opinion And albeit that certen learned men in Englande whiche had done the lyke had lost their lyues yet could not he whiche was so muche bounde vnto hym dissemble what his opinion was neyther ought it to be imputed to hym as raylynge or cursed speakynge for he doeth both of his naturall disposition and also by a certen ordre
Religion About this tyme in the moneth of May appered a blasyng starre and shortly after departed Isabel wyfe to Charles the Emperour for whome the Frenche kyng so sone as he heard therof kepte a solempne funerall at Paris as the maner of kynges is I shewed you before of the counsell of Uicence whiche the byshop of Rome had proroged tyll Easter of this yeare But seyng than that none would come he publisheth his letters the tenth of Iune wherin he prorogeth the counsell no more but suspendeth it at his owne pleasure and senate of his Cardinalles The kyng of Englande had certen monethes before set forth another wryttyng touching this Synode of Uicence and declareth howe the Byshop deludeth the whole worlde For where he excused hym selfe by the Duke of Mantua it was a playne mockery For seing he taketh vppon hym so great anothoritie why did he not compelle hym If he coulde not wherfore shoulde he commaunde men to come to a place vncerten and the whiche is not in his power Nowe albeit he hathe chosen Uicence for the same pourpose yet is there no doubt but the 〈…〉 enetians men of so great wysdome wyll no more suffer their citie to be pestred with suche a multitude without garmsons of Souldiours than woulde the Duke of Mantua and that in fyne there wylbe as small resorte thether as was to Mantua There fore it is but delusion what so euer he doeth neyther oughte he to be permitted in this dissolute lybertie any longer There is nothynge in dede better nor more commodious than a lawfull counsell But whan they are applied vnto priuate lucre and commoditie and to the establyshynge of certen mens aucthoritie they brynge a wonderfull destruction to the common wealth Whan the name of the counsell and of the churche was nowe common in euery mans mouthe Luther setteth forth a booke of either of them in the vulgare speache And fyrst he treatefh of the assemblie of the Apostles at Hierusalem whiche is mentioned in the .xv. of the actes After he reciteth the contrary opinions of the Doctours especially Austen and Ciprian concernyng baptisme by the same occasion he maketh mention of those lawes that are called the Canons of the Apostles and proueth by manifest reasons that thei be false and countrefeated and those that geue them that tytle to deserue death Than doeth he recite in ordre those foure counselles which were of chiefe authoritie the counsell of Nyce Constantinople Ephesus and Calcedonie And declareth for what causes they assēbled ther and what they decreed in euery of them After he commeth to the principall question and sheweth what is the aucthoritie of a. counsell Wherfore he sayeth howe a counsel maye not confirme any newe doctryne nor commaunde any newe worke neyther bynde mens myndes with newe ceremonies not to intermedle with ciuile gouernementes nor to make any decrees to establysh the authoritie of a few But the dutie therof to be to abolyshe and condemne newe opinions contrary to holy Scripture and newe ceremonies whether they be superstitious or vnprofitable for the churche And suche thynges as are brought in controuersie to examine and determine after the written text of Gods worde After this he diffineth the churche sheweth by what tokens it ought to be knowen and by a comparyson made declaring what Christe and his Apostles taught he sayeth howe the Byshop of Rome whiche hath brought into the churche a farre cōtrary doctrine and by wicked meanes hath pylled the whole world with intollerable exactions ought to be condempned and dryuen to make restitution Amonges diuerse other thynges wherby in the same boke he declareth what blyndenes men were led into vnder the Byshop of Rome and howe shameful and vyle was the Religion he sayeth how it was come thus farre that a monke or a freers wede was thought to be sufficient to bryng a man to eternall lyfe And manye not onlye meane folkes but also great Prynces would be buried in a freers garment Those that shall come after peraduenture wyl not beleue it but yet is it true and wont to be commonly done in Italy And in our me mory Fraunces Marques of Mantua the seconde of that name put into his last wylle that he myght be buried in a gray freers cote The same did Albertus Pius Prynce of Carpes in Paris And Christopher Longelie a Bourgonnion buried at Padwey a man excellently learned and a great Ciceronian who also wrote an Oration against the Lutherians in lyke case as Alberte did diuers against Erasmus of Roterdame Immediatly after the death of Duke George Henry the Duke of Brunswycke rydeth to the Emperour into Spayne thorowe Fraunce About the same tyme Henry the eyght kyng of Englande calleth a Parliament wherein amōges other thinges were enacted certen decrees for Religiō called the syxe Articles as followeth that vnder the four me of bread and wyne was the true and natural body and bloud of Christe and that after the wordes of consecration there remayned no more substaunce of bread and wyne that the receiuing of the whole supper of the Lorde was not necessary to saluation and that Christ is wholy cōteyned vnder both kyndes How it is not lawful for priestes to marry That the vowes of chastitie ought to be perfourmed That priuate masses were to be reteyned That auricular confession is good and necessary To suche as thought and did otherwyse was appoynted punyshement dewe for heretikes And the same tyme the kynge stoode in termes to marry the Lady Anne of Cleue a mayde of an excellent beautie which after she was affianced within a few monthes was sent to Caleis whether the kyng had sent the Lorde Admirall others with his shyppes to receyue her and transporte her into Englande But he hymselfe accompanied with all the Nobles and Gentlemen of the Realme receiued her vpō blacke Heath and brought her to Grenewitche where shortly after they were married by the Archebyshop of Canturbury Some saye howe the Bishoppes had perswaded the kyng to cōsent to the syxe Articles to the intent they myght bring the Archebyshop of Cantorburye and the Lorde Crumwell whiche were great fauourers of Religion out of aucthoritie creditie This yeare in the mōth of August Barbarousse the Turkes Lieutenaunt taketh by assiege Castelneufe a towne in Slauonie borderinge vpon the Goulfe of Uenise and sleying all the Souldiours leadeth awaye many captiue A yere before in the moneth of October the Emperour and the Uenetians beyng of one confederacie had wonne it And the Emperour in dede put in a garrison of foure thousand Spanyardes and made captayne Fraunces Sarmiento Whiche chaunced to the Uenetians contrary to their expectation for that they sayde the town standing in that coaste ought rather to be theirs Therfore not longe after when they more more mislyked this societie and sawe it wold be very daungerours for them aske truce of the Turke and obteyne it In maner at the same tyme arose
welcome him into the low countrey pourge them selues of the euill reportes of theyr aduersaryes and complayne of the Duke of Brunswike and the Iudges of the Chaumber declare how desirous they be of peace and by howe many waies they haue sought it which they nowe desyre him to graunt and establishe for euer The Emperour telleth them before Granuella that after he hath consulted of the matter he wyll make them an aunswere And in maner about the same tyme that they sent this Ambassade to the Emperour they wrote also to the Frenche kynge reioysinge muche at the great good wyll and amitie betwene the Emperour and hym And with a long proces intreate hym in this cōsent of mindes to further the cause of Religion and publique quiet to the Emperour At the kalendes of Marche the Ambassadours of the Princes cities of Protestauntes met at Smalcald as was appointed with whom also came these diuines Ionas Pomerane Melancthon Cruciger Bucer And they were inioyned to deuise a fourme in wryting wherwith they shoulde thinke mete to treate with their aduersaries for the cōciliation of religion In this assemblie they cōsulted of such matters as were left vndiscussed at Arnstad as before is said In the meane time Dulcie and Burcarte were returned out of Englande the seuenth day of Marche they make reporte at Smalcalde of the state of Religion in England that for the decrees made the yere before there is no great punishement notwithstanding Hugh Latimer byshop of Woorcester and Shaxton byshop of Salisbury are deteined in prison for Religiō and as yet not released The Lorde Cromwell whiche is in moste authoritie doth appease and mitigate the kynges mynde and that also the kyng him selfe in familiar talke opened vnto them his mynde supposeth thus that the diuines of the Protestauntes thinke not rightly cōcerning the mariage of priestes the lordes supper vnder both kyndes and of the priuate masse requireth them to write vnto him of these other necessary questions at large alledging the causes and reasons of their opinions And he wyll see agayne that the learned men of his Realme shall wryte an aunswere that thus a waye may be made to come to the knowledge of the truthe Moreouer Cromwel and certen others thinke it mete and expedient to sende a great Ambassade to the kinge and Melancthon with them For if any meane agrement in religion might be had the kynge woulde bestowe a great somme of money vpon a league that he purposeth to make with them not onlye in the cause of Religion but in generall for the kyng marueleth greatly why they are confederated for Religion only for the tyme wyll come that they shal be attempted with warre vnder a contrary title And a fewe dayes after the diuines exhibite their wryting the some wherof was this Not to swarue from the steppes of the confession at Auspurge and the Apologie afterwardes annexed to the same Which sentence afterwardes all the diuines that were absent did approue by their letters sent thether This tyme came Henry the Duke of brunswick to Gaūt The day before the Ides of March thēperour answereth the protestātes Ambassadours by Cornelles Scepp gētly so so but yet in suche sorte as it coulde not be wel perceiued whether he would graunte them peace or not Wherfore the Ambassadours by the Emperours leaue going a litle asyde by and by retourne and desire hym to inhibite the processe of the Imperiall chamber and graunte them peace whereunto the Emperour sayde he had no more to aunswere them at this tyme he woulde take further delyberation This aunswere was recited at Smalcalde the tenth daye after And on Easter munday which was than the .xxix. of Marche came thether the Princes them selues That tyme was a certen contention and hatred betwyxte Granuella and Heldus which in fine came to this ende that Heldus being displaced departed from the courte and lyued a priuate lyfe For the other was aboue hym in authoritie and brought Heldus into hatred and obloquie for that he was ouer vehement in counsell matters and other affaires and had constreyned the Emperour thinkyng nothyng lesse to haue warres in maner against his wyll And whan Granuella had geuen certen manifeste instructions of his wyll and mynde to be inclyned to peace and concorde beynge requested of the Protestauntes he perswaded the Emperour also to the conditiōs of peace And he hymselfe at the begynning as though it had bene in his owne name sent to Smalcalde intercessours and Ambassadours Theodoricke Manderschitte and William Nuenarie Erles men of great wysdome and dignitie notwithstanding the first taried by the waye sore sycke Their demaundes were reasonable enough neuerthelesse they signified this that the Emperour was almost perswaded as though they cared not for Religion neyther desyred peace in theyr hartes but altogether sought to conuerte the churche goodes to theyr priuate vses delyghted in discorde bare him no good wyll but were more addicte to take their partes that were his open ennemies And these things were reported to the Emperour partly by their aduersaries partly by the Frenchemen as it is sayde for a certentie For what tyme the Emperour went through Fraunce and all thinges were lyke to growe to a perfite frendshyp then were certen thinges disclosed and the Protestauntes letters vnto the kyng shewed vnto the Emperour some do impute this to the kyng him selfe and other some to the Constable who was than of chief authoritie sought al meanes possible to quiet and agree the Princes and dyd beare the Protestantes no good wyl because of Religion ✚ The thirtene 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 thirtene Booke THe Protestauutes make aunswere to the Emperour demaundes shewyng how they haue more regarde to Religion than to churche goodes They confute also the argumentes of the kyng of Englande touchyng the syxe Articles The Emperour hauing punyshed them at Gaunt sendeth letters to assigne a metyng for the protestauntes against whome speaketh Alexander Farnese the Popes Legate who had followed the Emperour out of Fraunce In the meane tyme the Frenche kyng made a league with the Duke of Cleane whose syster the kyng of Englande than refused At the assemble of Hagenawe certen poinctes of Religion were agreed vpon the resydewe were referred to the conuention that kyng Ferdinando assigned at Woruies Whether Granuellan sendyng first Naues came afterwarde also hym selfe and made an Oration And after hym Campeigius the Popes Legate The conference brake offe and all was differed to that Iourney of Regenspurg In this meane whyle Luther answereth a booke set forth by the Duke of Brunswycke where is spoken of the dere mantell of the Archebyshoppes The counsell beyng begonne at Regenspurge Granuellan presenteth the booke of the Interim The Duke of Cleaue commynge into Fraunce marrieth the
confirmyng of the lordes supper of penaunce absolution matrimony vnction of the bond of charitie of the dignitie of the churche and of the authoritie to establishe the weale publicke of images masse and ministration of the sacramentes of the discipline of the churche bothe for the ministers and the people In the moneth of May the Protestantes wryting their letters frō Regenspurg to the Frenche kynge entreate for such as at the same tyme in Fraunce for the profession of the gospell wer partly in prison partly in exile partly hyd in corners and led a miserable lyfe And because many were receyued into fauour incase they woulde abiure they require that he woulde release them from that condicyon declarynge howe heynous a matrer it is to wounde the conscience The cause of thys persecution was by a sentence geuen agaynst the Merindolans in the prouince by the president Bartholomew Chassanie a lawyer which beyng terrible and cruell beyonde measure put the poore men in a wonderful feare not withstanding the full execution therof was differred tyll an other tyme and the persecution of thys yere was but a balle playe in comparison of that whiche followed foure yeares after as shal be recited in hys place Whylest these thynges were done at Regenspurge the Duke of Cleaue hauing themperour hys heuye Lorde for the possession of Gelderlande goeth priuely into Fraunce appoynting such as he would haue with hym a day and a place wher they going an other way should mete hym what tyme therfore he arryued at Paris aboute th ende of Aprill being receiued of the kynges officers and conducted throughe Orleans the sixte daye of Maye he came to the kyng at Ambose a towne in Turin by the Riuer of Loire who imbracing him none otherwise than the father would his owne sonne sent word immediatly to the kyng of Nauarre and hys syster that they shoulde repayre vnto hym with all expedition and brynge theyr Daughter with them for they wer the same time in Gascoigne And after they wer coommen the kyng by and by began to entreate of the maryage And albeit the parentes than did not greatly lyke it and the yonge mayde also was somewhat vnwyllyng not somoch of her owne iudgement or contempte of hym as by the whispering and perswasyon of sertayne whych dispysed Germanye as rude and barren in comparison of the delycacye and pleasauntenes of Fraunce yet vanquished by the kynges authoritye whiche iudged the same affinitie very fit for hys pourpose at the last they gaue place Wherfore at the Ides of Iune the maryage was solemnised the kynge hymselfe leadyng the bryde hys nece to the churche and the Cardinall of Turnon played the prest The kynge gaue them a goodly dyner And ther were thambassadours of Roome Englande Portugall Uenise and Saxonye For themperours had made an excuse After a fewe dayes the Duke retourned homewarde leauing his yong spouse in Fraunce whom her mother woulde haue to remayne with her tyll she wer of rype yeares for a man Before the Dukeof of Cleaue came into Fraunce the kyng had enlarged the Admirall that we spake of before and sent hym home to hys owne house and after in the moneth of May commaunded hym to come vnto hym whom receiued most gently he restored to hys former dignitie and called as it wer out of hel into light agayne and after a straung example and seldome heard of made the sentence geuen agaynst hym by all the princypal iudges of hys realm cleane frustrate partlye for hatred of the constable as it is thoughte and partly at the requeste of madame Destamps whych was allyed to the Admirall by a new affinitie Therfore Memorancie the Counstable which loued not thadmirall his egall and was oute of the kynges fauoure for themperours passage as before is sayed beyng had in contempt gotte hym home and led a priuate lyfe where before he had ruled the Kynge wholye hymselfe alone ✚ The fourtenth Boke of Sleidanes Commentaryes concernyng the state of relygion and the common Weale duryng the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the fourtenth Booke IN the processe of the communication they treated of an order to be establyshed in the churche sondry aduyses and aunswers bee there gathered Eckius dispray syng the booke there presented accuseth hys fellow collocutours Themperoure hauing intellygence of the Turkes commyng remitreth thys colloquie to the counsel Fregose Rincon thambassadours of the French kynge to the greate Turke at taken and slayne Wherupon the Bastarde of Maximilyan is arested The Turke taketh possession in the cytie of Buda Thēperoure arryueth at Argiers The plage is in Germany and great calamities in Austriche A supplication of the princes of Austriche to kynge Ferdinando that they myght haue the Gospell Wherunto he aunswereth After the ouerthrowe in Hongary an assemblye was holden at Spires where Oliuier beeing for the French kynge made a longe Oration Cardinall Maron the Popes Ambassadour offereth a counsell at Trcent Luther Wryteth a booke intitled the sermon of Soldiours comparyng papistry with the Turkes Alcorane The warre beyng proclaymed betwene the Frenche kyng and the Emperour Marten van Rossem inuadeth Brabante decrces are made in Fraunce agaynste the Lutheranes Farell preacheth at Mentz ABoute the ende of Aprill the disputation began as I shewed yon before but Eckius was vnpatient and froward for both he abhorred the booke and mislyked hys fellowes and a lyttell after fell into an agewe so that he coulde not bee there yet went his fellowes to him and conferred with hym of al thynges And certen places of the boke exhibited were throughe conference amended by common assent but of some other they coulde not agree of the churche and authoritie therof of the sacrament of the body and bloud of Chryst of the recytall of synnes of satisfaction of the vnitie order of thecclesiastical ministers of sainctes of masse of the vse of the whole sacramente of the single lyfe So was the booke deliuered vp to themperoure as it was corrected and the Diuines of the Protestantes had written theyr mindes vpon these forsayd opinions which were leafte in controuersy this was the last of Maye Themperoure commendeth theyr good endeuour and lyketh it well And incase the matter herafter do so require he exhorteth thē to shew the like good-will and dilygence Than in the eyght day of Iune in the consistorie before the Princes and other states he maketh relation what hathe ben done and howe farre they haue proceded howe the collocutours haue handled the matter dilygentely and haue reconcyled dyuerse weyghty articles of doctryne And touching the rest that are not yet agreed vpon the diuines of the Protestantes haue opened they re myndes After he exibiteth vnto ether of them boothe the wrytinges requiring them that so shortly as may bee they woulde consulte thervpon and vtter theyr mindes in either of them And moreouer would consyder howe the state of the weale publike
Religion they do alter nothing tyll suche tyme as the matter be fully determined by a generall or a prouinciall counsell of Germany or els by some conuocation of the Empyre And not to thynke that the decree of Regenspurge concerned them any thynge at all wherof the meaning is that the catholickes should remayne in the olde and the Protestauntes in the same Religion whiche they followed at the tyme of this reconcilement tyll some one of these counselles were appointed within eightene monethes and seing it is so he may not permitte his subiectes to do any thyng to the contrary They desyre him againe at fewe wordes that the true Religion of Christe maye be auaunced and that the good preachers be not brought in daunger for otherwyse let hym neuer loke to haue any victory or lucky successe as the Turkes hande A litle after this dyed the Bysshop of Numburge in whose steade the College chose Iulius Pffugius before mentioned but the Prince Electonr of Saxon contended that they myght not doe it withoute his consente and reiectyng the Flugins substituted in his roume Nicolas Amstorfe of a noble house a doctour of diuinitie of Wittemberg whome Luther stalled in the moneth of Ianuary and after set forthe a booke of the same in dutche wherin he declareth howe the flocke of Christe ought not to be cōmitted to Pffugius as ennemie to the pure doctrine Pffugius being thus repulsed complayneth to the states of the Empyre howe wrongfully he is put from his ryght The Prynce agayne aunswereth howe the gyfte belongeth properlye to the house of Saxon and reciting many olde presidentes of great antiquitie alledgeth amonges other causes wherfore he can not suffer him to bee Byshop this also for one that he is openlye againste the confession of Auspurge After the ouerthrowe in Hongary as is said before the Emperour calleth an assemblie of the states at Spiers by his brother Ferdinando to begynne in the moneth of Ianuary and appointeth ioyneth to him for assistaunce Hughe Monforte and Iohn Nauie The Princes that were there presente were the Marques of Brandenburge Electour Fredericke the Palsgraue Albert Duke of Megelburge Ernest Marques of Baden the Byshoppes of Mentz Wormes Spier Constance Hildessem the residue sent Ambassadours What tyme they were assembled the nynth daye of February kynge Ferdinando in the Emperours absence propoundeth as the maner is the cause of that assemblie whiche was in brief to consulte howe the Turke myght be kept out of Hungary for ayde touchyng the same After the assemblie of Regenspurge whan Iohn Gropper ambassadour to the Archebyshop of Collon was retourned home he cōmended Bucer exceadingly and sayde he was metest of all others to take in hande the reformation of Religion for he was bothe well learned a louer of peace and of a pure lyfe The Byshop therfore whiche knewe Bucer well enough before and thought to vse his helpe sendeth for hym in February to come to hym to Bonna where he was verey gentlye receyued namely of Gropper who intreated hym to goe with hym to Collon And so for that tyme was lycenced of the Bishop to departe and to come agayn whan he should be sent for as I wyll declare hereafter Moreouer about this time also was beheaded Catharine Haward in Englād and for that where the king had maried her for a mayde he founde that she had troden her showe a wrye He that had defloured her was gone into Irelande and had an office there but beynge called home againe by her whan she was Quene and taken into her seruice he was beheaded after her as were also certein others partly for concealement partly for lyke offence After her deathe the kynge marieth the syxte wyfe Catherine Parre that had bene wyfe to the Lorde Latimer and syster to the Marques of Northhamton To the assemblye at Spiers the Frenche kyng sent an Ambassade the chiefe wherof was Fraunces Oliuer Chauncelour of Alenson Who in the presence of all the states whan they consulted of the Turkyshe warre the fourtene daye of Februarye made a longe Oration in the begynnyng whereof he sekynge to wynne theyr fauour reciteth howe the yeare before the kynge vnderstandynge that the Turke woulde inuade Hongarye for the loue he bare vnto Germanye sent Ambassadours immediatly to him to perswade him if he myght to the cōtrary but the Emperours men toke them in Italy as yet it is not certeinlye knowen whether theibe dead oraliue wherby not only the truces is broken but also the lawe of armes And where as certein do encourage the Germaines to warre against the Turke in the defence of Hōgary and al Christientie alledgyng that albeit he be of great power yet maye he ryght well be vanquyshed by the example of Iohn Hunniades Matthie kyng of Hongary Scanderbeg lorde of Epirus and Tamberlane Emperour of the Srythiās al the whiche haue wonne honour at his haude as also they themselues did at Uienne a fewe yeares past and vse diuerse other perswasions to pricke thē forward he contrary wyse affirmeth that those whiche geue this counsell doe not well consyder the state of Germany howe full it is of dissention nor the daunger that of this warre myght ensue For a myghtyer or crueller ennemye is not in the whole worlde nor one that is better furnyshed of all thynges belongynge to the warres Neither can this warre be finyshed with one battell or two but euer requyreth newe and freshe men continuall and marneylous greate charges The force power of Germany is in dede exceading great but yet is the Turkes ten tymes greater whiche passeth litle of the losse of two or thre hondreth thousand men where if they should lose but one battell in what daunger should the whole countrey be in before they should leuie an other in this grudge dissention of mindes therfore his aduise is that they attēpte not warre against the Turke neyther seke to recouer that he hath already gotten in Hongarye for feare of a further mischief But in case he should at any tyme inuade Germany that it should stande vpon their honours to bende all their force against him stoutely to giue him the repulse otherwyse not to medle vntill suche time as they shal be fully throughly accorded in matters of religiō in like case as they be partly already namely in the chiefest articles of iustificatiō of faith workes for certenly without a perfit cōcorde the state of Thempire can not long endure especially the Turke stil inuading The Romains became lordes of al the world not so much by power force of armes as by a certē craft policie for loke what natiō thei purposed to subdue vnto their empire thei wold euer practise to weaken by ciuile discorde for a time wold maintein th one parte of the faction till at last thei had vanquished thē both By this meane were the people of Carthage of all Asia the French men and
ouerthrowe at Argiers suffered Shipwreake was drowned And this opinion was so setrled in the myndes of the Cleauois that they would neyther credite them whiche sayed they had sene hym nor scarsely those that had spoken with hym The Prynce hym selfe also was lykewyse perswaded by acerten fatall credulitie The Frenche men were thought to be authors and forgers of this vanitie lest the Cleauois should releÌ„t and for feare of Themperours power fall to some coÌ„position Themperour receyuing this aunswer whan he had fortyfyed his camp and furnished it with all thinges the .xxiiii. day of August before the soÌ„ne rysyng he beginneth to make his battery and after geueth thassault especyally by the Spanyardes whyche were exceadyng preste and wyllyng They beyng often repulsed and hauyng loste many of their men neuer ceased before they had taken it by force The fortune of the Townes men was suche as is wonte to bee whan the waye and entrie is made by the sword Howbeit here was wont to be shewed the head of Saint Anne our Ladyes mother and thither came yearelye a greate multitude of people at the. xxvi daie of Iuly whyche is dedicated to that sainct But the Spaniardes being victours caried that head inclosed in golde with a greate pompe deuoutely into the graie Freres Churche lest it shoulde bee lost in that Ruine and burnyng of the Churche After the Towne was spoyled and distroyed by fyre Themperour Marchinge forewarde had rendred vnto hym Gulick and than Ruremunde a stronge Towne of Gelderlande situated where the Ryuer of Rure and the Mase mete For the sodein distructyon of Dure broughte all men into a wonderfull feare and perplexitie From Ruremunde he goeth to Uenlon Thither at the laste came the Duke of Cleaue to hym into his Campe accompanyed with Henry Duke of Brunsewicke and the Ambassadours of the Archebishop of Collon And what time he humbly besought Themperoure to perdon hym the Duke of Brunswicke also and the Ambassadours ernestly intreated for hym Themperoure at the last ryseth vp and appoynteth the Prynce of Orenge and Granuellane to prescribe lawes vnto hym Therefore vpon these conditions he was receyued againe into fauoure the seuenth daye of September He shall not departe from the relygyon of the Catholycke Churche yf he haue altered any thynge let it be restored that he promyse hys fydelytie allegeaunce to themperour to king Fernando to thempire that he doe renounce the league of Fraunce and of Denmarke He shall make no confederacie wherin he shall not excepte Themperoure Fernando and their heires He shall leaue the possession of all Gelderlande and release the people of they re othe And in case any place or places shall refuse to render that he shall than ayde the Emperoure to recouer the same The Emperoure agayne restoreth vnto hym the Lande of Gulycke latelye Conquered excepte two Townes Henseberge and Syttarde whyche hee wyll kepe for a tyme tyll he haue somme experience of hys fydelytie and Loyaltye Whylest the Emperoure wente agaynste the Duke of Cleaue the Frenche Kynge Marcheth throughe Champagne towardes the lande of Luke And sendeth for the Lady Iane hys Systers Daughter whyche was despoused and solemnelye Maryed two yeares before to the Duke of Cleaue to carye her to her Husbande She wente full sore agaynste her wyll as I shewed you beefore Howbeit she obeyed the Kynge her Uncle The Kynge appoynted vnto her Cardynall Bellaye Bysshop of Parys as a man mooste meete to perswade with her and kepe her companye all that Iorneye When she was commen nowe to the Soyssons to goe from thence to the Kynge woorde was broughte that the Duke of Cleaue was subdewed Wherwith beeyng greatlye reioyced she sawe then that shee nede to feare the thinge no longer and knewe what wolde bee the ende thereof Neyther was she deceaued at all For the Kynge at these newes was sore astonyed And so she retourneth home but he neuerthelesse procedynge taketh the Cytyo of Lucemburge aboute th ende of September and after delyberatyon had fortyfyeth it Aboute thys tyme also Henry the eyghte Kynge of Englande confederated latelye with the Emperoure sendeth hym a power of men by the conducts of Syr Iohn wallop Capytayne of Guisnes whyche Ioynynge with Themperoures Armye beesege the Towne of Landersey In the Moneth of October Charles Rosset a Lawyer was sente by the Emperoure to Mentz who there tooke order with the Senate Monkes and Clergie for the obseruing of the olde relygion bannysshynge the Preachers and others that were inclyned to the Protestantes vnles they shoulde reconcile them selues within a certeine tyme. Whan Barbarousse had beeseaged the Castell of Nice in vayne and that Themperoures power out of LuÌ„bardye also approched whyche was led by the Marques of Piscare he leuyed the sege and somewhat sooner than the tyme of the yeare requyred he leadeth backe hys Armie to wynter at Tollon for that Towne had the Kynge assigned hym commaundyng all the CitezeÌ„s and inhabiters to auoyde thence This yeare was moche dissention and trouble in Scotlande the mindes of the nobles beyng deuyded For those Lordes whyche we sayed were prisoners in Englande being libâ—â—ally dismissed of the kynge furthered hys cause as moche as they myght But the Cardinall of Scotlande who had great yerely reuenewes by benefyces in Fraunce and the Quene beynge Daughter to the Duke of Guyse tooke the Frenche Kynges parte After the death of the Scottish king Henry the eyght was wholy in this that the yonge Quene of Scottes might be affianced to Prince Edward his soÌ„ In the which thing those nobles that I spake of did him good seruyce And when they had perswaded HameltoÌ„ the gouernour they toke the Cardinall and besege the Quene in a certen castell and makyng the wrytynges confyrme the marriage But where the French kynge disturbed this deuyse And the Nobilitie also pitied moche the Quenes chaunce and the gouernoure reuolted to thother syde they brake theyr conuenauntes And the warres beganne agayne afresihe betwixt them and England as shal be declared herafter The kyng of Denmarke had also warre with Themperialles of the low countrye for Kyng Christierne that was captiue And he axed ayde of the Protestantes but they saye how thys quarel concerneth not theyr league for it was prouyded that in case he shoulde haue warre for hys religion that then he shoulde by their coÌ„mon ayde be defended When the Duke of Cleaue had made hys peace with TheÌ„perour he sendeth his Ambassadoure to the Kynge of Fraunce and renounceth hys league and requyreth that his wyfe maye bee sente hym for whose passage he hathe obteyned a saufe conduite of Themperoure The kynge aunswereth the Ambassadour howe there hath ben no let in hym that he hath not bothe had his wyfe delyuered and an Armye also sente but that it hath ben hys owne faulte which certifyed that ther was neyther open way for them to passe in those parties nor vitaile to be had What
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
the nexte daye after whan he had made his Cosyn the Erle of Nassow hys sonne his heire he ended his lyfe not without a great grief to Themperoure That tyme were the Protestantes Ambassadours in Lorayne that they myght confyrme the couenauntes of Sequestration latelye propounded by Themperour And fyrst they rested at Metz and after at Tullie and sendynge dyuerse letters to Themperour and to Granuellan they declared the rause of theyr commyng But Themperoure at the last excusyng hym selfe by hys warlyke affayres bad them go home agayne and differreth the whole matter to the next conuention of th empyre or to some other tyme more conuenient Whan Sandesyre was taken themperour the .xxv. day of August marcheth on styll and leauing Catalāne a Towne of Champagnie pitcheth his Tentes by the Riuer of Marne on the other syde wherof laye certen bandes of Frenche horsemen in an Ambusshe There Counte Willyam of Furstemberge whyche knewe the sytuation of Fraunce and euery passage goeth foorthe in the nighte and but one man with him to searche in what place of the ryuer they myght wade ouer at a foorde and passe with theyr Armie And hauing a pesaunt of the Contrie to bee hys guyde whan he had founde a forde and was gone ouer on the other syde he was intercepted by Frenche horsemen and caryed in to theyr Campe in greate derysyon and not withoute reproches for that he seruinge there before had caryed a greate deale of Golde oute of Fraunce and from thence was sente to Parys This thyng chaunced to Themperonre contrary to hys expectation and helde hym long in suspence The French king because the Swysses were not commen eschewed the battell And Themperoure procedynge foorth by the Ryuer syde dayly auaunced hys campe In those partyes is the Towne of Eperney There was moche store of victualles Munition and other warlycke furniture whiche thynges leste they shoulde come into the enemyes handes were conueyed in greate haste downe the Riuer All that coulde not bee caryed awaye was consumed with fyre the Frenche men themselues settyng the Towne a fyre Wherfore Themperoure withoute resistance marched to Castell Theodoricke a Towne by the same Ryuer not two dayes Iorneye from Paris And albeit the Frenche kynges Ambassadours sente to entreate for peace were in Themperours Campe yet marched he forewarde neuer the lesse and whan he was commen thus farre there arose a wonderfull feare amonges them at Parys All men that were of any welthe fled thence neyther coulde they be kepte backe by the kynges proclamation forbiddynge that any man should flee and the vilest sorte remayned styll And therfore was there some daunger leste the greatest Citie in all Europe and exceadyng ryche also shoulde euen through those same haue been spoyled In the same Uninersitie is a wonderfull nombre of Studentes out of al countries in christendom they fled also and the king had in dede proclamed that all alienes shoulde departe immediatlye vnder payne of deathe thys was in the begynnynge of September A fewe dayes after the kynge of Englande hauynge sore shaken and battered Bollen with hys myghtye ordenaunce had it rendred vnto hym whiche neyther hys father nor the kynges of former tyme could euer wynne For he dyd not batter the walles only with canon shot and shake a sondre the Castell and Bulwarkes with vndermynyng whyche in wynnynge of stronge places is the common practise of other Princes but also had greate and heuge Morter peces whyche were shotte of suche a compasse that they fell ryght downe and looke where they lyghted brake downe all beefore them to the grounde so that many wer oppressed with the ruine that they made and the rest that loued theyr lyues were driuen to kepe in caues and sellars vnder the earth At the last the .xxiiij. day of September Thēperour maketh peace with the Frenche kynge whan he was commen to Castell Theodoricke a towne of the Soissons the peace makers of Themperours parte were Gonzage the Uiceroye of Sicilie and Granuellan And for the Frenche kynge was Claudie Annebalde the Admirall Charles Nulley and Gilbart Baiarde And the condicions wer these What soeuer hathe ben taken on eyther syde syns the trewes of Nice is restored agayne The French kyng shall render to the Duke of Lorayne the Towne of Asteney for because it is vnder the protection of Lucemburg They shall aydeone an other and Ioyne al their forces together that the olde relygion concorde of the churche maie be restored The Frenche king promiseth to ayde Themperour in the Turkissh warre with sixe hondreth men of Armes and ten thousand footemen He renounceth the title and clayme of Arragonie Naples Flaunders Artois and Gelderlande Themperour agayne renounceth hys ryght to the Countie of Bollonois Perone other townes standyng vpon the water of Some Moreouer to lowe Burgundye and the contrie of Macon Than promiseth he to geue in Maryage to the kynges sonne the Duke of Orieans the Lady Mary hys eldest doughter or els the daughter of hys brother Fernando whether of them he wyll geue he shall declare with in foure moneches yf he geue his daughter he promiseth for her dowary Brabant Gelderlande Lucemburge Limburge Flaunders Holland Henaulte Artois Namures Friseland Utrecht and all hys dominions there and also hyghe Burgundie that after hys deathe they maye inioye possesse the same Yf he thus doe than the kyng for hymselfe hys Chyldren renounceth hys ryght to Millan And if it fortune themperours daughter to dye hauinge no Children than the Duke of Orleans departeth from all that possession and the ryghte in Millan remayneth wholy to the Frenche kynge and to Themperoure the ryghte of the House of Burgundie Yf he geue the daughter of Fernando he graūteth for her dowarie the Dukedome of Millan howe so euer the mariage be it shal be accomplisshed within a yeres space And the Kynge shall wholy restore the Duke of Sauoie The Kynge also is permytted to kepe Hesdin Themperour promiseth his whole endeuour that peace maye bee made also betwixte Fraunce and Englande As concernynge the Duke of Cleaue beecause the kynge and Quene of Nauarre did affirme that theyr Daughter neuer consented to that Marriage but also witnessed the contrarye after the solemne and accustomed maner the Frenche Kynge shall sende that protestation to Thēperoure within syxe weekes that some thynge maye bee determyned In thys peace are comprised the Bisshop of Roome Kynge Fernando Portugall Polle Denmarke the Uenetians Swyses the dukes of Sauoye Lorayne Florence Farrane Mantua Urbine the Cytyes of Gene Luke Senes the Prynces Electours and al the states of Th empyre that are obedyente to Themperoure Thys peace concluded Themperoure dyschargynge hys Armye retourneth home to Brusselles All men woondred at thys peace makynge For euen those whyche were Themperours frendes and famylyare with hym loked most certenly for a Conquest before they went in to the Fielde and made theyr boast that with in a fewe monethes
tendeth to greate vnquyetnes he will not be perswaded they of necessitie doe flee to the laste remedye and doe appeale to the Bisshop of Roome and to Themperoure the hyghe protectour and aduocate of Gods churche and committe all theyr thoughtes vnto theyr tuition The chief of this assemblye was George of Brunswicke Duke Henry hys brother Prouost of the same College This thynge knowne the Archebishop settynge forthe a wrytyng sayeth there is no cause of Appellation For he had done nothynge contrary to hys dewty therfore he reiecteth theyr appellation and trusteth that they wil leaue theyr enterpryses but if not he wil procede not withstanding in those thinges that concerne gods glorye and amendemente of Churches And agayne in an other wrytynge he confuteth theyr sclaunderous reporte of Luther and Bucer and affirmeth that he was neither priuie to the condemnation of Luther before he sawe it in print nor consented to the decre of Auspurge Luther was in dede condemned at Rome but his cause not hearde violently and tyrannically But in the decree of Regenspurge he and all other Bisshops were enioyned to reforme theyr Churches And he sente for Bucer throughe the meanes of Gropper who so ofte and so hyghly commended hym in whom he also could fynd nothing blameworthye And it is a greate tooken that he shoulde bee an honest man for that Themperoure amonges many chose him to be one of the colloqutours as a man godly learned a louer of peace the same iudgement hath he also of the rest of the ministers of the churche by him appoynted After the peace concluded Themperour sent the Bysshop of Arras Granuellans son and the Frenche kyng Cardinall Bellaye ioynctely to the kynge of Englande to treate a peace but it was in vayne the king refusyng to restore Boloingue In these daies also the Duke of Orleans and the Cardinall of Turnon and Ladyes of the Frenche courte came to Themperoure at Brusselles for a mutual reioysyng of the peace Themperour had appoynted the captaynes and bandes of Spaniardes to wynter in Lorayne in the contrie there aboute In Themperours prouinces annexed to the house of Burgūdye many were euery where desyrous to know the gospel but secretly for feare of Themperours proclamations punnishment In those parties is a Towne called Tournoye the chiefest amonge the Neruians Thither came a Frenche preacher from Strasburge beyng of them sente for one Peter Brulye of whom mention is made in the twelfth booke Whan he was commen thither in the moneth of September beyng gently receyued of them that sent for him he began to instructe them priuately And after for the same cause went to Lysle a Towne of Flaunders and retourneth aboute th end of Octobre agayne to Tournay but nowe was the matter brought to lyghte and searche made for hym throughout al the cytye the gates kept shutte Being therefore in present daunger and coulde be no longer hyd the second day of Nouember in the night season he was by serten of hys frendes let downe ouer the walles by acorde whan he touched the earthe and satte downe on the grounde one of them laining ouer the walle as softly as he coulde bad him a dew and whylest he thus leyned he fortuned to thruste of a stone that cleaued not fast to the morter whiche fallynge vpon hym as he sate brake hys legge who vexed partely with the ake of his legge partely for colde when he could not styrre thence satte styll and bewayled hys chaunce and miserie That That hearde the watchemen and suspecting as it was in dede came vnto hym take hym and carye hym to pryson When the brute hereof came into Germanye the Senate of Strasburge sendynge theyr letters did intreate for him the same did also afterwardes the Ambassadours of the prote stantes which wer that tyme at Wormes but that was somwhat to late And before these letters came whiche were sēt in the name of the Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue he was dyspatched out of the waye This was on the .xix. day of Februarye The maner of hys executiō was extreme For he was brent in a small fire that hys torment might be so mutch the greaeer He confessed his doctryne constantlye euen to the laste breathe And as he laye in prison comfortyng hys discyples by letters which were fettred in chaynes he exhorteth thē to be constāt The sentence was pronounced against him that he should suffer for transgressing themperours commaundement For many yeres past themperoure had set forth most streit proclamations in all hys dominyons there awaye agaynst the Lutheranes And they be red euery yere twyse lest any mā should pleade ignoraunce Whē he was sent for out of prison to be examined the Freers that wer diuines axe him before the magistrate what his opinion of the sacrament of the altare as they calle it of the messe of consecratiō of adoration of the host of purgatorye of the worshipping of sainctes of steewil of good workes of Iustification of Images of Baptisme of vowes of confession of synnes of the Uirginitie of our lady Wherunto he aunswered that the verey body blud of Christ is there receiued not with the mouthe but in spirit through fayth and neyther the substannce of breade nor wyne is chaunged But whan the supper is distributed to the congregation after Chrystes institution in the vulgare tongue than are they verely consecrated euen by the wordes of Chryst For that still and secret mutteryng wherwith the priestes doe treate speake to the breade and wyne belongeth rather to inchaunters and charmers than vnto Christianes The popissh masse to haue nothyng cōmon with the Lordes supper but to be a seruice inuented by men to the reproche iniurye of Chryst the adoration of the bread consecrated to be Idolatry For there is worshipped a creature in the place of the Creatour that he knoweth not nor can fynde non other purgatory sauing the bloud of chryst which forgeueth vs not the trespas only but also the payne dew for our synnes Therfore the masse other praiers which are applied vnto the dead are not only of non effect but also wicked for asmoche as they are instituted besydes gods woorde Sainctes can not be better worshipped than yf we followe theyr faythe and vertues What soeuer cometh besydes is euyll and they whylest they lyued wolde permit no worshyp to be donne vnto them Therfore ought they not to be called on as mediatours for that the same honour apperteyneth only to Chryst through Adames sinne mans nature was wholy corrupted and the wyll weakened so that withoute Goddes grace it can doe nothyng that good is Howbeit a man regenerate dooeth through Gods motion as a good tree bryng forth good fruictes How it is faith that bryngeth vnto vs saluation that is when we trust vnto gods promesses beleue stedfastlye that for Chryst his sonne sake our sinnes are forgeuen vs. Traditions whervnto the mindes of men are
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
