the saide Sea the excellency of his wisedome learning and experience The Thrasonicall prayse of the Cardinall the magnanimitie in his actions and doings the dignitie wherin he is already constitute the promotions whych he hath attained the substance that he is of his reputation his conduite his diligence hys dexteritie his discretion his pollicie and finally the notable and high fauor that the kings highnes and the sayde French king beare vnto him is onely that he called to the sayd dignity Papall may can and will meete with the inordinate ambition of the sayd Emperour and consequently with establishment of tranquilitie amongst Christen Princesâ— Note this cause The Cardinall is most meete to be Pope because he can best brydle the Emperour is by the assistance of his frendes meete conuenient and able to succour relieue and clerely to repaire the piteous iacture and decay that the Church Sea Apostolicke hath so long suffered to defend the same from the imminent danger now apparant to ensue if the sayde Emperour who as the kings highnes is assertained determined in the beginning of Ianuary now passed to take his iourny towardes Rome should vpon this vacation of the said Sea chaunced as it vpon many euident presumptioÌ„s to be thought by some detestable acte committed for the sayde late Popes destruction now by force violence cautele blandishing promises or otherwise haue the election to proceede at hys wil fauor deuotion wherby hauing a Pope at his * * That is after his owne desire arbitre either he should not faile to vsurpe take from him the rights prouents patrimony of the Churche vsing him as hys chaplaine and vassal or els by litle and litle vtterly to exclude and extinct him and hie authoritie For this cause if euer it were expedient that good Christen Princes looke to the tuition maintenance defence and continuance of Christes Churche faith and religion nowe is it the time aboue all other to prouide and beware by all wayes possible least the same neglected forgotten and not in time relieued be broght vnto extreme * * If his vsurped authoritie were cleane extinct the fayth religion of Christ should stand florishe much better ruine And therefore the kings highnesse hauing singular special trust and confidence in the wisedomes discretions fidelities diligences and circumspections of his sayd Orators to whom no part of the premisses is vnknowen ne how necessary in any wise expedieÌ„t it shal be for perfectioÌ„ of the kings sayd great and * * By this weighty matter here is ment the cause of the kings deuorce weighty matter to them committed to haue the sayde Lord Legate of Yorke none other aduanced to the sayd dignitie Papall willeth desireth ordaineth expresly chargeth and commaundeth hys sayd Oratours and euery of them no lesse to employ endeuour and determine themselues to sollicite set forth further promote labour and conduce the aduancement of the sayd Lord Legate of Yorke to that dignitie then they woulde that thing which the kings highnes most highly next God hys soule with all earnestnes and feruent minde doth aboue all other things couete and desire and also no lesse then they woulde the speedy obtaining and perfection of all such thinges touching the kings sayde weighty matter committed to their charges the making or marring wherof being now the sayde late Pope deceased consisteth onely in the aduauncement of the sayde Lord Legate of Yorke to the dignitie Papall For as the kings sayd Ambassadours may by their wisedomes well thinke and consider the same must of necessitie come fortune either to one that is an assured frende to his grace and the French king or to one that is a manifest ennemye to them fauouring the Emperours part or to one indifferent meane betwene both And if it should chaunce vpon a manifest ennemy it is euident that the kings desire at hys hand were merely impossible to be had and neuer were to be accepted that way If it should come to one being indifferent meane betweene both it is more then notorious that his grace at the least shoulde be contained wyth faire wordes and promises and yet such respect should be had to the Emperour that finally vnder hope of obtaining some thynge there shoulde be no more but tracte delay and finally no manner fruite nor effecte whereof experience hath already bene seene in one that had cause to be more frendly to the king then indiffereÌ„t or meane betwene both yet how long the matter hath depended is to the kings said Ambassadors wel knoweÌ„ So that of necessity this thing must be conduced to one that is an assured frende Then noting substantially the things necessary to concur in suche a frend both for the weale of christendoÌ„ the reliefe of the Church the firm adhering to the kings highnes the French K. with other their confederates the perfit coÌ„ducing of the kings great mater which suffreth no tract delay or negatiue it shal be fouÌ„d that ther is none other for thys purpose but only the said L. legate of York The kyngs sayd Ambassadours shal therefore plant the foundation of all their studie labour solicitation onely to that purpose And for the better introduction of the wayes and meanes howe this thing shall be sollicited they shall receiue heerewyth a scedule wherein is mentioned and noted by name how many what Cardinalles of likelihoode shall be present at the election and how many and which of the other shal be absent Semblably howe many of them that be like to he present may be thought to be frends to the kings highnes and the French king whose names in the sayd scedule be noted with A. and howe many are thought to be Imperiall A. Signifieth the Cardinalls oâ— the kinges the French kings siâ—e B. Signifieth the Cardinalls of the Emperors side But here is neuer a C. to signifie any Cardinalls of Christes side whose names be noted with B. In the same scedule be also set out the number and names of those that be thought to be neutrall or indifferent marked with N. And furthermore they be first mentioned therein which be thought most like to aspire vnto that dignity Herein be many things well to be regarded First the number of the Cardinals that are like to be present whiche as is thought here shall not exceede 39. Secondly that to haue election to the kings purpose shall be requisite to haue 2. partes of the 3. of the sayd number which 2. partes must be 26. Then is it to be noted that they which be thought to be frendes to the kings highnesse and the FreÌ„ch king be in number 20. So that if they may be made sure to the kings deuotion there shall lacke but 6. of the number which shall suffice to make the election which number the kings sayd Ambassadours shall moue winne and attaine either of them that be thought to be indifferent
and priuie coūsailors with the king at that time then adiudged our mariage lawful and honest and nowe to say it is detestable and abhominable I thinke it great maruel and in especiall when I consider what a wise prince the kings father was also the loue natural affectiō that K. Ferdinādo my father bare vnto me I think in my self that neither of our fathers were so vncircumspect so vnwise of so small imagination but they foresaw what might folowe of oure Mariage and in especiall the king my father sent to the Courte of Rome and there after long sute with great cost and charge obteined a licence and dispēsation that I being the one brothers wife and peraduenture carnally known might without scruple of cōscience mary with the other brother lawfully which licēce vnder lead I haue yet to shewe which things make me to say and surely beleue that our mariage was both lawful good and godly But of this trouble I only may thanke you my L. Cardinal of Yorke For because I haue wondered at your high pride and vaineglory and abhorred your voluptuous life and abhominable lecherie litle regarded your presumptuous power and tyrānie therfore of malice you haue kindled this fire set this matter abroache The Cardinall cause of this diuorce and why and in especiall for the great malice that you beare to my nephewe the Emperor whom I perfectly know you hate worse then a Scorpion because he woulde not satisfie your ambition and make you Pope by force therfore you haue said more then once that you wold trouble him and his frends you haue kept him true promise for of all his warres vexations he onely may thanke you And as for me his poore Aunt and kinswoman what trouble you haue put me too by this newe found dout God knoweth to whō I commit my cause according to the truth The Cardinal of Yorke excused himself saying that he was not the beginner nor the mouer of the doubt and that it was sore against his wil that euer the mariage shuld come in question but he sayd that by his superiour the B. of Rome he was deputed as a iudge to hear the cause which he sware on his profession to heare indifferently But whatsoeuer was said she beleeued him not so the Legates tooke their leaue of her departed These words were spoken in French wrytten by Cardinal Campeius Secretarie which was present and afterward by Edward Hall translated into English In the next yeare ensuing an 1530. at the blacke Fryers of London was prepared a solemne place for two Legates who comming with their crosses pillers axes The vaine pompe of the Romish Legates and all other Romish ceremonies accordingly were set in two chayres couered with cloth of gold and cushiōs of y e same When all things were ready then the king the Qeuene were ascited by Doct. Sampson to appeare before the said Legates the 28. day of May The king Queene ascited before the Legates where the commission of the Cardinals first being read wherein it was appoynted by the Court of Rome that they should be the hearers iudges in the cause betweene them both the king was called by name who appeared by two Proctors * These 4. byshops were Warhā of Canterbury West of Ely Fysher of Rochester Standishe of S. Assaph The Quene appealeth from the Cardinal to the Pope Then the Queene was called who being accompanied with 4. Byshops and other of her counsayle and a great company of Ladyes came personally her selfe before the Legates who there after her obeysance with a sadde grauitie of countenaunce hauing not many wordes with them appealed frō the Legates as iudges not competent to y e court of Rome and so departed Notwithstanding this appeale the Cardinals sate weekely euery day arguments on both sides were brought but nothing definitiuely was determined As the tyme passed on in the month of Iune the king being desirous to see an ende came to the Courte and the Queene also where he standing vnder his cloth of estate vttered these or like wordes in