of this warre but yet vpon condicion that he laie to thē againe in mortgage so mutch of hys owne landes And because the thing is straūge he shal make them sufficient warrantise at the arbitrement of the bisshop If any man wyll impeche or let thys theyr enterprise hym shall they ioyntly resyst with bothe theyr forces and the one help theother and they bothe to be bounden thus to doe so longe as the warre shall indure syxe monethes besydes after that the warre shal be finished it shall be free for euery man to ioyne hym selfe vnto thys league and to be both partaker of the charges the gaine This composition also shall the Senate of Cardinalles confyrme and that which is spoken of Iune to be vnderstande of the moneth of Iune thys present yere wherin they bothe haue subscribed now to the leage before cōceaued The copie of thys confederacie the Bishoppes legate Hierome Frāch shewed after to the Swisses as shal be declared in his place Aboute thys tyme was a peace concluded betwene Fraunce and Englande and the French king permitteth the kyng of Englande to enioye Bologne vntill suche tyme as he hath payed hym hys money dewe And where at the same tyme Hēry the Dolphin had a daughter borne called after Isabell for the better confyrmation of that frendeshyp the kyng of England was desyred to be godfather at the fountstone who sent hys deputie into Fraunce Sir Thomas Cheynie knight Lorde Warden of Cinke portes Then also was the Cardinal of Saint Andrewes in Scotlande in hys owne Castell aboute diner tyme slayne by a certen gentleman whose brother he had euyll intreated for Lutheranisme And he that did the murther fled into Englād The third daie of Iuly the byshop of Rome sendeth his letters to the Swisses threatning vpō them kindnes for the frenship that had ben betwene thē his predecessours he bewayleth that som of thē are through the disceipt of the deuil law breakers plucked from the apostolicall relygion frō him as the most deare children out of the bosom armes of a most louing father Notwithstanding it is the great gift of God that many of them haue perseuered cōstant in the faith towards god the church to thintēt verely that others which through the talke of wicked men haue ben disceaued should haue an exāple set before their eyes at the length conuert vnto the religion of their forefathers for it is a great token of gods goodnes that in this discention of religiō they be at peace with in themselues wherin other places for this occasion hath ben great sedition tumultes The whiche to appease he hath euer since he was first bishop vsed al the gentle remedies he could deuise and now also is fled to the last refuge calling a generall counsel at Trent a Towne of Germany within the limites wherof this euil sede of heretikes hath chiefly increased vnto the whiche Towne they might safly com and there defend their matters yf they wold for he trusted that inso sacred a senate to the which alwaies all christen kinges and nations haue attributed very much in the assemble of so many bishoppes which through the instinctiō of the holy ghost shuld treate of religiō no man wold be so wicked that he wold not submit him selfe to so great an authoritie and which shuld not incontinently casting awaie his wicked opinions imbrace the iudgement of the catholicke church And that he hath now also the same opinion of them and by reason of theyr concord at home hath good hope that so many of them as haue continewed faithful and constant will obey the coūsell and that the rest which of no set purpos but through a certen credulytie haue ben broughte into errour will not dispyse the authoritye of the counsel which thing that they wold doe come vnto the counsell as vnto a certen heauenly Senate ouer the which God himselfe is presydent he exhorteth them moste ernestly as he hathe donne also before And sayeth howe it hathe ben a greate grief to hym that dyuerse in Germany yea of the same number that are called Prynces whyche not only doe proudely and insolently contemne the counsell but also bayte it with cursed and raylyng wordes and saye how they wil not obey the decrees therof But he was chiefly sory for this cause that through the contumacie disobedience of these obstinate persōs he is dryuen to attempt the matter by warre For he coulde no longer suffer the losse of so many soules whych through theyr heresies perished dayly nor yet the oppression of christians wherof that other belōgeth to his office pastorall and this to the dignitie of the degre wherin he is placed And whyleste he was thynkynge vppon a remedye and prayed God to shew hym the waye it chaunced luckely that Themperour a prynce of most godly zeale offended with the like faultes in a maner that he was thought good to auenge the cause of religiō against those wicked heretikes by force of armes For where as by his intercession and meanes a counsell was graunted vnto Germany it semed vnto him that such as refused and contemned that dispised also his doing authoritye wherfore this occasion offered euen of god he tooke holde of it right gladly prefixed him self to further this noble myde of Themperoure as wel with his owne treasure as also of the church of Rome for if he shuld otherwise do handel the thing negligently slackly ther is no doubt but god wold require at his hādes as of their father the soules of somany children as wer lost throughe the falsehead of heretickes and for this cause doeth he open his mind counsell vnto them that they maye see with what carefulnes he is vered and may ioyne theyr prayers with his that is with God religion They haue don verely many godly actes but neuer non more noble then this if they wil kepe the olde amitie with god as their elders haue don if they shew to the churche of Rome which hathe euer don for them their olde loue fidelitie yf in this now so godly a cause they wil geue theyr ayde assistaunce Which thing he desireth them grealy they wold doe The ambassadours of the Protestantes in the vpper part of Germany come from Ulme to Baden to the conuentiō of the Swisses declaring their message were delaied to the moneth of August Their requestes were that they wold suffer no foreine soldiours to passe through their countrey that they wold permit their men to serue them in their war if the thing so required At this time also they of Brunswicke Goslarie Hildessem Hanobrie at the commaundement of the Duke of Saxon the Lantzgraue Rase Wuolbutel the chief castel of the Dukes of Brunswicke which they had hitherto kept with a garnisō The Paulsegraue prince electour in this hurly burly maketh suite to themperoure at Regenspurge
it Al this time was themperoure at Regenspurg besides thre thousand Spaniardes about fiue thousand fotemen of Almaignes and seuen hundreth horsemen he had no more power commen to him at that time He had sent for the Spaniardes out of Hongary And it were the same whyche after the peace concluded with the French kyng wintered in Lorayne after went through Germany into Hongary as I shewed you in the laste booke The peace lately made betwene Fraunce England chaūced luckely for the Protestantes for that the Almaignes which had serued the French king came vnto thē through the cōduite of Counte Bichling George recrode which was client to the Lanzgraue Thēperour that xx day of Iuly by his letters patens doeth outlaw the Duke of Saxō and the Lantzgraue In the beginning he accompteth at large what paynes he hath taken hytherto that Germany myght throughly be quyeted what decrees he hath made for the same that no force shulde be don to any man for any kynde of matter but that al thinges might be don by law and custom Agayne he sheweth how the states of th empyre be bounden to him and what fidelitie they ought to perfourme But all these thinges saieth he neglected Iohn Fridericke Electour of Saxonie and Philip Lanzgraue of Hesse by a certen rash boldenes haue at all tymes as muche as in them laye hindred all oure trauaile and paynes taken for the publicke weale neyther haue they ben obedient and haue not only them selues resisted vs but haue also intised other states to doe the lyke and with them to make vnlawful cōspiracies And the Lantzgraue certen yeares past pretending a cause I knew not what attempted war against som of the chiefest states of thempire and inuading their dominions did extort agreat somme of monie And after they both together set vpō an other prince of th empyre the cause not knowen and droue him out of his prouince kepte it to them selues They haue also gotten into theyr owne gouernmēt sondry Bishoprickes and offices as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuile the Lordes wherof are of an auncyente custome vnder the iurisdiction of Th empyre haue theyr place in the consistory amonges other states and as yet also thoughe they haue ofte complayned and sued to vs in all assemblies they deteine them styll in that seruitude They haue also spoyled many of theyr goodes and yerely reuenewes and receyued into theyr tuition the clientes and subiectes of others And nowe lately also throughe a certen singuler boldnes haue sollicited diuers states that they should not come at thys conuention to thintent they myght let our procedynges and brynge vs in contempt And all these thinges doe they so much the more boldely for that they contemne iudgementes and neyther acknowledge nor feare the magistrate For throughe theyr fault the hyghe iudiciall place of Th empyre is taken awaye the lawes kepe silence and of a long tyme now there hathe ben no iustice ministred to the great losse and domage of many and after a straunge example suche as hathe not ben hearde of before And that which is worste of all they worke all these thynges vnder that goodly and pleasaunt name of Religion peace and lybertie For these vse they as clokes to couer theyr doinges where they desyre nothyng lesse than eyther the agrement of relygion or of Germany the peace and libertie certes they can proue by neuer a place of scripture that it is lawfull for them obstinately to resiste theyr hyghe Magistrate in any case but the contrary is most manifest aswell by holy scripture as also by autenticke historyes that those auncient professours of the christen doctryne which confirmed their faithe not in wordes only but also by theyr dedes and death did obey heathē princes Wherfore doubtles they ought much lesse to denie vs theyr dewtie vnder the pretence of religion And when they denie that they declare euidently that theyr intente is to take frō vs the crowne imperiall scepter and all oure authoritie and vsurpe the same to thēselues and when they haue confounded all thinges to oppresse religiō law peace and lybertye And thus auaunced hyghly with new honours and possessions to bring all men vnder theyr tyrany For this do their wordes testifye ful of malicious threatninges and also their famous libelles and pictures dispersed into all places to the great mockerye contempt of our name Moreouer they haue not only made leagues againste vs in those their conuenticles but haue also styred vp forein kinges against vs secretly aided the same with theyr helpe coūsel Ther be somme olso that cantel what they haue attempted to induce that Turke into Germany Which thing is the rather to be credited for that the same shuld be verey fitte and commodious for their pourpos Wherfore by these theyr doinges they breake theyr allegeaunce that they owe vnto vs and infringe the dignitie of oure office they reiecte all decrees which they neuer estemed otherwyse than yf they had bē made for thys intent that others myght not repulse violence frō them selues but that it were permitted to thē only to doe iniurie to all mē Therefore they haue fallen into that moste heynous crime of treason and into the condygne punishement for suche an offence by the lawes prescribed And because theyr doinges beknowen there is no nede to declare thē And albeit that through the authoritie that we haue we might haue punnished them long synce according vnto their demerites yet for the loue of peace and to auoyde trouble we haue fauoured them verye muche graunted to them ofte in many thynges more also than became vs and herin haue oftener than once hurte our owne conscience and minished oure authoritie and not well prouyded for others Thus did we fyue yeres synce at Regenspurge deale moste gentlye with the Lantzgraue two yeres past at Spier with the Duke of Saxon of thys hope verely that they beyng vanquished through our great lenitie pacience and clemencie shulde at the length leaue theyr vngodly deuises and shuld nede of no extreme remedy But where in dede I perceyued that this did no good at all that they abused our gentlenes inasmuche as contemning the decrees of thempire breaking conuenauntes they procede obstinately throughe a licencious lust to rule take other mens landes possessions and wil be bounden to no lawes But seke to subuert the whole state of the publicke weale And certenly vnlesse they be first put to silence neyther can Relygion be accorded nor the other partes of the cōmon weale established and refourmed we are constrayned to vse agaynst thē the authoritie that god hath geuen vs. And because theyr rebellion is manifest insomuch as they themselues cannot denye agayne for that they woorke by violence and will abyde no iudgment Therfore doe we outlaw them as false rebelles seditious of treason giltie and disturbers of the cōmon quiet and we are prefixed to punnishe them as they haue
authoritie at the self same tyme vnto Adolphe Erle of Schauenburg whome a fewe yeares before that the Archbishop had amōges all others chosen vnto him for his Coadiutour Wherfore the Byshop sending his bulles warneth all the states of the countrey to accept and acknowledge him for their Archbishop Moreouer he vrgeth themperour that he shuld execute his sentence And where as the Archbyshop beyng at sondry times admonished to leaue of his enterprise sayde euer he could not do it with a safe conscience The Emperour hauing almost nowe gotten the victory sendeth to Collō Ambassadours Philip Lalenge gouernour of Gelderlād Uiglie Zwicheme a Lawyer By them he calleth an Assemblie of the States of the whole prouince that cōmyng at a certen daye they shuld forsake their Archebyshop Herman and goe to him that before was his Coadiutour vnto whome they should shewe al fidelitie and obseruance as to their high prelate The Clergie in dede was ready to graunt vnto it for they were the very occasion hereof But the Nobilitie and many of the Clergie also that were of noble houses and againe the Ambassadours of cities declare that it is not lawful for them to forsake him whom thei haue so long tyme obeyed and so many yeares founde a good and a Godlye Prynce vnto whome they owe their fayth and allegeaunce by an othe The matter stickyng at this harde poynte the Duke of Cleaue his next neighbour for the auoyding of further trouble sendeth his Coūsellours thither to make intreatie Whiche after long and much decision obteyne of the Clergie that they wyll be quiet tyll suche tyme as the other States may declare the whole matter to the Archebyshop Wherfore Theodoricke Manderschitte and William Nuenarie Erles the chiefest of all the nobilitie were sent vnto hym Who through their singular wisdome and eloquence do perswade hym that for the compassion of the people leste the whole countrey should be distroyed with warre he would be content to geue place What tyme therfore he had released all men of their othe and allegeaunce His forsayd Coadiutour whome he had loued as his owne brother doeth succede hym This was the .xxv. daye of Ianuary The Archebyshop had a brother named Fridericke who I tolde you in the tenth booke had bene Byshop of Munster and was nowe prouoste of Bonna He was also depriued of his office and that had Gropper for his Share The lyke chaunced to Counte Stolberge Dean of Collon who had defended the Archebyshop ryght constantly By and by through out the whole Prouince by the commaundement of the newe Byshop the Religion agayne was altered and what so euer Bucer had set forth quite abolyshed Whan the Ambassadours of the Protestauntes had bene with the Frenche kyng they went into Englande that they myght bring the same to passe with them both But nowe was king Henry sore sicke and his disease increasing he departeth out of this life about th end of Ianuary in the .xxxviii. yere of his reigne whā he had by legacie made his son Edward of .ix. yeres his heire after him had substituted his daughter Mary by his first wife Elizabeth by his secōd wife Howbeit before he died he condēneth Thomas the duke of Norfolke whose authoritie was always gret vnto per And beheaded the Erle of Surrey his sonne for speaking certē wordes ouer muche suspected of the king liyng sicke After his death insued the alteration of Religion as hereafter you shall heare For albeit he had expulsed out of all his dominions the Bishop of Romes authoritie albeit it was death if any mā did acknowledge him for the chief head of the churche albeit that in the cōmon prayers of the churche he detested him as a Tiraūt very Antichrist yet kept he still the popish religion as hereto fore hath ben declared He had caused his sonne to be well instructed from his childhode and whan he should depart he appointed him counseilours to the nombre of .xvi. and amonges them Edwarde Erle of Herford the yong Princes vncle Unto whome afterward because it was supposed that he would be moste faithfull to him was cōmitted chefest part of his protection by the rest of the counsailours and an honorable style geuen him that he should be called the Protectour of the kyng his Realme He was also created Duke whan the king had geuen him the Dutchie of Somerset He both loued the Gospel did his indeuour also that the same might be receiued moued the king his nephew to imbrace it in like case and herein had a companion and helper Thomas Cranmer Archebyshop of Canturbury a man of notable learning and primate of England About this time also dieth the wyfe of king Ferdinando Quene Anne the mother of many children For whom the Emperour maketh a funerall at Ulme In the meane season they of Auspurg moued by the example of their fellowes by their owne daunger together hauing intercessours fit for the purpose amongest others Anthony Fugger are receiued into the Emperours fauour being condemned in a hōdred fifty thousand crownes xii great pieces of ordenaunce furnyshed and to fynde a garryson within theyr Cytie of ten enseignes of footemen In the Citie was Captaine Scherteline and had serued them many yeares for their wages Whome the Emperour and kyng Ferdinando hated chiefly for takyng the Castell of Erenberg vpon the Alpes Wherfore albeit the Senate intreated muche for him yet seing the Emperour did stifly refuse other wyse wold not accorde he was constrayned to flie the countrey so went with his hole family to Constaunce a citie in the borders of Swisserlād During the siege at Lipsia the Electour of Brandenburg intreateth a peace and sending Ambassadours to thē both requyreth thē that he myght be permitted to take vp the matter The Electour was content but Duke Maurice blaming him sore the he made so sharp war the sixt day at the length he answereth somwhat straūgly whan he saw that the towne was able to hold out thennemy Wherfore the Marques immediatly doth signifie the same to the Lātgraue praiyng hym to perswade Duke Maurice And for so muche as this ciuile war in Saxony can not well be appeased vnles that publique war of themperour shuld cease also he desireth him that he would geue his minde here unto and the rather perswade him he sheweth him in how great daunger he standeth How that all his fellowes for the most part are already recōciled to themperour And how the Duke of Wirtemburg hath accorded vpon moste straite conditions How thēperour prepareth a new army And in as much as he alone is not able long to resiste so great a power he admonisheth him that he wold not refuse to submit him self and condescende vnto these conditions which he him selfe hath cōceaued and sent him now by his Ambassadours For in as much as for many causes themperours minde is sore
wherfore the fotemen which already possessed the suburbes go to the assault of the towne with a lusty courage wynne it spoyle it and taketh the ordenaunce from the ennemy Whylest these things were thus a working Marques Albert seketh whiche way he might escape and taketh the Ryner but he was intercepted by the Duke of Luneburg brought to the prince Electour The garrison within the town was six enseignes of fotemen They putting them selues into a ringe by the helpe of the other horsmen stand to their defence but vanquished with a multitude they were taken all and striped out of their armure And whaÌ„ they had made promyse not to serue against the Duke of Saxon and his fellowes of six monethes after they were so let go without rauÌ„som The horsemen poursuing after those .iiii. enseignes of footemen that escaped ouer the bridge did slea a great numbre of them which were all for the most part Italians and Spaniards Marques Albert had what of Kyng Ferdinando what of the Emperour as good as a thousand and fiue hundred horsemeÌ„ ten enseignes of foot men and .xiiii. field pieces Thei fought from the breake of the day tyll none The Duke of Saxon lost not many of his men amonges them Wuolfie Theodorick a man of a noble courage who beyng stryken with a gunne lefte his lyfe a fewe dayes after The nombre of them that were slaine within the town was accompted a thousand without the town and in the Ryuer thre hondreth After the conflict the Electour with Albert his prisoner retourneth to Aldenburg and after signifieth the whole matter into Boheme sheweth that he wil do nothing against the league and desireth to haue those punished which had attempted against his subiectes with sword and fyre The Duke of Wirtemberg had condicioned so sone as he might for his sickenes to come make his submission to the Emperour he commeth therfore to Ulme in the moneth of Marche â—han he was not yet recouered and sitting in his saddel by the Emperours permission in asmuche as he could not remoue nor bowe him self by his couÌ„sellors kneling for him he desireth to be pardoned of his fault promising from henceforth aldew obedieÌ„ce Whan themperour hereunto had made a gentle aunswere he departeth immediatly for the war of SaxoÌ„ he goeth to Norling Whilest the Duke of Wirtemberg on this wise made his submission there was a great resort and concourse of people which hauing therof knowledge before came thither flocking thicke and threfolde In those thre forsaid places of the land of Wirtemberg the Emperour had placed garrisons a good while before for the most part all Spaniardes ✚ The nyntenth Booke of Sleidanes Commentaryes concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the nyntenth Booke THe fathers of Trent make their seuenth sessions The Emperour hauing accorded with them of Strasburg marcheth forth with his armie Fraunces the Frenche kyng dyeth shortly after the kyng of England The counsell of Trent is diuided The Duke of SaxoÌ„ taken in battell notwithstanding his condemnation to death remayneth constant in Religion Wittemberge being rendred the vniuersitie is destroyed Suite is made for the agrement of the Lantgraue who coming to the Emperour is stayed prysoner Kyng Ferdinando appeaseth them of Prage A commotion at Naples by reason of the Spanish inquisition The coronation of the Frenche kyng is described The citie of Maidenburg is outlawed An assemblee is holden at Auspurg Peter Aloesse the Popes sonne is murthered The Duke of Somerset wynneth a great battell of the Scottes Whan the Princes of the Protestauntes were vanquyshed the cities were made afrayd Stryfe aryseth for the imprysonyng of the Lantgraue Request is made that the Fathers should retourne to Trent but the Pope and suche as were gone to Boloigne le grasse stode styf in their opinions in so muche that there is great disordre in the counsell of Trent THe third day of Marche was the seuenth Session of the fathers at Trent In this are condeÌ„pned al suche as either say there are fewer Sacramentes of the church thaÌ„ seuen or that al were not of Christes institution who deny that one is of more dignitie than an other who say they be only externall signes of grace or that rightuousnes is receiued through Christe faith who deny that grace is geuen through the receiuinge of the same who say that through Baptisme Confirmation and orders is not imprinted in the soule a spirituall token or marke that can neuer be scraped out or the al men haue lyke authoritie to minister the same or that the accustomed ceremonies of the churche in the administration of the same may be omitted or altered whiche say that the doctrine of the churche of Rome mother and maistres of al others concerning Baptisme is not sincere whiche saye that Uowes made after Baptisme are of no importauÌ„ce and are rather a derogation of the faith which they haue professed And say that Confirmation is an Idle Ceremony and was in tymes past nothing els but an instruction of youth and deny that the vertue and instinction of the holye Ghost is not present at Confirmation which ascribe the coÌ„firmyng of children not to byshops only but take it to be the fuÌ„ction of any other priest After this decrees are made of ecclesiasticall benefices That Byshops other Prelates of the church be lawfully begotten that they be of yeares maners and learning sufficient That no man of what estate or degree soeuer he be of do enioy do Byshoprickes than one and they that possesse many may kepe styll whiche of them they liste and within one yeares space shall put away the rest That suche as haue cure and charge of soules be them selues resident neyther let them substitute others in their place vnlesse it be for a tyme so as if they haue declared a cause of their absence to the Byshop and he hath allowed the same whose part it shal be to forsee that the people be not neglected and that priestes offences be punished and such vices as reigne amonges them be straitly corrected After was the .xxi. day of Aprill assigned for the next assemblie Whan king Ferdinando was come to Duke Maurice at Dresda the eight day of Marche he writeth to the Bohemers howe Iohn Friderick is prefixed to inuade them Therfore let them take hede to their matters and obeye Weittemulle whome he hath appointed his deputie in his absence The Ambassadours of Strasburg whiche as I sayde went to Ulme returning home where the Senate did not mislyke the conditions prescribed of the Emperour they are sent agayn to coÌ„clude throughly As they were traueling they fynde the Emperour at Norlyng there liyng sicke of the Gowte and the .xxi. day of Marche making their submission thei were reconciled The conditions were very tollerable For neyther the Emperour charged them with any garrison and was
be reuealed That an inuentory of their goodes be taken whiche are absent and flit from thence and that the same be deteined That they delyuer vp all publique writinges And that some man that is expert therin declare whereunto euery of them aperteineth After this he cōmaundeth all the ministers of the churche to depart out of the citie within eight daies In this moneth Augustus brother vnto Maurice Duke of Saxony taketh to wyfe the lady Anne the daughter of Christian king of Dēmarke In the cōuenaūts of mariage it was condicioned that Duke Maurice should assigne him his portion not out of the lādes of Iohn Fridericke but of his owne inheritaunce The same time was a great cōmotion in Guienne for saltpits customes The head citie of all that countrie is Burdewx a great towne of much welth lieth open to the Sea which in time past was vnder the dominion of Englād They also chiefly rebelled had slaine the kings Lieftenaunt Wherfore whan so shrewed an example was shewed the thing tended to a further daunger the French king sent thither the Conestable of Fraunce Duke Danmal with a power of .xxxi. enseignes of fotemē wherof .xi. were Almaignes and a force of horsemen Which thing once knowen they of Burdeux make meanes to the Conestable say that they are cōtented that he shal enter with the Frenchmē armed but they beseche him not to suffer the Germanes to come within their citie He made answer that thei shuld not prescribe him the Germains serue the king aswell as the rest Therfore wil he doe herein as he shall thinke good And albeit they set not open the gates of their citie yet hath he keyes wherwith to vnlock that same Wherfore thus he entred the xix day of October And whā he had placed his men here there in due order and also planted his ordenaunce in place conuenient first he cōmaundeth the citezēs to bring forth al their armure weapons the same to be caried into the castel so were spent two daies The third daye they began to make inquisitiō from house to house a great nōber of sedicious persones were apprehēded After they came to an horrible slaughter For they wer not executed with one kind of death There were also brought forth .xiiii. Gentlemē with haulters about their neckes wherof one or two were executed But the Almaine Captaines made intercession for the rest and begged their pardon of the Constable This soroufull and bluddy spectacle lasted .xii. daies And besides those that were put to death in this tyme very many were also condempned to the Galees Moreouer all wrytinges wherin their fredomes and priuileges of the cōmon wealth were conteined were burnt all they themselues making the fyre And because they had murthered the kynges Lieftenaunt the Constable driueth them to scrape vp the earth wherwith he was couered and buried without any toole euen with their nayles and fingers Whan they had thus scraped the dead coarse out of his graue the same was buried againe with a great solemne pompe of Freers priestes All the citezens folowe after to the nomber of fiue thousande with euery man a candell in his hande And as they came before the Conestables lodging the Bere was set downe and stayed betwene times Than doe they fall downe there vpon their knees and with a lamentable crie beseche him of mercie they deteste their owne offence and geue thankes vnto the kyng for that he hath not punyshed the same more extremely Whan all these thinges were finished the .ix. daye of Nouember they departe thence leauing behinde them a garnison About this tyme there chaunced a maruelous thing in Italy There is besydes Padwey a towne belonging to the state of Uenise called Citadella Herein dwelte a citezen named Fraūces Spiera an experte man in the lawe and a great pleader of causes Who with a wonderfull feruent zeale began to imbrace the doctrine of the Gospel And whan he profited therin dayly more and more he declared not only at home amonges his frendes what he thought of euery article but also abroad amonges all men wheresoeuer he came This thnig could not long be hidde and at the length was reported to the Boshop of Romes Legate whiche was than at Uenise Iohn Case Archbyshop of Beneuento Whan Spier vnderstode this he perceyued easely in what daunger he stode Whan he had therfore taken long deliberation and cōsulted euery way what was best to be done at the last he resolued being sent for to goe speake with the Legate Wherfore going to Uenise and confessing his errour as he thought or els said for feare craueth pardon and promiseth obebience from henceforth The Legate although he were glad of this voluntary cōfession yet for an example to all others he commaundeth him that retourning home he do openly suche thinges as he hath spoken before He was cōtent And albeit he began euen than to repent him of his doing yet through the instigation of his frendes affirming that the whole hope not of him only but also of his wyfe children and substaunce consisted herein he did obeye But shortly after he fell into sickenes both of body and minde and began to dispayre of Gods mercy Therfore by the aduise of his frendes he was caried from Citadella to Padwey that he might haue ready at hand both helpe of good Phisitions and cōfort of learned men The Phisitions Iohn Paulus Crassus Bellacata Frisimelega as sone as they sawe him iudged by by the disase to come of a vehement thought and that there was no better remedy than the cōsolation of the mynd Wherfore many learned men resorted to him daily and by the testimonies of holy scripture whiche declare vnto vs the great mercy of God they endeuoured to cure his mynde But he sayd he could not in dede denye these thynges howbeit they concerned him nothing For in as muche as he had once abiured the truthe knowen for feare of perill he affirmed that he was appointed to euerlasting tourmentes and that in his minde he felte and sawe them already neither could he loue God but hate him exceadingly And here in he perseuered neither would he nowe eate any more meate and whan it was crommed into him by violence oftentymes would spitte it out againe It were long to recite all thinges whiche eyther he him selfe spake or other men alledged out of the holy scriptures to bryng him from desperatiō What tyme therfore all their counselles were spent in vaine and both the infirmitie of his body also the anguysh of his mynde increased daily more and more he was caried home againe and there died miserably in the same state and desperatiō As he lay sicke at Padwey there came often to comfort hym amongest many others Peter Paule Uerger Byshop of Instinople whiche is in Histria a towne vnder the dominion of the state of Uenise It hath bene declared in the
with their Bishop but that he propoundeth suche conditions as if they should admit they can not retayne those thinges whiche the decree lately made at Auspurge doeth permitte and graunt them For after muche debating we haue sayeth they declared vnto him how we shall geue commaundement to our citezens that they shall obserue the holy dayes and absteyne certen dayes from fleshe Moreouer we haue bene in hande with the Ministers of the church And certen of thē we suppose wil of their owne accorde leaue the office of preaching Wherfore it shal be lawfull free for hym for all vs to establyshe Religion according to the order prescribed at Auspurge For we shal be no let vnto him and wil also commaunde our citezens to doe nothing to the contrary And seing it is thus we beseche you moste victorious Emperour that you would permitte vs ministers of the churche euē such as be maried amongest vs and put vs to no further extremitie especially considering that we wyll both shewe all moderation and geue none occasion of offence I shewed you before of them of Magdenburg how the Emperour had outlawed them And where they refused the decree of religion lately published the displeasure was augmented Where vpon the Emperour setteth forth against them new proclamations and maketh them a praye vnto all men and earnestly admonisheth the Princes and states that are their neighbours to make warre against them and to annoye them by all meanes possible It hath bene tolde you before howe the Emperour caused the preachers of Ulme to be apprehēded Thei were at the length in the seuenth moneth enlarged the third day of Marche set at libertie whā they had payd for their charges At this time that state of England waxed troublesome Edwarde Duke of Somerset that kings vncle Protectour of the Realme had a brother that was lord Admiral of whom he had cōceiued a suspiciō or at least was cōtent so to be perswaded as though he did aspire to that crown wold bring that king vnder his custody Wherfore he cōmaūdeth him to be apprehēded after examination had he was condēned to die that xx day of Marche was be He had maried Quene Catherine the laste wyfe to kyng Henry the eight and that same also increased the suspicion muche But the emulation and enuie of a woman was thought to haue bene the greatest occasion of this misauenture The Bishop of Strasburge agayne warneth the clergie to obeye the Emperours decree There is a churche of sainct Thomas the annual reuenewes wherof are by the cōsent of the Senate imployed vpon preachers and learned men whiche teache and bryng vp yougth With thē he traueled chiefly and desired to know with in what tyme they would obeye the Emperours decree and satisfie his expectation moreouer what mete men they had for this purpose and what ornamentes of the churche were yet remaining Thei take a time for a further deliberation Thomas Cranmer Archebyshop of Canturbury and primate of Englande a man of excellent learning was wholy geuē to further good learnyng and auaunce Godly religiō Who seing the state now of Germany and the daunger of learned men there sollicited with sondry letters Bucher chiefly and Paulus Fagius moste expert in the Hebrew tongue to come into England promising them all loue and frendship Wherfore by the consent and will of the Senate at the first of Aprill they take their iurney that they might there sowe the sede of pure doctrine Their comming was moste acceptable both to that kyng him self and in maner to the whole Nobilitie and people And what tyme they had staied a whyle with my Lorde of Canturbury they were both sent vnto Cambridge to be readers there The first day of Aprill Philippe of Austriche entreth into Brussels with a wonderfull pompe where his father that tyme was There were the Ambassadours of Duke Maurice and the Electours of Brandenburg sent to sollicite the suite vnto Prynce Philippe and the Cardinall of Trent who was a great frende to Duke Maurice And albeit they put the Lantgraue which was than at Audenarde in good hope yet was nothynge brought to passe And a lyttle whyle after whan the Lātgraue being sickely would haue eaten fleshe on a certen daye forbidden the Captaine that garded hym commyng in the way turneth vp the dishe botome and casteth the meat on the ground At this same tyme the Byshop of Strasburge in the eight yeare at the least taketh holy orders as thei terme it and saith Masse he calleth a conuocation of all his Clergie at Taberne and maketh Decrees commodious for theyr pourpose After thys he sendeth messengers to the Senate of Strasburge requiring them to reedifie the Aultars and to geue him libertie to appointe the Mynisters of the Churche That they woulde release the Clergie of their Othe restoore all their priuileges and rendre agayn the ornamentes of the churches But he commaundeth the Thomistes to aunswer directly whether they wyll obeye the Emperours decree or no They speaking first of the reuerence they beare to the Emperour after of their duties and vocation at large declare vnto hym what euery man teacheth and doeth that is to wytte diuines Phylosophers Logicians Rhetoricians and suche other lyke whiche are al not only profitable both for the Scole or youth but also necessary Than shewe they by whom they were admitted into the College by the consente of the Senate and after a long declaration they desyre hym very lowely and louingly that he woulde not disturbe this order so well establyshed nor wyll them to be occupied with thinges lesse nedefull Contrarywyse the Ambassadours alledge howe that College was not founded for suche exercises of Scolars neyther ought the olde order to be chaunged If there be any amongest them whiche finde themselues greued and can not obeye with a good conscience the Byshop surely is not he that wyl perswade them to do any thyng against their wylles but that it shal be lawfull for them to geue place and as the common saying is let them either drynke or departe For in case the Senate wyl haue professours of Artes learning within the citie it is reason that they fynde the same and beare their charges not of the abbey landes which were aunciently appointed to an other vse but of their common treasure The Byshop his predecessour haue nowe bene many yeares impeched in their iurisdictiō but this may no longer be suffered Thus whan they had much contended in wordes they departed without any thynge concluded And the Senate whan they knew therof make intercession to the Byshop and in their moste gentle letters desyre and praye hym that he would at the least haue some consideration of the yought who taketh great profit and rypenes of the wyt by the same Schole Thus was the matter by letters and messengers sent betwyxt long and muche debated tyll at the laste it was taken vp by arbitrement as
daily familiarity geuing vnto him his surname and armes also It was bruted at Rome and libels setforth of the same how Iuppiter kept Ganymedes although old were deforme yea the bishop him selfe would not let to tel it to the Cardinals and as it is said would recite in his mery mode how wanton a lad it was and howe importune Whilest they were occupied in the Conclaue there were letters takē which Camillus Olius one about the Cardinal of Mātua was reported to haue wrytten to a certain louer of his Anniball Contine the .xxvi. of Ianuary and verses wrytten in the vulgare tounge where he speaketh of his affection and loue of hym that his absent he vseth such detestable and shameful wordes that they can not without offence be spoken againe Wherupon a rose a iest of them that said some filthy bishop was signified to come out that Conclaue which yelded such kinde of letters The .xiii. day of March themperour addresseth his leters to the states of the Empire Howe after the conuention at Auspurge he retourned into Flaunders that he might binde the people of his dominions to his sonne whom he sent for out of Spaine for the same purpose Hys intent was that thing once finished to retourne straightwaies into Germany but because the winde serueth not to saile at al times and the distaunce of the places were farre a sondre therfore was it long before his sonne came out of Spaine and after his arriuall the hole Sommer and a great part of Haruest was spent aboute necessaries affaires and albeit that winter was than at hand yet had he fully prefixed to haue gone into Germany but at the selfe same time he chaunced into the disease of the gout and not long after word was brought him of the death of Bishop Paul whersore he chaunged his purpose tarying thelection of the new bishop after how Iuly the third had both aduertised him of his election and had also promised very franckly and largely of his good wil zele to the cōmon wealth and religion which thing known he thought mete not to let slip so great an occasion and longe wished for of accomplishing the thing desired especially cōsidering how the whole wealth of Germany consisteth herein therfore some way muste be deuised that such thinges as in the last assembly were decreed and commenced may be accomplished again it must be foreseue that that causes of dissention be taken away and certaine obstinat parsons and rebels straitly punished for these causes verelye he intendeth to hold a counsel of the states unperiall wherfore he commaūdeth them that against the .xxv. day of Iune they be readye to attende vpon him at Auspurge and to finde no manner of let but that they come them selues vnlesse it be sicknes which thinge not withstanding they shall be bounden to iustify by an othe And that they send theyr Ambassadours with large and full commission of all thinges concerninge the common wealth to thintent that in consultation there be found no let nor delay ✚ The .xxij. 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 .xxii. Booke PEace is concluded betwixt England and Fraunce They of Maidenburge make their purgation by wryting The Emperours proclamation against the Lutheranes astonied manye Marchauntes of hys Countryes Whilest the assemble was holden at Auspurge to continue the Counsell at Trent Granuellan disceaseth George Duke of Megelburge persecuteth them of Maidenbourge who going by the worse haue also Duke Moris and other to their enconues Pope Iuly publisheth a Bull of a very straunge sorte Duke Moris being made Chieftaine againste them of Maidenburge propoundeth conditions of peace againste whome also the Cleargy publish letters to charge them Wherunto they aunswer fully and purge them selues Osiander inuenteth a new doctrine of mans iustification The decree of this assemble is to geue saufconduit to go to the counsell Bucer dieth in England Thre Sunnes and thre Mones are sene The Pope citeth Octaulan Farnese Prince of Parma againste whome also themperoure publisheth his letters Patentes Upon this the French King maketh hys excuse to the Pope The Duke of Saxon prisoner healpeth and comforteth the Ministers of the Church banished by the Emperoure an other beginninge of a Counsell at Trent and the order of the sessions in the same counsel the meane how to deuise and frame Articles of the faith the beginning of the warre of Parma ABout this time thambassadours of Englād and Fraunce whan they had longe debated the matter at the last conclude a peace And that was so much the more easy to brynge to passe for that they both saw how there were some vnto whome this contention of theyrs should in time to come be profitable gainful Wherfore the Englishmen restore to the Frenchmen Boloigne which they had kepte nowe sixe whole yeares not without the greate maruell of many and the Frenchmen pay them Mony In that peace were also the Scottes comprised After sending ambassadors on bothe parties the two Kinges confirme the peace with a new amity For the french King was made Knight of the Garter in England and the Kinge of England againe of the French order Whiche verelye amonges great Princes is as it were a cognisaunce of moste assured frendship Where they of Maidenburge were defaced with sondry Proclamations by themperour the .xxiiii. day of March they publishe an other wryting chiefly to the next inhabiters about them First they proue that they can neither by Gods lawe nor mans law be conuicted of rebellion after they declare how such as put on armure against them do make warre against Christ him selfe Thirdly they confute the crimes obiected and shewe that they be sclaunders surmised by theyr aduersaries And albeit saye they that through theyr prouocation the Emperour hathe exiled vs yet may we truely affirme that we haue as yet refused no reasonable condition so that we might inioy stil the doctrine professed at Auspurge and the liberties that oure elders haue lefte vs of the same minde be we now also neither refuse we anye kinde of dutye that ought to be done to the Emperoure or to the Empire and take god to witnes that we haue geuen none occasion of any warre or trouble but couet chiefly to obserue peace with all men and by the meane of the true religion and doctrine to attaine to the life euerlastinge And this doubtles is the cause of all the hatred that is raysed against vs. Now is it deuised by the law that the inferioure magistrate shall not impeche the right of the superioure Moreouer if it so fortune that the Magistrate passe the boūdes of his authoritye and commaund any thing that is wicked that he should not only be obeyed but also if he attempte any force be resisted There is no man we thincke that can denye but that all rule and gouernement dependeth of God
to pike a thanke that our intent was to oppresse the nobilitie and states of this Byshoprike it is a starhe lie and can not be proued For we haue euerntore honoured the Nobilitie But if we haue indammaged suche as haue done violēce toward our men as they haue passed by to and fro who is so vnreasonable a iudge that will impute that thing vnto vs as a crime blame worthy Touching that they reporte of the swordes founde after the battell is a fained thing As for the haltars collars we denie not For the vse of thē was right necessary for our wagons and other cariage as it is manifest The condicions of peace that were offered by Duke Maurice the Marques of Brandenburg we could not admit for causes moste weightie For in case we had yelded receiued a power it is easy to vnderstande what should haue bene the state both of Religiō and the common wealth also God of his infinite mercy hath opened vnto vs the knowledge of his Gospel Whom we befeche to graunt vnto vs this so great a benefite perpetually but those whiche promise vs assistaunce herein howe it is credible that they can or also wyll perfourme the same whan they them selues be of wauering myndes in Religion and study to please men that our aduersaries may recouer their goodes and that dāmage done on both parties may be egally borne we refuse not But that they should retourne in the citie agayne set vp their idolatrie that can we by no meanes suffer Thei say how they were no impediment to vs in religion but certenly they wanted no wil therunto But we haue cause to geue God thākes that sent shrewed cowes short hornes The bodies of dead men were not so intreated as thei report But where as for our own defence we plucked down certē churches nere vnto the citie so many bodies as were founde not wholy cōsumed were cōueied to an other place buried deper Again it was permitted vnto al men that such of their kinred as they foūd there they might transporte whether they would That same of thēperour Otto the first is moste false a shameful lie by them deuised For we are not ignorant what honour is due to that chief magistrate especially to him of whom they speake thēperour Otto who did many worthy actes was a moste earnest defendour protectour of that libertie of Germany That seruice which they call holy Godly which they complaine that we haue disturbed in their churches is nothing lesse than holy but cōcerneth the high reproche of God They thēselues had lōg before caried out of the citie their vestimentes chalices other ornamētes But their wrytinges publique monumētes we kepe safely haue not abolished as they falsly accuse vs. Moreouer their priestes wer not whipped but they thēselues spoiled the churches caried the pray els where The college or monastery of Hamerslebie which neuerthelesse belōgeth not to thē therfore did we assaile at the last for that our ennemies had a place of refuge therin there deuided the boties takē frō our felowes vs. Wher they adde moreouer that our men did many thinges there insolētly outrageously that same was forged by the monkes As cōcerning the iniuries which they say were done vnto thē in the citie thus standeth the matter About .xxv. yeres since whā they on the eight day before Easter whiche is called Palm sondaye were in hand with their fond trifling ceremonies they were laughed at by the cōmon people that thether resorted but whose rashnes boldnes proceded further such as brake glasse wyndowes they were suerly punished of vs banished for other iniuries we knowe none neither haue they euer brought thē before vs. Wherfore we haue done nothing contrary to our promesse or cōposition neither haue we geuē our aduersaries any cause of warre And seing the matter is thus we desire all mē that they geue no credite to their sclaundrous reportes but to lament our chaunce which are cōstreined to defend the warre that is attēpted against vs to thintent we might mainteine the pure doctrine of the Gospel the liberties receiued of our elders for the which thinges also godly kinges magistrates of fourmer times the Machabeis men of most stoute courage haue refused no perill or daunger We wishe for peace moste chiefly aboue al thinges But that is denied vs hetherto Wherfore being lōg sore afflicted with the inuasions of our nere neighbours we could not repulse frō vs vniust violēce Wherby we haue also the better confidence that suche as we haue prouoked with no iniury wil iudge this war to cōcerne thē nothing stande in the awe feare of God the reuenger of al vnrighteousnes For the self same cause that hath stired vp this trouble against vs wyl shortly after wrap vp thē also in great distresse perils so many as couet to retein maintein the pure doctrine The letters wherwith the byshop of Rome had called the coūsell Themperour the fifth day of Ianuary cōmaundeth to be red in the Senate of states Princes exhorting thē that they wold prepare thēselues The same day king Ferdinādo informeth the states how in that truce time the Turks waxe busy in Hongary build a castel within his dominion went about to surprise his castel of Zolnock fortifie theirs with a garrison how also they haue made an inrode into Transsyluania Wherof verely he hath geuen them none occasion doth al that he can that the truce taken may be obserued but in case the Turke shal refuse he desired to haue aide geuen him I told you in the xx boke of Stephen byshop of Winchester for what cause he was apprehēded in Englād And where he perseuered in his opinion wold neither allowe the statutes already made nor suche as shuld be made hereafter cōcerning religion during the kinges nonage he was depriueth of his byshoprike this yeare in the moneth of Ianuary cōmitted again to warde Andrew Osiāder whom I sayd went into Prusse set forth this time a new opiniō affirming the man is not iustified by faith but by the rightuousnes of Christ dwelling in vs saith that Luther was also of his opinion But the rest of the diuines his fellowes did stoutly impugne it affirming that he said of Luther to be false who not many monthes before his death left a most ample goodly testimony in the preface of the first Tome of Melāchthons boke wherin are treated the cōmon places of holy scripture Where therfore he inueieth against Melanchthon he maketh also Luther his aduersary for that they were both of one opiniō Moreouer by a conference made they proued manifestly that Luther taught cleane cōtrary to him in this matter and say that his doctrine is pestiferous which saith that the iustification of fayth cōsisteth not in the bloud death of Christ wherby we are redemed