effect as followeth MY Lordes Legates of the Sea Apostolicke whiche be deputed iudges in this great and waighty matter The kinges oration to the Legates I most hartely beseech you to ponder my mynde and intent whiche onely is to haue a finall ende for the discharge of my conscience for euerye good Christen man knoweth what payne and what vnquietnesse he suffereth which hath hys conscience greeued For I assure you on mine honour that this matter hath so vexed my minde and troubled my spirites that I can scantly study any thinge whiche should be profitable for my realme and people and for to haue a quietnes of body and soule is my desire and request and not for any grudge that I beare to her that I haue maryed for I dare say that for her womanhoode wisedome nobilitie and gentlenes neuer Prince had such an other and therefore if I woulde willinglye chaunge I were not wise Wherefore my suite is to my Lordes at this time to haue a speedie ende according to right for the quietnesse of my minde and conscience onely and for no other cause as God knoweth When the king had said the Queene departed without any thing saying Then she was called to know whether she would abide by her appeale The Quene abideth by her appeale or answer there before the Legates Her Proctor aunswered that she would abide by her appeale That notwythstanding the Counsaillers on both sides euery day almost met and debated this matter substātially so y t at the last the diuines were all of opinion that the mariage was against the lawe of God if she were carnally known by the first brother which thing she clearly denied But to that was answeared that prince Arthur her husband confessed the act done by certaine words spoken which beinge recorded in other Chronicles I had rather should there be red then by me here vttered Furthermore at the time of the death of prince Arthur she thought and iudged that she was with childe and for that cause the king was deferred from the title creation of the Prince of Wales almoste halfe a yeare whych thing coulde not haue bene iudged if she had not bene carnally knowen Also she her self caused a bul to be purchased in y t which were these words Vel forsan cognitam which is as much to say as peraduenture carnally known which words were not in the first Bull graunted by Iuly at her second mariage to the kinge which seconde Bull with that clause was onely purchased to dispence wyth the second matrimonie although there were carnal copulation before which Bul needed not to haue bene purchased if there had ben no carnall copulation for then the first Bull had bene sufficient Moreouer for the more cleare euidence of thys matter that Prince Arthur had carnal knowledge of the sayd Lady
no reason neither shoulde it be possible for the Frenche king to induce the Pope to any gratuitie or pleasure for the king in his affaires Wherunto the king answearing againe sendeth worde to the French king The kinges aunswere to the French kinges request trusting and hoping wel of the perfect frendship of the French king his good brother that he will neuer suffer any suche perswasion to enter into hys breast whatsoeuer the great maister or any other shall say to the contrary thereof nor that he will require any thyng more of him to do for the Pope Chauncelour or other then hys Counsaile hath already deuised to be done in this behalfe especially considering the words of the sayd French kings promise made before as well to the Duke of Northfolke as to the other Ambassadours promising his frendship to to the King simply without requiring him to reuocate or infringe any suche acte or constitution made by the realme and Parlament to the contrary Perswading moreouer and laying before the eyes as well of the Pope as of the French king howe much it should redound to the Popes dishonouâ— and infamie to the sclaunder also of his cause if he should be seene so to pact and couenant wyth the king vpon such conditions for the administration of that thing which he in his owne conscience hath reputed and adiudged to be most rightfull agreeable to iustice and equitie and ought of his office and duetie to do in thys matter simpliciter gratis and wythout all worldly respectes eyther for the aduancement of his priuate lucre and commoditie The Pope seeketh not for iustice but his owne lucre and commodity or for the preseruation of hys pretensed power and authoritie For surely it is 〈◊〉 to be doubted but that the Pope being minded and determined to geue sentence for the inualiditie and nullitie of the kings first pretensed matrimonie hath conceiued and established in hys owne conscience a 〈◊〉 and certain opinion and perswasion that he ought of iustice and equitie so to do Then to see the Pope to haue thys opinion in deede and yet refuse this to doe for the King vnlesse hee shall be content for his benefite and pleasure The Pope â—elleth iustice â—edere iuri suo and to doe some things preiudiciall vnto his subiects contrary to hys honour it â—o easie to be foreseene what the world and the posteritie shall iudge de tam turpi nundinatione iustitiae illius tam foeda sordida lucri honoris ambitione And as foâ— the kings part if he shal not attaine now iustice at the mediation of hys good brother knowing the Pope to be of this disposition and determination in his heart to satisfie