The same do the Ambassadours of Wirtemberg and the case was comen to them al. Which they notwithstanding for that it was long or they came followed and vrged chiefly and therfore they intreated diligently the thre Archbyshops Electours and the Cardinall of Trent a great-frende to Duke Maurice and the Emperours Ambassadours that for the common wealth sake they would both be wylling them selues and also perswade the rest of the fathers herein For none of the Ambassadours would go to the legate Crescentius or any of his fellowes legates least thei should appere to attribute to them any thing But bycause they were sent to followe the Emperours mynde satisfie the decre of the Empire therfore they vsed his Ambassadours which was their high chief magistrate for their intercessours And at this present time came newes the within a few daies Duke Maurice wold come to the Emperour Whiche made al men to be of better hope a great deale more willing In this moneth was beheaded at Lōdon the Duke of Somerset vncle as I said before to the king of Englande with him certē of his frendes as Michel Stanope sir Rafe Fane sir Myles Partrich knightes And some reported that the same was done by the procurement of the Duke of Northumberland They that were of the wittier sorte began euen than to feare the good king whome after his kinsfolkes were dispatched out of the waye they sawe was more open to daunger treason For after the Duke of Somerset was dead the Duke of Northumberland put to the king newe chamberlaines amonges them his own sonnes kinsmen Whan the daye of the next session was now at hand the Emperours Oratours sending for thambassadours of Duke Maurice declare what thei haue done with the fathers in their cause How thei haue obteined a saufeconduict such as they wyshed for How also thaction may be discontinued differred vntill they come may be present at the same For that al nations people be not there assembled that lieth not in the fathers to perfourme The counsel was lawfully sōmoned And although al mē come not yet standeth it neuerthelesse in his ful strength dignitie that suche decrees as are made should be reuoked let them consider them selues howe vndecent a thing it were For it belongeth to the reproche and infamie of so great an assemblie Let Diuines come only They shall both be in all matters hearde and also intreated moste gently And if any thyng offende thē or be done without reason if they see them selues ouermuche aggrauated they haue free libertie to departe whan they wyl They desyre them earnestly that they would geue some thynge to the tyme and not to couet to haue all thynges graunted thē in this one moment Whan they shall come to the action than may dyuerse thinges by occasion be obteyned whiche appeare nowe very harde The fathers they saye be very desyrous of a reformation and wyll not fayle to doe their dutie and longe sore for the Diuines comming vnto whome they wyll shewe all good wil fidelitie and haue thynges to propoūde of great importaunce and desyre that they may begynne to the intent that by this occasion they may come forth also That whiche they requyre moreouer touchyng the submission of the Byshop of Rome they desyre them some thyng to qualifie The fathers do see and perceyue that there is som what in that high dignitie that may be reprehended and ought in dede to be redressed But yet must they procede after some fine deuise The Emperours mynde and wyll is that all thinges should be ritely and lawfully done But they finde by daily experience howe fayre and dissemblingly they must treate with the Byshops legates For verely they must vse a singular dexteritie and deale with them by policie Wherfore let them nowe contente them selues with suche thinges as are graūted which are surely not without their great trauell obteyned and fynde the meanes that the Diuines may make haste And than will they neyther in publique nor priuate cause omitte any parte of their dutie And whan they were come hytherto they deliuer vnto them the saufeconduicte Whiche they byd them reade and after to sende it them againe This was the .xxii. daye of Ianuary And thus sending them awaye in the selfe same momente call for the Ambassadours of the Duke of Wirtemberge And first make an excuse touching the fourmer tyme by the moste weightie affaires of the fathers But nowe if they haue anythyng to doe they be ready to further thesame They sayd how they haue had a long tyme nowe thinges to propounde and to be hearde with spede Assone as they were dimissed they sende for the Ambassadour of Strasburge and speake to the same effecte He declared briefly wherfore he was sent by reason of Coletane vnto whome he had not spoken before For this present he sayde he had nothing els to saye and how he loked dayly for letters frō home For immediatly after that Duke Maurice Ambassadours were come he was commaunded to wryte home what their cōmission was and to attende what the Senate would haue done further more Howebeit he required thē in the meane tyme that in those matters whiche the Ambassadours of Duke Maurice had preferred vnto them they would so vse them selues that they myght come forthwith to open treatie They saide againe howe they had certen thinges to do with the Ambassadours of Duke Maurice and of the Duke of Wirtemberge Whan any thing shal be done they will let hym vnderstāde that he may signifie the same to his citezens They verely do greatly wyshe for a concorde And the Emperour also applieth his whole endeuour study to the same They desire very muche also that thaction might beginne and doubte not but God wyll assiste that moste honest enterprise Whan this was done the Ambassadours of Saxon Wirtemberg Strasburge hauing cōference together do way that fourme of saufe conduicte whiche they had receiued And for so muche as they had wrytten out before euery chapter of the decree of Basill the all men might see especially suche thynges as concerned any weightie matters it was not hard for them by and by to discerne in what places this dissented from that Whan they had therfore perused it ouer streight waye they perceiued that the chiefest places were partely altered and partly omitted For in the saufeconduicte that in times past was geuen to the Bohemers are these thinges amongest others That they shuld haue also authoritie to decide matters That in al matters of cōtrouersie the holy scripture the order of the primatiue churche suche counselles interpretours as were agreable to the scripture should be in stede of the iudge That they might vse their owne seruice at home That nothing shuld be done in contēpt or reproche of their doctrine Wherof the first the thirde laste were cleane omitted And the second and chiefest thing in dede was sore altered
cōmon countries sake to renue the former decrees Especially since I beleue there is none of you but both he loueth his countrye and wold prouide for the safegard of him self his lands subiects also wold haue thenterprises of him and his adherents impeched letted Wherfore I charge commaūd vnder the same penalties before expressed that no man aid him or his felowes with any thing nether with help nor counsel relief mony vitails nor artillery And also that nether he nor his fellowes be permitted to make any power or leuy soldiors in any of theyr dominiōs if he attempt any such thing that euerye man let him by alwaies possible and kepe in theyr people and subiectes that they run not oute to him and such as be offēders and will not obey this commaundemente to punishe extremely These letters were set vp in all places in Print At the .xxix. of Decembre king Ferdinando for because of the coūsel wherof I haue spoken before that it shuld be holden at Auspurge came thither and fineding no man there two daies after sendinge both letters and messagers he exhorteth the princes that for so much as they should treat of most waightye affaires of the Empire they would repare thither with spede he him self although to his great losse and hindraunce leauing his own country is commen thither that he might consult with them of the common weale and deuise suche meanes as be profitable necessary for thafflicted state of Germany wherfore let them come thē selues not do the thinge by theyr deputies for so the waightines of the cause requireth and themperor his brother hath geuē him ful authority to treat neither wil he tary them any longer than he neades must Aboute the middes of Ianuary breaketh vp the Parliament at London Amonges many other thinges the restoring of Cardinall Poole was enacted Thactes also of kings of former time concerning the punishing of heretickes and authority of bishops were renued but chieflye the supremacy of the bishop of Rome was wholye restored and all the lawes and statutes that had ben made against the sea of Rome by the space of xx yeares were condempned and abolished Uery many supposed that at the same Parliament king Phillip shuld haue ben crowned but herein was nothing done In the beginninge of February fiue were condemned at London to suffer because they would not returne to the Romish Religion men of excellent learning Ihon Hoper Bishop of Glocester Ihon Bradford Laurēce Saunders Rolland Tailler Doctoure of the ciuil law and Ihon Rogers And he was burned at London where he had taught but the reast were caried euery man home to Glocester Manchester Couentry and Hadley and ended their liues with the like punishment all right constantly A little after also the Bishoppe of Saint Dauid was condemned and sent home to suffer It was wrytten than out of Englād that ambassadoures woulde go to Rome in the name of the whole Realme which shuld both geue the bishop thankes for hys greate clemēcy which he hathe shewed towardes them and promise him also from henceforth al obedience and fidelitye The v. daye of February king Ferdinando though verye fewe Princes were there beginneth the treaty at Auspurge How they them selues knowe for howe waightye and neadefull causes the Emperoure had appoynted this conuention first at Wuolmes after in this Citye to begin at the middes of Nouember And he in dede at the request aduise of his brother wished that the matter might haue ben cōmenced at the same time Howe be it in puttinge his thinges in ordre at home that in his absence all thinges mighte be well gouerned and the neare ennemye be resisted in case he made anye enterprise he was impeched and letted Notwithstandinge at the xxix of Nouember he came hither at the laste to consulte for the common wealth Which thinge also the Emperoure desireth chiefly that is to wit that what so euer cōcerneth Goddes glorye and the tranquillitye of the Empire the same might by the common consente of them all be here determined For how much hath bene alwais themperors dilligence studye paine and care for the zeale he hath to the common country that both the publicke quiet and offences being taken away Religion might be established that is so wel tried and knowen both by all others and also by the decrees that were made in the two laste assembles that it nedeth no further declaration What so euer also he promised at the same time to do he perfourmed in dede but how pernitious cōmotions as well ciuill as foreine haue beyond al expectation chaūced sence by the which all those so holsome decrees were not onlye letted and disturbed but also taken away to the greate damage of the common weale that is so manifest to all men that it nedeth no further rehersall but herein was not the Emperour to be blamed who gaue none occasion of offence vnto any man and hath alwais dealt vprightlye and constantlye and whatsoeuer the sclaunder of his aduersaries be hath chiefly had respecte to the common profit neither doubteth he but they also beleue the same and hold him clearged in this behalf Wher therfore to remeadye these euils themperor hath called this counsell he was certenly purposed to haue ben present him self at the whole treatye but deteined by sicknesse and other affaires he could not yet neuerthelesse he would not that the thing should be longer delaied to thintent verely that bothe this euill increasing might be restrained and he mighte do his duetye to his country which he loueth aboue all other thinges Wherfore he hath made him his Uicegerent and geuen him ful authoritye that together with them he maye deuise meanes bothe honourable and also profitable for the common weale and for the same purpose hathe sente certen men and ioyned them with him in commission to treat of the same and the chief and principal matter shal be concerning Religion For this so long a dissention hath ben the head and welspringe of all these tumultes and miseries that these many yeares now so manye thousandes haue loste not oulye their liues but also their souls and eternal saluation is altogether long of this and that same is so manifestly known that it neadeth no further declaration For doubtles it is a lamentable and an heauy sight that those which are al of one baptime name Empire and lāguage shuld be thus torn a sōdre in the professiō of the same faith which so many hundreth yeares they haue receiued of their elders as it were deliuered from hand to hand but the case is much more greuous for that there ariseth daily not one sect or two but diuers whilest euery man wil maintain his own opinion Whiche thinge doubtlesse is bothe to the reproche of God and breaketh the bonde of charity and disturbeth mennes mindes in such sort that the vulgare people knoweth not what in the world to beleue but the greatest mischief of
Turke seke the destruction of thempire let them ponder therfore what commodities they receiue of these discordes and domesticall euils which they vndoutedly haue craftelye raised and supported that in this dissention of the states they might accomplish theyr gready lust and by a soden inuasion might bring al men into their subiection and bondage for other nations which haue bene so vanquished by them and supplaÌ„ted ought to be a warninge for them to take hede to theÌ„ selues and to take such counsel wherby both the present tempest and ruine of the country may be blowen ouer and the Empire consiste and perseuer in full strengthe and authoritye and all foraine violence as in times paste so nowe also maye be manfullye and valeauntly repulsed And what so euer the Emperoure and he are able to do here in bothe with theyr aide and counsell they will do it right gladlye and that in suche sorte as all men maye vnderstande what intier loue they beare to the common Countrye And let them perswade them selues of this to be moste assured What time this Oration of kinge Fardinando was published throughoute Germanye it was wrytten at the self time out of sondry places that he had exiled out of Boheme about two hundreth ministers of the churche It was signified also bi letters how cardinal Morone shuld com froÌ„ Rome to the counsell of thempire which would assay to do the like in Germany that Cardinall Poole had already brought to passe in England For it is thought assuredly that for the recoueringe of England the bishop of Rome and all his clients conceiued a wonderful hope in their mindes For in as much as the thing had so lucky successe therfore thought they now or els neuer that God was on theyr side and that they maintained a most iuste cause neither that theyr church could be conuict of any error thus they now chiefly beleued or at the least so pretended And whan they send ambassadours into Germany they do it for this intent not to acknowledge any faut of theyrs but that they may helpe and succor as they saye mennes infirmity About the end of February Ihon Albert Duke of Megelburge who I said was in league with Duke Moris and whoÌ„ Henry the duke of Brunswicke afflicted sore the yere before what time he kept war in Saxonie marieth the daughter of Albert duke Pruisse Whan I had proceded thus farre I was aduertised oute of England that of those fiue of whome I spake a little before Bradford althoughe he were condempned was reserued in prison and that the mindes of manye through the constancy of the reaste that suffered wer wonderfully astonied and amased The xxvi 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 xxvj Booke ENgland brought againe in subiection to the Bishop of Rome a wrytinge is seâ—te for the with Indulgences The Duke of Saxon by his ambassadoures maketh his purgation to Ferdinando and excuseth him selfe that he can not be at thassemble The ministers of the Churche expulsed oute of Boheme are comforted by the wrytinges of godly learned men Townes taken by the French men The Princes of Germany mete and enter also into league Pope Iuly being dead immedidiatly after that Mercellus was chosen in his stead he dieth And Paul the fourth of that name founder of the sectes of the Iesuites succedeth whilest they of Sene do yelde them to the Emperoure Cardinall Poole solliciteth themperor and the French kinge vnto peace in vaine The Quene of England being therin a meane and persecuting cruelly the true Christians At which time a rose tumultes at Geneua and Lucerues The Senate of Paris indeuoureth to mitigate and call in the Proclamation setforth by the French king against the true Christians Thinges done at Rome by the Bishop and by the Normens against the Spaniardos Uulpian taken by the French men dissention amonges the Ministers of the Churche concerning the Lordes supper Whilest the compact was made for the Lordship of Chattes themperor going into Spain committeth the gouernment to his sonne Thinges doue in thassemble of thempire concerninge Religion And extraordinary wryting of the Papistes in the same thanswer also of Ferdinando and of the Protestantes to them bothe and what decrec insued vpon the same The Parlament and state of England They of Austriche by their ambassadoures requiringe that they mighte be permitted to haue the true Religion are denied it by the diuers answers of Fardinando and sue in baine In manner at the same time the Bauarians sollicite theyr Duke about the like matter in vaine At the lengthe was truce taken betwixte the Emperoure and the Frenche kinge The Duke of Prusse imbrasing the confession of Auspurge therror of Dsiander is quenched About this time appeared a blasinge starre The matter of Marques Albert is heard Tharchbishop of Cantorbury openly and constantly professyng the true Religion is burnt The Pope seketh priuelye to infringe and disseuer the confession of Auspurge The Cardinall of Auspurge accused of treason purgeth him self declaring plainly of what nature and faction he is of A suspition of a conspiracye in Englande brodeth trouble and increaseth crueltye againste the faithfull that xiij were burnte together at a stake Fardinando alledgeth the reuoltinge of Transtiuania and diuers Townes from him And also the Turke now ready to inuade as causes and lettes why he can not come to thassemble which hitherto he had so oft differred Themperor now at length taketh shipping into Spaine leauing his soone gouernor of the lowe countries Sleidan departeth out of thys life HOw England submitted it self againe to the Bishop of Rome it hathe bene shewed in the former boke When these newes with a wonderfull expedition were broughte to Rome greate ioye a rose in the Citye and Te Deum was song in euery Church After on Christmasse euen The Bishoppe sendeth forth this wryting Since I lately heard saith he that England which of many yeares nowe was separated and plucked from the body of the Church is through the vnmeasurable mercye of God broughte againe to the Communion of the same Church and to the obedience of the sea of Rome by the singuler dilligence fidelitye trauell and industrye of kinge Phillip and Mary his wife and Cardinall Poole I toke greate pleasure in my minde And also as reason was gaue thankes vnto God as hartely as I could and omitted nothing but that the frute and profit of this my gladnesse might redound to the whole City But like as that father of whom the Gospel mentioneth hauing recouered his sonne lost not only reioyseth exceadingly and is priuately glad in his minde but also inuiteth others to feasting and making good cheare together with him Euen so I verely to thintent that al the world may vnderstand how great is my ioy and gladnes will that common thanckes and praiers be made Therfore by the power that I haue I
daies before that he went to Rome by his letters sent to the Senate of Princes Ambassadours sheweth that he desireth in dede peace by al meanes but in any wise to cōsent that the dignitie of the Sea Apostolique or the olde religion should be defaced he will neuer permitte In the meane time they of Sene who nowe by the space of eight moneths to wit euen from the time that Peter Strosse receiued the ouerthrowe as is shewed in the last boke were besieged with the power of themperour of Cosmus Duke of Florence driuen for want of all thinges where no ayde appered the xxi daye of Aprill yelde thēselues to thēperour are ruled by a garrison of soldiours lieftenaunt of themperours armie was the Marques of Marignane twyse famous by the policie of war Thre yeres since what time by thayde of the French king the Spanyardes beinge discomfited they Rased the Castell they of Sene sending Ambassadours gaue the kinge as harty thankes as they could deuise and from that time forewarde cōmended to his tuition them selues and all that they had Marcellus the second newly created Pope the xxii daye of his creation in the night that goeth before the first of May chaūged his life for death Alitle before wercome to the citie forduties sake and to salute him Hercules Duke of Farrare Guy Ubalde Duke of Urbine For they had preuēted others who neuerthelesse should haue come The Cardinals assembled in the Conclaue the .xxiii. day of May proclame Cardinal Theatine Pope Thesame was Iohn Peter of Naples Deane of the College a gentleman borne of the noble house of Carastes a man of aunciēt yeares notably learned Chaunging his name he called him self Paul the fourth Paul the third had chosen him into the nomber of Cardinals And he is the self same that began a certen new secte of those whiche are called Iesuites and haue nestled not in Italy only but also in certen places of Germany Not lōg after he created his nephew his brothers sonne Cardinal the same was a man of warre and that a chief captayne seruing for the moste part the Frenche Kyng I shewed before in the last boke how Poole thenglish Cardinal went to themperour French king to sollicite moue thē to peace and handled the cause both by wordes writinges amongest other thinges which he vsed to perswade them Whilest you saith he kepe ciuile war the Turke doeth very much to inlarge his dominion And hauing wonne by Sea land two strong holdes Belgrade the Rhodes hath made him a way open to Offen hath the possession of Tonowa And if God had not stired vp the king of Persia to be his aduersary it is to bee thought that he might haue already subdued to him self al the prouinces of Christendom By this selfsame occasion haue euil Christiās also increased in sondry places with so much a deprauation corruptiō of al discipline aswel ecclesiastical as ciuile that now your power is not great inough to suppresse thē For this declare welenough so many rebellions which are stired vp euery where the duties of religion neglected heresies scismes which in the meane time spring vp are increased After in an other place ye ought to consider saith he that you ar the Princes of the Christen Beligion And albeit that God hathe permitted Sathan thauthour of all euil which is altogether in this that he might sift the churche wynnowe it like wheate to styre vp war amongst you which are two of the chiefest moste noble mēbers of the church yet hath he not suffred his wickednes further than to prophane and ciuile matters For in Religion he hath kept you sounde of one and the same opinion and annexed to the body of the churche For els coulde there hardly be made againe any concorde betwixt you And where as so many other Princes haue reuolted from the churche and that thennemy of mankinde hath attempted so many thinges yet hath God moste benignely loked vpon you and hath made his enter prises frustrate Wherby as by a moste certen token of his goodnes and clemencie towardes you he sheweth that he wil at the length vse your ministerie wil ioyne you both together with his vicar in earth to the intent verely that such hurtful dissentions may be taken a way and that as well in the state ciuile as sacred peace may be restored to al mē Many such like thīges brought Poole threatening them also with the wrath and vēgeaunce of God vnlesse they leaue and releaue the miserie of the afflicted people And although he preuailed than nothing yet whilest the matter went forwarde in Englande he holdeth on And the matter at lēgth was brought to this point that both the Emperour and the Frenche king refused not to sende Ambassadours to the treatie of peace But the Quene of Englande who was a meane in this matter appointeth a fit and mete place in the myddes of the playne betwyxt Caleis Arde and Grauelyn Townes of the Englyshe Frenche and Flemishe dominion set as it were a treangle and intrenchynge the same rounde aboute wyth Ditches buylded there foure Pauilions Sommer houses in deede but yet fyne and fitte for the pourpose In this place therfore the .xxiii. daye of Maye this yeare the Ambassadours mete from the Emperour amongest others came the Byshop of Arras From the Frenche kyng the Cardinal of Loraine and the Conestable Out of England came as peacemakers Cardinall Poole the Bishop of Wynchester Chauncelour the Erle of Arondell and the Lorde Paget This brute blowē abroade far and nere styred vp diuerse expectations and iudgementes of men amongest the chiefly vnto whome the controuersies were not vnknowen For there came in question the Dukedome of Millan Burgundy Sauoye Piedmont Corsica Nauerne Loraine the lande of Luke the cities of Tully Uirodone and Metz. The matter being long much debated where amongst other thinges at the last the Englishe intercessours sayde how certen of these controuersies ought to be referred to the hearing of the generall counsell they departed and nothyng finished Kyng Ferdinando and the states of the Empire sendinge their letters to the Emperour the fourth Ides of Iune had praied him that in the treatie of peace he would haue consideratiō of those thinges whiche the kyng of Fraunce had taken from the Empire Where therfore nothing was done the Emperour wryting againe to the states the .xv. day after your duty saith he is to me ryght acceptable that you are so moued with the calamities of those thinges whiche both mine and also the publique ennemy of the Empire hath afflicted Doubtles I was very careful that suche thinges might be restored to their fourmer estate And before your epistle was deliuered me I had inioyned mine Ambassadours chief counsellours sent to treate of peace that amongest other thinges they should handle this same moste diligently nother should they
commotion at Burdeaur eodem A wonderful conuersion of Uergelius 328 A meting of deuines in Saxony 330 A Diaphora 333 An open disputation at Oxford 335 A communication at Lipsia 336 A rebellion in England eodem A boke in Italian againste the Poope 339 An assembly of Cardinals for to chuse a new Pope 340 A straunge sight neuer hard of 342 A trouble in the Church of Strasburg eodem A iest of the Cardinall of Auspurge 343 A peace concluded betwene Fraunce and England 344 A confession of faith made by the ministers of Auspurge 345 A Regester of the deuines of Louaine 346 A proclamation for printers 347 Andwarpe astomed at the Emperors Proclamation 347 A woman in pearil for a lyght worde 348 An ambassade against them of Maidenburge 350 A cruel decre against the Maidenburgians 351 A wryting of the cleargye againste the city of Maidenburge 354 All godly folke afflicted for the verity 357 A new doctrine of Osiander 359 A cruel Proclamation against the Lutherans 368 A purgation of the french king eodem A decre of Trent of the Lordes supper 369 A decre of penaunce 273 A Cardinall of Dalmatia slaine in hys owne house 378 A brute of warre againste themperor 385 Albertes crueltye to them of Noremberge 402 Assembly at Auspurge 386 A poynt of the law 72 A Monke forsaketh his religion 76 Alteration in Denmarke 45 Archbishop of Mentz answer 22 Aristotle 20 Albert Arch bishop of Mentz 3 Authors of scismes 47 An assembly called at Auspurge 65 A bloudy preacher bloweth a trom 56 A most cruell maner of burning 54 Albert to them of Wolmes 403 Albert of Austrich of whome 466 Ambassadors of Strasburge to themperor 413 Albert ouerthroweth the frēch mē 414 A battel fought betwixt duke Maurice Marques Albert. 421 Augustus brother and heyre to Duke Maurice 423 Albert reconciled to Augustus 426 A disputation in England 428 An end betwixte Iohn Fredericke and Augustus 431 A parliament in England 433 A wryting of the city of Norinberge against Marques Albert. eodem A place of treaty of peace chosē by the Quene of England 451 A tumult raised at Geneua eodem A vniuersity erected at Dilling 453 A boke of Peter Asot againste the confessiō of the duke of Wittem eodem August Prince elector had a son 454 A wryting of the Papistes to requestes of the protestaunt 456 A wryting of the king Fardinando to the Princes 458 A decre wherby Religion is frely permitted to all men 460 An ecclesyastical parson that changeth his Religion shal be depriued eodem A parlament in England 461 An assemble in Austrich eodem A Comet sene 465 A father killeth his iii. children 466 A slaunder deuised against certain 467 Aucthority of the deuines of Paris 32 Agrement betwixt Luther and Zwinglius 83 A Concord 107 B BIshops of Rome bound as other is to Goddes commaundement 3 Boke burners 27 Bloudye preacher bloweth a trompet 56 Bokes presented to themperor 85 Bōdage no let to christian liberty 63 Bucer laboreth for concord 96 Busy marchauntes 118 Brauling Friers 119 Barbarossa almost taken 121 By what meanes men be disceiued 134 By what means the deuel is van eodē Baptisme condemned 135 Bishops stir vp princes 150 Barbarossa taketh castel Newstat 178 Bucer preacheth at Bonina 201 Barbarossa returneth 213 Bolloigne rendred 214 Bruly burnt at Tourney 216 Bucer declareth how tharticle of iustification wās accorded in 229 Bucer is sent for to Auspurge 310 Bucer is in daunger 313 Bren. wife his children banyshed 316 Bucer and Fragus come into Eng. 331 Baūberge redemeth peace dearly 402 Brunswicke besieged 428 Bradford burned in England 451 Bish of Merspurge answer to Lu. 22 Best thiuges pleaseth fewest men 34 Beginning of fyrst frutes tenthes 42 Bible is to be preferred before al. 43 Bishop of Constaunce maketh a boke in defence of Images 48 Boke of restitution 131 Bi. Munster demaūded his charges 136 Bold answer of the king 137 Barnes aid to Geneua eodem Bolde and profitable Counsell of the Lantzgraue 359 Bhoemers serued against the Duke of Saxon vnwillingly 169 Bohemers refuse war in Saxony 277 Bishop of Strausburge syngeth hys fyrst Masse 331 Bondage of the Germanians 392 Bishop of Winchester dieth 461 Bauarians followeth the Prynce for Religion 465 C CHarge of the Bishoppe of Maidenburge 1. Ciuilians vse of Citing 2 Cardinall Caietane wryteth to the duke of Saxon. 8 Charles is declared Emperour 14 Conditions propounded by Luther 18 Confession of sinnes eodem Counsel of Lateran and Pisa eo Capnio a deuine 19 Catarinus wryteth against Luther 27 Commotions in Spaine 34 Cornelis Scepper a good wryter 42 Cardinall Campeius wryteth to the duke of Saxony 45 Campeius Oration to the Prynces at Norenberge eodem Campeius raileth against Matrimony 49 Christianity taketh not away bondage 61 Carolostadius wryteth against Lu. 65 Carolostadius maketh his purgatiō 65 Counsel at Spires 69 Contention about the Masse 79 Certaine Princes resiste the decree of Spires 81 Ciuil war amongst the Swicers 82 Cardinall Campeius Oration 88 Certaine chosen to accorde Relygyon 90 Conditions of peace 104 Conditions of peace betwene themperor and the Protestauntes 105 Conditions of creating a kinge of Romaines eodem Cristine kinge of Denmarke is taken 108 Christ was called Seditious 112 Conditions of peace 116 Conditions betwixte Fardinando and Duke Ulrich eodem Crafty marchauntes 118 Couetous marchauntes 119 Cruelty vnsemely in Churchmen 122 Condition of peace 128 Ciuill war in the city 129 Cnipperdoling was the chief of that faction 129 Cnipper doling prophecieth 130 Croked necked cattel 134 Comotion in Lincolne shire 141 Captaine Aske executed for Treason eodem Cardinal Pole the Popes ambassador to the French king 142 Cardinals Poles boke against e Kinge Henry the eight eodem Cold reasons for the Popes supremacy 143 Carninall Poole was vnthanckefull eodem Cardinall Pole incenseth the Emperoure against the king of England eodem Cardinals Poles Hipocrisy and falsehode eodem Cristierne king of Denmark receiueth the Gospel 158 Complaintes of Pillage 178 Contention betwixte the electoure of Saxon and Duke Moris 188 Conterme in displeasure with the pope and cardinals 194 Cardinals sent to make peace 197 County William taken Prisoner 213 Cabrier yelded 220 Cardinall Farnesius his comming to Wormes 221 Counte William deliuered 226 Claudius Cenarcleus a yong gētlemā of Sauoy 235 Condityons imposed to the Duke of Wirtemberge 275 Conditions offred to the Lantzgraue 281 Caspar Phlugus captain of the Bohemers army eodem Conditions wherby the duke redemed his life 285 Ciuil war betwixt England and Scotland 310 Countries vnited by mariage 311 Ciuil war in Affrica 330 Contention for thempire betwene the Emperor and Fardinando 353 Complaint of the bishop of Strausboroughe 360 Contrary tales of the king and themperor 364 Causes of callinge the counsel 371 Countries oppressed by the Emperor 394 Conditions of peace offered by Duke Moris 397 Cruelty against godly preachers 40 Conditions of peace offred by themperor 48 Conditions of peace 411
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
in the league 33 The liberty of the Swisses eodem The Masse to be abolished eodem Themperour hath war with frauÌ„ce 34 The death of pope Leo the tenth eod The Turke taketh Belgrade eodem The Lady Mary assured to themper 35 The Sectes of Bohemers 36 The Pope writeth to the Princes of Germany 37 The Watre of Treuers 38 The Popes letters to Strasburg eod The stocke of Adrian eodem The disputation of Zurick 39 The request of Adrian to dispatch Luther 39 The sinne of Rome spread ouer all the world 40 The meane to let Counselles 40 The answere of the Princes 41 The maner of a free Counsell 41 Two Friers burnt at Brussels 43 The Ceremonies of disgreding eod The death and workes of Hutten 44 The aunswer of Duke George eodem The eating of flesh eodem The Princes aunswer to CaÌ„peius 46 The decree of wormes repeted eodem The Pope is well monyed eodem The Swisses are assendid with them of Zurick eodem The Marchaundise of the Clergie 47 The aunswer of them of Zurick 47 The decree of Norinberge 48 Thomas Moouer a Graye frier 48 The lamentation of Luther 49 The Golden Rose sent to the kynge of England 50 Themperour blameth the princes eod Themperour defendour of the Romish Churche eodem The duke of BurboÌ„ne besiegeth Marselles eodem The beginning of the Rusticall war eod The papistes fight for their belly 51 To serue foreyne Princes is vyle eod The crafte of Papistes eodem The pouerty and boÌ„dage of the Swissers 52 The Riches liberty of thesame 52 The Comotion of the vulgare people 53 Their Demaundes 53 The Duke of Wittenberg attempted Warre eodem The slaughter of the Boores. eodem The great cruelty of the Boores. eod The warre of the Boores in Loraine 54 The slaughter of the Boores. 54 The cruelty of tharchbishop of treu 54 The death of Frederick duke of 56 The Princes make a power 56 The slaughter of the Muncerians 57 The vnreasonable laughter of muÌ„c 57 The dewty of a good Magistrate 58 Thautors of rebellion are without excuse 58 The best way to ouerthrow the popes auctoritie 58 The practice of the Deuell 59 The popish kingdome not long eod The demaundes of the preachers eod The Boores vse godly titles 60 The state of a Magistrate wherin 61 The Christian Lawe eodem The Christian profession is hard eod The nature of veritie 62 The craft of the deuill to oppresse eod The aunswer to the Boores dema eod Tythes must be payde eodem The false title of the Boores. 63 The rayser of tumultes 63 The part of a wise man 64 The dutie of a Magistrate eodem The ende of tiranny eodem Their can be nothing worse then 65 The popes letters to them of Paris 66 The kinges letters for Faber eodem The story of Pruse eodem The chief point of luthers doctrine 67 Thomas woolsey cardinall a butchers Sonne 68 The peace taken at Madrice 68 Themperours letters 69 The Turke inuadeth Hongary 69 The beginning of the prot league 70 The popes benefites to themperour 71 Themperours aunswer 71 The kingdome of Naples 72 The pope and thempâ—ar two great 72 The Pope is a waryour 72 Themperour confuteth the French 73 The princes letters to themperour 73 The beginning of the Anabaptistes 74 The French army inuadeth Italy 74 The power of Bernes 75 The duke of Burbon condemned at 75 The prebendes of Constance dep 76 The victory of the Gospell eodem The English French ambassad eod The French king offreth themp eodeÌ„ Themperours answer to the French 78 The Papistes forbidden to Preach 79 The ambassadours of thimperiall chaÌ„ber to Strasborow 79 The Bishoppes letters 79 The masse put down at strasborow 80 They of Basill take armure 80 The Masse put downe 80 The assembly of Spires 80 The ambassadors of Strasborow 81 The decree of Spires 81 The decree of wormes 82 Thoriginall of protestantes 82 The peace of Cambray 82 The Turke besiegeth Uienna 83 The sweating Sicknes 83 Two Clerkes burnt at Collon 83 The protest ambassadors to theÌ„p 84 Themp. aunswer to the protestantes 84 Thambassadours appeale 85 The honesty of a Bishoppe 85 The ChaÌ„bre writeth to Smalcald 86 TheÌ„perors Coronation at Bonony 86 The diuines of the protestantes 86 The princes that wold not haue masse 87 The Duke of Saxons office eodem The turkes victory in HoÌ„gary eodem The turkes cruelty eodem ThaÌ„bassadour of Austrich his comp 88 Thinges refused in religion 89 That the Masse is a sacrifice 89 The warre of florens 90 The pope in league with theÌ„p eodem The Turkes power eodem The protestantes were laboured eodeÌ„ The Bohemers borne withall 91 TheÌ„p oration to the protestantes 91 The ProtestaÌ„tes answer to themp 91 Themperour to the Protestantes 93 The protestantes spite no man 93 The drone bees desire to be restored 93 The answer to the coÌ„futation of zwin 94 The decree of Auspurge 95 The Church oppressed with tiraÌ„ny 96 The papistes are accused of aerag 96 The Lantzgraue made a league with Strasborow Zurick and Basill 96 The league of the protest at smalcald 97 The pope is a Sayler 97 The prot letters against FerdinaÌ„do 67 The causes of creating king of rom 98 The protestantes letters to the king of England and Fraunce 99 The protestantes appellation 99 The bishoppes of Denmark resist 100 The lawes permit the inferrour magistrate in some causes to resist the. 100 Tharchbishop of Treuers departeth 101 The aunswere of the French kinge to the protestantes 101 The amytie of FrauÌ„ce Germany 101 The auÌ„swer of the king of EnglaÌ„d 102 The duke of Saxons doubt of the. 102 The Palsgraue tharchbishop of 102 The Appellation of the Marques 103 Therles of Nassow Nauenar come to the Duke of Saxon to intreate 103 The intercessors and protestantes 103 They of Zurick discomfited 104 The death of Swinglius 104 The death of Decolampadius 105 The assembly of Regenspurge 105 The dukes of Bauier misliked the. 106 The annswer of the duke to the in t 107 The crafte of the Papistes 107 The number of Protestantes 108 The assembly at Regenspurg eodem The Turke inuadeth Austrich eodem The death of the duke of Saxon. eodem The slaughter of the turkes 109 The pope serueth the time eodem The Popes policie eodem The duke of Saxons answer eodem The protestantes answer to the pope 110 The couÌ„sell are swarued from their 110 Themperours part is to defend rel 111 The Pope is plaintife defendant 111 The Popes snares eodem The Pope slieth to the CouÌ„sell eodem The craft of duke George to find of 112 The inconstancy of pope Clement 113 The vniuersitie of paris Sentens 113 The death of Cardinall Wolsey 114 The tragedy of the graye friers 114 The game players carried to paris 115 The condemnation of false Friers 115 The victory of the Lantgraue 116 The liberality of the French king 117 The Lantgraues letters to theÌ„p eodeÌ„ Themperours aunswer eodem The punishment of the Godly
spake with Luther The answer of the Prot. Crueltie is vnsemely in churchmen Their craft is spied The Empe. may order counsels Pepes concempned of Heresy The oration of the FreÌ„ch Ambassad Folysh pitie marreth a citie Of Fraunce and Germany one ofspring The iudges of the chamber trouble that ProtestaÌ„tes The Emp. letters The answer of the Protestauntes to the Frenche Ambassad The duty of Princes The kinges opinion of matters in controuersie The commoÌ„places of Malancthon The masse mainteineth purgatory Monasticall voues Paphnutius The Lordes suppervnder both kyndes The kynges of Fraunce and Nauane ercommunicated The protest would make no league with the kyng the oratioÌ„ of byshop Fore Ambassa for the kynge of Englande The alteration of Religion in Englande The state of the churche troublesome The rage of Antichrist The protest league is renewed The Erle of Nassowe The Gospel receiued at Auspurge Munster a citie of Westophalia The original of Anabaptistes their doctrie and maners Rotman a Preacher The papists coÌ„ sesse their ignoraunce The papists forsake the citie Frederick forsaketh the byshoprike They of muÌ„ster oppresse the papistes Condicious of peace Iohn LeidaÌ„ an Anabap. Herman Stapred The Anab. banished the citie Rotman became an Anabaptist The constaÌ„cie of Fabritius Peter Wirtemie A Prophet inspired Eiuile war in the citie Cnipperdolyng Iohn Matthewe the high prophet Maydens do prophecie Iestyng pâ—nyshed The prophet inspired with 〈◊〉 Cnipperdoling prophecieth From the horse to the Asse The diuisioÌ„ of Germany into prouice The salshod of Leidane Twelue iudges The Paradoxes of iohn Leiden Sedition in the citie Iohn LeidaÌ„ inuadeth the kingdome A new king of Anabap. His pompe the madnes of Cnipper The boke of restitution Who wrote against theÌ„ A supper The Apost of Munster The kinges murther The preachers of MuÌ„ster They be racked Their obstiuacie The Kynge taketh hede to hym selfe the errours and mischief of Anabap. A booke of that miâ—â—ries of scripture The diuisioÌ„ of the world This preseÌ„t age cumpared to Esaw The kynge beheaded the Quene A blynd asse Luthers writig of MuÌ„st God bridleth the power of Sathan By what meanesmen be disceaued Croked necked cattell The craft of an ignorauÌ„t Deuyll Gods wrath By what meanes the deuil is vanquished The errours of the Munsterians in fayth In baptisme Of mariage The assemblie at Wormes The citie was required to rendre The coÌ„plait of the Munsterians Two escaping betraye the citie The wynnyng of MuÌ„ster The kyng is taken Rotman desperate The byshop of Munster demaundeth his charges The kyng his fellowes caried about 〈…〉 Disputation with the king 〈…〉 The bolde aunswer of the kyng The cruell death of the kyng The death of quene Katherine The warre of Geneua with the duke of Sauoy The ayde of Bernes The FreÌ„che king against the Duke of Sauoye The Popes counsel to inuade Sauoy Legions of Souldiours The house of vicecouÌ„tes The FreÌ„che kinges title to Millan The Emperous oration against the FreÌ„che king The Uenetians league with the Emperour The Duke of Florence marieth the Emperours bastarde Luthers constancie Uergerius sent to the Emperour The diuisers of the bâ—ll The king of England is patrone of the Proâ— league The english Ambassad wynter at Wittebergâ— The kinges letters to the Protestants The king of England requireth a coÌ„ference of lerned men The kinges deuorcemeÌ„t Receyued in to league The lamentable death of Quene Anne A counsel is called Against the FreÌ„ch kyng The Protestantes send to the Emp. The Empe. letters to the Protestant The Empe. inuadeth the French prouinces Peronne beseged The death of Fraunces the Dolphin A reformation of Collon The death of Erasmus Commotion in Linkcolnshyre Captayne Aske The Pope wyl reforme the court of Rome The king of Scottes maried that FreÌ„ch kinges daughter The Duke of Florence slayne by his cosyn The Swycers sewe to the king for the Gospellers Hesdine rendred Cardinall Poole the Popes Ambassadour to the Frenche kyng A sworde hallowed Pooles boke against king Henry the eyght Cold reasoÌ„s for the popes supremacie He inceÌ„seth the Emper. against the king of Englande Poole was vnthankful His hipocrisie falshod A wryting of Auspurg The Prote Ambassad to the Emp. Heldus the Emperours Ambassad His sration at Smalcald The FreÌ„che practises The iudges of the chaÌ„ber The Dukes aunswere The answer of Heldus The Popes Ambassad The Popes Ambassad vispysed The Popes errours The Popes vnreasonable authoritie Of the place of the couÌ„sel Athanasius Arrius Liberius The craft of Paule the. Popes haue Emperours in subsectioÌ„ The counsel of CoÌ„stasice Iohn Hussâ— The Protestaunâ—es decre for mainteining Ministers Reason why the Protest refuse the Counsel Who ought to be at the counsell The Preachers of the Gospel haue brought godly workes to lyght It is false that they styre vp 〈◊〉 heresies Byshoppes styre vp prices False doctrine is not to be borne with Why the innocentes be in perill Thaâ—thoritie of iudgement is in the churche The Pope is accused of Idolatry Heresye Like lippes like lettuse The craft of the Pope Thosspring of C 〈…〉 The Counsell of Mill 〈…〉 broken of The Potest letters to the FreÌ„ch king The queene of Scottes dieth The king of England re suseth the Counsell A proper saying of Cipriane TeroweÌ„ beseged invain Ferdinando his armie destroyed The birth of kiÌ„g Edward the sixt The Pope hateth the kyng Rebellion in Gelderland Pope Paule euil reported The Pope entended to make Erasmus Cardinall The Pope hath a double office Wherof 〈◊〉 meth the coÌ„tempt of the Clergie Who ought to be made Bishoppes Unlawefull to geue benefices by legacye A pristes son may not inioy his fathers benefice Why Cardinals were fyrst made Aâ—arice and concupisceÌ„ce let counsels Many filthy actes of Monkes The cowle maketh not the Monke Simony reigneth in the churche Harlottes honoured at Rome Presidentes of the couÌ„sel 1538 The Cardi â–ª of Capua caÌ„ abide no reformation The Colloquie of Erasmus MomoraÌ„ciâ— made constable of Fraâ— Christiane kinge of DeÌ„marke receiueth the gospell The Duke of Pruse is outlawed A gentlemaÌ„ of Tolouse burnt at Paris Themperor the frenche king and the pope meets at Nice Andrâ—w de Aurie The meting ofthemperor the kynge The FreÌ„che kinge kissed the Popes right foote The Bishop of Liege made his graue yet liuing English Bibles were printed at Paris The ignoraunce of the people is gainefull to priestes A colledge erected at Strausâ— Iohn Caluin Peter Brulie Thomas Becket Newes of the Turkes approche The Marquses of 〈…〉 denburge of the Protestantes Religion The lady Elizabeth sister to the Lantgraue is receiued in to the league of Protest The fecte of AntinomiaÌ„s Iohn Isleby A lege of the Papistes against the ProtestaÌ„tes The citie of Mynden ouâ— lawed The Duke of Brunswick desyrous of war The Lantgraue intercepteth the Dukes letters 1539. Inuectiues vnmete for Princes The death of Iohn Duke of Cleaue The Duke of Saxony woulde not geue to Ferdinando the title of kyng of Romains The FreÌ„cha kyng geueth touÌ„sel to
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