all his desires being mooued thereunto by iustice The Pope doth agaynst his 〈◊〉 owne conscieÌ„ce and that the â—et therof is no default of iustice in the cause but onely for that the king woulde not condescende to hys request it is to the king matter sufficient enough for discharge of hys conscience to God and to the worlde although hee neuer did execute in deede hys sayde determination For sith hys corrupt affection is the onely impediment thereof what neede either the king to require him any further to doe in the cause or els his subiectes to doubte any further in the iustnesse of the same Albeit if respects to benefites merites done towardes the Pope the See of Rome The Pope forgetteth his olde benefactors and frendes should be regarded in the attaining of iustice in a cause of so high consequencie as thys is reason would that if it would please the Pope to consider the former kindnesse of the King shewed vnto him in time past whereof hee is very loth to enter the rehearsall ne videatur velle exprobrare quae de alijs fecerit bene he should not nowe require of him any newe benefite or gratuitie to be shewed vnto him but rather studie to recompence hym for the olde graces merites pleasures and benefites before receiued For surely he thinketh that the Pope can not forget howe that for the conseruation of his person his estate and dignitie the king hath not heretofore spared for anye respecte The benefites of the king vpon the Pope when he was taken by the Duke of Burbonâ— in vsing the office of a moste perfecte and stedfaste frend to relinquish the long coÌ„tinued good will established betweene him and the Emperor and to declare openly to all the world that for the Popes sake and in default of hys deliuerance he would become enemie to the sayde Emperour and to make against him actuall warre Besides thys the King hath not failed hym with right large and ample subuentions of money for the better supporting of his charges against the enterprises of the sayde Emperour combinding and knitting him selfe wyth the Frenche king to procure the aduauncement of the sayde Frenche kings armie into Italie to the charges whereof the king did beare little lesse then the one halfe Besides notable losses susteined as well in his customes subsidies and other dueties as also to the no little hinderaunce and dammage of his subiects and marchauntes occasioned by discontinuance of the traffike and entercourse heretofore vsed with the Emperours subiectes In doing of al which thinges the king hath not bene thus respectiue as the Pope nowe sheweth himselfe towardes him but lyke a perfect frend hath bene alwayes contented franckly liberally and openly to expone all his study labour trauayle treasure puisaunce Realme and diuers subiectes for the Popes ayd and y e mayntenance of the state and dignitie of the Church and See of Rome Which thinges although he doth not here rehearse animo exprobandi yet hee doubteth not but the same weighed in the ballaunce of anye indifferent mans iudgement All is lost thaâ— is done for a churle shal be thought to be of that weight valure as that he hath iustly deserued to haue some mutuall correspondencie of kindenes to be shewed vnto hym at y e popes handes especially in the ministration of iustice and in so reasonable iust cause as this is and not thus to haue his most rightfull petition reiected and denyed because he will not follow hys desire and appetite in reuocating of such actes as be here made passed for the weale commoditie of hys realme and subiectes ¶ Thus ye haue heard how instantly the king had laboured by the meanes of the french king to the pope being then in Fraunce for right and iustice to be done for the dissolution and nullitie of his first pretensed matrimonye with hys brothers wife Which when it could not be attayned at the popes handes vnles the king would recompeÌ„ce and require the same by reuocating of such statutes as wer made and enacted here in the high Court of Parliament for the surety of succession and stablishment of the Realme what the king thereunto aunswered agayne ye heard declaring that
and because he shoulde not misdoubt anye fraude or iniurye herein he assured to him his warrant and promyse M. Luther accursed at Rome of the Pope M. Luther being thus prouided for his safeconduict by the Emperour after he had bene first accursed at Rome vpon Maundy Thursday by the popes censure shortly after Easter speedeth hys iourny toward the Emperour at Wormes Where the sayde Luther appearing before the Emperour and all the states of Germany how constantly he stoocke to the truth and defended hymselfe and aunswered his aduersaryes and what aduersaryes hee had here followeth in ful history with the actes and doings as there happened according as in our former edition partly was before described ¶ The actes and doynges of Martin Luther before the Emperour at the Citty of Wormes IN the yeare of our saluation .1521 about seuentene dayes after Easter Anno. 1521. Martin Luther entered into Wormes being sent for by the Emperour Charles the 5. of y e name c. who the first yeare of hys Empyre made an assemble of princes in the foresayd Cittie And whereas M. Luther had published three yeares before certayne propositions to be disputed in the towne of Wittenberge in Saxonie against the tyranny of