his wyfe Iohn Alasco Ecclesiastical lawes in Englande The Lady Elizabeth coÌ„mitted to that Tower The siege of Senes The death of Wiat. A ParlameÌ„t in England Thassemble of Auspurge A wrytinge of the city of Norinberge against Marques Albert. The cruell actes of Marques Albert. Marques Al. goeth to Suinfort His flight The death of Charles D. of Sauoy The letters of king Fardinando to his subiectes of the Lords Supper The states make aswer to that Kinges letters Thabbot of Newstat accused of Herisye Interrogatories ministred to him The frencheÌ„ Kinge muadeth themperours countries Mariburge taken Kinge Phillip arriueth in England The frenche kinges letters Thempeor geueth to his sonne Phyllip the dukedom of Millan Cardinall Poole arriueth in England England returneth to her vomit The Cardinal geueth that Lordes absolution The Emperors letters against Marques Albert. Thimperial counsell of Auspurge 1555. Fiue coÌ„deÌ„nd at London for the Gospell The ministers exiled out of Boheme Ioy at Rome for England reduced to that Romishe Church IndulgeÌ„ces graunted by the Pope for the conuersion of Englande Melancthon comforteth the ministers of Boheme The towne of Cassalle taken by the Frenchmen An assemble of the Princes of Saxonie at Numburge The letters of the Princes of Saxony to themp The Archbyshop of MeÌ„tz dieth The death of Pope Iuly the third Marcellus the second choseÌ„ They of Sene rendre them selues to Themp. Marcellus the second dieth Paule the fourth The secte of Iesuites The trauell of Cardinall Poole to make peace betwene them perour and FreÌ„ch king A place of yâ— treaty of peace chosen by the Quene of England The Empe. letters to the states of the Empire The Duke of Alba sent to Millan Bradforde burnt in Englande Iohn Friderick thelect sonne marieth The Empe. mother dieth A tumult raised at Geneua Porte Hereules taken by Imperials PluÌ„bine besieged of Turkes Controuersie for the dominion of the Chattes Uulpian vitayled Maryburg vnailed The FreÌ„che kinges proclamation against the coÌ„demned of that inquisitours The Lucernates require of that Swisses the doctrine of the Gospell The Nauie of the kinge of DeÌ„marke Sanstorian Camillus Cardinalles led into pryson The Spanishe flete intercepted by the French King Philip came out of England to his father at Brusselles An vniuersitie erected at Dillinge A boke of Peter Asot against the coÌ„fession of the Duke of wirtemberge George Erle of Mount pelicarte marieth that Lantgraues daughter Uulpian taken and rased by the Frenchmen Mountcalue is taken by that Frenchmen The controuersie about the Lordes supper is renewed by that bremers August prince Electour had a sonne borne Ridley Latimer burnt in England Thanswere of the Parliament of Paris to that kinges proclamatioÌ„ of Lutherians Note howe byshops seke authoritie of kinges to coÌ„demne innocentes The meting of Princes about ytâ—aÌ„tgrauet matter The Emre Charles geueth the gouernemeÌ„t to his Sonns Philip. Whether peace should be geuen to Religion or no A wrytinge of the Papistes to requestes of that Protestauntes The office of Archebysh The answer of the Protestauntes to that wryting of the Papistes A wryitng of king Ferdinando to the Princes The bishops whiche chaunge their religion shuld lose their promotions a decrewher by religioÌ„ is frely permit to all men An ecclesiastical person that chaungeth his Religion shal be depriued For churchs goodes al coÌ„trouersies ar taken away The ecclesiasticall lawes shall not be exercised against the protestauntes A parliameÌ„t in England Libelles strowed about in London The byshop of Winchester dieth The wife of Iohn Friderick dieth Frances Uenery displaced Ambassad to the Princes of Germany An assemble in Austriche Iohn Gropper Cardin. King Philip entreth into Andwerpe Thambassadours of Austrtche require of kynge Ferdinando that the true ReligioÌ„ may be permitted them Truce takeÌ„ betwene the Emperour the kynge of Fraunce The answer of king Ferdinando to that Ambassa of the house of Austriche He meaneth the Emper. Sigismonde that burnte Iohn Husse The Ambassadours answer to Ferdinando The answer of king Ferdinando Duke HeÌ„ry of BruÌ„swick marieth a wyfe The byshop of Treuers dieth Fredericke Counte Palatine dieth The Duke of Pruse professeth the coÌ„fession of Auspurge A Camete sene Tharchebyshop of Cantorbu burnt for Religion The Bauarians sollicite their Prince forreligioÌ„ A father killeth his thre children The Pope toke displeasauntly that peace was geuen to religion Kyng Ferd goeth in to Boheme The Duke of Arescot brake out of pryson The Cardinall of Auspurg pourgeth himself by wryting sinisire suspicious spred of the Card. of Auspurg The pourgation of that Cardinall of Auspurg against the suspicious of certen A sclaunder deuised against certi Princes The Pope had no conference with that Emperour against religion or the libertie of Germany The Cardinall of Anspurg addicts to the olde Religion The good will of the Cardinall of Anspurg towardes the duke of Wirtemberg The loue of that Cardinall of Auspurge towardes that Germaines CommotioÌ„s in England for suspicion of a conspiracie Sir Peter Carrowe Syr Iohn Cheke takeÌ„ prisoners Xiii burnt at Stretford at the bewe The Marq. of Baben receiueth the Gospell Peter Martyr goeth to Zurick Cardinalles sent from that Pope to the Emper. and the Frenche kyng Counsell begon at Regenspurg Buda in Latin The Empe. goeth in to Spain with both his sisters Iohn Sleydane dieth
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
wherevpon by the way is spoken of Iuly his actes and of the sayd counsell In the meane while the Diuines of Louayne condemne Luthers Bokes In his defence the articles of Picus Erle of Mirandula the Questions of Ockam and the controuersie of Rewcline with the same Diuines are recited Seyng him selfe assayled with so many enemies he writeth to themperour and shortely after to tharchbishoppes of Mentz and of Marseburge Duke Fridericke beyng aduertised that he had cuill will at Rome by reason of Luther he maketh his purgation by letters Luther in lyke case And yet this notwithstanding the Pope by an extreme Bulle doeth excommunicate Luther who contrary to a decree of Mantua by the waye recited maketh his appellation hauinge set forthe in Print a Boke of the captuitie of Babilon The emperour at the same tune goeth to be crowned at Acon the solemnities and maner whereof be there recited The Pope beginneth agayne to sollicite Duke Fridericke agaynst Luther but nothing preuailyng he causeth Luthers workes to be burnt and likewise Luther burneth the Popes Decretals and sheweth the cause why afterwarde he aunswereth Ambrose Catarine who had written agaynst him WHen Charles Meltice that was sent from Leo the tenthe vnto Duke Fredericke with the golden Rose perceiued howe Luthers doctryne was so farre spreade abroade and so highly estemed of many that it shoulde be hearde and almost vnpossible to quench it he sought all meanes possible to heale the wounde with a plaster of reconciliation Wherfore after longe conferens with Luther and his frendes at the last the meanes was foūde that Luther should write his letters to the Bishop reportyng of hym muche honour And so did he at the request of his Frendes aboute the syxte day of Aprill The tenure of his letters was this that albeit he had appealed from him to the Counsel Yet neuerthelesse he ceased not to make his prayers vnto God for his healthe And for as much as he is sore blamed to haue hurt and offended his name and dignitie he is hartely sorye to be so charged and this to be the cause of his writinge at this present signifiynge that in dede he hathe bene earnest in rebukyng of vice and errours but hath euermore written of him right honorablie as it is to be sene in his bokes And in that he doth so frankely taunte false doctrine he doeth it by the example of Christe his Prophetes and Apostles but that such reprehensions and holsome admonishementes can as yet take no place to be long of naughtie flatterers which tickle men in the eares And that he regardeth gods glory and seeketh onely that the truth might appere if he may this obtaine to be willinge ynough to giue place in other matters but to leaue of the professyng of Gods veritie he can by no meanes Then commeth he to the Court of Rome as they call it and sayeth it is more corrupt wicked then euer was Sodome or Babilon and that there cā be no more mischiefe wrought then is there no not of Antichrist him selfe wherefore he is sory that he is there as a Lambe amonges manye Wolues For Rome is not worthy to haue so good a man to gouerne it that it were muche better for him to be content with a meane benefice or to liue of his owne landes and reuenewes farre from suche pestiferous slatterers whiche to serue their owne lust and ambition do depraue his name and dignitie he addeth that Barnarde bewailed the state of Eugenius when Rome was better then it is at this present but now for asmuche as it is the most filthy sinke of al the places in the Uniuersall worlde and a rakehell heaped of all mischief he ought much more to be lamented And this to be the cause why he inueighed so soore agaynst it whiche appertayneth nothing to his reproche but rather to his saluation and he would wishe that all learned men woulde set on with touch and nayle to ouercome that Monstre Touching the thing it selfe whan he had set forth certeine litle bokes and sawe that his attempt was vayne he was willyng to haue left of his enterprise imployed all his frudye to the profite of his bretherne in the same house but than rose vp Eccius who disturbed all these quiet cogitations and desyred leasure wherin he did nothing els but more aptely disclose the shame wickednes of Rome After he toucheth in fewe wordes howe he was vsed before Cardinal Caietane who he saieth might haue appeased all the matter if it had pleased him vnto whom the faulte is to be imputed if any thinge be a misse not to him And that afterwarde came Charles Meltice who had quieted the kinge had it not bene for the importune disputation of Eccius whiche prouoked him to reason matters agaynst his will and is in dede his enemie which fyrst of all men kindled this fyre And nowe for asmuch as he was requested by Melticius others his betters to write to him in the waye of submission he would refuse nothing that appertained to reconcilement First therfore he required him that his aduersaries might kepe silence not raile vpon him as they did secondarely that he were not driuen to recante or bounden to interprete the scriptures after the prescript of mā for the doctrine of the Gospell which bringeth libertie to the myndes of men can not be bounden within any certen limites if these thynges may be graunted him he is content to do any thinge so that it lyeth in him nowe to ende the strife if he will vnderstande the matter commaunde either partie to silence But herein he must chiefely beware of flatterers and with a deafe eare sayle besydes theyr songes as the enticementes or daungerous rockes of the Sirenes which ascribe vnto him a godlines and affirme him to be the head of all the world preferring him aboue all generall counselles for there is nothing more pestiferous than is this kynde of Parasites but that he credite them rather which admonishe him of his dewtie and put him in remēbraunce that he is a man and this to be the dewtie of a very frende Finally he dedicateth to him his booke which he had lately written of Christen libertie commendinge the same in fewe wordes for that it conteyned the summe of trew doctrine In the begynning of the springe time Themperour taketh shippinge in Spaine to sayle into Englande where he was royally receiued of kynge Henry the eight who had maried hys Aunte Katherine which amonges other kyndes of his princelike liberalite builded a goodlye lodginge purposely for him vpon the Riuer of Themse called Bridewell and from thens he sayled into Flaunders where he was ioyefully receyued of almen About the same time duke Fridericke fell sore sicke Wherfore Luther compiled a boke to cōforte him and in his letters to him he saith it is the cōmaundemēt of Christ that amonges other workes of Charitie whiche we oughte to
he gaue the glory vnto God By the way he wrote to thēperour and to the residew of the Princes states repeting the whole actiō at few words requiring thē that for so much as he hath euer wil seke a quiet agrement desireth nothing els but that the matter maye be indifferently heard iudged by Scripture they wold defende him frō the force of his enemies for that it is not his priuate cause but cōmō to al the world namely Germany whose weale he estemeth more thā his life For as muche as oftentimes mention hath bene made of Husse of the Counsell of Constaunce and of the Bohemers I shall brieflye declare the matter Iohn Wickliffe liued in Englande about the yere of our Lord M. CCC .xciij. Who wrote many thinges agaynst the See of Rome which were brought afterwardes into the lāde of Boheme Prage was thē a noble Uniuersitie And there flourished Iohn Husse a Doctor of Diuinitie who in his lectures and sermons set forthe and taught Wicliffes doctrine to be holesome and godly beyngt accused of the same to the Byshoppe of Rome Alexander the fyfte he is cited He by his procurers sheweth causes why he coulde not come Wencelaus also the king entreateth for him and requireth that he would send his Legates into Boheme to vnderstand the matter but that was in vaine Wherefore Husse condemned at Rome for an Heritike setteth forthe a writing wherin he appealeth from the Bishoppe to the Iudge Christ The church of Rome was that time full of trouble for the Cardinals beyng deuyded had chosen three Byshoppes at once Gregory the .xij. Benedicte the .xiij. and Iohn the .xxiij. Which thinge Themperor Sigismside other kynges were right sory for And caused Bishop Iohn to sommon a counsell at Constance And Sigisinunge the brother of kynge Wencelaus called thither Iohn Husse sendyng him a safe conduicte in moneth of Octobre in the yere M. CCCC.xiiij Whereupon Husse accompanied with diuerse gentlemen come vnto Constance the thirde day of Nouembre But three weekes after when he came to the priuate talke of the Bishop and his Cardinalles he was deteined prisoner Thēperour was then absent which beyng certified of the thing came thyther in greate displeasure But when they had borne him in hande that there is no promise to be kept with Heretikes he was not onely content albeit that the Bohemers made oftentimes greate sute to him not to kepe his promise but also was the fyrst that spak bitterly against him Finally the syxt day of Iuly in the yere followynge the Synnode condemned him as an Heretike and a sedicious parson his his workes also to be bursit And thus beyng condemned he was deliuered to thēperour and burned And his ashes were cast into the riuer of Rhine lest any reliques of him shold remayne After him Hierome of Prage a Scolar of his was in lyke maner executed In this Counsell besydes Themperour were the Ambassadours of sondry kynges thre Princes Electours Lewes countie Palatine Raffe duke of Saxonie and Fridericke Marques of Brandenburge And a greate numbre of other Princes Three Patriarches of Aquileia Antioche and Cōstantinople .xxviij. Cardinalles and an Civ Byshops Diuines Lawiers very many Italians Germaines Frēchmen Englishmē Hūgariās Polonians Here was the doctrine of Wicliffe condemned a decree made that his body in Englande should be taken vp and brent Furthermore it was decreed that priestes onely should receiue the hole supper of the Lord al others to be content with one kind Which thinge Husse had impugned There was also a lawe made that there should be no promise kepte with Heretikes or suspected of Heresye albeit that they came to the counsell to be examined by the Emperours saufeconduicte Fynally the three Byshoppes were deposed and by cōmon assent was chosen Martin the fyfte of that name Whan it was reported in Boheme of the death of Husse and Hierome there arose a tumulte and after also a verye bloudy and crewell warre by the conduicte of Iohn Zischa in so muche that Sigysmunde was constrayned to require the aide of the Empire But their moste crueltie was wrought against pristes for the hatred of the Bishop of Rome whose tirranny they had shaken of and receiued the doctrine of Husse About this time the Diuines of Paris condemned Luthers Bokes gatheryng out of the same certein titles as be these of the Sacramentes of thecclesiastical lawes of vowes of contrition absolution satisfaction Purgatory frewyll and suche like admonishyng all men that professe Christ to beware of suche Heretykes which vnder flattering wordes exhibite present poyson as Wiclyffe Husse and Luther as thoughe it were like that they could see more then all others or that it were to be thoughte that Christe woulde haue suffered his onelye spouse to haue wandered so longe in the darkenes of Errours And so in recytyng of his bokes they shew in which opinions what Heretikes Luther foloweth wherfore say they seyng it apperteyneth chiefly to our professiō to suppresse the errours that spring vp finding his doctrine to be pernicious we cōdēne his Bokes to be brent him self to be forsed to recāt To this decree of theyrs aunswereth Philip Melanchthon and after that Luther him selfe but skoffyngly Notwithstandyng the Diuines of Paris take vpon them herin to be the chiefe in all Europe they haue two principall Colledges Sorbone and Nauare The Bachelars of Diuinitie are exercised in disputations all the somer time by the space of .xij. houres must they answere to all mēs argumētes Here be maruelous cōtentions for the most part either of very trifles or of thinges farre exceadyng mans capacitie they be clamorous aboue measure but their strife is cōmonly ended by the hissyng clapping of theyr Auditors what time the one of the disputers is either to fōde or to tedious The Doctors of Diuinitie stāde in the latesse windowes hearkē they are called magistri nostri they be the Cēsours iudges of all doctrine plainely possesse a kingdō For no man dare publishe any thing touching Diuinitie but through their permission Leo the .x. had already made a league with the Swyses that if he had nede at any time he shold haue theyr aide The kīg of Fraūce in like case which before had cōcluded a peace with thē laboured thē to aide him with mē for his mony Zwinglius in his sermons diswaded them from the same declaringe vnto them howe vile and howe wicked a thing it is to serue a foreine Prince for money he exhorted them therfore to folow the frugalitie of their elders whiche kepte cattel and occupied husbandry and yet had done many goodly exploictes but all this was in vaine For the chiefe of them corrupted wyth bribes perswaded the reste to make a league also with the kinge and aide him with men Saue they onely of Zuricke perswaded by Zuinglius refused it and made an othe that they would
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
declareth howe the Church hath power and authoritie to iudge of euery doctrine and to appoint ministers But fyrste he defyneth the Churche to be where so euer the Ghospell is syncerely taught And the Byshoppes he calleth Images and heades without braynes wherof there is not one that doth his duetie in any place namely in Germany And not longe after he wrote of the eschewynge of mens doctrine wherin he saieth he holdeth not with them which do in dede conteÌ„ne the lawes and traditions of men And yet do nothynge which belongeth to the dwetie of a trewe Christian After this he prescribeth how the Masse and Communion should be vsed in the Churche of Wittenberge And saieth howe he hath hitherto wrought slouthfullye by reason of mens infirmitie and to haue had a care one lye howe he myghte plucke wicked opinions out of mens myndes but nowe that many be confyrmed it is time to suffer vngodlines in the churche no longer but that all cloking and simulation set a parte sincere workyng maye ensewe vpon pure doctrine And to this he addeth an other wrytyng of holy ceremonies to be obserued in the Churche And againe of the abhomination of the priuate Masse which they call the Canon Wherin he exhorteth the people to flee froÌ„ the accustomed sacrifices of the masse as they woulde do from the Deuyll hym selfe for the demonstration wherof he reciteth in order the Canon of the Masse declaryng howe full it is of blasphemies againste God Amonges other learned men of Germany that fauoured Luther Ulriche Hutten a noble man borne was one who died this yere not farre from Zurick There be certein workes of his remaining which declare his excellent witte In the iij. boke I shewed you how Luther made answere to Henry king of Englande Whiche after the kynge had read he writeth his letters to the Princes of Saxonie Fridericke and John his brother to his vncle George and greuously coÌ„plaining of Luther he sheweth them what daunger hangeth ouer them and all Germany by reason of his doctrine And that it is not a thinge to be contemned or neglected for the great crueltie of the Turkes which is nowe spred so farre a broad had his beginning of a naughtie man or two And Boheme hard by them may be a warning for them to see the thing reformed in time he admonisheth theÌ„ also that they suffer not Luther to translate the newe Testament into the Uulgare tong for he is wel knoweÌ„ to be such a practisioner that there is no doubt but suche thinges as are well written he with his euill translation wil corrupt and depraue Unto these letters Duke George answereth very frendly blaming also Luther excedingly whose bokes he saith he hath banished out of al his dominioÌ„s as the most hurtfull enemies that can be Moreouer howe he is righte sory that he hath written so extremely against him and hath giuen coÌ„maundement throughe out all his countrey that no man reade it nor sell it and howe he hath punished the Printer that brought the fyrste Copie thyther In the assemblie at Norinberge besydes matters of Religion the Princes entreated of peace and lawes of the punnisshement of those that obeyde not the lawes of the Empire of continuall aide againste the Turke Which two last were not agreed vpon And al the cities of thempire because certein thinges were enacted which they sowe should be preiudiciall to them sent theyr Ambassadours into Spâ—ine to the Emperour Which ariuynge at Ualolet the sixt day of August The thyrde day after declared theyr message Unto whom the Emperor aunswered gently and frankely Notwithstandynge he sayde the Byshoppe of Rome had complained to him in his letters of Strauseborough Norinberge and Auspurge as fauorers of Luthers doctrine he trusted it were not trewe yet woulde he not hyde it from them to th entent they might obserue the Byshoppes decrees and his as he thinketh they will do These Ambassadors pourge them selues faiyng that they do what they can to accomplishe his will and pleasure In the meane time dieth Byshoppe Adrian at the Ides of Septembre in his place was chosen Clement the vii of the house of Medices They of Zuricke onely folowed Zuinglius doctrine the rest of the Suices hated the same Wherfore in a coÌ„mon assemblie had for the falâ—e purpose at Bernes some accused Zuinglius that he preached openly howe that suche as made league with other nations dyd sell bloud and eate mens fleshe Zuinglius heringe therof wrote that he spake not so but that he said in generall howe there were some which abhorred as a wicked thing to eate fleshe beyng forbidden by the Bishoppe of Romes lawe which thinke it none offence to sell mens fleshe for gold and destroy it with weapon But herin he named no nation And seyng that vice doeth nowe so muche abound it is his dewtie to rebuke it but the same doeth nothing concerne the good and innocent parsons Zuinglius amonges other things taught that images shuld be had out of the Church and the Masse to be put down as a wicked thing For the which cause the Senate called a new assemblie in their Citie whither came great resorte in the moneth of October And the disoutation coÌ„tinued thre daies About this time in sundry places and namely at Strausburgh Priestes maried wiues which thinge made muche contention For being accused for so doyng they answered that they had done nothinge agaynste Gods lawe permittinge all men to marie indifferently The Senate of Strausburghe had muche a do with the Bishoppe in this case who called them the .xx. day of Ianuary to appeare before hym at the towne of Sabernes to heare what sentence shoulde be gyuen agaynst them for contractyng of Matrimonye wherein he saieth they haue broken the lawes of the Churche of the holy Fathers and Byshoppes of Rome of the Emperoure also and of the Empire and haue done great iniurie to the order and offeÌ„ded the diuine Maiestie When the Priestes had receiued this Citation they make suite to the Senate to haue theyr cause hearde before them And refuse not to suffer death if they be founde to haue done any thing againste the coÌ„maundement of God The senate intreateth the Bishoppe that for as much as they refuse not to come to theyr aunswere if he should punish them it were like to brede much trouble coÌ„syderinge that the reside â—â—o kepe Harlots openly and are nothynge saied to he would at the lest defferre it to th ende of the imperial counsell Which was than at Norinberge where doubtles suche like cases should be decided To this later couÌ„sel holden this yere at Norinberge Clement the Bishop of Rome sent his Legate Cardinal Campegius who had his letters moreouer to Friderike duke of Saxonie written very friendly in Ianuary Signifiynge howe he reioysed to heare of this assemblye where he shoulde be presente him selfe trustynge that some thynge shoulde be there
wel as they do for the laste yere what tyme another Ambassador was here they wrote vnto him theyr mindes howe the daunger of this alteration should be foreseen and remedied And also what they required of him to be done for his parte Wherof if he haue brought any aunswer they desyre him to vtter it to the intent they may the better procede in the cause And as touching Turkishe matters they confesse to be as he hath sayd notwithstandyng that great warre doth not only concerne The Empire but all together kynges and princes of Christendome in like maner For vnlesse that they be at peace amonges them selfes and giue their aide ther can nothing be done to continew But for asmuch as the Turke nowe maketh great preparation vnto warres both by sea and Lande they would also knowe his opinion herin The Legate said againe that whether there were any such way by them deuised to appease the strife aboute Religion or whether it were deliuered to the Bishoppe and Cardinalles or no he can not certeinly tell but the Bishoppes good wyll is muche who hathe gyuen him full aucthoritie in all suche matters but they whiche knowe the men the maner and custome of the countrey must fynd out that way that may lead them to the ende wished for In the counsell at Wormes the Emperor by theyr common assent made a decree to haue bene executed thorowout all Germany which some obeied and some not Wherefore this great diuersitie should be in the Empire he knoweth not But he thinketh good before any thynge be determined to consulte howe it maye be executed he is not comen thither to styrre vp fyre and dissention as some reporte but all his desyre and the Bishoppes in like case is to make peace and concorde to th entent that suche as haue erred and straied may be reduced into the waie that the decrees of the counsels Themperors and Princes proclamations might be obserued concernynge their requestes whether they were made to be sent to Rome he knoweth not But three copies were brought thither to priuate men whetof he had one but the Byshoppe and the Colledge of Cardinalles coulde not be perswaded that they should be made by the Princes but thought rather that some priuate men had deuised for hatred and malice that they bare to the citie of Rome Wherin be diuerse thinges that deny the Byshoppes authoritie smell of Heresye and be suche as he can not meddle withall But for others that are not against the Bishop such as are grounded vpon equitie and reason he will not refuse to treate of Howe be it it semeth vnto him that the demaundes should haue bene propounded with more modestie if they had ought to say to the highe Bishop For so dyd lately the Spaniardes which sendyng an Ambassade to Rome declared gētely what theyr request was But wheras they be printed and publisshed abrode he thinketh that ouer muche And yet there is no doubte but that the Bishoppe of Rome wyll do for Germany what he can Moreouer what power the Turke hath and what preparatiō he maketh the bishop hath good intelligence And hath alredy great treasure in a readines and will haue more And for so muche as the concorde of Christen Princes is very requisite he hath done what he can that the Emperor the Frenche kynge and the king of England hauyng peace together might set vpon the Turke on all handes and he will employ therupon all his treasure This doeth the Bishoppe as a good sheperde foresee and care for peace and quietnes But in case the shepe wyll not folowe the voyce of the Sheperde he can do no more but take it paciently and commit the whole matter vnto God Amonges the Suyces encreased dayly cōtention for Religion And the rest of townes sendynge theyr Ambassadors to them of Zurycke shewed theyr grief How that in tymes past all thinges were at a godly quiet and no contention of Doctrine at all But nowe through the meanes of Luther that fyrst began and Zuinglins and Leo Iude that preached amonges them interpretinge Godes worde after theyr owne iuste and appetite that godly peace and quietues of the churche and the common weale is nowe tourned into trouble and dissention And besydes that these incommodities do ensew vpon fastyng dayes they eate bothe Egges and Flesshe Religious folkes aswell men as women forsaking theyr profession and orders do marrie Gods seruice is laide downe they singe no more in the Churche they neglect confession and penaunce the Masse is railed on our Lady and the sainctes dishonoured theyr Images pulled downe and broken the sacramentes had in contepte in so muche that nowe a daies the sacred holy host that representeth Christes body can skarsely be safe in the Priestes haides These are thinges to be lamēted and to be auenged also with the losse of life and goods Wherfore they desyre them to leaue their newe doctrine and perseuer in the olde religion of their fathers for they can beare this gere no longer But in case there be any thinge wherin they fynde them selues offended with the Bishop of Rome Cardinals Byshoppes and suche others whan they entre into benefices choppe and chaunge them and gather vp all the money in the countrey vsurping and taking ouer muche vpon them if these and suche other like things do molest and greue them they will not refuse to helpe to reforme the same for they do mislyke them very muche them selues The Senate of Zuricke aunswered the .xxi. daye of Marche that their ministers of their church had preached there fyue yeares Whose doctrine at the begynnynge semed vnto them newe because they had not heard the like before but after that they vnderstode how the ende therof was to shewe Iesus Christ the aucthor of saluation who dyed for the sinnes of the world who a loue deliuered vs wretches frō death euerlasting being the onely aduocate of mankinde to God the father they could not but wyth feruent desyre embrace so ioyful newes there was great agrement and concorde in times past betwixt the Apostles and those which after theyr time embraced Christes doctrine the same they trust shall be nowe also amonges such as giue their minds hereunto And if Luther or any other do so teache it is well done neyther ought Gods word to be called his doctrine And although they do honor Christ only yet do they no iniurie therfore to the virgin Marye or other saints For al they being here in earth loked for eternall saluatiō by the onely name of Christ and nowe is there such a light giuen that in maner all men within their citie do reade the Bible diligently so that the ministers can not wrast a wrye that is so continuallye in all mens handes wherefore there can be no secte obiected vnto them but that name accordeth to them which to mainteine their lucre and dignitie wraste Gods worde whither they list They are said to be in an error
nūbre of holye dayes be in measure These woulde Campegius haue enacted in the counsell of the Empire But when he could not bring it to passe he held this assembly a part Whan Luther vnderstode that the Emperoure and diuerse Princes woulde practise the decree of Wormes he bewaileth the state of Germanye whiche beynge so ofte admonisshed neglecteth her own wealthe And calleth vpon the Princes them selues that beynge so openly and wickedly disceaued of the Romishe Byshoppes they maynteyne neuertheles theyr dignitie and seke all his distructiō which wissheth best vnto them Wherfore he saith for this great ingratitud and frowardenesse inexcusable there hangeth a most terrible Plage ouer Germany He warneth them also that they attempte not rasshelye to warre vpon the Turke who in counsell and moderation doeth farre excell our Princes And liuing as we do we may hope of no victorye Furthermore he calleth it a mockery that thēperour and the kynge of Englande which can not lengthen theyr lyues one momēt should cai them selues defendors of the Church and the faith He besecheth God to sende suche Magistrates as will seke and tendre Gods glory The golden Rose which the Pope had lately consecrated as is atcustomed three weekes before Easter he sendeth to Heury the eyghte kynge of Englande as a notable token of his singular good wyll and beneuolens Aboute this tyme came forth Erasmus boke of Freewill Wherunto Luther aunswered with a contrary tytell of Bondewyll The kynge of Englande and the Cardinal of Yorke caused Erasmus to write his booke as he him selfe confesseth in a certeine Epistle to the Cardinall which is in printe About this time also Anthony Duke of Loraine made this decree For so muche as Luthers Doctrine is condemned of the Bishop of Rome of the Emperor of famous Uniuersities he commaundeth that none of his do preache any such doctrine And that all suche as haue any bokes set forthe by Luther do exhibite the same within a certeine day appointynge a penaltie to suche as dyd disobey This yere Henry Zutphā was put to death with exceadinge paines and torment for the doctrine of the gospel by thē of Dietmary which is in the marces of Germany for beyng called he went thither after he had taught two yeres amonges the Bremers I tolde you before of a coūsell that should haue bene at Spires the same was altered and themperor when he knewe writing his letters out of Spaine to the states of thēpire at the Ides of Iuly doth blame them exceadinly for the decree made For wheras certeine yeres paste in the counsell at Wormes by the common assente of all states he had with moste weygtie wordes condemned Luthers doctrine as Hereticall and pestilent where also the Byshoppe of Rome had after dewe examination condemned his Bokes commaundyng them to be brēt he marueyleth greatly and is sory also that they shoulde forbed onely his sclaunderous Bookes or skornefull Pictures to be sold as though that decree at Wormes were not ryghtly and orderly made And moreouer he is not a lytell moued that they woulde both haue a counsell holden in Germany and haue spoken to the Legate Campegius that he would write to the Byshop herin as thoughe the same concerned not more the Bishoppe or him than it doeth them for if they thought it so expedient for Germany to haue a counsel why made they not him preuie to it that he might haue obteyned the thing of the Byshop And nowe albeit he perceiueth rightwell howe muche the Bishoppes authoritie and his also is by this decree diminished yet consyderynge that the waye shal not be vnprofitable for the cōmon wealth he approueth the counsell also yet so that it may be done by the Bishoppes authoritie and in tyme and place conueniente so as he maye be presente there him selfe as he is fully determined And whereas they haue appoynted an assemblie agaynste the .xi. day of Nouembre to establisshe Religion till the begynnyng of the counsell where they haue also chosen certeine learned men to gather the summe of a Doctrine he neyther can nor wyll consent therto in any wyse But accordynge to hys office in so muche as he is the defendor and protectour of the Byshop of Romes Churche he doth by all meanes prohibite this decrre lest he should procure to him selfe the displeasure of God of the Bishop also for what greater cōtumelie cā be wrought against the christiā church thā if the reuerēs dew to the highest power should be thus shakē of if Germany which hath bene euer most cōmended for vertu obeidiēce should a lone alter that religiō which no Princes nor the bishop of Rome him self euer durst do Which neuer man forsoke hitherto but he felt of Gods vengeaunce for his wickednes if they should forsake abolish that hath bene of so long cōtinewaūce in all Christendō at the craftye perswasion of Luther who endeuoureth with painted words to disceaue abuse mē as in times past did Mahomet what plages of god might they loke for He besecheth God to loke mercifully vpon Germany and not to suffer so great a mischiefest to take place ther so lōg as he liueth Wherfore let thē obey the decre of Wormes vnlesse they will smart for it defer all matters of religiō till a general coūsell may be had at the Bishop of Rome his appointmēt which are theyr chief magistrats After the selfe same sorte writeth he also priuatly to certein states amōges others to the senate of Strauso And thus was the decre of the next assēblie abolished for themperor hauing both his hands full of the Frenche warres sought to winne the Bishop of Rome by all meanes possible This sommer Charles duke of Bourbon Cōstable of Fraūce which the yere before partly by his owne accorde partely laboured by themperor fell frō the French king beseged Marselles but in vain Whom departing thence into Italy the kyng foloweth with great expedition and taking many holdes in Lūbardy the citie of Millan it selfe towardes wynter he besegeth Pauie a towne by the riuer of Ticine In the moneth of Nouembre the countrey people of Suelande began to ryse against theyr lord the countie Lupse for charges wherwith they complayned to be ouer muche burthened Lykewise others in other places nere vnto the same rebelled against theyr magistrats in so much that the counsel of thēpire which gouerneth the cōmon welth in themperors absence beyng then at Eslinge sent theyr ambassadors appeased certeine cōtrouersies But this broile ceased not as shal be told herafter This was that begining of the greatest most daūgerous cōmotion that pearsed afterwards throughout a great part of Germany What tyme Luthers doctrine was set forth in all places the Clergie did resist it with all their forse fearyng to lose all theyr goodes and benefices And certein of Straceborugh complained to the senate of the Empire of the townes men that
suspected company these that are called Cannons departed thence in great displeasure Ambrose Blaurer was preacher ther who was a gentleman borne but had professed him selfe a Monke in the Abbey of Alperspacke in the Dukedome of Wyrtinberge whyche by the readyng of Luthers workes chaunged his mynde and his cote together returnyng home agayne to his frendes His Abbot woulde haue had hym agayne and wroote earnestlye to the Senate of Constance for him Wherfore Blanrer expresseth the whole matter in writyng and propoundeth certen conditions where vpon he was contēt to retourne but they were suche as the Abbot refusyng he remayneth styll at Constance Where after the disputation at Bernes Images Aultares Masse and Ceremonies were vtterly abolyshed Lykewyse they of Geneua in remouinge their Images and ceremonies dyd imitate them of Bernes wherfore the byshop and clergie forsoke the citie in anger The Religion being thus altered they of Bernes renoūced the league made with the Frenche kynge prohibitynge the hyred warfare as they of Zuricke had done and were contented with that yearely pension that the kyng payeth them to kepe peace And wrote the daye and yeare wherein they forsoke the Popyshe religion vpon apyllour in golden letters that it myght be an euerlastyng memory all to their posteritie I shewed you how the Cardynal of Yorke was sent into Fraunce When they were agred vpon the matter both kinges sent their ambassadours to the Emperour And the Frenche king requireth to take his raunsome delyuer his sonnes that were pledges The kyng of Englande agayne his debte to be payde him which is threfolde first thre hondreth thousande Crownes that he lent hym secondarely fyue hundreth thousande for not obseruing the contracte of Matrimonie thirdly foure yeares pension whiche the Emperoure promysed hym as before in the third boke is declared When the Emperour hereunto had aunswered not after their myndes the kynge of Englande also sent hym defiaunce by an Herault of Armes who at the same tyme was consultynge howe he myght be deuorced from Catherine the Emperours haunt and Marry an other whiche he did afterwardes as shal be recyted in his place the Emperoure in his letters to other kynges accused the Frenche kyng moste greuously that he kept not his fayth and promyse and had ofte tymes sayd so muche to the Frenche Ambassadours Where vpon the kynge in his letters wrytten at Paris the .xxviij. of Marche which he sent by an Herault By the talke sayth he whiche thou hast had with some of myne I perceiue that thou braggest certen thinges that founde to my dishonour as though I had escaped thy handes against my fidelitie And nowe al be it that he whiche after the compacte made hath put in pledges is hym selfe quytte from bonde so that I am hereby sufficiently excused yet neuerthelesse in the defence of my honour I thought to wryte this briefly vnto the. Therfore if thou blame this facte of mine and my departure or sayest that euer I did any thyng contrary to the dutie of a noble Prynce I tell the playnly thou liest For I am determined to maynteyne myne honour and estimatiō whylest I haue a day to lyue We nede not many wordes therfore and if thou wylt ought with me thou shalt not nede hereafter to wryte but appointe the place where we may fyght hande to hande For if thou darest not mete me and in the meane tyme ceasest not to speake euyll of me I protest that all the shame therof belongeth vnto the for by our combat all the stryfe shall be parted I tolde you before of the contention betwene kynge Ferdinando and the Uayuode of Transiluania Whan the same burst out in to a cruell warre and Ferdinando was of the greater power the Uayuode in the moneth of Apryll wryting his letters to the states of The empyre After the lamentable death of kyng Lewis sayeth he I was by the common assent of the nobles chosen and crowned kinge of Hongary except three whome pouertie hatred and hope of better fortune had seduced that forgettyng the wealth of their countrey they subscribed to Ferdinando kyng of Boheme And what tyme I was wholy addicted to succour my countrey to recouer that was lost and by the same meanes to procure your quiet beholde he inuadeth my Realme with violence taketh certen Townes and by those whiche were of his faction was created kyng at Posonye I marueled not a lytle and it greued me also exceadingly that this nation should be molested by hym whiche ought moste of all to succour and releue the misery of the same It had not bene harde for me at that tyme to haue gyuen hym the repulse but I would not hasarde rashely the remnant of the power lefte of so manye shypwrakes and losses of that Realme hath had of late I complayned vnto Clement the seuenth to Fraūces the Frenche kyng to Henry kyng of England and to Sigismūde kyng of Pole And in dede the kynge of Pole sendynge his Ambassadour without my knowledge entreated him that he wold not in this daungerous tyme make away through ciuile discorde to let in the foreyne enemy whiche after neyther he nor yet any other should be able to kepe out but that he would kepe peace with me ioyne his power to myne to resiste the common ennemye And where as Ferdinando answered that he would attempt nothing against ryght and equitie it was agreed vpon that a certen daye fytte men should be sent to debate the matters of controuersie I was content and sendyng also my Ambassadours vnto you and submytting my selfe vnto your arbytriment I made request that you woulde gyue none ayde to myne aduersarie but what tyme they came into Ferdinando his countrey beyng taken and deteyned as prysoners against the lawe of all natiōs they could not declare their commission And from you they shoulde haue gone to the Emperour And al be it that this same was an extreme wronge iniury neuerthelesse at the daye appoynted by the kyng of Pole I sent certen others that were very desyrous of peace both of themselues and also by my commaundemēt Notwithstanding Fardinando his men propounded thinges so farre out of reason that ther could be nothyng concluded Whylest these thinges were a workyng certen of the nobilitie entysed by the crafte and polycie of Ferdinādo breake their fidelite which before they had gyuen me And for somuche as the waye is layde that I can neyther come nor sende vnto you I thought good to declare vnto you by my letters howe vniuste warre he attempteth peraduenture intending to recouer the same that his auncetours Frederick and Maximilian Emperours haue lost here to fore for the one of them when he was triumphyng and thought hym selfe sure of the kyngdome of Hongary myne vncle Emeryck expulsed out of the whole countrey And my father Stephen Sepuse when Matthie was kyng did disconfite them both in suche sorte as he adioyned Uienna to Hongary And I
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
Ambassades For he proueth that the same doth tende to theyr owne hynderaunce and bondage sayinge that there is no people so stronge that can long prosper and floryshe vnlesse they be mainteined by the league and amitie of theyr neyghbours But the frendshyp of the kynges of Fraunce and the Prynces of Germanye hath bene of suche auncientie and both nations procedinge of one originall and lye so borderynge together that they maye be not onlye an ayde and strengthe but also an honour and beautie the one vnto the other Therfore whan the kynge hearde saye howe the Germaynes dyd hardely agree amonge them selues he was ryght sorye and as muche as in hym lyeth wysheth a reconcilement fearyng lest this dissention in Religion should come to some sorowfull ende Wherfore vnderstandinge that for theyr owne preseruation they were nowe here assembled the kynge had sent hym to declare vnto them his aduise to be thus That for as muche as a free and general counsel could not as yet be obtained the Germains within thē selues shold assemble altogether come to some vnitie concord for the furtheraūce of the which cause in case they be so contented he will chose out certen well learned men and experte diuines in Fraunce and sende them into Germany to be at the same reconcilement or els if they woulde sende some of theirs in to Fraunce for the lyke purpose they should do him a maruelous great pleasure In the meane tyme he doth exhorte them to be at peace amonges them selues knitte their mindes with mutual consent brotherly loue and the king wyl neuer ayde their ennemies neyther with his helpe nor counsell in case they continue their good wyll towardes hym as they haue done alwayes hitherto In the beginnyng of this booke I shewed you howe the iudges of the imperiall chamber contrary to the Emperours decree made out proces against the Protestauntes For the iudges in dede wer of the Romish religiō and what tyme the Emperour was retourned from the warre of Austriche into Italy they at the suite of the clergie whiche had complayned on the Protestauntes attempted the lawe against them And albeit the Emperours proclamation were to the contrary yet did they proceede against them The protestauntes wrote herein to the Emperour And the Duke of Saxon him selfe traueled to kynge Ferdinando who cōmaunded the lawe to cease and ratifieth the peace made by the Emperour but that would not staye them Than did the Protestauntes vtterly refuse their iudgement as suspected and their enemies declaryng the causes wherfore But that would not be admitted for they were encouraged by the Emperours letters whereby he gaue them authoritie to iudge whiche were matters of Religion and which not so that after that they proceaded not onlye in doubtfull causes but in suche also as concerned religion and nothyng els After this the Duke of Saxon obtayneth a newe commaundement from the kyng Ferdinando but all was in vayne Finally after muche adoe Ferdinando consented that he would fynde the meanes to staye all matters in the lawe whiche the Duke and his fellowes had touchyng Religion cōprysed in the peace of Norinberge Unto suche thynges as the French Ambassadour had spoken this answere was made Albeit that of the execution done reportes went diuersly yet for that he sayeth how thei went about sedicion they can not be muche offended with the kynges doynges herein whiche in deede woulde suffer no suche thynge them selues in their owne countrey Neuerthelesse they woulde wyshe the kynge should haue a respecte vnto suche as do professe the pure doctrine of the Gospell whiche they protested in the assemblye at Auspurge and not to punyshe them with the rest for it can not be denied but many false and wicked opinions are crept into the churche which vnlearned and malicious persones do defende with great crueltie to maynteyne their lucre and Authoritie and they through a maruelous polycie do forge oftentimes great crymes vpon the good and innocēt persones to exasperate the kynges mynde agaynst them But seyng that it is the propre office of kynges and Princes to seeke Gods glorye to pourge the churche of crrours and to inhibite vniuste crueltie they desyre instantly that the same moste mightie kyng would wholy applye him selfe hereunto for if he so doe than wyll they suppose that he beareth a frendly and louyng mynde towardes them which they wyshe to be lucky and fortunate to his highnes to the churche Touchinge the auncient alliaunce and frendshyp betwixt the kynges of Fraunce and the Prynces of Almaygne all his talke was to them ryght pleasaunt and they wyll to their powers endeuour that the same mutuall loue and amitie may long continue And as concernyng the reconcilement of opinions in religion they desyre nothyng els but that the matter may be heard indifferently and determined by a lawfull counsell And for as muche as it is not the office of the byshop of Rome only to appointe the counsell but that the same thynge also concerneth other kynges and Princes they desyre the kynge to forsee that there be no violent counsell called in a place suspect perillous to the intent that vnder the name of a counsel the true doctrine be not extinguished but that in so weyghty matters as concerne the preseruation and peace of the vniuersall churche and euery particular persone free disputations and vpright iudgement be had accordingly Whiche thinge should get the kyng immortal fame and thankes not only in this present age but also in tyme to come so longe as the worlde should endure As for the conferens to be had betwene the learned mē of Fraunce and Germany it requireth a long deliberation and diuerse cōmissions extende not to suche matters But so sone as any thyng may be determined herein they wyll aduertyse the kyng by their letters For they desyre nothyng more than that holsome doctrine myght be set forth and auaunced last of all where he sayde howe the kynge would geue none ayde against them they were very glad to heare thereof wherfore in all thynges that concerne not the Emperour and the Empyre they also wyll assist no man against hym The Ambassadour had also priuate talke with Pontane with Melancthon with the Lantgraues learned men and with Iames Sturmins of sondry doctrines and declared what was the kynges opinion in euery article and the myndes also of other learned men in Fraunce especially of Paris Of the byshop of Romes supremacie of the Lordes supper of masse of the inuocation of sainctes of Images of free wyl of purgatory of iustification of monastical vowes of marriage of priestes And that in moste of these thynges the kyng agreeth with the booke that Melancthon hath wrytten of common places touchyng the byshop of Rome the kynge is wholy of Philippus opinon that he is not chief supreme by Gods lawe but by mans lawe as he affirmeth but the kyng of England denieth both And certenly the
for that the kynge hath lately deliuered his realme of Englande out of that moste fylthie bondage and restored it vnto lybertie that Idole Antichriste is nowe starke madde and where as he can work no mischief openly he goeth about fraude and gyle and with false forged sclaunders to incense kynges against hym And al be it he woulde do any thynge to mainteyne his authoritie yet is this his deuyse and polycie to styre vp cruell warres and set one in an others toppe And the kynges pleasure was that he should thus declare vnto them not for that he stode in feare of the byshop for he was so furnyshed with all thynges that he cared neyther for hym nor yet for all his adherentes but to the intent they might clerely perceyue what Antechristes purpose is chieflye at this present tyme whan he pretendeth to holde a counsell but in his mynde intendeth farre an other thynge The kyng doeth confesse and graunte that a lawfull disputation were very profitable and expedient for the common wealth But yet for all that it ought to be forseen in any wyse that ther be no such coūsel had as shal intreate only to establysh the bishoppes authoritie Wherfore he requyreth and admonysheth them that they wyll allowe no counsell before a common peace be made through out christendome Moreouer he wisheth that Gods true Religion and seruice maye be restored whiche thinge to accomplyshe and mayntaine he is content to ioyne hym selfe with them And that these are the thynges which they were commaūded to declare vnto them And moreouer required thē that they might hereafter haue further conference in these matters priuately with certen appointed persones For the kyng bare suche an affection towards them and their Religion that he would employ herein al his treasure and hym selfe also Whereunto they made aunswere and commending the kinges good wyll do shewe howe their chief desyre is that the doctrine of the Gospell myght be spred far abrode And whatsoeuer they do herein to be done of dutie And all be it they haue suffered for the same great rebukes and iniuries and although thei haue procured thē selues hereby moste heinous displeasures and haue oftentymes endured the malice and threatnynges of many yet haue they nothynge relented nor slacked therfore their enterpryse in settyng forth that moste holy thyng And the only cause of so great hatred Malice was that they had forsaken wicked errours and false doctrine Now where the kyng promysed his ayde herein so ample maner where also he hath expulsed and banyshed out of his Realme the tyranny of the byshop of Rome from whence as out of a well sprang all wicked idolatrye they are glad and ioyful to heare it and beseche God that he may thus procede Moreouer where he doeth admonyshe thē to beware that there be no dissention in their doctrine they gyue hym harty thankes but doubtles there is no controuersie at all they doe perseuer in the same doctrine whiche they professed at Auspurge For as concernynge the Anabaptistes they be with thē extremely punyshed vnlesse they come to amendement And that they also reigne chiefly in those places wher the doctrine of the Gospell is prohibited The talke also of the byshop and of his craftie dealynge pleased them very muche and that the byshops legate is nowe in Germany makyng promyse of a counsel to be holden at Mantua and howe he had talked herein with the Prynce Electour of Saxony But what deliberate aunswere they made vnto his demaundes is comprised in wryting whiche he shall haue deliuered vnto hym to beare vnto the kyng to the intent he may vnderstāde what is their mynde herein for the kynges societie and coniunction wherof he spake they yelde him harty thankes And also to the intent that this so holsome doctrine may kepe his ryght course they wil spare neyther paynes nor peryl and doubte not but God wyl gouerne these affayres although their aduersary doe neuer so muche contende and spurne against them And for because he desyreth to conferre of these thynges more at large with some men priuatly they haue chosen certen for the same purpose with whome he may cōmunicate his things praying him to reporte of them so vnto the kynge as theyr good wyll towardes hym may appere the better through his commendation Whan the Duke of Saxon was retourned from kynge Ferdinando to Smalcalde the twelfte of Decembre on Christmas euen a decree was made that the league whiche lasted one yeare longer shoulde be renewed for ten yeares and howe the reste of their furniture shoulde be prouyded and were agreed to receyue into the same league such as were wyllynge and desyrours so that they professe the doctrine propounded of them at Auspurge and woulde beare with them scot and lotte Emonges whome were the Prynces of Pomerane Ulriche Duke of Wyrtemberge Roberte Bauier Prynce of Bipounte Aulpurge Franckeforte Kempten Hamborough and Hannobria And herein toke ordre howe to withstande defende themselues againste the vniust iudgement of the Emperiall chambre At the same tyme also was William Erle of Nassowe admitted into the league And albeit that the Lantgraue by reason of the controuersie that was betwixt them for the lande of Chattes did not assente yet if any wrong were offered him for the profession of the Gospell he sayde he woulde not fayle him in case he desyred his ayde This yeare also the Senate of Auspurge all dissention at the length taken cleane awaye receyueth the doctrine of the Gospell and wrytinge their letters vnto Luther intreate hym that he would sende them faithful ministers of the churche and amonges others Urbanus Regius ✚ The tenth 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 tenth Booke THe citie of Munster through the preachyng of Barnarde Rotman receaued the Gospell wherupon the clergie with theyr byshop forsoke the place neuerthelesse a reconcilemēt was made by the Lantgraue There came thether out of Hollande an Anabaptiste called Iohn of Leiden who hauing wonne Rotman and diuers others infected the whole citie with his poyson in so muche as they of that secte being set on mischief became strōger had all thinges in common and married many wylles Iohn of Leiden after the death of Iohn Matthewe is declared the chiefest Prophet and shortly after kyng vniuersall hauing his cheyalry and power of life and death The citie being beseged a metinge was appointed at confluence to enforce the siege The Anabaptistes had sent letters to the Lantgraue and a booke of their doctrine whiche Luther than impugned The citie being in extreme famine at the last was surprysed and wonne The kyng and his companions were taken prisoners whose execution is after recited About this busines of Mūster was an assemblie appointed at Wormes The Duke of Sauope besegyng Geneua is repoulsed The kyng of Fraunce prepareth
an armie to go towardes Millan and by this occasion here is mentioned of the ryght whiche he pretendeth to haue there The Emperour beynge aduertysed of his enterprises commeth to Rome and accuseth the kyng and solliciteth the Pope to holde a counsell The Protestauntes make a league with the kyng of Englande The Pope publisheth the counsell to be kept at Mantua There is warre betwyxt the Emperour and the Frenche kynge The Archebyshop of Collon reformeth his countreis NOWe must we come to the siege of Munster the Metropolitane citie of Westphalia But first are certen thinges to be repeted euen from the beginning vntyll such tyme as the citie was finally taken and the chief malefactours executed I spake of Thomas MuÌ„cer in the fist boke howe he reysed a tumulte of the communaltie and shewed what his doctrine was and also howe he endeth his lyfe Out of his schole procedeth a kynde of prople whiche for their practise and doctrine are called Anabaptistes of whom also is some thing meÌ„tioned before for thei prohibite the christening of children and are theÌ„ selues baptised again affirming that all others ought to do lykewyse and take away al efficacitie from the former baptisme They pretende certen outwarde holynes They teache howe it is not lawful for the christians to go to the law nor to beare office nor to take an othe neither to haue any thynge priuate that al thiÌ„gs ought to be coÌ„moÌ„ vnto al meÌ„ And thê at the begiÌ„ning but afterwardes thei propounde a great deale more heinous matters as I shall hereafter declare And whan they began to spreade ouer all Germany and that Luther almoste all other learned men inueyhed against them and the Magistrate also punyshed them in so much that there could no great nuÌ„bre of them cleaue together At the length they placed them selues in this forsayde citie whiche in dede was of great strengthe and that fortuned thus Not farre from the citie of Munster is there a churche of sainct Morice wherin in the yeare of our Lorde M D. xxxij Barnarde RotmaÌ„ preached the Gospell and had a great audience out of the citie And he where they deuised to receiue him in to the citie The catholickes to hinder that gyue hym a meane summe of money to the intent he should go to some other place to exercise him selfe in learning So he departeth to certen places where he thought to attayne to some further knowledge After a fewe monethes retourneth wherewith they beinge sore offended doe their endeuour to debarre him from preaching but that was in vayne he had so great fauoure of the people Within a whyle certen of the beste and principall Senatours receyue hym into the Citie And where he was kept out of the churche they set vp a pulpet for hym in the churche porche and heare hym without But where as his audience encreased daylye requeste made that the churche myght be open for hym or els should the dores be broken vp And he not longe after through the aduise of certen that the people had chosen writinge his letters into Hessia not far of the Lantgraues countrey desyreth that certen good and well learned men myght be sent thether to helpe hym to preache the Gospell Wherfore a couple were sent thether from Marpurge And when they came thether they consulted with Rotman and thre others howe they myght bannyshe the byshop of Romes authoritie fyrste of all that after they myghte teache the Gospel to the more profit of the hearers For the compassing wherof this waye semed vnto them best They drawe out certen articles of the byshops errors to the numbre of thyrty and delyuer them to the Senate beynge in the meane tyme so prepared that vnlesse they could proue by the Scriptures that all these were directly against Gods worde they would refuse no punyshment The Senate coÌ„maundeth the catholiques of the clergie to come into the court there propoundeth vnto them the forsayde articles of errours And for because they haue alwayes pretended that theyr doctrine was pure and grounded vppon Goddes worde and the Preachers denye the same and wyll ieoperde theyr lyues to proue it They demaunde whether they wyll confute by the Scriptures suche thynges as are obiected Beyng thus spoken vnto and perceyuynge that the Senate tooke pleasure in the thynge they aunswere in fewe wordes that they haue nothyng to alledge for them selues And where they haue affirmed hitherto their doinges to be ryght and good that was done by wening and ignoraunce Than the Senate for as muche as they were conuicte of false doctrine and had nothyng to saye for them selues and confessed their owne naughtines commaundeth from henceforth that they teache no more but geue place in all churches to these newe Preachers whiche haue detected their errours After by the consent of the Senate and the common people churches were assigned to euerye of them where they shoulde preache Whiche thynge the Popyshe priestes toke very displeasauntly especially those that were of the cathedrall churche beynge for the moste parte gentlemen borne of good houses Who at what tyme they coulde not otherwyse preuayle departe thence in great dislikynge and go vnto the byshop of the citie and layinge their heades together doe deuise to stoppe all wayes and passages that there should no corne be brought vnto the citie And a lyttle whyle after whan all the wayes were stopped on euery syde the byshop and the others afore sayde for a further consultation to be had come to Telget which is a litle town a myle without the citie from whence was a messenger sent to the senate with letters of this effect That they shoulde forsake their enterpryse and restore the olde and former state or els they would take theÌ„ for their ennemies The byshop was countie Fraunces Waldeck The last before hym had Frederick brother to the Archebyshop of Collon But he eyther for that he coulde not haue his health in those parties or els for because he smelled some thynge not long before forsoke the place of his owne accorde and was content to lyue a priuate lyfe at home in his countrey The Munsterians consulting of the matter deteyne the messenger setting forth vpoÌ„ Christmas eueÌ„ at night about iâ— C. of them coming vpon theÌ„ soden taking the towne keping the gates that none shold escape they apprehend theÌ„ al. The bishop was gone theÌ„ce the day before as it happened By by they cary the prisoners in to the citie amoÌ„ges whom wer the chief of the clergie diuers others of the nobilitie The senate demaundeth of theÌ„ what their inteÌ„t is and whether they purpose hereafter to disturbe the preaching of that Gospell They make a gentle answer how they wyl do their endeuour that the same doctrine may floryshe wherupon a coÌ„uenaunt is made the copie wherof the Senate sent vnto the Lantgraue requestinge him for the Gospell common wealthes sake he would further
of life cleane abhorre that vice But in that he endeuoureth to reduce him agayne into the waye which deceiued by flatterers was strayed farre out of the ryght pathe he geueth hym a great benefite Kynge Henry had brought him vp in his yought in good letters and done very much for him But whan this alteration was in Englande whiche I haue spoken of and he myslyked it Paule the thyrde through the commendation of Contarene made hym Cardinal and sent for hym to Rome They that are familiarly acquaynted with him say how he knoweth ryght well the doctrine of the Gospell and suppose the cause to haue been why he wrote so against kyng Henry to auoyde the suspicion of Lutheranisme He caused the booke to be printed at Rome of his own coste and charge as they reporte And taking to him selfe all the Copies gaue it to reade only to the byshop him self and to the Cardinalles and others of his dere frendes for vnto such he wold be commended and feared on the other syde leste if it should be red openly of all men he should incure the rebuke and obloquie of them that had oftentymes heard hym speake the contrary ✚ The eleuenth 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 eleuenth Booke THe Protestantes hauing declared to the Emperour by ambassade three poyntes Heldus cōming to Smalcald maketh them answer to the which they reply and vrge a fre counsel such as was promised vpon this the Pope sendeth the Bishop of Aste The Protestants set forth an Apologie vpon the refusal of such a counsel and writ therof to the French king The king of England writeth against this coūsaile of the Pope I Spake of the Citie of Auspurge in the nynthe booke and of the chaunge of Religion there for the whiche cause the Clergie being for the moste parte of noble house forsoke the citie Wherupon the Senate in a writing directed to the Emperour kyng Ferdinando and all the states of the Empyre declareth the cause of their doynges howe frendly they dealte with them how many thynges they suffered and howe scornefully they behaued them selues and howe often they went about to stire vp sedition in the citie Whereunto not long after Christopher the byshop aunswered for him selfe and the reste and after many contumelious wordes exhorteth the Emperour and Princes that for as muche as the daungers concerneth aswel them as him self they would loke to it in time You haue heard in the last booke of the Ambassadours which the Protestauntes sent to the Emperour in Italy to whom they gaue commaundement chiefly thre thynges to treate of First to confute the brute whiche was raysed vp that they shoulde haue made a league with the kynge of Fraunce and of England secondly that the Emperour would restrayne the iudgement of the counsell chaumbre thirdly that suche as were come into their league since the composicion of the peace at Norinberge myght inioye the same peace Whiche requestes the Emperour in dede hearde but being wholy occupied with warelyke matters he sayde howe he woulde sende his Ambassadour into Germany who should make them aunswere Wherfore at his departure from Genes into Spayne he sent Matthie Helde his vicechaūcelour into Germany Whan the Protestauntes vnderstode that by their Ambassadours nowe retourned they appoynte a generall metyng at Smalcalde the seuenth daye of February And because the daye of the counsell approched nere neyther was there any doubte but that the Emperours Ambassadour would haue some talke of the same they were agreed also to bring with them their chiefest diuines Wherfore at the daye assigned besydes the Prynces Ambassadours of the cities came thether Luther Melanchthon Bucer Osiander and diuerse other Whan the Ambassadour was come to Smalcalde the fyftene daye of February he speaketh thus before them all Howe the Emperour had commaunded hym to doe his message only to the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgraue But for as muche as they haue thought good to make their consortes also partakers of the same he is contente to followe their mindes herein he saith in dede that he knoweth not al the Ambassadours of the league wherfore in case there be any amongs them whom this answere of the Emperous doth not concerne there is no cause why they shoulde suppose that any treaty is made with thē but chiefly they of Auspurge which haue oftentymes sollicited the Emperour both in Italy and Spayne about Religiō and nowe also lately at Genes by their Ambassadour Unto whome the Emperour sayde howe he would sende his Ambassadour into Germany whiche shoulde make them an aunswere And they not abyding his commyng haue altered the state of Religion not without both the contempte and also making of the Emperour Therefore whan he came to Auspurge beinge constrayned of necessitie to chaunge his purpose he treated with them nothynge at all and hath wrytten to the Emperour the whole matter as it standeth After whā he had exhibited the testimoniall of his Ambassade he procedeth And where they had so diligently pourged them selues of the Frenche and Englysh league the Emperoure was ioyfull to heare it whiche doeth both credit them also cōmendeth their vertue that they haue so wittely eschewed the Frenche practises full of disceirfulnes Afterwards discoursing the warre of Sauoy and speakynge many thinges of the Frenche kyng sayde that he was not only a lette vnto the Emperour that he could not bende his whole power against the Turke but also that he consulted with the Turkes prouoked thē to inuade Cristendome And that this is also his daily practise to styre vp stryfe and ciuile warre in Germany and nowe endeuoureth al that he may to perswade them that the Emperour wyll not kepe promyse with them He desireth them therfore not to credite his crafty counselles For the Emperour to be of suche honour and vertue that he wyll not shrinke from his promyse And that may they well perceiue by mo experimēts than one As touchinge the iudgement of the imperiall chambre The Emperours commaundemēt was they should meddle with no cases of Religion But they aduertised him by their letters that there was oftentymes controuersies whiche partely concerned religion partlye not And therfore the Emperour cōmaunded thē that of such matters as thei supposed were sequestred from religiō thei should iudge indifferently For it were pitie but the lawe should haue his course And seyng the Emperour hath commaunded them to surcease from determining matters of Religion they ought to be contente there with And if the iudges haue done ought contrary to the Emperours decre they shall not escape free but shal be punished according to the lawe made at Regenspurge But the Emperour againe admonished them that they would do nothing rashely neither prescribe the imperiall chambre For this thinge is neither lawfull nor voyde of seditiō and
the crime And for asmuche as the Bishop signifieth plainly that this counsell is instituted to confirme his Authoritie we besech al men that they wold not impute this refusal to vs as a fault blame worthy Finally the very place of the counsell we can not like for diuerse causes For it is fitte to offer iniurie and altogether such as should let the libertie of speche And besydes there is muche hatred conceaued againste vs in foreine nations through the sclaunders of our aduersaries as though Religion and honest liuing were exiled from among vs which perswasion when mennes mindes be thus prepared is not without great perill Wherfore it were very expedient for this cause onely that the counsell should be holden in Germany to the entent that straungers might see the order and maner of oure Churches and Cities And not throughe false sclauÌ„ders to hate the trew doctrine The weightines of the cause also requireth that many of vs should come to the couÌ„sell oure selues but to forsake our own limites is no maner way for vs expedient And seyng that for most weightie causes it was decreed that the counsel should be holden in Germany we se not wherfore we should depart froÌ„ the same Considering therfore that this case coÌ„cerneth the preseruation of al Christendome we beseche al kinges princes to geue no credit vnto oure aduersaries but herunto rather to applie theÌ„ selues that the trew knowledge of God might be restored For they caÌ„do nothing that shal more redound to theyr honor The Bishop laboreth to this ende that he mighte perswade theÌ„ to practise crueltie the which thei ought moste chiefly to abhorre For eueÌ„ for this cause are they placed in this degre of dignitie that they shold honor Gods holy name be a light vnto the rest through their good ensample to defende innoceÌ„t persons froÌ„ wroÌ„g violeÌ„ce And if there shal euer at any time be any lawfull counsell thaÌ„ shal we so defende our matter there that all men shall vnderstande how that our endeuours haue bene euer annexed with the preseruation of the common wealth In this assemblie were these The Duke of Saxon Ernestus FrauÌ„ces bretherne Dukes of Luneburge Ulriche Duke of Wirtemberge the Lantzgraue Philip prince of Pomerane the three Erles of Anhalde Albert Counte Mansfelde besides many Ambassadors of the cities with most large ample coÌ„mission For they were admonished what thinges should there be treated Before they departed thence which was the vj. day of March they addresse their letters to the French king wherin first they excused the matter that they had not satisfied his Ambassadoure in the former assemblie and shewe the cause also whie they sende no Ambassadours as nowe vnto him ThaÌ„ they desyre him to continew his frendshippe and seynge they haue set open to him all waies to come to a concorde in religion and yet haue nothing preuailed that he would recompence this theirendeuor with his fauor and beneuolence Fynally they declare what their mynde is touchyng the Counsell and desyre to knowe what he hathe also determined to do herein The kinge afterwardes maketh Aunswere at the tenth kalendes of Iune he accepteth theyr satisfaction and promiseth largely concernynge hys continuall amitie towardes them confutyng the sclaunders of his aduersaries in a wrytynge the whiche he sent with all and saieth that this is his opinion of the counsell and euer hath bene that vnlesse it be lawefull and in a sure place he wyll neuer allowe the same neyther doubteth he but the kynge of Scotlande his some inlawe will also folowe his mynde herin He a lytle before at the beginning of Maye was retorned home with his wyfe which after aboute Midsomer ended her life there In the meane time the Bishoppe of Rome deferreth the Counsell till the kalendes of Nouember and the cause thereof he saieth is for that Friderick the Duke of Mantua mindeth to fortifie his citie with garnisons of souldiours and to employe cost therupon which thinge hath happened contrary to his expectation and saith he is sore affraid lest many folowyng his decree are already commen to Mantua and happely beyng excluded are dryuen to retourne home againe for the which chaunce he is in dede very sory but yet taketh the matter lesse greifefully forasmuche as the thinge hath fortuned throughe another mans faulte and not his And not longe after the king of Englande in his owne name and the nobles of his Realme publisheth a writing That there is a Counsell called by the Bishoppe of Rome which he hath none authoritie to do and called at suche a time whan mortall warre is betwene themperour and the Frenche kynge and the place appointed at Mantua whither it is neyther saufe nor commodious for all men to come He in dede desyreth a Christian Counsell wyth all his harte but vnto the Byshoppes Counsell he wyll nether come him selfe nor yet sende hys Ambassadours For this is alwayes theyr facion that for theyr own lâ—cre sake they wyll in suche maner of assemblies oppresse Christ and his veritie And for his parte he will haue nothynge to do with the Bishoppe of Rome nor regardeth no more his Decree than the wrytynge of anye other Byshoppe Addynge that Counselles were wont to be called by the authoritie of the Emperour and kynges which maner ought to be restored especially at this tyme whan the Byshoppe hath so many graue personages to accuse him Yet neuerthelesse can he neither be reprehended without the daunger of a mans life nor accused presently but in a lawfull Counsel nether is there any prouision made for him or his by saufconduicte and thoughe there were yet manifest daungers shoulde let hym that he coulde not come for it is no newes to the Bishoppes to falsefie theyr faith and to sprincle and desile them selues with innocent bloude And albeit it should be lawfull for others to repaire thither yet were it no saftie for him whome the Bishop hath laide waite for whoÌ„ he hateth deadly whom he seketh to bring in hatred with other kinges for none other cause assuredly than for that his Tyrranny is exiled out of his realme and his yerely reuenewes taken away which thinge in very dede he taketh in most euill part and so much the worse for that he feareth lest other kinges warned throughe his example will hereafter do the like And nowe also is the counsell proroged vntyll the kalendes of NoueÌ„bre And yet not the place appointed where it should be holdeÌ„ and the faulte is imputed to the Duke of Mantua Is not this to delude the whole worlde The Duke of Mantua is surely blameles which wyll not receiue so great a multitude into his citie being vnfurnyshed of a garrison but all the blame is to be ascribed to him alone who doeth nothing syncerely but worketh al thinges by craft and collusion And now in case he shall assigne an other place for the purpose he wyll eyther appointe it in some citie of his
owne or of some Prince that is bound to him For he hath him self ryght ample and large dominions and in the same many goodly cities which his predecessours haue gotten by force and subtiltie he with as small fidelitie kepeth But seing there is no hope to haue a true couÌ„sel as men of witte and iudgemeÌ„t do suppose he thinketh it best that euery Magistrate in his own dominions seke the reformation of Religion And if perchaunce the Bishop should obiecte vnto them custome the same taketh no place For euen by the testimonie of Cypriane custome that is grounded vpon no counsell as he hath sayde before but if any man haue an other way that is better he wil not refuse it The Emperour remained al this yere in Spaine but his armie in Flaunders by the conduict of Counte de Bure wan by assaulte the towne and castel of Sanpulle in Artois in the moneth of Ianuary and put al to the sworde and from thence went and beseged the citie of Terowen but yet in vayne There at the length was a truce taken for ten monethes in those parties only For in PiedmoÌ„te was hote warre neuerthelesse and the town of Cherie was taken by assaulte of the imperialles who made a wonderfull slaughter both of souldiours and citezens And whan after the garrison of Turrin suffered great penury being on euery syde beseged and stopped from virtualles the Frenche kyng in haruest tyme leuied a power and sente thether his eldest sonne Henry the Daulphin and MommoraÌ„cie who making waye and entring perforce releued their present famine In the moneth of October the armie of kyng Ferdinando wherin were the horsemen of Saxony and Meissen of Franckonie and Austriche the Carinthians Bohemers and Hongarians whome the Germaines cal Hussares beseged the towne Exechium vpon the Ryuer of Draue whiche was kept with a strong garryson of the Turkes And where they tracted the tyme and were constrayned for wante of victualles to leuie the siege in the retire they fel into the lappes of their ennemies which had layd for them ambusches in the woodes and kept all the straytes that they could no way escape In this distresse firste certen Centurions and captaynes of souldiours and the Hongarians fled after also went Cacianer the kinges Lieutenaunt But the reste who detested the shame of running away exhorting them selues vnto manhode especially the horsemen of Almaigne aboade the charge and violent force of their ennemies but in fine being vaÌ„quished of the greater numbre were all for the moste parte slayne and manye of the captaynes taken prisoners and led to Constantinople in to moste miserable captiuitie The fourth Ides of Octobre the kyng of Englande had a sonne borne at Hamptoncourt Prince Edwarde by Quene Iane Semer whome he maried after the death of Quene Anne In the meane whyle the byshop of Rome for so muche as truce was taken be twyxt Fraunce and Flaunders went about to procure the like also in al other places to the entent that through this occasioÌ„ he might worke his purpose and ceased not tyll he had brought it to passe The bishops deuise was as it is reported that setting them at peace he myght stire them vp against the kyng of England whom he hated vnto the death and against the Lutherians About this tyme also Christina the Emperours nece by his syster Quene of Denmarke Duchesse of Millan leauing Italy retourneth into Flaunders through Germanye and there was a treaty of a mariage betwene her and William Duke of Cleaue but it toke not effect Than also the men of Gelderland began to rebelle against their Prince Charles Egmonde whiche was al his lyfe tyme of the Frenche parte and therfore sore hated of the Burgundians and than as it was sayd went about to make his country FreÌ„che He was so chased out by his owne people euery where in this outragious tumulte that he had scarsly a towne or two lefte hym to flye into He was alwayes a great mainteiner of the bishop of Romes doctrine and abstained not from sore punishment Paule the third in the first beginning of his byshoprike made his two yonge nephewes Cardinalles as before is wrytten For the whiche thing being euyll reported of he vouched saufe to call other worthy men also both in nobilitie and learning to the same degre of honour partly to asswage the enuie and displeasure partely to haue mete champions whiche were able to defende hym by their learnyng and eloquence amonges whome was Caspar Contarene Reginalde Poole Iohn Bellie Frederick Fregose vnto whom within a shorte space after he added moreouer Sadolete Alexander and Bembus And purposed also Erasinus as in a certen Epistle to a frend of his Erasinus himselfe reporteth There remayne also certen Epistles written of Sadolet to Erasinus wherin after he hath spoken muche of the great good wyl of the byshop towardes hym he sayth that within shorte tyme he wyl auaunce him to hyghe dignitie Contarenus was a noble man a Senatour of Uenise for his learnyng ryght famous and beyonde all expectation whan he had craued nothynge was sodaynly promoted to this dignitie ✚ The twelfth Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne in the Empyre of Charles the fyste ⧠The argument of the twelfth Booke POpe Paule by his deputes ordeyned a reformation touching the abuses of the Churche as permutations voisomes benefices incompatibles Cardinalles courtiers Chaplelaynes Courtisanes Pardoners and the Colloquies of Erasmus prohibited The Protestauntes mete at Brunswycke whether came the king of Denmarke Persecution aryseth at Pans The Pope the Emperour and the Frenche kyng mete at Nice there the kynge kissed his foote A Colledge and a Frenche churche are erected at Strasborough The kyng of Englande burneth the bones of Thomas Becket The Prince Efectour of Brandenburgh aduertiseth the Duke of Saxon of the preparation of the great Turke A secte of Antmomians aryseth The conspiratie of Heldus and the Duke of Brunswycke are discouered by the takyng of his Secretary An assembly is holden at Franckeforte decrees are there made and appointment mode for a conference to be had for the peace of the Protestauntes whiche to let Duke Henry of Brunswicke leuiâ—th an armie George Duke of Saxon ennemy of the veritie dieth Henry his brother succedeth hym The kyng of Englande hauyng set forth a booke against the counsell of Uicence callseth certen articles to be made concerning Religion They of Gaunt rebell The Emperour hauing saufeconduicte passeth through Fraunce The Uenetians make peace with the Turke but certen Senatours had disclosed their secretes I Haue shewed you before how the Counsels wer deferred til the kalendes of NoueÌ„b but the same also was made frustrate Notwithstandyng the Bishoppe to the intent he myght feed men with hope and seme to do some thinge had longe before chosen out certen of his owne sect amoÌ„ges the whole numbre and had streightly
commaūded them that they shoulde espie oute diligently the faultes of the Clergie and all flatterie set apart declare them vnto him He released them also of their othe that they myghte speake their mindes franckly and had commaunded them to kepe the thinge close secret There were chosen Caspar Contarene Peter Theatrire Iames Sadolete and Renalde Poole Cardinals Fridericke Archebishop of Salerne Hierome Aleander Archbishop of Brunduse Iohn Mathew Bishoppe Uerone Gregorie Uenet Abbot and Thomas maister of the sacred Palace These in conclusion after consultation had comprehended the hole matter in writing addressinge theyr stile vnto him extolle him with great praises for the zeale he hath to the trueth wherunto the eares of certen Bishoppes in times past haue bene stopped chiefly through the faulte of flatterers whiche haue ascribed vnto them ouer muche Authoritie what tyme they haue affirmed them clearely to be lordes of althinges and haue power to do what they liste For out of this welspring as out of the horse at Troy haue spronge into the churche so many euils wherwith now it is most greuously afflicted Therfore is his wisedome and vertu great who considereth that the remedie must be fetched from thence from whence the beginning and cause of the disease proceded who followyng the doctrine of S. Paule wil be a minister and a steward and no lorde And for asmuche as he hath committed this charge vnto them they willyng to obey him herin haue accordyng to theyr meane wittes drawen certen Articles whiche do concerne him ▪ the Bishoppes and the Churche For where he susteineth a double person and is not onely the Bishop of the vniuersall Christian Churche but also the Prince of many Regions and Cities they onely touche suche thinges as concerne the Ecclesiasticall administratiō for the ciuile commen weale he gouerneth with muche commēdatiō and wisedom And fyrst of al. they say most holy father in like case as Aristotle commaundeth that lawes be not rashly altered so semeth it vnto vs also that thecclesiasticall lawes be in any case diligently maynteyned and not infringed without some vrgent cause For there can no greater plage inuade a commenwealth than what time thauthoritie of lawes is weakened and disolued whiche oure predecessours would haue to be kept as sacred and holy The next pointe is that the Bishop of Rome Christes Uicar whan for the Authoritie he hathe of Christe he geueth or graunteth anye thinge he take no money or rewarde for the same For seynge that all these thinges are giuen freely Christ will also that the same be freely distributed to others This foūdation once laide it must be foresene that you may haue very manye mete ministers of the churche to gouerne it for mens saluation In the which numbre the Bishoppes occupie the chiefe place but herein is a great abuse in that all kinde of men are receiued into this ordre confusely and without respect neither commended for their learninge nor honest lyuing and diuerse also very yong Wherof arrise sundry offences and holy thinges come in contempt and growe oute of reuerence It semeth good vnto vs therfore that first in the citie of Rome you appoint certen to make a choise of suche as desyre to take orders and after commaunde all Bishops to do the like euery mā within his owne Diocese And that you suffer none to be admitted without the consent of the said commissioners or Bishoppe Let the youth also that purpose to be made pristes haue a Scholemaster appointed to bring them vp in learnyng and vertuouse maners Moreouer in geuing of Benefices and spirituall promotions it is farre a misse in suche especially as concerne the Cure and charge of soules For here haue they this respect on lie that the Beneficed man may be well prouided for laying apart all care of his flocke Therfore whan suche an office is geuen chiefely if it be a Bishopricke it must be diligently forsene that they be good men and learned which both can and will gouerne the Churches themselues as they are bounden by the law Therfore may not an Italian enioy a benefice in Spayne or in Englande nor a Spaniarde or an Englishman in Italy Furthermore there is much fraude vsed what tyme a man leaueth his benefice and resygneth it to another reseruing to him self an yerly pension many times also the whole profytes For no pension maye be reteined vnlesse it be for the pore or some other godly vse Because the fruits are annexed to the benefice and ought no more to be sequestred from it than the bodye from the soule And he that hathe the same is bounden to vse the commodities therof honestly and so much as suffiseth the residew to employ vpon suche vses as is beforesayd Notwithstandyng it shal be lawfull for the Bishoppe if the case so require to impose this bondage that he shall pay a certen thing yerely to some pore man especially beyng of the Clergie wherby he may liue more honestly and better at ease Againe they offende exceadingly in permutatiōs for all thinges are done for lucre And albeit it is not lawefull to gyue Benefices by legacie yet is there a subtill way founde by wyttie men to defeate this law and benefyces are giuen to another yet so as they haue theyr reentrie agayne into the fame with the whole profytes and ministration And thus commeth it to passe that he beareth the name of a Bishoppe which hath no right or Authoritie and he whiche is indede and possession Bishop hath not the name at all And what thing els is this than to make to him selfe an heyre Bishoppe Clementrenewed an olde lawe wherby it was forbydden that the sonne shoulde not enioy his fathers benefice but yet is this permitted truly with an euill example For it can not be denied but the greatest part of sclaunders arryse of this that the churche goods are conuerted to priuate vses Hitherto many haue loked for a redresse of this thynge but nowe they are in vtter dispayre and speake and thinke full euill of vs therefore An other euill vse is to geue out vousons of benefices as it were in a reuertion where an other mans death is wished and looked for And others that better deserue to haue it are secluded from it matter ministered of muche strife and contention What shall we saye to those benefices whiche because they coulde not be employed vpon one man alone were called commonly incompatibles but herin is tholde discipline neglected and to some one also is permitted to haue diuerse Bishoprikes which semeth vnto vs worthy reformation Herunto belongeth these pluralities totquotes and vnitynge of benefices whan many benefices be ioyned together as the partes and membres of one body What is not this to delude the lawes Finally nowe is this disease crept in also that Bishoprickes are giuen vnto Cardinalles and that many vnto one Whiche thynge semeth vnto vs in dede a matter of importaunce and chiefly to be refourmed For the
a sedition at Gaunte Whiche citie is of great force and aucthoritie in those parties and hath oftentymes made many sore bickeringes for their lybertie with the Gouernours of Flaunders in whose dominion it standeth The Emperour hauing intelligence hereof where he firste had thought to haue gone through Italy into Germany he altered his purpose and determined to passe through Fraunce seyng the kyng required hym instantly so to doe and promysed hym all thynges franckely In the meane tyme the Palsgraue and the Marques of Brandenburge intercessours addressyng their letters to the Emperour of the pacification at Franckfurte had requyred hym to permitte a conference of learned men to be had at Norinberge But he sayde that the death of his wyfe and certen other affaires would not suffer hym to entende suche matters Whan the intercessours had sent a copie of these to the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue and yet had not signified whether the Emperour had confirmed that truce of .xv. monethes The .xix. daye of Nouember an assemblie was appoynted at Arustet a towne of Turingia Here they consulted to augmente their confederacie for their nedefull defence in case the Emperour wyll not allowe the peace makyng at Franckefurte for well disposyng the churche goodes to sende Ambassadours into Englande touching the syxe Articles and to mitigate the kinges mynde to moue the Frenche kynge that innocente persones be not tormented for ReligioÌ„ Moreouer to sende Ambassadours to the Emperour so sone as they shall vnderstande of his commyng into Flaunders And for because certen of the confederatours were absent and other some had not commission to determine of certeÌ„ matters an other daye was assigned at Smalcalde at the kalendes of Marche wherin to treate of the reste Here were receiued into the League the men of Rigen a citie in Linonia whiche were at coÌ„tencion with their Archebyshop lyke as many others were in Germany Neyther wer they receyued vpon other condicion than to be defended in the counsel chaÌ„ber by the commoÌ„ procurers therfore payed to the confederatours a thousande and fyue hundreth crownes Henry Duke of Saxon was taken into the league two yeares before without any charge because he was but poore but yet vpon condition that if he were at any tyme enriched he should beare like charge with the reste Nowe therfore that he was auaunced to this goodly inheritaunce in this Assemblie they treated with hym touching the same whiche assemblie ended the tenthe of Decembre The Prynces were not there present but had sent their deputes And the Duke of Saxon had sent Iohn Dulcie and Fraunces Burcarte vicechauncelour into Englande in the moneth of Nouembre to be is his name present at the marriage betwene the kynge and the Lady Anne of Cleane for he had married her syster Sibille as is mentioned in the syâ—â— booke Wherfore vpon this occasion they were enioyned at Arnstade to treate with the kyng in the name of the ProtestauÌ„tes for these matters before sayd The Emperour receyuing a saufe conduictetoke his iourney with a small company in the moneth of Nouembre Whan he came to the frontiers of Fraunce borderynge vpon Spayne he met the kynges two sonnes Henry and charles which were come thether in poste and the Constable which was gone thether long before with a great parte of the nobilitie of Fraunce of whom being receyued and conduicted through the myddes of Fraunce the greatest cities whaÌ„ he came to Loche in Burges he mette with the kynge hym selfe who was than scarcely ameÌ„ded of a late disease After passyng through Or leaunce on Newe yeares daye rydynge in the myddes betwene the kynges two sonnes he entred into the citie of Paris and the Constable bare the sworde before him For no kinde of ioyful myrth and gladnes no honour or solemnitie that the mynde of man coulde delight in was left vndone Thether came the Byshoppes Legate Alexander Farnesius Cardinall who together with Cardinall Bellaye the Byshop of the citie Receiued the Emperour into the Cathedrall churche at Paris Where the Emperour remaining seuen dayes afterwardes departeth the kynge hym selfe accompanying hym into Uermandois and his sonnes brought hym as farre as Ualencenes a towne in Henaulte The kynge was brought into a great and almoste a sure hope to recouer Millan but it chaunced farre otherwyse as hereafter I purpose to declare What tyme the Emperour was with the Frenche kynge in Fraunce they sent both their Ambassadours to the Uenetians moste nobly accoÌ„panied The Emperour sent Alphonse Daualle gouernour of Millan and the king Claudie Hannebalde Lieutenant of Piedmonte These exhorted the Senatours with a longe discours to ioyne them selues in amitie with these two most myghty Princes and to put to theyr good willes and power to ouerthrow the Turke But they whan they had most honorably dimissed the Ambassadors considering the thing more diligently thought mete to reconcile them selues to the Turke with whom they had trewce already Wherfore concluding at the last to rendre vnto him Nanplia and Epidaurum they obteyned at his hande peace Some saye that the Frenchemen albeit exhorted them openly as did themperours Ambassadour yet secretly whispered in their eares that they should prouide for themselues not enter into such a daunger for the which they were fyrst like to smarte the king him selfe in an Apologie against themperour reporteth that the common wealth of the Uenetians of him destroyed was through his meanes releued and recouered Aloisius Bardnarius the Ambassadoure of the Uenetians sente to the Turke for peace 〈◊〉 as commaunded fyrst to offer al other conditions and reserue those two cities for extreme necessitie But the Turke which by priuie espiall knewe the determination of the Senate longe before did expostulate with him that he did not declare his commission plainely and directly And without those two places deliuered would not conclude Who beyng amased seyng the priuities of the common wealth were bewrayed full sore againste his will permitteth him to haue them at laste But whan he was retourned to Uenise and had declared the whole matter the Senatours greatly astonied after moste diligente inquisition apprehende certen and fyndynge them giltie cut of theyr heades One of them was fledde into the Frenche Ambassadours lodgyng the Bishoppe of Mompelier as into a Saintuary wherefore officers were sent to haue searched all the house But whaÌ„ they might not be suffered to enter the Senate commaundeth certeine great pieces to be fetched out of theyr ordenaunce house to ouerthrow the lodging Wherupon the Frenchmen consyderinge theyr owne daunger bring him forth vnto them The Senate afterwarde wrote vnto the kinge the cause why they so dyd lest he shoulde thynke his Ambassadour had susteined wrong When themperour came into Flaunders kyng Ferdinando comming out of Austriche met there also After the Protestantes Ambassadors as it was condescended at Arnstad who the xxiiii daye of February beyng admitted to the Emperours speach at Gaunt