the pope which notwithstanding were torne in peeces condemned and burned by y e papistes and yet by no manifest Scriptures nor probable reason conuinced the matter began to grow to a tumult vprore yet Luther mayntayned all this while openly his cause against y e clergy Luther is sent for to Wormes Wherupon it seemed good to certain y t Luther shoulde be called assigning vnto hym an Heraulde of armes with a letter of safe conduict by the Emperour and Princes Being sent for he came and was brought to the Knightes of the Rhodes place where he was lodged well entertayned and visited of many Erles Barons knightes of the order Gentlemen Priestes and the comminaltie who frequented his lodging til night To conclude he came contrary to the expectatioÌ„ of many as wel aduersaries as other For albeit he was seÌ„t for by the Emperours messenger and had letters of safeconduct yet for that a few dayes before his accesse his bookes were coÌ„demned by publique proclamations it was much doubted of by many y t he would not come and the rather for that his frendes deliberated together in a village nye hand called Oppenhime where Luther was first aduertised of these occurrentes many perswaded him not to aduenture him selfe to suche a present danger considering howe these begynninges answered not to the fayth of promise made Who wheÌ„ he had heard their whole perswasioÌ„ aduise he answered in this wise As touchyng mee Constancy in Luther since I am sent for I am resolued certainly determined to enter Wormes in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christe yea although I knew there were so many deuils to resist me as there are tyles to couer the houses in Wormes The fourth daye after his repayre a Gentleman named Ulricke of Pappenhim Lieutenaunt generall of the men at armes of the empire was commanded by the emperour before dynner to repayre to Luther and inioyne hym at foure of the clocke in the after noone to appeare before the Emperial maiestie the Princes Electors Dukes and other estates of the Empire to vnderstande the cause of his sendyng for Wherunto he willingly agreed as hys duetie was And after iiij a clocke Ulricke Pappenhim and Casper Sturm the Emperors Heraulde who conducted M. Luther from Wittenberge to Wormes came for Luther and accompanied him through the garden of the knightes of the Rhodes place to the Earle Palatines pallace and least the people should molest him that throÌ„ged in he was led by secrete stayres to the place where he was appointed to haue audience Yet manye who perceyued the pretence violently rushed in and were resisted albeit in vaint many ascended the galleries because they desired to behold Luther Luther is brought before the Emperour Thus standing before the Emperour the Electours Dukes Earles and all the estates of the Empire assembled there he was first aduertised by Ulricke of Pappenhim to keepe silence vntil such time as he was required to speake Then Iohn Eckius aboue mentioned Iohn Eckius propoundeth against M. Luther who then was the Bishop of Triers general officiall with a loude and intelligible voyce first in Latine then in Dutche according to the Emperours commaundement saide proponed this sentence in maner as ensueth or like in effect Martyn Luther the sacred and inuincible Emperiall maiestie hath enioyntd by the consent of all the estates of the holye Empyre that thou shouldest be appealed before the throne of his maiestie to the ende I might demaunde of thee these twoo poyntes First whether thou confessest these bookes here for hee shewed a heape of Luthers bookes written in the Latine and Dutch tongues and which are in all places dispersed intituled with thy name be thine and thou doest affirme them to be thine or not Secondly whether thou wylt recant and reuoke them and al that is contayned in them or rather meanest to stand to that thou hast written Then before Luther prepared to aunswere Mayster Ierome Scurffus a Lawyer of Wittenberge Hierome Schâ—â—â—ie required that the tytles of the bookes should be read Forthwith the foresaid Eckius named certayne of the bookes and those principally whiche were imprinted at Basill among the whiche he nominated his Comentaries vpon the Psaltar his booke of good works his Commentary vpon y e Lords prayer and diuers other which were not contentions M. Luthers aunswere After this Luther answered thus in Latine in dutch Two things are proponed vnto me by the Emperial maiestie First whether I will auouche for mine all those books y t beare my name Secondly whether I will maintayne or reuoke any thing that hytherto I haue deuised published Whereunto I wil answere as breifly as I can In the first I can do none other then recognise those bookes to be mine Luther refuseth to reuoke his bookes which lastly were named certaynely I will neuer recant any clause therof In the second to declare whether I will wholy defend or call backe any thing coÌ„prised in them forasmuch as there be questioÌ„s of faith y e saluation of the soule this concerneth y e word of God which is the greatest most excellent matter that can be in heauen or earth the which we ought duely euermore to reuereÌ„ce this might be accouÌ„ted in me a rashnes of iudgemeÌ„t euen a most dangerous atteÌ„pt Iâ— I wold pronouÌ„ce any thing before I wer better aduised coÌ„sidering I might recite something lesse then the matter importeth and more then the truth requireth if I did not premeditate y e whiche I would speake The which two thinges well considered doth set before mine eyes this sentence of our Lord Iesus Christ wherin it is said Whosoeuer shall deny me before meÌ„ I