daughter of Nauarre VNto the Whiche thinges the Protestauntes the eleuenth daye of Apryl make a long aunswere declaryng their innocencie in suche thinges as they were of the Emperour suspected And the chief only cause why they to their great charges peryll do professe this doctrine to be done neither for any priuate cōmoditie or for pleasur or displeasure of any persone or other respect at all saue only that God requyreth this dutye of them that they should professe the name of his sonne and the Gospell For he commaundeth vs to flye from Idolatrie and warneth vs most straightly that we do not allowe their crueltie whiche persecute the true doctrine And as touchynge the churche goodes they shewe vnto what good vses they imploye them And of all the dissention that is others to be authors thereof and not they Than they discourse the cause of Religion at large and confute that sclaunder that they should be more inclyned to the Emperours ennemies than to hym by the goodly and large offers whiche for his cause they refused and by the ayde and assistaunce whiche they haue geuen hym in his warres Finally they requyre that Monser Granuellan who to his great cōmendation hath euermore hytherto perswaded the Emperour frō the bloudy coūsels of their aduersaries to peaceable wayes wold preferre to the Emperour the complainte of the chamber and intreate hym to graunte them peace so often sought and desyred What tyme they had made this answer at the Ides of Apryl they ende theyr intreaty And appointe the diuines to make a confutation of the syxe Articles enacted by the kyng of Englande and the booke afterwarde to be sent thether to the entent that in case the diuines of Englande wyll aunswer it and that there be any hope of agrement a further communication may be had but to make any league with him otherwyse than for Relion only no man there thought expedient It was also there decreed to intreate the kyng for suche as were persecuted in Fraunce for Religion but first to learne the state of Fraunce and howe the kynge is affected and whether it maye be thought that the mediation wyll take place There were dyuerse other decrees touchynge the churche goodes and seueral complayntes and that they of Haylbrune should abolyshe the Popyshe Masse which remayned as yet in certen churches Fynally they determine what is nedefuull to be done in case the Emperour eyther refuse peace or aunswere doubtfully or the Chamber procede after their olde maner or if there be a power reised vp against them pryuelye Whilest these thynges were a workyng the Emperour doth great execution of Gaunt making the chiefest Rebelles to hoppe headles he taketh away all their armure and weapons all their priuileges and commodities he buyldeth a Castell and placeth there a Garnison in the neckes of them That citie was euer wonte to rebell against theyr Princes as I haue also declared before This parte played they with Charles of Burgundy the Emperours great graundfather and with Phylip his father before that with Lewys Erle of Flaunders great grandfather to the same Philippe by his mothersyde All the whiche this Emperour semeth to haue reuenged For they were neuer so subdued as thys tyme. The eyghtenthe daye of Apryll the Emperoure addressed hys letters to the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgraue Howe he hathe talked wyth hys brother Ferdinando Kynge of Romaynes amonges other thynges of the State of Germanye but especiallye of the dissention in Religion whiche he woulde fayne were appeased For lyke as here tofore he hathe omytted nothynge herein so is he nowe also of the same mynde styll So that they wyll acknoweledge this zeale of his and not abuse the same And that desyre of peace whiche they haue longe synce pretended in wordes and promyses they wyll nowe perfourme in deed He hath vsed many yeares nowe sondrye and gētle meanes of treaty but with them it hathe not priuayled hetherto And nowe is the matter come to that poynte that vnlesse it be shortlye remedied there wil followe a great dissolutiō of the cōmon welth and a maruelous sturre of all states And although it be so yet of his benigne gentlenes he appointeth them againe an other assemblie at Spyres the syxte daye of Iune or if perchaunce plage or infection of sickenes wyll not permitte them then suche place as his brother Ferdinando shal appointe to deuise by what meanes this great daunger that hanged ouer Germany may be auoyded Willing them to be ther present them selues at the daye assigned all lettes set aparte vnlesse it be syckenes and than to sende their chief counsellours suche as be louers of peace mete for the treatie and priuie to their doings And that they signifie the same to their fellowes to the entent they be there at the daye And thether shall come his brother Ferdinādo who can further declare of his mynde and wyll and of theyr Ambassade sent vnto hym And that they so frame them selues for the preseruation of them selues and the countrey that all dissention beyng taken awaye they may so muche the better consult of the other affayres of the Empyre And there is no cause to feare any daunger for he wylassure thē vpon his fidelitie and graunteth them the benefite of the peace of Norrinberge and wyll suffer no man to doe against it yet so as they agayne doe offende no man Unto whiche letters they aunswered the .xv. day of may For that he followeth the counselles of peace they geue hym most harty thankes And where he admonyshed them that they shuld acknowledge his studious desyre and not abuse the same there is no cause they saye why he should thinke otherwyse of thē and their cōfederates and league frendes For there is nothing more derely beloued of them than peace And that the matter hath not ben agreed vpō hetherto it ought not to be imputed vnto thē but to the greatnes of the cause and to their aduersaries whiche coulde abyde no declaration of their doctrine Nowe where he would haue them to be there presente at the daye appointed they wyl gladly obeye Howe beit because they woulde not that the kynge shoulde trauell in vayne they wyll shewe their fantasye for it is not vnknowen to his hyghnes that euersynce the fyrste beginning of this controuersie after muche delyberation in the assemblies of the Empire this waye only semed beste vnto al men that eyther a lawefull counsell myght be had or els a prouinciall Synode of Germany but sythe that for the shortnes of tyme that semed litle to purpose it was deuysed at Franckefurte to haue a communication of the matter and a decree was made of the same And seynge the matter is weightie wherein the saluation of man cōsisteth it can not be shortly determined if it should be purposely done and therfore should be troublesome and paynfull both to kyng Ferdinando and to them also and others to traue in suche matters to
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 Grekes supplāted thus also were the Germains deluded by Tiberius what time they moued war in Italy only Britaine which now is Englande escaped this yoke for that they vnderstode their subtill fetches always in cōmon perill powred out all their ciuile hatred vpon their ennemy And by the same meanes at the length were the Romains thē selues subdewed Philip also king of the Macedoniās by this craft conquered Grece setting together be th eares the men of Athens Corinthe Thessalie Ottoman the firste Emperour of this Turkishe nation toke Bythinia through the dissentiō that was there among Christen Princes at last by the same occasion the Turke inuaded Europe cōquered Thrace al Grece Morea yea the Turkes haue these thre hondreth yeres wonne stil through our discorde treason What time the citie of Constantinople was taken all Italy was ful of sedition whilest one sorte wold be called Gwelphiās an other Gibellines whiche were names of themperial and popyshe faction what chaunced lately at Rhodes what in Hongary by what occasion it is no nede to recite But thus indede the Turkes a poore vile barbarous nation creping out of the corners of Scithia haue increased through our dissention atteyned to so great an Empire whylest eyther the light Grekes opened thē a gate into Europe or that faithles mē of Genes haue transported thē by the sea of Helespōte or the Prynces of Peloponesus brethren falling at variaunce sent for them the one to destroye the other whilest they of Epyrus did ayde thē or the Mysians conspyred with them or the Hongarians of their owne accorde dyd moue them to come Therfore to mainteine their common lybertie they must fall to an vnitie and concorde and may not thynke that whylest they them selues sytte styll and doe neglecte it beynge denyded into sectes and factions that foreyne nations wyll take this cars in hande for them This he sayeth is the kynges aduyse and counsell whiche he desyred them to accepte in good parte and of hym to loke for all amitie and frendshyp The Byshop sente thether his Legate Iohn Morone Byshop of Mutma who beyng demaunded of kyng Ferdinando and by the Emperours deputies of the byshop of Romes mynde the .xxiij. day of Marche speaketh on this wyse The last yere whan the Emperour went into Africa passing through Italy he cōferred with the hyghe byshop concerninge the turkyshe warre and a generall counsell but sythe the matter was very weighty the Emperour made great haste nothynge was determined and Granuellan remayned in Italy with whome the case was further debated afterwarde Than he declareth howe the Byshoppes mynde is and euer hath bene to warre vpon the Turkes and that he wil sende ayde of fyue thousande fotemen in case the Emperour come to the fielde hym selfe if not halfe that nombre And lykewyse is cōtent that there shal be a counsell but that the same should be holden in Germany neyther his age can beare who both wyll and ought to be present nor also the farre iourney and alteration of the ayre wyll permitte therfore he lyketh better Mantua or Farrare Bolognia la gras or Placence whiche are all ample cities and fyt for suche a purpose howe beit if none of these wyll please them he wyll not refuse to kepe it at Trent whiche is a towne nere vnto the frontiers of Germany and woulde haue had it begonne at a Whytsontyde but for shortenes of tyme hath differred it to the Ides of Auguste praying them that al displeasure set aparte they woulde wholy applie them selues hereunto King Ferdinando with the Emperours deputies and all the Catholyque Prynces geue hym thankes and if a meter place maye not be had in Germanye as Regenspurge or Collon they saye howe they are contente with Trente But the Protestanntes doe neyther allowe the Bysshoppes counsell nor the place nor that there was anye mention made thereof in the decree and openly pronounce to the contrary Whan the Frenche kynges Ambassadours coulde not preuayle and the states were inclyned to the Turkyshe warre and sawe that the Emperours men both lothed and suspected their presence before the ende of the assemblye they departe halfe in displeasure Trent is in the Alpes by the Riuer of Athese a towne in Farnādo hys dominion thre dayes Iorney on this syde Uenise and not two from Uerona After the chauncelour of the Dutchie of Alenson was retourned home the kyng begā streight wayes to prepare for the war And albeit he had already in effecte restored the Admiral vsed hym frendly Yet lest it should be herafter preiudicial to him or his childrē he causeth the whole matter to be comprised in writing and restoreth him to his possessions dignitie and fame and protesteth that hee had committed neyther treason nor yet extortion releaseth and geueth hym the condemnation of seuen hondrethe thousande crownes commaunding that these letters should be enrolled at Paris and in other places to remayne as matter of recorde this was the twelfte daye of March Whan the French kynge was at the same tyme besydes Paris in castell Uincenne word came to him in the night of a sodē tumult as though the enemies out of themperours contrie shoulde make an incursion in to the contrie of Uermandoeis in Picardie whereuppon the princes that chaunced that time to bee there were sent thither in al hast the Dukes of Uandome Guise Aumall Niuerne and diuerse others with a great nomber of gentlemen Whan they came there al was hushte neyther saw they nor heard of any man Many men sayd how thys brute was reysed that the people might be perswaded that themperour sought warre wherof the kinge him self wold not be accōpted the author whan he had already vtterly determined the same as shal be declared herafter Forasmuch as the state of Germany was such as before I haue shewed you great ayde was decreed on commaunded that an armie should be leuied which ioyned with the power of Fernando might resist the Turkishe force and recouer that was lost The leading and ordering wherof was both by common assent and also by themperours pleasure committed in charge to Ioachim Marques of Brandenburge Prince electour who in continently departing from Spier prepareth him selfe for the Iorney For this war was gathered polle money through out all Germany and graunted that the magistrates might for this cause impose a taxe They agreed moreouer to demaund ayd of the Suises and other princes especially of the king of Denmarke and of the Italians furthermore it was decreed that all mē should obserue the peace and reise no tumult within the limites of thempire the .xi. day of April the assemblie was dissolued And in maner at the same time in Saxonie ther grew a greate hatred betwene the Prince Electour Duke Moris who than succeded Henry his father lately departed The contention was for the lymites a certen Towne And Maurice did
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
soeuer he hath promised he hath lyberally perfourmed and sōwhat more also than he was bounden But he hath not donne well who forgettyng his noble lynage and estate hathe brought hym selfe into suche bondage As concernynge hys Nece he maie knowe what her mynde and her parentes is he is in nothyng further bounden to hym Whan Themperoure had establysshed thynges in Gelderlande in the moneth of October he came to Landresey with an exceadynge greate armye Thyther came also the French kynge with hys whole force and the thynge was none other lyke but to haue commen to a battell But when the Frenche men had vytayled the Towne they went awaye by nyght so pryuely that the enemy perceiued it not before it was day light Than at the length pursuing after them they ouer tooke the rerewarde slew many And because winter came on Themperour thinking good to attempt no further whan he had sēt a certen power to the sege of Lucēburg he dischargeth the rest of hys army Duke Maurice serued themperour at Landresey of hys owne voluntarye mynde wherby he gote moche good wyll and made the way to obteyne hys frendship In the winter season the Duke of Lorayne and certen others intreate for peace but that was in vayne Themperoure retournynge home from Landersey sent Fardinando Gonzage Uiceroy of Sicilie to the Kyng of England that he might incense hym more agaynste the Frenche kynge I haue oftentymes mentioned of William Countie Furstēberge he beyng made a straūger with the Frenche kinge made suite by Granuellan to come in to Themperours fauour And to declare hys fydelytie he leuyed a certen power of foote men in hys owne Iurisdictyon and wente in the myddes of wynter to Lucemburge and ioyned hym selfe with Thēperours Armie But when the Frenche men by the conduite of the Duke of Longouile had vitayled them within he departeth without any thynge doon after that many were dead for colde and honger I shewed you before howe the counsell of th empyre was appoynted at the last of Nouember Wherfore the Protestantes assemble together at Franckfourd to consulte before what thynges they shoulde treate of in the whole assemblye And where the matter was delayd by reason of the Frenche warres the Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue in the moneth of Nouember addressyng their letters to themperoure do aduertise hym howe they wyll come to the counsell yf he hymselfe wyll bee there and graunte them saufecounduite for them and theyr league frēdes Wherunto Themperour aunswered frō Brusseles the x. day of Decembre that he would come doubtles and that in the moneth of Ianuarye and sendeth withall a saufconduite Howebeithe excludeth suche as are addicte to hys enemyes by promesse faythe or conuenaunte signifyinge the priuie espialles of the Frenche kynge Than in the begynnyng of Ianuary takyng hys iorney he commeth to Spire The .xxiiii. day of thys moneth was a great Eclipse of the Sonne in the daye tyme so that all men beheld it not without great wonder This yeare also were thre ful eclipses of the Moone A matter in dede to bee wondred at and the whyche as the astronomiers saye hathe not chaunced synce the tyme of great Charles Alexander Farnese Cardinall passyng throughe Fraunce spoke with Themperoure goynge towardes thassemblye and tooke hys leaue of hym at Wormes The cause of his ambassade was thought to be a treaty of peace This assemblie of Spier was exceading great For booth king Farnando and all the Prynces Electours which is seldome seene in maner all other Princes were there and amonges them also the Duke of Cleaue As the Duke of Saxony was comyng whych was the .xviii. day of February the Lantzgraue the Archebisshop of Colō Friderick the Paulsgraue and the Uiceroye of Sicilye went foorth and met hym Two dayes after the counsel began And Themperour propoundeth for what causes leauynge Spayne he is nowe retourned into Germany and hath called this conuention he hath sufficiētly declared by hys letters dated at Gene neyther is it nede to recyte howe moche he hathe euermore loued the Publyke weale that all thynges put in order at home he myghte warre agaynst the common enemye of Christendome but howe he hath ben impeached hytherto and by whom it is not vnknowen For thys last yere by the procurement of the French kyng the Turkisshe nauie is comen into the Sea of Ligurie and hath inuaded the countrey of the Duke of Sauoye a Prince of Thempire taken the Citie and hauen of Nice and with greate force beseged the Castell and vattered it ryght sore And albeit they were constrayned throughe hys Armye approchynge to leuye theyr siege yet haue they syns attempted other places of Th empyre and of Spayne also and are nowe wholy aboute to distroie all together Therfore is the matter nowe brought into an extreme daunger and vnlesse they ioyne theyr mindes and powers to helpe it it is to be feared lest Germanye shall acknoweledge and bewayle hys miserye al to late He hath often wisshed to redresse these euilles but the Frēch Kynge mouing warre agaynst hym insondry places he could neither retourne into Germanye nor Ioyne his power with theyres And that the Turke doeth so boldly inuade Germany that the warres also attempted agaynste hym haue had so euell successe hytherto the cause hathe ben fyrst that he hath ben aduertysed from tyme to tyme by the Frenche kyng of the dissention in relygion of the publycke and priuate dyspleasure of al degrees of the state of Th empyre and what thynges are donne therein Secondlye for that he seeth howe at the Frenche Kynges hand he fyndeth fauour and socour ready as it hath not been only declared by witnesse and letters but nowe also proued in dede For asmoche therfore as he styreth vp and armeth the comon and moste cruell enemye of all others agaynste the Christen publyke weale he supposeth that they shoulde esteme thys warre whyche he is constreyned to maynteyne agayste hym non otherwyse than if it were attempted agaynste the Turke trustynge moreouer that they wyll not onlye condemne hys practyse and enterpryses but also wyll assiste hym to thentente that beyng delyuered from the domestycall enemye he maye dysplaye hys whole force agaynste the Turke After thys expostulatyng that the ayd decreed for the Turkish warre was not sente accordyngly for the wante wherof the Turke hathe agayne thys laste yere preuayled and taken certen Townes and Castels in Hongarye he requyreth them that seeyng the Turke goeth about to wynne Hongarye that he maye after inuade Germanye they wolde consyder depelye so weyghtye a matter that they may haue ayde not oulye to defend but to inuade also to th ende thys moste noysō plage may ones be driuen away from theyr wyues children and natif contrie declaring moreouer how willing he is the thinges amisse shoulde be refourmed and emongs other the iudgement of the chamber The same day king Fernādo by hys ambassadours speakīg
relygion lyke as you haue hearde before After those places of scripture which the Bisshop doeth vsurpe to establyshe hys supremacie he confuteth moste aboundantly and applyeth them to make agaynst hym Before the booke he set a picture whych by and by declareth the sōme of the argumente The Bysshop sytteth in an hyghe chayre with hys handes ioyned and stretched out in solemne apparel but he hathe asse eares And aboute hym are many deuelles of diuers shapes wherof some set a triple crowne vpon hys head with a tourde in the toppe of it others let hym downe by cordes into hell vnder neth hym hortyble to be holde some bryng wood and colle others as ryght seruyceable staye his feete that he may descend rightly and softely Not longe after came foorthe certene theames of hys whyche he had heretofore disputed of the three gouermentes Ecclesiasticall politycke and Oeconomike Whiche he sayeth God hathe ordeyned agaynste the furye of the Deuill but he vtterlye excludeth the Bysshop from all these for that he condemneth and oppresseth the Gospell for that he bryngeth vnder hys subiection all lawes and euen the ciuile lawe And in asmoche as he forbiddeth matrymony to whom it pleaseth hym Therfore he calleth him the beast which is named in Germany of the beare and the wolfe together There is nothynge sayeth he more fierce and cruell then she Wherfore when a token is geuen and that she is once hearde of streyghte wayes all men get them to theyr weapons to the intent they maye kyll her And yf hapely she should take a caue or anye inclosure and gouernour or Iudges of the soyle wolde exempte her or also defende her she shoulde be persecuted notwithstanding and he that should let or disturbe the hunters myght be slayne lawefully After the selfe same sorte must the Bisshop be resysted if he doe attempte and moue warre lyke a wyld and a rauenyng beast with what aide someuer he is mayneteyned For they that wil serue or helpe a theefe ought to looke for the rewarde of the thynge which they deserue Thā did he also sende foorth an other picture very fonde in dede but yet as it were a prophesye of the thyng to come The Bisshop in hys prelates apparell sitteth vpon a greate sowe with manye dugges whyche he diggeth in with his spurres hauyng two fyngers of hys ryght hand nexte hys thume stretched ryghte vp as the maner is he blesseth suche he chaunceth to mete with In hys lefte hande he holdeth a new smokinge tourde at the smell wherof the sowe lyfteth vp her snowte and with her wyde mouthe and nose thirlles catcheth after her praye but he in derysion blamyng the beast full bytterly I shall ryde thee saieth he with my spurres whether thou wylt or noe Thou haste troubled me longe aboute a counsell that thowe myghtest rayle on me at thy pleasure and accuse me franckelye Beholde nowe thys same is that counsell that thou so greatlye desyrest by the sowe he sygnifyeth Germany These tryfles of hys many mentaunted as vnsemely for hym and not verey modest But he had hys reasons whye he did so was thought to haue had a greater foresyghte in thynges And certenly in hys bookes are diuerse and sondry prophecyes wherof the ende prooved some trewe the residew as yet are in the hande of God In the meane season Themperoure taketh order with Granuellan and Nauius to be in hand with the protestantes touching the counsel and the Turkish warre but after longe decision nothyng could be concluded Grinian the french Ambassadour for because he vnderstode not the latyn tounge conprysed hys matter in wrytyng and vttered it by an interpretour the .xx. daye of Iune the somme of thys oration was to exhort them al to the counsell This Grinian was a nere frende to the Cardinall of Tournon who is thought to haue ben the occasyoner of thys Ambassade for he had ben with Themperoure at Brusselles as I sayde before and had treated of matters concernynge the counsell And than was it thus agreed that the kinge should sende an Ambassadour to exhorte them to the counsell whych Themperoure and he had already approued for thys was thought to bee a meane to make the Protestantes affraid At this tyme dyeth Fraunces Duke of Lorayne leauing behynde hym a yonge sonne Charles a chylde of two yeres olde The Duke had a brother called Niclas Bisshop of Mentz betwene him and the childes mother Christien Themperours Nece arrose a contention aboute the wardeshyp Al the Nobilitie fauoured hym more and lothed the womans gouernement but through Thēperours mediation they were bothe appointed gardins yet so as the mothers authorytie was chiefest In those dayes also departeth the Daughter of Ferdinādo which was maried two yeres before to the son of Sigismunde king of Polle But out of Spayne was brought glad tydinges of the birth of Charles Themperoures Nephewe the sonne of kynge Philip for the whyche cause the Spaniardes made greate Ioye at wormes But a few dayes after came worde that the mother of the childe was dead To Themperoure being at Wormes came the Marques of Piscare and broughte with hym certen of the chiefe inhabiters of Millan It was thought how Themperour was than determined to marye the Daughter of Kynge Fernando to the Duke of Orleans and therfore had sent for these men to vnderstande the state of Lumbardie whiche he had promised to geue hym for her dowarye Whylest Themperoure helde this assemblie the Duke of Brunsewicke goeth to the Frenche kinge That time did Fridericke Rifeberge leuie a certen power of footemen in the Borders of Saxonie for the king of England Henry of Brunswicke espying that occasion promyseth and perswadeth the frenche kyng that incase he wyll geue him monie he shall easely fynde the meanes to scatter thē again And so getteth of hym certen thousandes of Crownes but he neyther letted Rifeberge and cōuerted the monye receyued to warre against the Protestantes as shal be declared herafter Unto this conuentyon came no Princes as I sayde before but after Thēperoure was there the Paulsgraue Electoure came also and at the request of the Protestantes maketh intercession But whan Themperour saw how they wold graunt nothyng to the Turkisshe warre vnlesse they obteyned theyr requeste concerning the counsell and the chamber he sendeth an Ambassadoure to the Turke for trewes Gerarde Ueltuniche a man verye well learned and experte in toungues Duryng thys conuention the Senate of Mentz maketh inquirye after suche as by the olde custome had not receyued at Easter and banisshed them the Towne that were founde herein culpable I shewed you before howe the clergie and Uniuersitie of Collon had appealed to Themperoure and bisshop that they myght hereby hynder thenterprises of theyr Archebisshop but where he stil proceded and wolde not displace the preachers and ministers of the church whyche thyng they chiefly requyred they renewe theyr sute to Themperoure making of hym a greuous
complainte Therfore aboute th ende of this conuention Themperoure by hys letters published at Wormes receyueth them into hys tuitiō and chargeth al men vnder the paine of outlawyng that no man disturbe thē in their religiō right or possession Againe in other letters he citeth the archebisshop that within .xxx. dayes he come hym selfe or send his proctour to aunswer to the accusations And in the meane time commaundeth that he intermeddle not nor alter any thynge yf he haue chaunged ought to restore it to hys olde place The same commaundemente also geueth he to the Townesemen of Andernake Bonna Lyntz and Campene for in these places chyefly had the Archebisshop appoynted Preachers to instructe the people Agayne the .xviij. daye of Iulye Paule the .iii. citeth hym after the same maner that within two monethes he appere before hym at Roome he cyteth also Henrye Stolberge Dean of the Cathedrall Churche in Collon and hys Colleges whyche were all of noble houses Iames Ringraue Fryderycke Weden Chrystopher Oldenburge Rychard Rauier and Phylyp Obersten For these bothe loued the Archebishop and allowed not the suite of the rest The Bysshop of Roome had dyuerse yeres paste mislyked muche the Archebisshop whyche was chiefly longe of Uergeryus Bysshop of Instinople who beyng Ambassadour in Germany and comming on a time to Collon whan he heard that he was aboute the reformation of hys churche he rebuked hym sore bothe by wordes and letters and accused hym whan he came at home After longe disceptation concernyng peace the Chamber and the Turkish warre Themperoure the fourthe daye of August maketh an ende of pleadynge And because manye thynges coulde not be here determyned vnlesse the Prynces had been presente themselues he prorogeth the whole treaty vntill the moneth of Ianuarye next followyng and than commaundeth all the Prynces to come to Regenspurge vnlesse they be letted by syckenes and sayeth he wyll be there hym selfe And forsomuche as he desyreth that the controuersye in relygion myghte once bee accorded he appoynteth an other conference of learned men and foure collocutours on eyther side and two auditours commaundynge them to bee at Regenspurge at the kalendes of December and to begynne the matter before the assemblye of Prynces shall repayre thyther Then he recyteth the decrees of peace of the fourmer yeres and confirmeth them commaunding that no man attempt any thing to the contrarye After he taketh order howe the money graunted in the yeare before to the Turkysshe warre shoulde be leuyed and reserued the reformation of the Chamber he differreth tyll the nexte conuention That parte concernynge the conference of Learned men the Catholyckes refuse neyther wold they assent to Themperoure herein the reste they doe not refuse But the Protestantes doe repete the fourmer treatye and saye that the faulte is not in them that they had not treated of Relygyon and that they had sayed beefore touchynge the refusall of the Counsell and the Chamber they inferre agayue and vrge the decree of Spyer made the laste yere and where as this decree of Themperoures dissenteth from that they proteste that they doe not admit the same How the ambassadours of the protestantes followed themperoures campe the yeare past how themperour differred it tyll an other tyme I shewed you before Whersore in this assemblie the matter was throughly determyned vpon condicions before mentioned And whē the duchie of Brunswicke was by sequestration permitted to themperour he by by cōmaundeth Henry the duke to trye the matter by the law abstaine frō force of armes but he wyll not assente thereunto hereof maketh protestation And what tyme themperoure againe chargeth hym extremelye vnder the paine of outlawing that he shold obey thorder taken he not only disobeyed it but also wrote agayne bitterly raileth vppon his counsellours especyally Granuellan and Nauius and not content herewith secretly began to gather men that he myght recouer that he had lost as a lyttell after you shall heare Themperoure goeth downe the Ryuer of Rhine from Wormes to Collon And from thence retourneth to Brusselles The Bysshop of Collon beynge cyted to appere before Themperoure where soeuer he were or to sende hys Proctour within .xxx. dayes Albeit that for the olde custome of Germany and by the priuelege of the Princes Electours he was not bounden to seke thēperoure withoute the limites of thempire yet sent he thither his proctour which should defende hym That time was the warre hote betwirte Fraunce and England And was mayneteyned aswell by sea as by lande And the Frenche king with moche a doe builded a forte nere vnto Bologne vpon the Sea coast intending to cut of theyr vitayle And was driueu to fynde an Armye there tyll the woorke was finisshed which neuerthelesse was at the fyrst discōsited with a great deale lesse power of the Englissh men through the cōduite of the Erle of Herforde and lost theyr tentes caryage And it greued the protestātes to see these two kynges at such mortal warre together which so many yeres before had been at peace Wherefore knowynge that it shoulde not be displeasaunte to neyther partye They sende Ambassadours into Fraūce Christopher Ueninger Iohn Bruno of Nidepōt Iohn Sturmius Into Englād Lewis Bambache Iohn Sleidan Who coming to Amiens the tenth day of Septēber heare there of the death of the Duke of Orleans which was departed the day before He should haue ben eyther son inlaw or allied to thēperour as before is declared as it wer a most sure bonde of perpetuall frendship But what tyme the maryage was in maner appointed to be kept he died of a short sickenes being a yong man of .xxiii. yeres of age At the selfe same tyme Duke Henrye of Brunswicke beinge furnisshed with the French golde as before is sayde hyreth bandes of soldiours as secretly as he can Which after they were assēbled besides Uerded aboute a thousande and fyue hundreth horsemen and eyght thousande footemen He goeth to Rotburge a Towne belōging to the citie of Breme that he myghte ioyne the munition of hys brother Archebisshop of Breme hys owne to gether but that labour was lost For the Senate of Breme had sente thyther before men to defende the place Marchynge therfore through the countrey of Luneburge where he did moche hurte by the waye he commeth into hys owne prouince taketh the Castel Stēbrucke by composition after he worketh moche mischief in the coūtrie spoylyng and fyreyng the houses And sendeth worde to the Cities nexte hym as Brunswicke Hanobrye Minden Breme Hamburge that they shoulde recompence hym for the iniutyes done and forsake the conspiracie of Smallcald for so it was his pleasure to cal it or els he threateneth thē with vtter distruction And other force of his aboute eyght hundreth horsemen and thre thousand fotmen whau they had spoyled burned the coūtrie of Countie Deckelburge a fellow of the Protestātes done moch harme they passed ouer
man be admitted to the office of reading but of whose learning maners and lyfe the Bishop or Abbot be certayne of And because the preachyng of the Gospel is nothyng lesse necessarye than the readyng it selfe the Bisshops and al other prelates of the churche are commaunded to instructe the people or yf they haue any lawful impedimēt to substitute others that shall Moreouer the headpristes pastoures of the people are charged at the lest euery sondaye to declare vnto men those thinges that are necessary for saluation and that they exhort them vnto vertu and feare them from vice and syn And a penaltie appoynted for such as neglect their dutye The Bisshops also are admonished to note dilligentlye what thinges are taught and incase heresies or absurde opinions be sowen abrode to vse the remedie by the lawes prescribed After are decrees made of originall synne and saye that the whole spot thereof is taken awaye through baptisme And that there remayueth in dede in them that be baptised a motion to synne or concupiscence And albeit Paul sometyme calleth it synne yet is it not done because it is synne in dede and properly so but because it inclineth to sinne But the Uirgin Marye is not comprysed in thys decree and that is to be obserued which in tyme paste was ordeyned by Bysshop Sirtus the fourthe of that name Than is the nexte daie limited to sit in the .xxix. of Iune Now did this Sixtus the fourth make a decre wherin he did excommunicate them as heretickes whyche teache that the Uirgyn Mary was conceaued in oryginall synne and that the daye consecrated by the churche of Roome in the memoryall of her conceptyon oughte not to be kept holy Thys decre is written in that part of the Byshops law that is called extrauagātes In this foresayd counsell sitting Peter Danese ambassadour to the French king made an oration and speakynge many thynges of the desertes and godly zeale of the kinges of Fraunce towardes the Churche of Roome begynnynge from kynge Clodowey declareth howe kinge Fraunces descendinge of the same progenitours is in no kynde of dewtye inferyour to them who was lynked with Leo the tenth in a continuall bonde of amytie and likewyse with Adrian Clement and now with Paull the third whyche in all this tempestuous storme of Religion hathe ben well ware that no alteration hath ben within hys dominions for that he wold haue the whole iudgement of the matter to be referred to the church for albeit he be of hys owne nature moste mercifull yet hathe he put them to most greuous tormentes which by a certen priuate rashenes haue assayed to diminyshe the state of the church through the which dillygence and seueritie he hath this obteined that he deliuereth now vnto them all Fraunce in peasable wyse For in it is no new nor straūge doctryne which is not of auncient custome and olde discipline confyrmed And where he hathe alwayes thought it profytable for the publycke weale that in the church there shuld be one namely the bisshop of Roome as the successour of Peter vnto whom all others as to the head myght referre all theyr doynges he hath ben euermore carefull that thys magistrate myghte styll kepe the supremacye and albeit he hath often times with large offers ben moued to the contrary and to followe thexample that an other hathe shewed before hys eyes yet coulde he neuer bee remoued from hys pourpos and of late whan the counsell was called that he hearde howe certen fathers were there assembled forthewhich he commaunded certen of hys cheife Bisshops to repayre thyther whan after a few decrees were made brought into Fraunce he appointed hym and his fellowes to come and declare hys lykyng opinion touchyng the same Therfore his fyrst request is that they wold ones establishe in generall what thyng in relygion is to be followed and beleued And agayne that for thecclesiasticall persons they wolde prescribe a moste sharpe disciplyne of lyfe maners What so euer they shal decree let thē put no doubte but that through hys commaundement it shall be obserued in all Fraunce Moreouer for as muche as the kynges of Fraunce haue done very muche for the churche of Roome that they wolde not suffer any thyng to be dimisshed or altered the possession wherof the kynges of Fraunce haue had euer synce Lewis surnamed Pius the sonne of great Charles Finally that of all the Frenche Churches whereof he hathe the patronage left hym of hys elders they wolde confyrme all ryghtes priueleges and lybertyes With the letters before mentioned and with further credite also came Lazarus Schuendius to Strasburge the .xxiiii. daie of Iune when he had by the waye spoken with the rest of the cytyes But the Senate sendyng hym awaye not long after wrote vnto thēperoure and for that they made no directe aunswer to Lazarus they saye it was for the straungenes and difficultie of the thing which did not concerne thē only but others in lyke case Nowe where he saieth that he beareth such a loue to Germany they geue hym great thākes and besecheth hym to perseuer in the same and suffer not hym selfe to be styrred vp to ciuyll warre where he complayneth moreouer of certen that doe not theyr de wtie neither shew theyr dew obedience they were sory to heare it yet they trust that there be none of theyr Religion culpable in so greate a crime For the fault hath not ben in vs saye they that relygion hath not ben accorded For you knowe ryght wel noble Emperoure howe willinge and confyrmable we haue been to haue a recontilemente bothe fyue yeres paste at Regenspurge and also synce and before at all tymes where certen others through thaduise and perswasion of the Bishop haue refused the same and referred althinges to Roome But the Bisshop intendeth through violēce and power to reteyne styll those greate errours for the whyche arrose all thys dissentiō in the church doeth so handle the matter in al thinges that we maye not cōmit the cause vnto his iudgment wherby it may wel be perceyued that we susteyne wrong yf any man shulde lay the blame in vs that thys controuersye is not appeased And where it is obiected vnto them that they shulde seke to plucke the church goodes in to theyr owne handes vnder the pretence of relygion it is vnfrendly sayde For you haue heard and knowen Cesar why oure fellowes coulde suffer no longer that monkishe lyfe in theyr dominions which was growen so farre out of order and howe they haue conuerted the same to better vses as fyndyng of Scooles and releuing of the poore Where agayne it is well knowne howe men of the contrary relygiō heape vp the churche goodes and abuse them to all voluptuousnes yet nothyng spokē of furthermore you your selfe haue made decrees bothe at Regenspurg and lately at Spier how for a common quiet those goodes oughte to be vsed Nowe incase there
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
Herbes Beastes Metalles Precious stones and by dayly vse and hearing did remember them He was wont also to deuise muche of the Mathematical sciences and to reason oft of the Scriptures About his table stoode alwayes the notable men of eche degree And in as muche as the talke was inferred of sondry argumēts it was harde but that one or other would alwayes propounde some matter And that might euery man do lawfully in case he were any thing knowen The example also and this desire of the kyng excited men vnto great diligēce that they might in reasoning before him deserue prayse In his owne tongue he was always accompted right eloquēt and graue Throughout Grece and Italy he had that sought and copied out for him the workes of olde writers And he made a goodly librarie whiche yelded certen notable bookes afterwardes The keper wherof was Castellan Alitle before his death he had sent to the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue for the mayntenaunce of the war to eyther of thē an hondreth thousand crownes and what tyme he departed the mony was scarsely deliuered About the same tyme also the Ambassadours of the Protestauntes retourne out of England into Fraunce that they myght finishe vp the rest of their matters And lyke as they found kyng Henry there whan they fyrst arriued so now retourning from thence they fynde king Fraūces extremely sicke Wherfore this happened also to the reste of the Emperours good fortune that those two moste mightie kynges which neither wanted oportunitie nor as many men than supposed wyll also to impeche and hynder his enterpryses died both in a maner at one tyme. That force of the Emperours whiche after they had oppressed certen noble men and taken the citie of Mynden I sayde went marching to Breme at the ende of this same moneth had such an ouerthrowe that he lost the chief captaine of the warre Grunninge gouernour of Selande And whan the power of the Bremers was increased by the accesse of Hamborough men Urisberger who after the death of Grunning had then the chief gouernment remouing his campe and fetching a long circuite about for the fennes that lay in his way began to beseige the citie on the other syde Thither came shortly after also Ericus Duke of Brunswyck whom the Emperour at the Ides of Marche sent away from him at Norlinge to the intent he should leuie a newe power of horsemen and fotemen and leade them into those parties The Emperour remouing from Norling to Norinberge went from thence to Egre a towne of king Ferdinādos in the borders of Boheme The king had at sondry times admonished the citie of Prage their weapons The residue of the states by them therof aduertised the fourth day of Aprill wryte againe That the cause why they haue put on armure led forth their armie is to defende their countrie from vniust violence especially in his absēce And pray him to intreate themperour that he war not against the Duke of Saxō but suffer that his case may be frendly debated They desire also to haue a parlament as the promise was At the which time the Emperour cōming to Egre and the. vi◠day of April whan Ferdinano Maurice were come that day before he writeth to all the states of Boheme and repeting briefly what he had writtē in the moneth before sheweth thē that he seketh only the Duke of Saxon. Wherfore let them bring forth their vitayle furnishe them of corne retourne home As concerning religiō they nede not to feare for in all this war he hath molested no mā for religiō At the same tyme the commissioners that were at Prage dispatching their letters into all partes warne the states moste earnestly that they would put on armure and come with all haste possible to desend their countrey for the matter is brought to an extreme daunger Ferdinando the eleuenth of Aprill aunswereth their last letters from Egre of lyke effecte in a maner as the Emperour did Therfore let them leaue their enterprise or els wil he fynde the meanes to represse their rashenes wel enough Where they intreate for the Duke of Saxon he can not a lyttle maruell For he hath not deserued so neither of the Emperour nor of him nor yet of the lande of Boheme Touching their request for a parliament he wyll doe herein as shall become hym In the meane tyme the Duke of Saxon taketh from Duke Maurice Fridberge and Misen a towne by the Ryuer of Albis And about this tyme the Fathers that were at Trente remoue to Bolonia la grace neither after that session wherein they treated of the Sacramentes made they any decrees at al. The cause of their departure as it is sayde was for that the ayre of this place was not greatly holsome after the opinion of Hierosme Fracastor Phisition to the Fathers of the counsell who had of the Byshop of Rome therfore threscore duckates a moneth The Emperour toke this matter moste displeasauntly and commaunded the Byshoppes and Diuines of hys dominions not to remoue from thence one fote Wherupon parte of the counsell was at Trente and an other parte at Bononie What tyme the Emperour marched from Norlinge to Norinberge the Erle of Bure whiche kept Frankefurte with twelue enseignes of fotemen and about foure hondreth horsemen being sent for came thither And whan he was come agayne to Franckefurt the .xii. daye of Aprill he putteth two to death wherof the one Iohn Uerden was of the same towne the other William Gelluse was a subiect of the Lantgraues The cause of their execution was for that they were sayde to be sent by the Lantgraue that they should bye of a Smyth the keyes of one gate that they should set the town on fyre in foure sondrye places that they should dryue in Iron nayles into the Canons and other great pieces so that they might not be shot of That whylest others were quenching the fyres they with the helpe of their fellowes should slaye the Erle of Bure and his familie the Consull and the Senate That they should infecte the welles of the town with poysō especially that which serued the Erles kitchin and an other whiche is in the Court. After came forth a wrytting pourporting howe they confessed in pryson this cōspiracie and perseuered in the same whā they were led to execution But the Lantgraue pourgeth hym selfe and affirmeth that synce that tyme that Franckefurt came in to the Emperours handes he hath attempted nothing and cōfuteth the crimes obiected with many weighty wordes he had at sondry times in dede cōmaunded Geluse to vnderstād which way themperour the Counte of Bure marched with their armie but that thing only But in case thei being vāquished by the sharpnes of the torture extremitie of the payn haue spoken that is false haue not iniuried others only but him also he desireth that the same be not wrasted to his disdayne and
neither suffer bodyly punishement nor be deteined in perpetual prison or further punished in his goodes than was in the composition of peace prescribed This was the thing only in none other hope did he put them as they can beare witnesse And after declareth howe he came to Hale 〈…〉 and submitted hym selfe vnto hym And howe he hath bene synce intreated nothyng against promesse This tale of the Emperour the same daye the states do reporte to Duke Maurice and the Marques The next daye they make suche aunswer as they neither blame themperour greatly herein neither wyll much contende whether the fault were in the counsellours or how the matter was mistakē But how someuer the matter was for a common quiet and peace of Germany they did perswade the Lātgraue whan they suspected nothing at all of imprisonment or captiuitie to come vnto Hale desyre pardon and not to refuse the conditions of peace and that he hath lost his libertie is kepte prisoner hitherto not without the great peril of his health how much that is against their honour estimatiō euery mā seeth wel enough Therfore they require thē to be petitioners with thē intreate themperour that he would rather haue consideration of thē which haue done faithful seruice to the Empire than of the Lantgraues offence and not to suffer them to runne in obloquie and sclaunder but restore him vnto libertie especially synce the conditiōs are all in a maner fulfylled and the Emperour put in ryght good assuraunce for the rest Thus therfore with one voyce and assente they made intercession The Lantgraues wyfe had intreated the Lady Regent the Emperours sister to be a meane for him But it auailed nothing And because Duke Maurice and the Marques of Brandenburg sayd how they were bound to the Lantgraues sonnes by dede obligatorie so longe as he was deteined the Emperour sendeth Iohn Lirane to the Lātgraue at Norling whether as the Spaniardes had caried him And willeth him to deliuer all the wrytinges of assurasice and dedes obligatory He saieth that they are not in his custody but kept by his sonnes and counsellours Albeit he shuld write yet were it in vain For thei told him when he came away that they would not departe from them vnlesse he were first deliuered Neuerthelesse if he might knowe of the Emperour any certen tyme of his deliueraunce he would do what he coulde that they should be deliuered The Emperour not contented with this aunswer taketh from him all his seruauntes except one or two at the moste About the ende of Nouember Peter Martyr a Florētine leauing Strasburg where he had taught fiue yeares to his great commendation hauing leaue of the Senate goeth into Englande being sent for by the Archebyshop of Canturbury at the kinges commaundement and is appointed to reade the diuinitie lectour in Oxforde He had a compaignion of this iourney Barnardine Ochine of Sene. Who beyng had in great estimation amonges the Italians for his eloquence vertue forsaking the monasticall kinde of lyfe gaue him selue to the doctrine of the Gospell And coming first to Geneua and after to Auspurge set forth certen Sermons in print And muche about the same tyme were the syxe articles made in the life of king Henry as is sayd in the .xii. boke disanulled by acte of parliament And Images and pictures remoued out of the churches This was the beginning of reformation there The .ix. day of December the Cardinall of Trent in the presence of the byshop and a great Senate of Cardinalles propoundeth his matter as he was commaunded and with many weighty wordes declareth what perils and paynes the Emperour hath taken for the counsell and now is the matter brought vnto that passe as he sayeth through his industrie authoritie that all states wyll obeye the counsell Wherfore he requireth for Goddes loue in the name of the Emperour kyng Ferdinando and the whole Empire that he will cōmaunde the fathers that are at Bononie to retourne to Trent to finish vp their worli begon ryght necessary for the cōmon wealth More ouer that he send an Ambassadour or two into Germany that by their aduise some meane howe to lyue well may be establyshed till the ende of the counsell and that there may be a reformation of the olergie Finally let him consider also and decree that if the Byshop chaunce to departe during the tyme of the counsell whether the authoritie of Election shal be in the Fathers of the counsell or in the Cardinalles leste happely if the matter shall so come to passe it may styre vp newe commotiōs The fift day after that the Cardinall of Trent had thus playd the oratour Iames Mendoza by the Emperours commaūdement in the same audience speaketh to lyke effect And sayeth that if the Byshop make any delay or excuse he hath in commaundement that calling to hym the Ambassadours of other kynges and Prynces he shuld openly proteste that the counsell is corrupted The same daye being the .xiiii. daie of December the Archbyshop of Rains that was made Cardinall the sōmer before sent by the Frenche kyng to Rome made a long and a flattering Oration to the Byshop and the Cardinalles in the prayse of kyng Fraunces and other kynges of Fraūce but chiefly in the commendation of Henry the newe kyng who as he sayeth nothing degenerating from his moste noble progenitours beareth such a zelous affection to the churche of Rome that he maketh not only his submission and as a most louing and obedient childe offereth hym selfe in to the bosome of the same but also as the first begotten sonne of the churche chief captaine of the Christian nation promiseth in the defence and maintenaūce of the dignitie hereof to imploye al the force and power of his Realme his owne treasure and person Roialle with many suche other thinges full of great assentation The Frenche kyng vnderstāding well what rancour and malice the Byshop bare in mynde for the slaughter of Peter Aloise saw that through the remouing of the counsell from Trent the displeasure was increased he iudged this a tyme cōuenient wherin he might frame all thinges to his commoditie and purpose Wherfore sending oftentimes Ambassadours to the Byshop he promised him assistaūce and incouraged and strengthened his mynde Whan the Byshop had heard the requestes of the Cardinall of Trente and of Mendoza he sayeth he wyl consult with the fathers that be at Boloigne and also make relation of the thing vnto other Christen Princes Wherfore whan the Cardinall of Trente could get none other aunswere he retourneth home leauing there Mendoza whome the Emperour had commaunded to finishe vp the rest And the .xvi. day of December the Byshop wryting to his chief Legate in the counsell Iohn Mary Mountane Cardinal signifieth both what the Cardinal of Trent and also Iames Mendoza had demaunded in the Emperours name and how he after conference had with his
committed in charge the tuition of all counselles But you went so hastely away that you reiected suche as sayd how you ought first to aske aduise of the Emperour and Byshop And if you must nedes haue remoued at the lest you should haue obserued the decrees of holy counselles and haue remayned within the borders of Germany to the intent the Germaines whose cause was chiefly in hande myght come to the counsell safely But nowe haue ye chosen Bononie a citie in the middes of Italy and subiect to the churche of Rome whether you are assured that the Germaines will not come And therfore haue you chosen the same that to the decaye and reproche of the vniuersall weale the counsel myght either be dossolued or handled and vsed at your pleasure The Emperour therfore requireth that moste earnestly that you wold retourne to the same place whiche before contented all men especially synce all thinges are safe and quiet neither remaineth there any further cause of feare Whiche thyng if you shall refuse I doe here in the name and by the commaundemēt of the Emperour proteste this remouing of the counsell to be vayne vnlawful and the whole doyng to be voyde of none effect And do also testifie the answer of yours to be fond full of lies and the the cōmodities that hereafter shal insue to the cōmon wealth ar not to be ascribed to thēbut vnto you and affirme moreouer that you haue no authoritie to remoue the counsell And in asmuch as you haue neglected the publique health of men the Emperour as Protectour of the churche wyll take charge therof so far forth as he may by the lawes and and decrees of holy fathers Whan he had red these thinges he deliuereth the copie of the Protestation written and requireth that it maye be recorded for matter of recorde There Cardinall Mountane by the consent of the Fathers speakyng grauely declareth that they are not well vsed and taketh God to witnesse and saieth howe they are ready to dye rather than to suffer suche an example to be brought into the churche that euer the ciuile Magistrate should at his wyll and pleasure comptrolle the counsell The Emperour in dede is the eldest sonne of the church but neyther Lord nor Maister But he and his colleges are Legates of the See Apostolicke refuse not presently to rēder an accompt both first vnto God after also to the Byshop of their Ambassade And that more within a fewe dayes their Protestation shal be aunswered In maner to the same effect and about the same tyme Mendoza whan letters were come from the Emperour wherby he was commaūded to procede did proteste at Rome before the Byshop and Cardinalles callyng therunto as he was cemmaunded the Ambassadours of foreine kynges and Princes ✚ The twenty Booke of Sleidanes Commentaryes concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the twenty Booke THe treaty is of a controuersie whether the lande of Prusse belong to the kyng of Poole or to the Empyre The Pope maketh an ample aunswere to the protestation before made by Mendoza Wherof the Emperour being aduertised leauing all hope of a counsell begynneth to set forth his Interim The Protectour of Englande wryting to the Scottes in ample wyse demaundeth their Quene Uogelsberge is beheaded The Emperour in his campe before Wittemberge gaue to Duke Maurice the ryght of Electourshyp and nowe createth him with all solemnities Bucer refuseth to subscribe to the Interim The Pope himselfe cōdemneth the Interim Lykewyse do some of the Electours and Prynces Certen also refuse it al though that the Emperour had caused it to be proclaimed The Duke of Saxon prysoner with great magnanimitie refuseth it The Lantgraue by letters set forth in his name maketh semblant to consent therunto to be deliuered Whilest the Masseis abolished in England the cities and townes of Germany are sollicited to accept the Interim and aboue all others Strasborough yea with threatchynges IN the fourmer bokes is declared howe Albert of the house of Brandenburge did homage to the kynge of Polle howe he altered the state of the cōmon welth in Prusse and was therfore outlawed of the chāber Againe howe the kyng of Polle in commō assemblies of the Empyre had oftentymes sued to the Emperour and other States that in as muche as he was his Cliente they would reuerse his outlawerie But where as nothynge was obtayned vnto this daye and in this great victory of the Emperour it was to be feared lest the matter should haue come to further daunger the kynge of Polle vnto this assemblie sendeth an Ambassade the chief wherof was Stanislaus Lascus He in the moneth of Ianuary deliuereth to the Emperour and Senate of Princes an Oration wrytten the effect wherof was this Howe the cause of Prusse had bene oftentymes debated But for as muche as it hath bene alwayes differred vntyll other assemblies he is nowe cōmaunded agayne to declare the same And the kinges truste is that inasmuch as they haue at al times made him gētle answers the cause it self being rightful they will haue some consideration and mynde of hym yet not not as Iudges but as Prynces worthy all honour and reuerence And first of all sayeth he I wyll speake diuerse thynges of the order of Prusse to the intent the thyng may be manifest In times pait the kynges of Polle gaue a great part of Prusseland to the order of knighthode in Dutche land vpon cōdicion that they might haue their seruice against the enemies of christendome But they very vnthankefull breakyng conuenauntes tourned their force against ther owne Lordes So had they oftentymes warre and oftentymes their conuenauntes were renewed Which by reasō of antiquitie it is not requisite to rehearse But that whiche in maner chaunced in our memory I shall recite Kyng Casimire father vnto Sigismunde subde wyng them in a great battell brought them to conditions of peace Than amonges other thinges it was accorded that from henceforth they should acknowledge the kynges of Polle for their Magistrate geuyng thē their fidelitie by an othe But afterwardes certen Maisters of that order brake conuenauntes geuynge them selues in to the tuition of others Of the whiche Albert of Brandenburge was one who being bounde by conuenaunt to doe homage vnto the kyng his Uncle within the half yeare wold not Wherfore the kyng albeit he loued peace yet was of necessitie constrayned to attempte warre And albeit they neuer ioyned in battell with their whole forces yet by Roades made fyryng spoyling and escharmoushing was much harme done in so muche that Alberte being to weake came vnto the kyng to take truce But at the selfe same tyme came a force of Germaines to ayde hym For the whiche cause he departed without concludyng the same and began to renewe warre But not long after beyng of them forsaken where he dyd but dissemble before than
he shall prescribe that will he be ready to accomplishe But he preuailed nothing for all these praiers was oftētimes by his kepers which were Spaniardes remoued frō place to place first from Donauerde to Norling Than to Hailbrune after to Hale in Sweuia Whilest the Emperoure attempteth these thinges in Germany the Masse is abrogated in Englande by acte of Parlaiment And not longe after was apprehended Stephen Bishop of Winchester who contended that the lawes whiche were made in the kinges noonage were of none effect He was commaūded the yere before to kepe his own house and not to come abrode but being newlye enlarged whan he was thoughte to haue thaimged his opinion he made a Sermon before the king and his counsell in the which whan he had declared his minde he was committed to warde The Emperoure the. xiiii day of Iune commaundeth to be red vnto the Cleargy the fourme of reformation as they call it In the which were contained these Chapiters following of ordeininge of the offices of the ecclesiasticall state of Monasteries of scholes of hospital houses of the ministration of Gods word of the ministration of the Sacramentes of the Ceremonies of the Masse of the Ceremonies of the Churche of the discipline of the Cleargye and laietie of the Pluralitie of benefices of visitations of Saintes of excommunication And amonges other thinges are these setfor the chiefly that such as come to take holy orders be diligentlye examined of their belief of maners and learning but especiallye of heresies spread abrode chiefly in this time and whether they beleue the same that the catholicke apostolicke and Church of Rome doth beleue The inquisition of manners is commaunded to be made as s Paule prescribeth in the thirde chapter of the firste Epistle to Timothe but that same which Paule amonges other thinges admonisheth that the minister of the Church shoulde be the husbande of one wife which could well gouerne his house and had obediēt and faithfull children is cleane omitted That no man be admitted to the office of a Bishop except he be first Priest or promise to receiue the reast of the orders so shortly as is possible That Bishops take cure of their shepe and fede them with doctrine and with the sacramentes That they also visite ofte their Churches and ouersee that other Ministers do theyr dutye that the wolues do not wortye the flocke That the monasticall life be instituted againe in places where it is left That in scholes be nothing taughte excepte it be agreable to the Catholike Church That the Sacramentes and Ceremonies of the Churche be ministred in the Latin tounge least if the people vnderstand them they should come in contempte That the Canon of the Masse remaine whole and be spoken softlye to the intente those tremblable misteries maye retaine theyr aunciēt dignitye That in accustomed Ceremonies nothinge be aultered that Salte Water Hearbes the Paschall Lambe newe frutes also Temples Churches Chappels Chalices Aultares Coopes Uestmentes and Uessels belonginge to the Churche be hallowed throughe Prayer againste the deceites of the Deuill and inchantmentes That Tapers shall burne in the Churche and Incense be sacrificed Moreouer that supplications be made at the Churches dedicated to Sainctes let the Cleargye liue temperatelye and sobrely and eschue whoredome let them put awaye their Concubines or els be punished That the ciuile Magistrate shall assiste the Byshoppes that a reformation be made of manners and Discipline And that the Ecclesiasticall liberties may be wholye mainteined let the Saintes in euerye diocesse be put in vre againe and kepte twise euerye yeare wherein shall inquisition be made of euerye mannes manners and vices suche as may not otherwise be reformed shall be excommunicated let al men flee theyr speach and companye and not to be receiued againe into the Communion before they humbly desire forgeuenesse and promesse amendment This reformation being red the day before saide the Bishoppes after a little deliberation do confirme and saye that shortlye after they be come home they will kepe Saines howe be it in diuers thinges they desire that the Bishoppe of Rome maye be moued to geue his assente This boke also was after put forthe in Printe I shewed you before of the Ambassadoures of the Cities howe they signified the matter home but whereas they of Strausburge whiche were the chiefest of them were longe or euer they aunswered The Emperoure calleth vppon them by Granuellan who the .xxviii. day of Iune sendeth for the ambassadoures whereof Iames Sturmie was the principall and there by Henry Hasy which was interpretoure saieth howe they knowe in what sorte the states requested the Emperoure and put him in truste to deuise some meane which mighte be obserued till the Counsell whiche thinge he hathe done accordinglye and hathe caused learned men to compile a Booke which al the Princes a fewe excepted and the chiefest Cities haue approued And wheras they and certaine others intreated themperoure that they might aduertise theyr Senate at home he graūted them and hathe loked euer sence for an aunswere And that he hath heard nothinge hitherto he is somewhat offended and therefore hathe commaunded him to knowe what theyr meaning is They whan they had declared the cause of their longe scilence exhibite letters addressed to the Emperoure from the Senate Howe they wished for nothing more than that they might gratify him in all thinges but they and theyr Citezens were perswaded that in case they should throughly admit this decre they shuld bothe hurt their owne conscience also osfēd God most greuously seing he of his wisedome can consider how terrible a thing that were they desire him for Christes sake that in so waightye a matter whiche concerneth not landes or goodes but the saluation of their soules and life euerlasting he would haue some consideration of thē and as he hathe done to others of the contrary parte so he woulde permit also that they mighte vse the Religion confessed at Auspurge vntill the decree of the generall counsel as ofte times in assembles hathe bene determined and not compell them to professe otherwise with their mouth than theyr heart thincketh and they wil againe foresee that in their City be nothing done vnreuerently or against Religion and that euill opinions take no place And that no cause of complaint be geuen to their neighboures Whan Granuellā had heard these letters he saieth how the Emperour hath had alwais a good opinion of their Citie and for as muche as all for the moste parte haue commended and ratified the decree made let them not thincke to be exempted For they are commaunded to admitte no suche kinde of aunswer therefore is this Supplication in vaiue wherefore let them aunswere plainely what the minde of the Senate is Hereunto they saye where the matter was committed to the Emperoure that did they and the other ambassadours vnderstand euermore of Politike matters and not of Religion for that they supposed it
him heretofore but whan inquisition was made there coulde nothinge in a manner be founde Neuerthelesse he will do what he can to knowe the certaintye For no man shall escape vnpunished that hathe oughte offended At this time also the states do graunte that the Emperor maye at his pleasure constitute the iudgemente of the Chamber and ioyne vnto them other iudges for assistaunce And they them selues promise to beare the charges of the same Of the treatye begonne concerninge a league before saide the winedinge vp was this that the Emperoures prouinces whiche he hathe in Germanye and lowe Dutchlande and all that belonge to the house of Burgundy should be vnder the tuition and defence of the Empire and be contributaries vnto publicke affaires yet so as they maye vse their owne lawes and iurisdiction And that Germanye shall againe looke for the like aide and defence of the Emperoures Prouinces ✚ The .xxi. Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the syfte ⧠The Argument of the .xxi. Booke THe authoures of the Interim are rewarded which neuerthelesse many impugned whereof the Duke of Saxon is accused They of Constance were so vrged to admit the Interim that ambushes of fotemen were laied to surprise the Citie whiche at the laste receweth the Interim They of Strausboroughe make theyr purgation to the Emperoure A commotion chaunseth at Bourdeux The dispaire of Spiera is recited and the conuersion of Uergerius The Scottishe Quene transported into Fraunce Maydenbourge is setforth for a praye The Admirall of Englande is beheaded they at Strausboroughe are at contention with their Byshop They of Wittemberge are accused to be Adiphoristes to wit indifferent or newters A disputation in Englande touchinge the Lordes Supper Ueruine is beheaded in Fraunce Pursute against them of Maidenburge the death of Pope Paule and the horrible actes of the same The description of the place of election at Rome and the maner of chusinge the Pope Masse againe at Strausborough a proclamation in in Fraunce against Lutheranes Pope Iulius and his little Cardinall THe last day of Iune the conuention was dissolued In the. xix boke I shewed you howe the Emperor perswaded all men to submit them selues to the Counsell and that on his warrantise who wold se that thaction shuld be lawfull Nowe therefore a decre is made that the counsel shuld be continued at Trēt and the Emperour saith he will deuise that it be there recommēced so shortly as may be Which thing whā it shal be brought to passe he requireth that they all especially of the clergy of the religion of Protestants which come thither vnder his saufeconduit for he wil take order than the whole matter shal be godly and christenly decided and determined according to the holy scriptures and doctrine of the fathers all affections laid apart and that they thē selues also shal be hard speak so much as shal be thoughte requisite After are other decrees red as is accustomed especially that of religion a strait charge geuē that al men obey the same as was also before declared at the Ides of May the .iii. authors of the boke are before named of whō Ihō Islebie receiued for his paines taken a liberal reward bothe of the Emperour and also of king Ferdinando And Michel Sidonie afterward was made bishop of Merseburge in Saxony Wherof arose a iest how they defended the bishop of Romes oyle chresme as an holy thing and necessary to saluation to the intent they them selues might therby be the better gresed auoynted Not long after the Emperour sent his letters to the princes that were absent especially vnto those where he thought most nede was commandeth them immediatly to obey this decre And the tēth day of Iuly he wryteth to Erasmus bishop of Strausburge to see the thinge which he had brought to passe through his great trauel put in execution if he wanted conueniēt ministers to take them els wher The report of this decree was incontinentlye spread abrode farre and wide And the Uenetians make proclamation the .xix. daye of Iuly that whosoeuer haue any bokes wherin is any thing wrytten against the catholicke faith they bringe them vnto certen men within .viii. daies for after shall inquisition be made and suche as haue deserued shal be punished to the promotours they promise a reward and to kepe their counsel The Bishop of Rome hath his ambassadours there continually as in kinges courtes also They with the eies and eares of many do se and heare muche and oftentimes are causes that such decrees be made but yet the Senate of Uenise vseth this prouision that they suffer not the Bishops or inquisitors of Rome to geue sentence of iudgemente but ioyne with them alwaies their officers and lawyers which shall heare the examination and se that nothing be done malitiouslye or cruellye against any man within their iurisdiction This law made they in the yere of our Lord M.D.xxi. what time those inquisitours vsed great cruelty against pore men in the countrye aboute Brixia as though they had bene inchauntors and had medled with the deuil and now sence Luthers doctrine was depely roted spred abrode the same law is of force stil though the bishops gnashe their tethe at it and wold neuer so fain haue it abolished About this time did the French King send aid into Scotland against the English men and amonges others the Ringraue with a force of Germaines But the Emperoure banisheth the Earle of Bichlinge Huberte and Sebastiane Scherteline al in one wryting and shortly after the Ringraue counte Hedecke Recrode and Riseberge and also desireth all foreine Princes that they would not maintaine them but gratify him herein and biddeth them whan occasion shal serue to loke for the like at his hand The Ladye Iane daughter to the King of Nauerre which was affianced and Maried .vii. yeres before to the Duke of Cleaue as we haue specified is now ioyned in Mariage with the Duke of Uandome a Prince of the bloud royal Elenor the French Quene sister to the Emperor leauing Fraūce goeth into Flaunders Duke de Ammalle sonne to the Duke of Guyse whan he had bene a longe suter to the Emperoures Nece the Duchesse of Lorayne he marieth the Daughter of Hercules Duke of Farrare About this time Lewes Auila a Spaniard setforth in print the history of the Germane warre done by the Emperoure wrytten in the vulgare tonge where he speaketh of the takyng of Marques Alberte at Rochlice he sayeth how he was so intangled with the wantounesse of women that he coulde not prosper The same booke came forthe afterwardes in Italian Latin and Frenche Althoughe the Emperoure had moste straightlye commaunded that no man should in any wise impugne the boke set forth concerning Religion yet were diuers wrytinges published whiche did condempne the whole Doctrine thereof and
made with his father And although the Emperour by letters and intermessēgers did greatly disswade them yet they neuerthelesse for that they thought it more expedient for their pourpose assente ther unto first in dede those that are of the Romishe Religion and the Lepontians and Ualesians and after also they of Basill the Schafusians wherat many men marueled greatly by reason of those forsayd proclamations and executions For moste men supposed that they ought not to enter into league and societie with him whiche so cruelly persecuted the true Religiō and cōdemned their churches and doctours by name But they of Bernes and Zurick followyng the counsel of Zwinglius as I haue shewed you in the third and sixt boke abstained frō this league The conuocation of Lipsia is before mentioned But where many sayd and complained that the Romish Religion was by litle and litle restored Duke Maurice the fourth day of Iuly addressing his letters to his lieftenauntes sayeth how he heareth that ther be many which partly for ouermuch carefulnes partly being so perswaded by others feare least the olde errours should one after an other be restored And that certen ministers of the churche with other busy braines and troublesome persones are not fre from this sclaūder He hath verely at sōdry times heretofore declared by opē wryting what his minde and purpose is and for those sclaunders doth repete the same againe to the intent he may shewe testifie that he hath an especial care of Religion Wherfore he desireth those which either for lightnes of belief or through the perswasiō of others do feare an alteration to lay al feare aparte and geue credit to this his wryting and testimonie And as cōcerning them that bring vp suche reportes let them not thinke to escape vnpunished if they so continue Howbeit out of the decree lately made at Lipsia were gathered certen chapters by his commaundement which should be taught and preached Let them inquire therfore and learne to vnderstand whether the ministers of the churche do followe this fourme or whether they reprehend the same in their sermons What so euer it be he commaūdeth thē to aduertyse him and if any doubtes shall aryse to repare to that diuines of Wittemberge and Lipsia and that these thinges be declared vnto the people In these daies departed the Lātgraues wyfe mother in lawe to Duke Maurice whiche pined awaye through care sorow for her husbandes imprisonment About this time the people rebelled in England for two causes One was for landes cōmons enclosed For the people complayned that the Nobilitie had taken in much groūd whiche before lay cōmon had inclosed imparked the same for dere for other priuate vses The others in Deuonshire demaūded thesame also but they were chiefly offēded with thalteratiō of religion wold haue the syx articles wherof is mētioned in the .xii. boke to be restored What tyme therfore they flocked together in armure and the matter was ful of daunger neither would admonitions take any place The kyng and his coūsel though moste vnwilling sende forth a force against them and disconfite thē in sondry places and certen thousandes were slayne The French King espiyng this occasion which gaped after Bolain that was lost prepareth an army spedely and partly by force partly by surrendrie taketh certain castels and fortes by sea coaste betwixt Bolain and Caleis and by that meanes putteth the soldiors of Bolain to an extremity The Lordes of England toke this misfortune most greuously and because the Lorde Protector the kinges vncle had the gouernmente the whole faulte was imputed to him that he had not in time furnished the places with things necessary This blame and enuy increasing daily the protector in the beginning of Octobre was by common assent of the nobles appreheded at Windsore where the king was at the same time and brought to the Towre of London prisoner The Lords afterward declare vnto the people the causes charge him with euil gouernement of the common wealth and setforth a proclamation of the same in Print wherunto for a further testimony euery mā subscribeth his name amonges the which Ihon Earle of Warwicke was principal In the meane while that the French king attempteth these thinges against the Englishmen themperour leadeth about his sōne throughe Flaunders Henault and Artois and sweareth the people to be true and loyall vnto him After they both retourne to Andwarp about the .viii. daye of Septembre There was themperors sonne receiued with Pageauntes and showes most sumptuous not only by the Townes men but also by marchaunts straungers Spaniardes Italians Germanes and English men After this accōpanied with his aunt the regent he goeth also into thother prouinces receiue theyr fidelity by an oth I tolde you before of the Senate of Strausburge how they sent an ambassadour to the Emperour to abate the controuersy they had with theyr Bishop wherefore by themperors permission there were chosen certain arbitrers on bothe parties Whan they were met in the monthe of October after long disceptation the Senate permitteth the Bishop .iii. Churches that he may establish therin Religion according to the decree lately made Moreouer he receiueth the Cleargye into his faithe and tuition The Bishop againe couenaunteth and graunteth to the Senate the Colledge of Saint Thomas for the maintenaunce of the schole and the rest of the churches The Cleargy also payeth to the Senate an yerely tribute some of mony in other thinges they obtain their immunity and fredome The Emperour setforthe proclamations against them of Maydenburge as I haue declared before and called on the states in Saxonye for aid many refused not so that thother states not only of Saxony but also of thempire would do the same The menne of Lubecke and Luneburge by consente of themperors deputies going to Maidenburge assaied to make a reconcilemente but all in vaine At that tune did no man impugne them openly but for so much as they were outlawed they were euermore in daunger nether might they withoute pearill of life and goods depart out of that city For it was lawful for euery man to trye fortune against them Therfore the Senate where they had before cōplaind of thiniuries of their neighbors by publicke letters Now they setforth another wryting vnto al men in general but chiefly to their next neighbors and say how they are selanderously reported as though they should arrogantly and proudly demeane thē selues against themperor thempire and that they should forsake peace wryte many contumelious things but herein they sustain great wrong for they do acknowledge Charles themperor for theyr supreme magistrate and haue opēly proclaimed that nothing be said a misse against him or any state nether is there anye other cause of displeasure say they than that we professe the Gospell and word of God for thother slaunders are deuised and forged by theyr enuemies howe desyrous they be of peace it
matter is and stirre vp and down in the churche Wherupon the preacher who thought verely there had bene a sedition raised being sore afraid of his owne part went downe sodenly out of the pulpit by his fellowes let into the chauncel which was fēsed with dores of Iron For al the priestes were there amongs them were certain prebendaries of the same church borne of noble houses which sitting neare the pulpit to heare conueied thē selues in also quickly knowing not what would come therof The whole matter immediatly was declared to the consul and Pretour who with the reaste of the Senate were hearinge Sermones in other churches They came in all haste to appeass the Tumulte but before they came all was quieted for besides a fewe younge men no man once stirred Wherefore the Senate amonges others sent to them Iames Sturmius who declareth to the principal of the clargy before said that the Senate is sorye for this disturbaunce and sheweth thoccasion therof and affirmeth that there was no citezen found in the same and for as muche as it was done withoute theyr knowledge prayeth them not to take it displeasauntly and promiseth them that they wil se to it from this time forward that no such like thing happen But they woulde not thus be satisfied and saye plainly how they wil no more from henceforthe put theyr lines in such a daunger and the next day they depart in great displeasure leauing of their work begon and reparing to the bishop at Tabernes complaine of theyr misfortune Thus therefore was the matter discontinued for a fewe monethes after In the meane time they had complained to the Emperoure of the whole matter as shall be declared hereafter Many men suppose how they reioysed inwardly in theyr mindes they had so good an occasion to leaue For so lōg as the Masse was abolished by a decre of the Senate ' they had liued most at liberty and receiued theyr whole reuenewes withoute any paines taking but now that they are bounden to daily seruice although the laboure be not great yet was this occasion thoughte vnto them right acceptable wherby they might shake of that yoke of bondage especially seinge theyr doinges were derided and contempned of the common people and they them selues poynted at with fingers and hated of most men The Senate after inquisition made could perceiue no fault in anye townes man Aboute the beginning of February the ambassadors of England and Fraūce mete to treat a peace For the Englishmen hauing lost those fortes before said were driuen to an narrow issue Aboute this time also the Protectoure the kinges vncle was deliuered out of the towre wheras the counsel perceiued that the same should please the king wel and for so much as the Earl of Warwick was the chief occasiō of his apprehension this meane was found that theyr frendshippe should be renued through affinitie Wherefore the Earle of Warwickes sonne marieth the Duke of Somersets daughter And afterward the Kinge gaue vnto the Earle of Warwicke the Dukedome of Northumberland but this frendship lasted not longe as shal be declared hereafter In the meane season at Rome was all full of factions and partakinges especiallye the Farnesians were very earnest that one of theyr side might be chosen and at the first in dede Alexander that was Nephewe to Paulus and certatne other Cardinals his clients ioyned them selues to the Cardinalles imperials but when the frenche Cardinals gaue theyr voyces to Cardinall Saluiate a Florentine Alexander fearing least at the next session Saluiate shoulde be pronounced Bishop reuolted to the French part taking firste an othe of them as it is reported for certaintie that they shoulde not chuse Saluiate By this meane at the lengthe Ihon Mary Mountane whome we saide before was high president of the counsel at Trent and Bononie the .vii. day of February was created Bishop And he was euer accompted to be a moste earnest fauourer of the French partie and also of the Fernesians The cause why Farnesius bare no good will to Saluiate was reported to be this for that he feared least if he should obtain the dignity he would cut short both him his brethren kinsfolkes of much riches which they had heaped together by right wrong and would auenge the Iniury done to his house by Paulus and the Farnesiaus And it is said how Cardinall Farnesius woulde not promesse the good will of him and his to Mountane whome Paule the third made Cardinall till he had assured him by his fidelitie that he would frely permit Parma to his brother Octauianus The bishop after an old custome chaungeth his name and is called Iuly the third of that name At the same time the Frenche King setforth a proclamation againste the Luthexanes And a penalty also appoynted for the iudges that are slacke and negligent in executing the same Before the bishop was elected departed out of this life two Cardinals Uerulan and Rodulphe therfore there remained in the conclaue lii wherof there were .xiiii. frenchmen ii Germains iiii Spaniards ii Portugals and one Englishe man al the residue Italians and of the .xi. Romains The .xxii. daye of February Iuly was consecrated bishop by Cardinall Cibon two daies after he openeth the golden gate as they cal it wheras was infinite nombre of people to obtain remission of theyr sinnes as before is said The bishop striketh on the gate with a golden mallet for so standeth the Ceremony which afterward he is wont to geue a way to some man in token of honour For there be some that thinck them selues happy men if they may get it and at this time the cardinal of Auspurge obteined it through much intreaty and caried it with him into Germany Whilest the bishop beateth on the gate with his mallet worcke men breake it open with crowes of Iron there the people which striue who may first thronge in gather vp full busely the morter and rubbishe that falleth by the ruine of the same and kepe them as precious Iewels Many men iested vpon the fact of the Cardinal of Auspurge whan they heard therof saying that he intended with that same mallet to knock the Lutheranes in the head Than came to Rome to salute the Bishop to do theyr duty to him the duke of Urbin the duke of Farrare the ambassadors of Uenise of Sauoy of the duke of Florence Genes Senes Scotland Fraunce and after also themperors The bishop did not only restore Parma to Octauius Farnesius but also gaue made him the high gouernor whome they call Confalonier and restored also Ascanius Colunnois whome Paule the third had exiled The new bishop of an auncient custome geueth his Cardinals hat to whome he list and this bishop Iuly what time he was Legate at Boloigne loued a yong man Innocentius out of measure whom although the reast did mislike yea spake against him he chose into the nombre of Cardinals and receiued him again into his
crueltie as hath not bene hearde of that hauyng taken two townes of their dominion Altorfe and Lanse he shut in not the townes men only but also the people he could fynde in the countrie and eattell and after set them on fyre in sondry places but chiefly about the gates pourposing doubtlesse to burne them all vp In the which fire they say chyldrē and women with chylde and many sicke persones which were not able to breake down the walles and escape were there miserably brent Touchinge that he saieth of altering their Religiō they declare to be false for the league is made only to repulse violence from them and theirs And that he careth for no Religion it is well knowen to many and they also haue many thinges to saye in this behalfe But for the noble familie he commeth of and for certen Princes his kinsmen they wyll temper them selues The fift daye of Iuly Sigismunde kynge of Pole marieth the Lady Katherine daughter of kyng Ferdinando which had bene wyfe to the Duke of Mantua where as ten yeares synce he had maried his syster as is mentioned in the .xv. boke Edwarde the syxte kyng of Englande a Prynce of vndoubted and excellent hope the syxt daye of Iuly as it was knowen abroade departed out of this lyfe of a consumyng disease beyng of .xvi. yeares of age to the exceadynge great grief of all good and Godly men For after his death ensued a maruelous alteration of thynges in Englande as shal be declared hereafter It was bruted abroade that he was poysoned Certenly there was not in Europe a kyng of so great expectation these many yeares From his very chyldhode he was excellently well brought vp and instructed in vertue and learnyng and had not only the Latin tongue but the Greke and Frenche also and loued the doctrine of the Gospell exceadyngly and gaue vnto all learned men enterteinement and succour to Germaines Italians Frenchemen Scottes Spanyardes and Polonians What tyme both armies were not farre a sonder in Saxonie and the Marques was come ouer the water of Weser the nynth daye of Iuly at after none they ioyned in battell with all theyr forces After a longe fyght Duke Maurice whiche excelled in horsemen had the victory but he hym selfe beyng striken with a dagge through his bowels died within two dayes after The Marques came to Hanobrie in safitie There were slayne aboute foure thousande in a maner al horsemen There were taken exceadyng many Henry the Duke of Brunswycke loste in that conflicte two sonnes Charles and Philippe The nexte daye came fiue hondreth horsemen out of Boheme sent by kynge Ferdinando to Duke Maurice The Lantgraue had also sent to Duke Maurice seuen hondreth horsemen At the same tyme therfore there were together in one campe the Lantgraue and the Duke of Brunswick with the Byshoppes by a maruelous chaunge and contrarietie in thinges where Duke Ericke of Brunswicke that had maried Duke Maurice syster ayded Marques Alberte Many menne thought that tyme that lyke as kinge Ferdinando gaue ayde against Marques Albert so did the Emperour incourage and strengthen the Marques against Duke Maurice Howebeit the Emperours letters whiche hereafter I shall recite importe no suche kynde of thynges The Frenche kyng was sayde than to haue treated of newe deuises with Duke Maurice was ryght sory for his death Duke Maurice being caried into his Tente the same nyght wryteth letters to the Byshop of Wirtemburge his fellowe in that warre wherein he declareth the whole matter and saieth howe the victory is his but that he is sore wounded And supposeth that Albert is fliyng He admonysheth hym therfore that he commaunde the wayes to be layde for hym in certen places that he may be intercepted and not suffered to passe What so euer his owne state or ende shal be he is of a good conscience For he toke in hande this warre that he myght suppresse that disturber and recouer the quietnes of Germany He was buried at Fridberge a Towne of Meissen the fourtenth daye after the battell by Henry his father and his yong sonne Albert. He was .xxxii. yeares olde and vpwarde His presence was thought to be a great cause of the victory or els it was supposed that the Marques should haue wonne the fielde For many of his horsemen were fled There were taken of the ennemies and brought vnto hym out of the battell .liiii. enseignes and .xiiii. guidons For the whiche Duke Maurice in dede spent his owne lyfe but yet he ouerthrewe the force and power of the Marques For after that battell he was neuer able to gather any mayne power Whan the corps went through Lipsia Ioachim Camerarie made the oration funerall and speakyng muche in his commendation he rekened vp the wonders that went before his death Droppes of bloude styckynge vpon the leaues of trees the moste importune barkynge of Dogges and werieng one an other The neyinge of Horses hearde and the clatterynge and clankynge of Harnesse and certen other thynges full of terrour Againe his owne Tente ouerthrowen with a whirlewynde the residue standing still and not touched and certen wordes of his owne as forespeaking and prognosticating his death to come And certenly as touching those red droppes they were commonly sene in diuerse places and euen at Strasburge aboute the beginning of Iune what tyme they fell vpō bowes grasse tyled houses and stones That tyme did there flie a wonderfull number of butterflies and some there were that sayde howe these bloudy droppes came of them Againe others iudged that it did pourtēde and signifie some thing Betwene Duke Maurice and Marqes Albert being both of one age there had bene alwayes very great frendship so that there could be no derer frendes For thei both had serued the Emperour in thre warres together in the Frenche the Protestauntes and the warre of Maydenburge after this fourth and laste warre they attempted against the Emperour But displeasures arysing as before is sayd their amitie had at length this doulefull and sorouful ende What tyme Duke Maurice died his brother Augustus was in Denmarke with his wyfe with the kyng his father in lawe Wherfore the Nobilitie and States doe retaine parte of the armie for to defende his countrie about .xii. enseignes of fotemen and fiue guidons of horsemē The residue are discharged and for the moste part retourned home with the funerall But the .xviii. daye of Iuly Marques Albert wryteth letters to the nobilitie and people of Duke Maurice Where as of late he went through their coūtrie into Saxon he passed without harme doing for that he had no hostilitie in his mynde But Duke Maurice hath not only hurt men of his dominion but also to the intent to gratifie certen wicked periured bishops had renounced that auncient league that is betwene his familie and the house of Saxon in a maner for no cause after a straūge example had made warre against him Whiche thing being
all the calamitie that hath come into Englande of longe tyme nowe but chiefly since the death of King Henry that they are seperated from the reste of the body of christianitie Of many yeares nowe he had bene of a contrary opinion as he pretended at the leaste and had vtterly forsaken the Popish doctrine And the cause why he nowe spake thus as they saye was for that he was put in hope to be pardoned And albeit that the reste of his talke being finished he sayd he spake as he thought yet be ther some that affirme he was sory for so saiyng what time he loking round about him perceiued no succour sawe that he was begiled And other that suffered at the same time one sir Thomas Palmer knight professed the doctrine of the Gospell with moste constancie And the Duke was condēned as I said of rebellion treason And albeit there were great suspiciōs the he had geuen the king poison yet was he nothing at al examined for that matter Nor in the sentēce pronoūced against hym any mētion made therof Of Peter Martyr the Florentine we haue spoken before whiche going into England six yeres past by the kinges sending for was reader of the diuinitie lecture at Oxforde Whome many made muche of for his excellent learning and vertue but he wanted not also euil willers Wherfor when the king was dead he was commaunded not to styre one fote thence without the pleasure of the Quene firste knowen nor cary away any thyng that he had vnder a great penaltie in case he should doe otherwyse He was content to obeye but whan he sawe he was longe delayed he wryteth to the counselours of the Realme concerning his state and if he had ought offended he requireth that his accuser might be brought forth and the matter examined Wherupon through their permission he came to London There he fyndeth the Archebyshop of Cantorbury his Patrone and frend of whome the Popysh preachers had reysed a brute as though he should be vnconstant wauering as though by his commaundement the Masse were restored at Cantorbury as though he had promysed the selfe same thing to the Quene And bragged with al of a disputatiō that should be After he knewe of this immediatly he set forth a writynge to pourge him selfe and sayth how a terten priest vnknowyng to hym had sayde Masse at Cantorbury he denieth the other thing also yea he protesteth if the Quene wyll geue him leaue to proue that the actes of kyng Edwarde concernyng the Lordes supper and other articles of doctrine be consonaunt to the holy Scriptures and that the Romyshe Masse is cleane repugnant from the institution of Christe for the declaration wherof he desyreth no great nomber but euen a very fewe and amonges them Peter Martyr to ayde and assiste hym And for so muche as the contrary parte adourned their Religion by the commendatiō of antiquitie saiyng that it hath continued aboue a thousand and fiue hondreth yeares he affirmeth that thei be not able to proue the same but he wil proue that the doctrine whiche in kyng Edwardes daies was set forth and is as yet obserued in England is the very natiue and auncient Religion instituted and left vs of Christ and his Apostles Whan he had publyshed this wryting at London about the fift daye of September Peter Martyr the same tyme came thither from Oxforde as I sayd aduertysed by hym of the whole matter commendeth his doing and sheweth him the he wyll refuse neyther paynes nor peryll herein But beholde whylest they are in this expectation the Archebyshop of Cantorbury was committed to pryson and also the Archebishop of Yorke and Rydley Byshop of London H. Byshop of Worcester and certen other Byshops for the profession of the Gospell and for sermons made against Quene Mary by the counselles commaundemēt before she atcheued the crowne Moreouer Hughe Latimer is than also apprehended whome kyng Edward deliuered out of the tower layd in there by his father for doctrine In the meane tyme Peter Martyr albeit he perceiued his daūger yet for that he had nothing offended against the lawes of the Realme trusting to his innocencie thought not good to departe before he had obteyned leaue Wherfore whan he had brought that to passe and receiued his passeporte signed with the Quenes hande he came to And werpe from thence to Collon and after to Strasburge from whence he went firste into Englande and a litle before hym Bernardine Ochine both in health It was once written and signified into Germany that the Emperour should haue geuen coūcell to his auntes daughter Quene Mary that she should gouerne with mercy and not alter Religion nor marie without the Realme For what daūger were in that in case she should chaunge the Religion he knewe best of all men Whether this were so in dede I can not affirme The ende it selfe declareth it to be farre otherwyse For euen for the doctrine of the Gospel straungers being cōmaunded to departe and the natiue countrie men there caste in pryson the Romyshe Religion was wholye restored as shal be declared hereafter The first daye of October after Quene Mary was crowned And not longe after began the Parliament at London But the conuention of the Empyre which the Emperour called against the .xiii. day of Auguste as I shewed in the beginning of this boke was proroged to the first of October than to the moneth of Ianuary After that same battel wherin Duke Maurice was slayne Henry the Duke of Brunswick and the Marques Albert euery of them for them selfe make them selues strong and gather their power about them The Byshoppes and States of Norinberge fed Duke Henry wyth monie But all men for the moste parte marueled at Marques Albert from whence he had al that store Wherfore it was spoken commonly that Quene Mary the Emperours sistes supported him with mony But the Emperours folkes denie that vtterly and maruell that there are any so fonde so to thinke But what tyme the mony was brought to the Duke of Brunswicke somewhat to late he was in very great daunger For whan the Marques had intelligence therof he practised with the soldiours to forsake hym who abode this delaye moste impatiently But very luckely in the selfe same momente whan that heate and mutine began to ryse the .x. day of September was brought a remedy and all the tempeste appeased Duke Henry for his better assuraunce fel at a cōposition with Duke Ericke his cosin whiche was his ennemy before The kyng of Denmarke had long since sent his Ambassadour into Saxon to further the matters of Duke Augustus his sonne in lawe They at the length through the helpe of the Electour of Brandenburges Ambassadours reconcile hym to Marques Albert. The conditiōs were these that Duke Augustus should neither prosecute his brothers warre nor ayde the ennemies of Marques Albert. The same shall the Marques doe and if he