it to renue disputation of thinges so long time past condemned by y e church and Councels vnlesse it should be necessary to geue a reason to euery man of euery thing that is concluded Nowe were it so that this should be permitted to euery one that gaynestandeth the determination of the Church and councels that he may once get his aduauntage The Papistes stande onely vpon their church and councels to be conuinced by the Scriptures we shall haue nothing certayne and established in Christendome And this is the cause wherefore the Emperours maiesty requireth of thee a simple aunswere either negatiue or affirmitiue whether thou mindest to defend all thy works as Christian or no Then Luther turning to the Emperour and the nobles besought them not to compell him to yeelde agaynst his conscience confirmed with the holy Scriptures wythout manifest argumentes alledged to the contrary by hys aduersaryes I haue declared and rendred sayd he myne aunswere simply and directly neyther haue I any more to saye vnlesse mine aduersaryes with true and sufficient probations grounded vpon the Scripture can reduce and resolue my minde and refelle mine errours which they lay to my charge I am tyed as I sayde by the Scriptures neither may I or canne with a safe conscience assent vnto them For as touching general Councels Generall councels haue erred and haue bene coÌ„trary to them selues with whose authority onely they presse me I am able to proue that they haue both erred and haue defined many times things contrary to themselues and therefore the authority of them he sayd not to be sufficient for the which he should call back those thinges the verity wherof standeth so firme and manifest in the holy Scripture that neyther of him it ought to be required neither could he so do without impiety Wherunto the Official agayne answered denying that any man could proue the CouÌ„cels to haue erred But Luther alledged that he coulde and promised to proue it and now night approching the Lordes rose and departed And after Luther had taken his leaue of the Emperour diuers Spaniardes scorned and scoffed the good man in the way going toward his lodging halowing and whoping after him a long while Upon the friday folowing when the Princes electors Dukes and other estates were assembled the Emperour sent to the whole body of the councell a certaine letter conteining in effect as foloweth ¶ The Emperours letter OVr predecessours who truely were Christian princes The Emperours aunswere against Luther were obedient to the Romish Churche which Martin Luther presently impugneth And therfore in as much as he is not determined to call backe his errors in any one poynt we cannot without great infamy and stayn of honor degenerate from the examples of our elders but will mayntayne the auncient fayth and geue ayde to the see of Rome And further we be resolued to pursue Martin Luther and his adherentes by excommunications and by other meanes that may be deuised to extinguish his doctrine Neuerthelesse we will not violate our fayth which we haue promised him but meane to geue order for safe returne to the place whence he came THe Princes electors Dukes Consultation vpon the Emperours letter and other estates of the Empire sate and consulted vpon this sentence on fryday al the after noone and saterday the whole daye so that Luther yet had no aunswere of the Emperour During this time diuers Princes Earles Barons Knightes of the Order Gentlemen Priestes Monkes with other the laitie and common sort visited him Al these were present at al houres in the Emperours Courte and could not be satisfied with the sight of him Also there were bylles set vp some against Luther and some as it seemed with him Notwithstanding many supposed and especially such as wel conceiued the matter that this was subtilly done by his enemies that therby occasion might be offered to infringe the safe conduct giuen him the which the Romane Ambassadours with all diligence endeuoured to bring to passe The Monday following before supper the Archebyshoppe of Triers aduertised Luther Great resort to Martyn Luther that on Wednesdaye nexte hee shoulde appeare before hym at nine of the clocke before dynner and assigned hym the place On Sainte Georges daye a certaine Chapleine of the Archebishop of Triers about supper tyme came to Luther by the commaundement of the Byshop signifying that at that houre and place prescribed he must the morowe after haue accesse to his maister The morow after saynt Georges day Luther obeying the Archbishops commaundement Luther appeareth before the Archb. of Tryers entred his palace being accompanyed thither with his sayd chaplayne and one of the Emperours Heraldes and such as came in his company out of Saxony to Wormes with other his chiefe frendes where as Doctour Voeus the Marques of Bades chaplein began to declare and protest in the presence of the Archbishop of Triors Doct. Veus his oration to Martin Luther Ioachime Marques of Brandeburge George Duke of Saxonye the bishops of Ausburge and Brandeburge