kept with a great garrison This tyme the Frenche men going priuely out of Piedmount vpon the soden take Uercelles a towne of Turin whiche the Spanyardes kept But where they thought them selues hardly able to defend the same being so nere Millan and Gonzago the Emperours lieftenaunt approched also with a power they spoyled the towne and retourned home in due season laden with boties Not long after it was signified and written both from Uenise and other places of Solyman Emperour of Turkes who had hanged his eldest sonne Mustapha for suspicion of treason They reporte that the murther was committed through the procurement of his seconde wyfe whiche coueted to haue her sonne auaunced and to succede his father I haue spoken before of the Archebyshop of Cantorbury He and Quene Iane with thre sonnes of the Duke of Northumberlande being brought to the barre in the moneth of Nouember were cōdemned to suffer for treason but according to the custome of the Realme thei were caried again to pryson and through the intercessiō of certen were reserued Sebastian Scherteline of whome ofte mention is made for whose death the Emperour had appointed a great rewarde as in the last boke is declared was at this tyme reconciled to the Emperour and king Ferdinando and recouered all his goodes At the suite of the byshoppes and their consortes the iudges of the chamber imperiall with a solemne ceremonie the fyrste of December do outlawe Marques Albert of Brandenburg as a disturber of the publique quiet and of the Empire dispatching abroade their letters hither and thether and the same set vp openly and permitted his lyfe and goodes to be spoiled of al mē Duke Henry of Brunswicke leauing Counte Plauie at the siege of Blasseburg the sixt day of December goeth with his power to Schuinfurte whiche towne in dede being situated on the banke of the Riuer of Moene the Marques kept with a strong garrison The Duke had an ayde of Soldiours that came from Norinberge and Forcheme But Marques Albert suspectinge the matter firste what vitaile so euer was in places thereaboutes he brought it into the Towne after he burnte all the buildinges about it to the intent he might take away the occasion of besieging from the ennemie that tyme of the yeare Wherfore Duke Henry without any exploicte done hauinge lost also many of his men what tyme the Marques saleed out and fought retourneth home with no great company passing through the countrie of Iohn Fridericke without harme doing Whan Marques Albert vnderstode that he was outlawed by the chāber he sueth to the Emperour that he would reuerse the iudgement But he sayeth howe he may not let the execution of the lawe So than he refuseth the iudgement as corrupted with bribes and rewardes and maketh a protestation in a wryting set forth of the same But the iudges do commaūd the next prouinces of the Empire to se the thinge executed This tyme was holden in Englande a parliament of al the States of the Realme And for so muche as in kyng Edwardes tyme there were actes made of the Lordes supper of ceremonies of the ministration of the Sacramentes of the mariage of priestes of the election of Byshoppes of ordeining the ministers of the churche of the fourme of praying and of such other like thinges In this parliamēt it was enacted that those statutes should take no place but that all men should followe the same Religion whiche was obserued at the death of kyng Hēry Moreouer that no man should moleste or disquiet suche priestes and ministrs of the churche as shal be ordeined hereafter Furthermore the diuorcement of Quene Katherine the Quenes mother is pronoūced to haue bene onlawfull Finally there was debated amonges the Nobles concerning the Quenes mariage and a greed that she should be espoused to the Emperours sonne king Philippe Of whome there went a report before that he should marie his Cosin daughter to Emanuell king of Portugale and to his aunte Elenore Whan this was agreed vpon the Emperour sendeth for Cardinall Poole The cause why the Emperour would haue hym to staie in Germany was this as many supposed least he being of the bloud roiall and well beloued in his countrie should haue bene some let to the mariage In stede of those Byshoppes whiche I sayd before were thrust in prison were created others at this tyme. For the full confirmation of the Matrimony the Emperour sent a moste honorable Ambassade into Englāde which might affiaunce Quene Mary to kyng Philippe being absent The chief Ambassadour was Counte de Egmonde They arriuinge at London about the beginning of Ianuary after they had treated of the matter a fewe dayes bryng it to passe The commons of the Realme toke this matter moste greuously and diuerse also of the Nobilitie and laiyng their heades together do rebelle The chiefe authour and rynge leader hereof was syr Thomas Wiat. Who reysing a rebellion in Kente made greuous and bitter orations against the Quene and her counsell how through the mariage of a straunger they wyll procure to the Realme of Englande a perpetuall and moste miserable bōdage and seke also that the true Religion being extinguished they may agayne establishe papistrie And Kente is a countie by the sea coaste nexte vnto Fraunce by reason of the citie of Cantorbury right famouse The brute of this commotion was brought to London the .xxv. daye of Ianuary and not long after was heard also of Henry the Duke of Suffolke who reysed vp men in Lecester shyre Wherfore the Quene assembleth what power she coulde ouer whome she maketh generall Thomas the Duke of Norfolke lately deliuered out of prison Who about the ende of the same moneth meting with his enemies at Rochester bridge being forsaken of his soldiours was faine to saue himselfe by flight and with much payne came to London Wherfore amongest these tumultes the Emperours Ambassadours to mitigate the rebellion for their own daunger together the first day of February take shipping depart And the same daie came the Quene into the citie of London making in her oration a greuous complaint against Wiat declareth what his intent is and what loue she beareth vnto them and sayeth howe she hath determined nothing of her mariage without the consent of her counsell For she hath liued a good part of her tyme a mayden and doteth not so of mariage but that she would remayne in the same kynde of lyfe styll in case her Nobles and commons iudged mete that it shoulde so bee For that the Realme should be in daunger bycause of her mariage and that all should be ful of slaughter it should be to her moste greuous Wherfore let them perseuer in doinge theyr dutie and assiste her in reuenging the treason of wicked persons For this is their dutie to doe whiche haue commaunded her as the lawefull heyre of her father by common assente to bee Quene Whan she had on
to aduertise me plainly by the bearer hereof Moreouer that according to thauncient custome and pacification of Passaw my ambassadors which shal come to the next assemble of thempire may haue safeconduit Unto this was made answer how the horsmen that were sente to the frontiers of Loraine concerned none iniury towardes him but was done for this intent that in case Marques Albert should make anye sodaine inuasion his enterprise mighte be disapoynted touching his Ambassadoures and the safeconduit for so muche as they haue no commission hereof they will aduertise theyr princes and distrust not but they will do herein that shall be reasonable About th end of Octobre themperor geueth ouer to his sōne Phillip the Dukedome of Millan sendinge messagers to inuest him herein with accustomed Ceremonies The French kinge leuiynge his siege from Rentie as before is said and not long after discharging the Swisses he placed the reast of his soldiors in garrisons And themperor not far from Hesdine which in the yeare before he toke and ouerthrew as is said espying a place conuenient began a new fortification of a Towne and to thintent he might bringe it to passe he maintaineth an army whiche in the monthe of Nouembre destroyeth all Picardy with spoyling and burning as farre as Amias Wherefore the whole force and violence of the warre lighted vppon the pore and miserable people on either side Afterwarde themperor discharging the reast of his armye interteined still a legion or two for him self The same time the French king sēt a new power into Italy and amonges others certaine Almaignes to relieue them of Senes whome the Emperors force and the dukes of Florence besieged hotely At the .xii. day of Nouembre was holden a Parliament in England For the which Cardinall Poole comming oute of Brabant wheras certen ambassadors were commen out of England to cōduit him and amonges them the Lord Paget the xxiii of Nouembre he came to London being right honorably receiued in all places whersoeuer he came and was immediatly restored to his blud and house of inheritance with common assent and consēt from the which king Henry the eight had displaced him The v. day after he came into the Parliament house and in the presence of king Phillip and the Quene whā he had shewed the cause of his ambassade he exhorteth them to return to the cōmunion of the church restore to the most holy father the bishop of Rome his due authority who wil graunt vnto thē all clemency gentlenes he admonisheth thē also to geue God thankes which hath geuen them such a king a Quene Finally wher they haue restored him to his house inheritance he taketh it for a very great benefit and saith he is so much the more boūden to restore them again to the heauēly court and coūtry which he wisheth most of al other things Whē he had spokē to this effect he goth a part Ther the bishop of Winchester being Chancelor repeting his oration and with many words exhorting thē to vnity and concord saith they are boūden to geue God great thankes who of his vnspeakable mercy hath raised them vp a prophet of their owne sede whiche is that most honorable Cardinall which is wholy inclined vnto their saluation The next day when the Nobility and commons had approued thoration requests of cardinal Poole there was drawne a fourme of a petition wherin they beseche the King and the Quene that they would make intercession to him The some of that supplication was this How it repented them sore of the scisme for that they haue denied their obedience to the Apostolicall seat and that they haue consented to the decrees made against the same but from henceforth they wil be at the commaundemente of him and the Quene and will do all that euer they can that all such lawes and statutes may be abrogated the same Parlament Wherfore they mooste humbly beseche theyr highnesse that they wold be meanes and bring to passe that being absolued from the sinnes and censures whith they haue committed againste the lawes of the Church they may be receiued again as penitent children into the bosome of Christes church that from henceforth they may serue God in the obedience of the sea and Bishoppes of Rome to the glorye of his name and increase of theyr owne saluation An other day whan the King and the Quene and Cardinall Poole were present the Chaunceloure standeth vp and pronounceth openly what the states had determined concerninge the request of the Bishoppe of Romes Legate Afterwarde dothe he exhibite the supplication aforesaide comprised in wrytinge and subscribed to the Kinge and the Quene beseching them to receiue it They when they had opened it deliuer it againe to the Chaunceloure to reade Than he demaundeth of all the companye whether they be contente herewith whiche whan they hadde affirmed the Kinge and the Quene arrise and deliuer it to the Cardinal Whan he had red it he exhibiteth vnto them the letters of his commission And than were the same red that all men mighte perceiue that he had authority geuen him by the Bishop of Rome to assoile them After he maketh an oration and declareth howe acceptable a thing vnto God is repentaunce and how much thaungels in heauen reioyse for a penitent sinner and alledging for the purpose manye examples geueth God thanckes which hath put in them a minde desirous of amendement This done he arriseth likewise do the King and the Quene and knele down vpon theyr knees There he than calling vppon the high power and mercy of God besecheth him to loke mercifully vppon the people and pardone their offences And affirming him self to be sent therfore from the highe Bishop Christes vicar to geue them absolution lifting vp and stretching forth his hand as their manner is blesseth the whole multitude and assoileth them After this they go to the chappell Here was geuinge thanckes vnto God playing of the Organes sounding of trōpets and all tokens shewed of mirth and gladnesse as at such times is accustomed They that knew Cardinal Poole before by his talke and manner of liuing marueled much at this his doing and loked for other manner of stuffe at his hand The xviii day of Decembre themperor addressing his letters frō Bruissels vnto all the states of thempire Upon how waighty and vrgēt causes saith he Marques Albert the last yere was outlawed by the iudges of the chābre condemned of treason you haue had certen knowledge by the letters which than was set vp openly and those also which came frō vs afterward And for so muche as he perseuereth obstinatelye in his troublesome and seditious purposes and vndoubtedly goeth about more mischief to thintent he may vexe and plage again oure natiue country of Germany Again forasmuch as he hath hys recourse into sondry places ther which he taketh for starting holes refuge as I am credily informed I thought it necessary for the
to the states in suche sorte as I shewed you in the last boke The ministers of the churche driuen out of the lande of Boheme the learned men that were in Meissen and in Wittemberge and amongest others Melāchthon comfort them with an epistle and shew the craft of the cōtrary part who affirmed that they kept a necessary order in the churche that those whiche either had not receiued orders at the Byshops hande or had wynes could not minister the Sacramentes For this cause of expulsion they fayned that they should not seme to haue a desire to oppresse the true doctrine but these men shewe how it is a starke tyrāny that maried priestes should be put from the holy ministery For Sathā was the authour of prohiting matrimony as it is euidēt by the scriptures And that we ought not to seke to be ordeined of the byshops that are the open ennemies of the Gospell and defende idols but of that fellowship which hath pure doctrine therfore hath the keyes of the kingdome of heauen For it were to absurde daūgerouse if Shepeheardes should be ordeined of wolues The churche to haue had alwayes right to chouse mete ministers and that so was the decree of the counsell of Nice And they that were so chosen and tried to haue bene confirmed of them that gouerned Godly congregations The same maner to bee nowe also obserued and therfore that it is a sclaunder to saye that they disturbe or breake order Since therfore the matter is so and that for the true professing of the Gospell they be expulsed they ought to take this calamitie so muche more moderatly For God wyll not fayle them in his tyme And that they be ready with theyr next churches to shewe them all loue and hospitalitie Where the Frenche men at the Ides of Decēber of the yeare before had by the conduit of Brissake taken Eporedia a towne in the Alpes by the water of Durie This yeare the third daye of Marche they intercept the town of Casale nere vnto the Poo wherin was a garrison of Spaniardes and Almaynes vpon the sodayne and with in a fewe dayes after the Castell also Afterwarde bringe many other thinges into their subiection And amongest others thei rase and make euen with the groūd Ualence and Saluadore The sixt day of Marche August Duke of Saxony Ioachim Marques of Brandēburg Princes Electours The sonnes also of Duke Iohn Fridericke the Lantgraue certen other Princes of thesame countrie assemble at Numburg vpon the Riuer of Sale there renew the league of inheritaūce whiche is betwixt the houses of Saxon Brandēburg Hessia as I shewed in the .xxiiii. boke also determine that they would sticke constantly to the cōfession of Auspurg And least there should any suspicion arise of any new or secret coūsell the fift day after that they came thether they signifie the cause of their assemble to the Emperour in wryting In the former yeare what time a compact was made betwene Augustus Iohn Fridericke Duke of Saxonie this was also agreed vpon y◠the old familiar leage should be renewed To witte that league whiche was made an hondreth yeres since more after established by a lawe And therfore that they haue now met for the same cause as that league was profitable to their elders all the people so likewyse thei trusted that it shuld com thē luckely to passe since thei sought for nothing els but peace trāquillitie did it to the displeasure of no man Moreouer that after the maner of their aūcesters they haue excepted his highnes his brother king of Romains and as they intende priuatly to kepe mutual amitie amongest thē selues so wil they also openly doe that their dutie requireth which may become obedient Princes of thempire And that in Religion they wil not procede any further than is limited in the confession of Auspurg but for as much as in the same are cōteined the chief articles of the Christian doctrine no wicked sedicious opinion can be found therin thei wil through Gods grace perseuer in thesame doctrine neither wil they fayle also the cōmon welth of Germany so far forth as thei are able with their trauel counsel treasures And for as much as at this time being not moste quiet for the auoiding of a further discōmoditie they abide at home they haue sent Ambassadours to thassēblee of thempire who haue in cōmaundemēt to refer al their counsels doings vnto peace so that neither for religiō nor any ciuile cause any force or violēce should be feared For the peace once established it shal be an occasion that other cōtrouersies may be the better appeased That the state doubtles of the cōmon welth now is such that it is great nede to ioine together all their forces mindes that a wyder entrie be not set open to the Turkes to inuade vs How they know wel enough howe greatly he desireth that so sone as may be a sufficiēt army might be prepared to repres thennemies violence Wherfore now in case such a peace might be established ther is no doubt but the states of thempire wold gladly imploy their substaunce vpon the same war which verely hitherto by reason of sondry tumultes ciuile discordeshath bene omitted That they wil be alwaies ready haue cōmaunded their ambassadours to offer these thinges in their name at the counsel thesame day they write to king Ferdinādo in a maner to the same effect as before I said the Duke August did by his Ambassadours For both they vrge y◠same cōpact of Passawe shew how desirous they are of peace Thei cōmend the doctrine cōfessed at Ausperge and exhort him to confirme the peace and also pray him that he wold geue no credit to such as haply seke to disturbe the quiet of Germany At the Ides of March the Archbishop of Mentz departed out of this life whom we saied to haue bene at the counsel of Trent after was put to flight by Marques Albert Whom Daniel Brēdel succedeth The. viii day after that byshop of Mentz which was the .xxiii. day of March dieth Pope Iuly the third Who for bicause he had so easely beyond al expectatiō recouered England was thought to haue cōceaued also a wōderful hope of Germany And had therfor sent thither Cardinal Morone who the next day after that he was dead came to the coūsell of thempire at Auspurg But with in eight daies after hearing newes therof the last day of March he departeth thence againe and with Truckesse Cardinal of Auspurg spedeth him to the Electiō at Rome The Cardinals that wer at Rome not tarieng for the rest made hast the .ix. day of April proclaime Pope Marcellus the secōd of that name The same that was sent Ambassadour with Cardinal Farnese to the Emperour of Paul the third as I shewed you in the .xiii. boke The Cardinal of Auspurg a fewe
Rome homewarde The Pope allowed well enough al other thinges that they had retourned to repentaunce and craued pardon But that the churche goodes should not be restored he saide it was in no wyse to be suffered Amōgest the Ambassadours was the Byshop of Ely The king of Denmarke had a nauie at that time which sailing towardes the North made men to talke diuersly For some said it was done by the Emperours counsell who mynded to put the kinges sonne or his brother in to the possession of Scotlande Others sayde it was prepared for the vse of the Frenche kyng others for this cause only that if the Emperour or king Philip his sonne whose power was waxed great by reason of Englande should straye any further they might be restrayned And therfore were the cities of the Sea coaste thought also to haue borne the charges of the same nauie After lōg and great expectation all this rumour vanished away and all this preparation was found to be made against Pirates Than was the state of Rome troublesome For that Pope hauing cōceiued a suspicion of certen nobles prouided him garrisons and placing soldiours here and there in the Citie committed Ssortia Cardinall of Sanflorian and Camillus of the house of Columnois to prison And for as muche as they were of the Emperours part many men thought he went about a greater matter And that suspicion was increased what tyme he required of the Duke of Florēce the Emperours client a wonderous great summe of mony whiche both Clement the seuenth lent Alexander Medices and lately Iuly the third lent him at the siege of Sene. The captiue Cardinalles at the length putting in suerties are inlarged The Spanishe flete that tyme came towardes Flaunders laden with all kynde of Marchaundise And when it came vpō the coastes of Normandie the Frenchemen whiche knewe it long before set vpon them with a great force And the fight conflicte was terrible the shippes being sunke and burnte on either parte and very many loste wherof some with weapon others with fire many swallowed vp of the billowes did perishe The Frenche men caried away certen shippes that they toke into Depe hauon from whence they came This was in the monthe of August whereas about the end of the same moneth kyng Philip sayling out of Englande into Flaunders came to the Emperour his father at Brusselles accompanied with the Nobles of Englande Truckesins Cardinall of Auspurge had a fewe yeares past founded an Uniuersitie at Dillinge a towne situated vpon the Riuer of Danubius by the wyll and permission of Pope Iuly the thirde who had graunted for the same a publique bull with exceading great fredoms priuileges as a wryting set forth in print declareth Hither therfore amonges other came he whome themperour of many yeares had vsed for his ghostly father or confessour as they terme him Peter Asot a Spaniarde a blacke freer He this yeare began with a contrary wryting to impugne the booke conteyning the sōme of the christen doctrine the which boke Christopher Duke of Wirtemberge sent by his Ambassadours to the fathers of the counsell of Trent as before is sayde whiche also he was not afrayde to dedicate to the same Duke But Iohn Brentius about this time aunswereth it at large and confuteth his sophisticall reasons Whiche boke of Brentius Uergerius afterwarde translated into Italian to the ende that men of his owne nation might vnderstande both what thing came in to controuersie and whether parte handled the scriptures more purely and sincerely About the Ides of September George Counte of Mountpelicarte vncle to the Duke of Wirtemberge maried the Lady Barbara the Lantgraues daughter After the arriuall of the Duke of Alba in Lumbardie the king of Fraunce also sendeth thither new ayde and many warlike captaines which ioyned them selues to Monsour Brissake as companions of his perils and fortune There is a towne wherof we haue spoken before called Uulpian which fortified with a garrison of Spaniards was a great annoyaunce to Frenche matters seing that from thence roades were made as farre as Taurin and further To the intent therfore that this only let might be taken away that they might haue victualle the Frenchemen towarde the ende of August besiege it with al their force and batter it with muche harme done and receiued At the length the .xxii. day of September they take it by surrendry and rase the walles both of the towne and Castell and make it in shape of a Uillage And a fewe dayes after they take also the Towne and Castell of Mountcalue betwixt Aste and Casale The dissention that hath bene nowe these .xxx. yeares betwixt learned men aboute the Lordes supper and of the presence of Christes body began at this time to be renewed and bokes were set forth by the ministers of the churches of Breme and Hamborough namely againste Caluine Iohn Alascus Caluine afterward aunswereth sharpely and defendeth the cause Thesame doeth Bullinger and Iohn Alascus also For setting forthe a booke to the Kyng of Poole he complayneth and bewayleth that there is no examination had or made by talke or cōference of the sentences but that the opinion is only condemned by preiudice verely after the maner of the Papistes whiche also procede not by argumentes and scripture but only by wyll and violence About the end of September Augustus Duke of Saxony had a sonne borne called Magnus his Godfathers at the fōtstone were amongest others Henry Duke of Brunswicke and Iohn Fridericke the Lantgraues sonne in lawe I haue spoken before of the Archebyshop of Cantorbury of Ridley Byshop of London and Hughe Latimer howe they being caried to Oxforde and reasoning with the diuines there were of them condemned being therfore kept in prison vnto this tyme nowe at the last in the moneth of October Ridley and olde father Latimer were burnt The Archebyshop was also brought forth with them and at the place of execution did openly call vpon God for mercy with them but he was lead againe to pryson In this same moneth the Cardinalles of Lorayne and Tournon went to Rome Then also the Senate of Paris whiche they cal the Parliament aunswering the king to that whiche the Cardinall of Loraine requested them to as before is mentioned By that proclamation of yours say they whiche came forth foure yeares since moste mighty kyng you reserued to your selfe and to your iudges the examination and punishment of Luthers heresie Neither in it was any thinge exceptep vnlesse it were what time it required any declaration of heresie or that sentence were to be pronounced of suche as had taken orders But this proclamation of yours that is now set forth doth plainly establish the contrary For it submitteth the people of your Realme to the ecclesiasticall iudgement and to the Inquisitours and by this meane it diminished your dignitie wherby you excelle all men and geueth to your subiectes a
ministers of the church vpō scholes other good vses they shal not be troubled for the same nor sewed in the law therfore but such goodes to wit those which do not belōg to the states of thempire or to others that be subiecte to thempire the possession wherof the clergie had not at the time of the pacification of Passawe nor after also shall remayne as they be are cōprised in this peace Neyther shall it be lawfull for the iudges of the chamber imperiall to graunte out any proces or decree any thing against them for vsurpinge the same goodes That the ecclesiastical iurisdiction be not exercised nor take place against the Protestaūtes Religiō faith rightes lawes and ecclesiasticall ministerie But remayne in suspence and stayed and moleste them in nothing tyll the controuersie be throughly ended and taken away But in al other matters that concerne not Religion ceremonies lawes and ministerie let it be of force and be exercised after the olde custome and lawe Againe that the goodes customes rightes remaine whole to all the state ecclesiasticall yet so that they in whose iurisdictiō such goodes be lose no part of their politicke law which they had before this cōtention in religion Moreouer that of these selfsame goodes the necessary ministeries of the churche parishes scholes almouses hospitalles for the poore sicke people as they were founded in times past the so they be now also established mainteined without any respect had of what religiō they be to whose vse the almouse or sustenaūce is imployed And if there fortune any strife or contention to arise by reason of this sustenaūce or that measure therof that bi the cōsent of the partes arbitrers be chosen who viewing the thing within the space of half a yeare shall determine make an estimate howe much ought to be decided bestowed vpon suche vses ministeries In the meane season til the matter be decided that that thet whose part it is to geue suche ayde be not molested in their possession but loke what they were wont to geue bestowe in tymes past let thē geue now also till the matter be determined In October and Nouember was a Parliament holden in Englande many supposed that they would haue there treated of the coronation of king Philip but nothing was propoūided The Quene motioned for the restoring of abbey landes for as muche as the Pope vrged the same But many Noble men and gentlemen doe possesse thē Wherfore nothing could be brought to passe The Quene her selfe in dede whiche with al she coulde do restored to the clergie the first fruictes tēthes of benefices during the tyme of this Parliamēt certen biting libelles were sowen abroade in London wherin were some thinges to whet the people against the Spaniardes some other that might haue withdrawen the Quenes minde frō king Philip. When inquisition was made nothing could be tried out Before the end of the parliament the Byshop of Winchester Chauncelour died of the dropsie In whose place was substituted Doctour Heth Archebishop of Yorke which had bene in tymes past with the Archebyshop of Cantorbury in Germany and thought rightly of the pure doctrine About the nones of Nouēber the wife of Iohn Friderick the Lantgraues daughter died of whose mariage is spokē before Fraūces Uenerie Duke of Uenise for that he had not handled him selfe well in the vytayling of the citie and set more by his priuate profit thā by the publique was displaced What time themperour had geuen ouer all his gouernmēt in the coūtries Philip his sonne sendeth his Ambassadours to the chief Princes cities of Germany signified to thē that same and offereth thē his good wil amitie At the same time also the Ambassadours of king Ferdinādo sollicited the Princes of Germany that for as much as a moste present daūger hanged euer by the Turke who required al Transyluania to be geuē him a coūtrie of nature most strōg fertile ful of horsemē they wold at the day appointed be present them selues in the coūsel of the Empire to consulte for the common wealth He helde also a coūsel of his subiectes for the same cause in that whiche assemblee they of Austriche required that religiō might be permitted thē fre But the king differred them to the coūsel of thempire that should be next at Regenspurg also toke order that they shuld be before him at Uienne at the Ides of Ianuary the next yere The Marques Marignane diyng at Millan the Cardinall of Trent is sent into Lumbardy by the Emperour or king Philip his sonne to haue the gouernment there And the Duke of Alba is made viceroy of Naples On Christmas day the Pope after his maner createth newe Cardinalles amongest others Iohn Gropper Counsellour to the Archebyshop of Collon of whome often mention is made in the fourmer bokes Than also Reinold Poole when of a Cardinall deacon he was made a priest as they call it began to singe Masse For this is not law full for Deacons by the Popes lawe In the beginning of the moneth of Ianuary throughout Saxonie Meissen and Boheme were horrible tempestes thondering and lightening and thonderboltes whiche dyd muche harme euery where but especially in churches In the same moneth at Uirodure whiche is a towne in Swicerlande two mile from Zuricke in the night about suppertyme fyre bursting out of one of the towres of the church cracked so that all men came running to quēch it When they came thither ther was no flame twyse this happened one tyme after an other to witte the fourth daye of the same moneth and the .xiiii. daye Certen men of the townes of Heluetia being moued by the Pope go afterwardes to Rome not without the great suspicion of many Kyng Philippe beginning his newe gouernmēt whiche he had receiued of his father with great pompe and solemnitie the .xviii. day of Ianuary entreth into Andwerpe the chief towne of that coūtrey In the meane tyme there is great persecution and burning in Englande About the Ides of Ianuary thābassadours of the prouinces of Austriche assemble at Uienne as was appointed There the king with an oratiō graue long declareth in how great daūger they stode all of the Turke now iminent and therfore doth admonish them that so sone as may be they would helpe hym with men mony that his great outragiouse crueltie might be repressed Then they that are of that lower partes of Austriche saye how thei were cōmaunded of theirs that thei shuld treate first of Religion Therfore they recite what they haue done in the selfsame cause by the space now of .xiiii. yeares how oft they haue intreated put vp supplicatiōs what maner of proclamations he hath set forth contrary to their expectatiō Again for as muche as hitherto say they al coūselles against the Turke are taken in vaine not only as yet he could
emperour 324 The Constancie of the ministers 325 The Duke of Saxon and the LaÌ„tgraue led awaye prisoners 325 The reformation of the Chamb. 326 They of Constaunce geue them selues to the house of Austrich 326 The slaughter that was at Burdour 327 The abhominable filthines of an archbushoppe 329 The inheritor of Scotland led into Fraunce 330 They of Madenburge are made a praye for their godlines 331 Trouble in Englande eodem The Admirall of england beheaded 331 Thomas Crammer a furtherer of learning and Codlines 331 The duke of Swaybrig plaine trouth 332 The Interim confuted by them of Bubeck and others 333 The force of Hohwater eodem The popes legates to themperour 334 The Pope graunted licence to eate fleshe 335 The Archbishop of Metz to the counsellors of the Lantgraue eodem The Godly auÌ„swer of the preachers eod The king commaundeth to go on presession eodem The French king stealeth fortes 337 The Senate of Strausburge do compound with their Bishop eodem The perill of feare of them of Maydenburge eodem The Purgation of them of Maydenburge eodem The cause why them of Maydenburge cannot gette their pardon eodem The sayng of goodnes the. 338 They betray the trouth that hold it in Silence eodem The moÌ„struous lechery of the pope 339 The Popes rauening eodem The Pope sister a whore made her brother a Cardinall eodem The mayseres of ceremonis 340 The custody of the conclaue eodem The orders of the Cardinall eodem The maner to chuse the pope 341 The factions of the Cardinall eodem The cause why pole was not pope eod The yeare of Iubiley eodem The protectour of England 343 The Frenche kinges proclamation against Lutheranes eodem The opening of the Golden gate eod Themperiours letters to the states of th empyre 344 The cleargye of Strausburge renueth their ministers 345 The talcke of faith is forbidden 346 The death of the cardinall of Loraine 347 The Archbushop of Collon entreth the City with Pompe 347 The Protestation of the Duke Moris against the Counsell 348 The knauery of Spanierdes eodem The death of Granuellan eodem The taking of the Ciue of Africa eod The ouerthrow of the Maiden Burgians 349 The princes letters to them of Mayden burge 349 The Proclamation for religion mutigated 349 The answer of the Maydenburgians 350 The death of viriche Duke of WirieÌ„b 351 The causes that the decree is not obserued eodem They repare to trent before condemned 352 Themperours Proclamation agaynst them of Maydenburge eodem The Lantgraues Sonnes sue for theyr father eodem The Lantzgraues purpose of sliyng bewrayed eodem The issuyng out victory of the Maydenburgians 353 The duke of Megelb takeÌ„ prisoner 353 They of Maydenburge are moued to render eodem The Actes agaynst the Clergy 354 The slaughter of the Citizens 355 The answer of the Citizens 356 The prayse of great Otto 358 The duke of Pruisse addicte to OuÌ„ 359 The decree of Auspurge 359 The death of Bucer 360 The pope accuseth Octauian far 360 The counsell at Trent is solde 361 The warre of Parma betwixt themperour and the French king eodem The Frenche Kinges excuse to the Pope eodem The fierse minde of the Pope 362 The confession of duke Moris by Melanthon eodem The humanity of the Duke of Wittemberge towarde Brentius eodem The burnt child the fire dreades 363 The Constancy of the Prelates 363 The Preachers exiled 364 The French king warieth vpon themperour 364 The Counsell renued at Trent 365 The French kinges letters to the. 365 The Some of Mony that is caried to Rome 366 The vniuersitie of paris appeleth from the Pope eodem The arrogantie of Pope Boniface against the king of Fraunce eodem Twelue archbishoprikes in frauÌ„ce eod Theames geuen to the diumes 367 The order of speaking eodem The maner of making the Articles of the faith eodem The maner of making the decrees eod The holy gost at the popes coÌ„maundement 368 The Frenche kinges writing against the Pope eodem The wiked lustes of the Pope eodem The cause of dissentioÌ„ betwixt the pope and themperour 369 The safe counded of the fathers at 370 The Marques of Brandenburge mocketh the Counsell eodem The duke of somerset appreheÌ„ded eod The Counsell writeth to the Frenche king 371 The FreÌ„ch king disswadeth the Swisses from the Counsell eodem The land of Wittenburge deliuered of Spanyerdes eodem The ambassadour of Wittenburge to the Counsell 372 The pacification of Maydenburge eod The noble same and constancy of Maydenburge eodem The Pope created xiii Cardinalles 373 The amba of witteÌ„berg deliuered 374 The amb of Duke Mauri 〈…〉 he Marques of Brandenb to themper 374 Their oration 375 The Lantzgraue kept prisoner against the league 375 The Lantzgraue biddeÌ„ to Supper and kept prisoner 376 The names of the Princes that intreat for the Lantzgraue 377 The Lantzgraues Sonne cometh to Duke Morice 377 The rayling of Cropper 378 Themperours letters to the Bushoppe electors 378 Their is craft in daubing 379 The ambassador of duke Maurice come to the Counsell 380 The Duke of Somerset beheaded 381 The saufeconduct altered 382 The fraukespeache of Duke Maurice Ambassadour to the fathers 383 Thambassador of the prot deluded ideÌ„ The diuines come to Norinberge 384 The bitternesse of Frere Pelarge against the Protestantes eodem The diuines of Wittenburge 386 ThaÌ„bassodours of Strasburg det 387 The blasphemio of a gray Frere 388 The requestes of the Protestauntes diuines eodem The Fathers flie from Trent 389 The answere of the Protestantes Ambassadour eodem The churche cannot erre 390 The Counsell of Basell purer then Trent eodem The last session of the Counsell eodem The French Kynge hath peace with the Pope eodem Th ende of the counsell of Trent eodeÌ„ The death of the Popes Legate eodem The seconde cause of warre 392 The Lantzgraue deteined prisoner against fidelitie eodem The thirde cause eodem The heauie burthens of Germany 393 The storie of Lewes Auila of the Protestauntes warre eodem The Frenche kynges letters 394 The armes of libertie 395 The prince of Salerne reuolteth from the Emperour 396 The FreÌ„che king subdneth Lorain eod The cardinall betraied the cites eodeÌ„ The pledges of FrauÌ„ce German 397 The couÌ„try of Oto HeÌ„ry recouered â—deÌ„ The Iudges of the chamb flie eodem The Conestable chideth with theim of Strasburge 398 The kinges answer to the princes 399 The sute of the Suises to the king eodeÌ„ TheÌ„perour flieth awaie by night 400 The duke of Saxon set at libertie eodeÌ„ The Emperours stuffe spoiled eodem The Princes restore the ministers of the churche eodem The Marques Albertus armie 401 The Frenche kyng destroieth the Emperours countrie 403 The assemble at passaue eodem The coÌ„plaint of the princes elector 403 The affinitie of Frenchmen and. 404 The libertie of Germanie restored by the power of Fraunce 405 The waie opened for the Prince of Spaine to be Emperour eodem The princes aunswere his oracioÌ„ eodeÌ„ The
Strasburg compounde with themperour Conditions offered to the Lantgraue Caspar Phlugius Captaine of the Bohemers armie The Duke of SaxoÌ„ sendeth an Ambassadour in to Boheme The Bohemers letters to the Morsuians The death of the FreÌ„ch kyng AlteratioÌ„ in the court of Fraunce King FrauÌ„ces the fauiour of learning His knowledge The notable library of kyng FrauÌ„ces The death of two kinges was happy for the Emperour The ouerthrowe of the Emper. armie The Empe. letters to the states of Boheme Ferdinando to the Bohemers Part of the counsell of Trent flitt to Banonie Two executed at Frankefurte The Lantgraues purgaâ—â—on Unreasonable torment isaperillous matter FerdinaÌ„dos Ambassad to the Bohemers The Empe. iourney against the Duke of Saxon. The Emperours celeritie in ouerta king that Du. The Empe. fighteth a battell with the Duke of Saxon. The Duke taken fighting A perdigieof the Sunne The Duke condempned to lose his head Conditions wherby the Duke redemed his life An assemble of th empyre at Ulmes Kyng Ferdinandos letters to the Bohemers WitteÌ„berge rendred The buriall of kyng Fraunces Duke Erick discomfited Duke Maurice and the Electour of Brandenb intreate for the Lantgraue Duke Maurice letters to the Lantgraue The Lantgraues sons in lawe WitteÌ„berge a town of electorship The Scoole fallen there The treatis of Ulmes The Lantgraue commeth to the Emperour at Hale The Lantgraue kneleth to the Emperour The Emperours aunswere The Lantgraue is driuen into the net vnwittingly The Lantgraues captiuitie The noÌ„ber of great gun res takeÌ„ froÌ„ the Protst Ebleb dieth for sorowe Ferdinando cometh with his army to Prage The Bohemers subdued by Ferd. Sedition at Naples for that Spanish inquisition The Cardinals of FrauÌ„ce sene to Rome An assemble at Auspurg Duke Maurice intreateth liberally the Diuines of Wittemberge The coronation of the French king and the maner therof The twelue Peres of Fraunce An holy box sent down from heaueÌ„ you may be sure The king is appaâ—eled like a deach The Empe â–ª eâ—acieth money in Germany They of MaydeÌ„burg outlawed The Emperour moueth the Swisses to a league An armed assemble The churches new halowed Michel Sidonie a great masmonger Peter Alois the Popes sonne slayne Hierome Palauicine A conspiracie against the Popes son The Pope a Negromancier The hatred of the citezens towardes Peter The monstrous lustes of hym The couÌ„sell of Trent of two partes Muskelborough field The Protestauntes intised or feared Letters for the Lantgraue to themper The Empe. aunswer to the states Toe conditions wherby the Lantgraue submitted hymselfe The answer of Du. Maurice and the Marques The Emperour requireth the wâ—itinges of the Lantgraue Peter Martyr goeth in to England A reformation of Religion in Englande The oratioÌ„ of the Cardinall of TreÌ„t The OratioÌ„ of the bishop of Rains to the Pope The FreÌ„che king contendeth with the Emperour for eldership The Popes letters to his Legate The pope to Mendoza the Emperours Ambassad 1548. The Popes letters to the Byshops of Germany The pope is ignoraunt of all thinges The pope is a watchman The constaÌ„cie of the Romish church The Emp. Ambassad sent to Boloigne le grasse The Popes Legate to the Emperours Ambassad The Empe. Ambassad to the fathers The malapertnes of the Legate The letters of protestatioÌ„ from the counsell The Emp. carefulnes for the counsell The Authours of remouing the counsell Mountane striken with a fury The oration of the Kyng of Pols ambassadour The beginning of thorder of knight had in Duchland The victory of King Casimire Albert receyued into the tuitioÌ„ of the king of Pol. Prusse beloÌ„geth to Pole The war of Emperours and kynges of Pole against this order of knightes A disordred order of knightes The OratioÌ„ of the Marques of Pruse The Originall of this order of knighthode The Duke of Muscouia The Prince of Lituania made king of Pole A composition of peace The people rebell The conditions of peace betwixt the king of polle and the knightes Prusse beloÌ„geth to them yere The commotion in Boheme for the doctrine of John Husse The death of Sigismsid king of pole The Popes aunswer to Mendoza The warre finished by the Popes army The Empe. prayses set the Pope a fyre So I will so coÌ„maund A counsell called at Trent twise The fathers must be prouided forwel The Pope may be weake negligeÌ„t The Auctours of the Interim Ihon Isleby a reuolte Bucer is set for The couÌ„cell of England wryte to the Scottes Ciuille war betwene Englande and Scotland The daughter of Scotlande assiauÌ„ced to that king of England The gouernour of Scotlanda leage breaker How miserable is it for the Quene to mary a straunger It is dauÌ„ger to vse forain aydes The Britanes expulsed by that Saxons The Pictes by that Scots CouÌ„tryes vnited by maryage Two ways to finish war Uogelsberg appreheÌ„ded His constaÌ„cy at his death Persecution in Fraunce The ceremonie wherby Duke Maurice was created Elect. The Marques of BraÌ„denburge of fended wyth Bucer Bucer is in daunger Muleasses Kinge of Tunnes The coÌ„tents of the Interim Worckes of superogatioÌ„ Two sacrifices of Christ after these in terimistes The Interi permitteth Priestes to kepe their wiues stil An euil coÌ„piled boke ofte corrected Notes of the Interim bi the Bishoppe of Rome Thelectors dary opinioÌ„ The craft of tharchbishop of Mentz in a prouing of yâ— Interim King FernaÌ„do requireth monet of the states Maximilian marieth hys cosen Iohn Mark. of Brand. refuseth the Interim The coÌ„staÌ„ce of the Duke of Swebrig Musculus departeth to Bernes The labor perill of BreÌ„tius The pleannes and god lines of BreÌ„tius His wife and his childreÌ„ banished Godlie preachers flee The fearfulnes of that duke of Wyrtemberge The constancy of the duke of Saxonie He that doth agaist his coscience procureth to himself hell fyre Sinne agaist the holy gost The Dukes godly mind Cruelty shewed to D. of Sax. Prisoner Whilest the Masse is set vp in germanye it is put down in englande Thobstinat mind of winchester The Ecclesiastical reformatioÌ„ of the Emperour The treÌ„blable misteries of the Masse ExcoÌ„munication Menes made that Strausburge shulde receiue thinterim Theyr aunsweare Uyolence is not to be vsed in religion but reasoÌ„ and truthe No maÌ„ ought to be coÌ„pelled to his faith The Emperour wil not discharg hyâ— souldioures 〈…〉 promes 〈…〉 sawefull counsel repeted Islebi rewarded of themperoure The decre of the Uenetians The wisdoÌ„e of the Uenetians in matters of religion Who were out lawed by the emperor Daughter of Nauarre maried to the Duke of UaÌ„dome The story of Lewes Auila of the germains war Who impugned the Interim Robert of AbrinceÌ„ wrote against thiuterim The godly constancie of the Duke of Saxons children The duke of Saxon beloloued of almen They of CoÌ„stance wryte to the Emperoure Maximilian warred againste the Swisses The Emperour maketh newe Senatoures He abrogateth fraternities Spanyardes go to coÌ„staÌ„ce Constance assalted The Emperor delited in the Frenche tonge The letters of strausburg to the Emperoure Ambrose Blaurer At Strausburge
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