the Earle George Iohn Boâ—ke of Strasburge Uerdcheymer and Peutinger Doctours that Luther was not called to be conferred with or to disputation but onely that the princes had procured licence of the Emperors maiesty through Christian charity to haue liberty graunted vnto them to exhort Luther beningly brotherly He sayd further that albeit the Councels had ordeyned diuers thinges For the authoriti of Councells yet they had not determined contrary matters And albeit they had greatly erred yet theyr authority was not therefore abased or at the least not so erred that it was lawful for euery man to impugne theyr opinions inferring moreouer many thinges of Zacheus and the Centurion Also of the constitutions and traditions and of Ceremonies ordeyned of men affirming that all these were established to represse vices according to the qualitye of tymes and that the Church could not be destitute of human constitutions It is true sayde he that by the fruites the tree may be known yet of these lawes and decrees of men many good fruites haue proceeded This he spake of Luthers words who denied any good fruites to come of their lawes and sainct Martin saint Nicholas and many other Sayntes haue bene present at the Councels Moreouer that Luthers bookes would breede a great tumult and incredible troubles and that he abused the coÌ„mon sort wich his booke of Christian liberty encouraging them to shake of theyr yoke and to confirme in them a disobedience that the world nowe was at another stay then when the beleuers were all of one hart and soule and therfore it was requisite and behouefull to haue lawes It was to be considered sayde he albeit he had writteÌ„ many good thinges and no doubt of a good mind as De Triplice iustitia and other matters yet howe the deuill now by craftye meanes goeth about to bring to passe that all his workes for euer should be condemned for by
forenoone to perswade Luther simply and absolutely to submitte the iudgement of his writinges to the Emperor and Empire Sollicitatâ—oÌ„ to causa Luther to yelde He aunswered he would doe it and submit any thing they would haue hym so they grounded with authority of holy Scripture otherwise he woulde not consent to doe any thing For God sayd by his Prophet sayth he Trust ye not in Princes nor in the childreÌ„ of men in whom there is no health Also Cursed be he that trusteth in man And seeing that they did vrge him more vehemently he answered We ought to yeld no more to y e iudgement of men theÌ„ the word of God doth suffer So they departed and prayed him to aduise for better answere and sayd they would returne after dinner After dinner they returned exhorting him as before but in vayne Luthers coÌ„dition They prayed him that at the least he woulde submit his writing to the iudgement of the nexte generall Councell Luther agreed therunto but with this conditioÌ„ that they themselues shoulde present the Articles collected out of his bookes to be submitted to the Councell in suche sort as notwithstanding the sentence awarded by the couÌ„cell should be authorised by the Scripture and confirmed with the testimonyes of the same They then leauing Luther departed and reported to the Archbishop of Triers False witnesse that he had promised to submit his writinges in certayne articles to the next Councell in the meane space he woulde keepe silence which Luther neuer thought who neither with admonitions ne yet manaces could be induced to deny or submit his bookes to the iudgementes of menne he had so fortified hys cause wyth cleare and manifest authorityes of the Scripture vnlesse they could proue by sacred scripture and apparant reasoÌ„s to the contrary The prouideÌ„ce of God It chaunced then by the speciall grace of God that the Archbishop of Triers sent for Luther thinking presently to heare him And when he perceiued otherwise then Peutinger and the Doctour of Bade had tolde him he sayde that he would for no good but that he had heard himselfe speake for els he was euen now going to the Emperor to declare what the Doctors had reported Then the Archbishop entreated Luther and conferred with him very gently Familiar talke betweene the archbishop and Luther first remouing such as were preseÌ„t as well of the one side as of the other In this conference Luther concealed nothing from the Archbishop affirming that it was dauÌ„gerous to submit a matter of so great importaunce to them who after they had called hym vnder safeconduct attempting him with new commaundementes had condemned his opinion and approued the Popes Bull. Moreouer the Archbishop bidding a frend of his draw nigh required Luther to declare what remedy might bee ministred to helpe this Luthers prophecie out of Gamaliell Luther answered there was no better remedy then suche as Gamaliel alledged in the fyfte chapter of the Apostles as witnesseth S. Luke saying If this Councell or this woorke proceede of men Act. 5. it shall come to nought but if it be of God ye can not destroy it And so he desired that the Emperour might be aduertised to write the same to the Pope that he knewe certaynely if this his enterprise proceeded not of God it would be abolished within three yea within two yeares The Archbishop enquired of him what he would do if certayne articles were taken out of his bookes to be submitted to the generall councell Luthers coÌ„stancie Luther aunswered so that they be not those which the counsell of Constance condemned The Archbyshoppe sayd I feare they will be the very same but what then Luther replyed I will not nor I cannot holde my peace of such for I am sure by theyr decrees the word of God was condemned therefore I wyll rather loose head and life then abandon the manifest word of my Lord God Then the Archbishop seing Luther would in no wise geue ouer the word of God to the iudgement of men geÌ„tly bade Luther farewell who at that instaunt prayed the Archbishop to entreat the Emperours maiesty to graunt him gracious leaue to depart He aunswered he woulde take order for him and speedely aduertise hym of the Emperours pleasure Within a small while after Iohn Eckius the Archbyshops officiall in the presence of the Emperours Secretary who had bene Maximilians Chauncellour sayde vnto Luther in his lodging Luther sent home from the counsel by the commaundement of the Emperour that since he had bene admonished diuersly of the Emperiall maiesty the Electors Princes and estates of the Empyre and that notwithstanding he woulde not returne to vnity and concord there remained that the Emperour as aduocate of the Catholique fayth should proceed further and that it was the Emperours ordinaunce that he should within 21. dayes returne boldly vnder safe conduct and be safely garded to the place whence he came so that in the meane while he styrred no commotion amonge the people in his iourney either in conference or by preaching· Luther hearing this aunswered very modestly christianly euen as it hath pleased God so is it come to passe the name of the Lord be blessed He sayde further he thanked most humbly the Emperors maiesty and all the Princes and estates of the Empyre that they had geuen to hym benigne and gracious audience and graunted safe conduct to come and returne Finally he sayd he desired none other of them then a reformation according to the sacred word of God and consonancy of holy Scriptures which effectually in his hart he desired Otherwise he was prest to suffer all chauÌ„ces for the Emperiall maiesty as life and death goodes fame and reproch reseruing nothing to himselfe but the onely word of God which he would constantly confesse to the latter end humbly recommending hym to the Emperours maiesty and to all the Princes and other estates of the sacred Empyre The morow after which was the 26. day of Aprill Luthers departure from Wormes after he had taken his leaue of such as supported him and other his beneuolent frends that often times visited hym and had broken hys fast at tenne of the clocke he departed from Wormes accompanyed with such as repayred thyther with him hauing space of time limited vnto him as is sayd for 21. dayes and no more The Emperours Heralde Casper Sturine folowed and ouertooke him at Oppenhime being commaunded by the Emperour to coÌ„duct him safely home ¶ The vsuall prayer of Martin Luther COnfirme O God in vs that thou hast wrought and perfect the worke that thou hast begunne in vs to thy glory So be it Ex histor Phil. Melancth Ex Sledano Ex Parali Abb. Vrsperge ex Casp. Peucero MArtin Luther thus being dismissed of the Emperour according to the promise of his safeconduct made as you haue heard departed from Wormes toward his countrey the 26 of Aprill Luther in his iourney wryteth to
was wicked and a great blasphemie againste Gods holy name and therfore was to be abrogated and in stead therof the right vse of the Lords supper to be restored agayne Which vnlesse they could prooue by y e manifest testimonies of the Scripture to be true they would refuse no maner of punishment On the contrary part the Bishop of Romes clergie did holde and maintaine that the Masse was good and holy whereuppon kindled a great contention on both sides which when the Senate and Magistrates of the city woulde haue brought to a disputation and coulde not because the Priests would not condescend to any reasoning therfore seeing they so accused the other yet would come to no triall of their cause the sayde Magistrates coÌ„manded them to silence The Bishop of Strausburgh to the Senate The byshop in the meane while ceased not with his letters messengers daily to call vpoÌ„ the senate desiring the senate to perseuere in the auncient religion of their elders to geue no care to those newe teachers declaring what daunger pearil it would bring vpon them The Senate againe desired him The Senate of Strausburgh replieth to the byshop as they had done oftentimes before that such things which appertained to the true honor and worship of God might be set forward and all other things which tended to the coÌ„trary might be remoued and taken away for that properly belonged to hys office to see to But the Bishop still driuing them off with delaies pretended to call an assemble for the same appoynting also day and place for the hearing discussing of those controuersies where in deede nothing was performed at all The Bishop of Strausburgh coÌ„playneth to the CouÌ„cell of Spires but with his letters he did often sollicitate them to surcease their enterprise sometimes by waye of entreating sometimes with manacing words terrifying them and at last seeing he could nothing by that way preuaile he turned his sute to the assemble of the Empire which was theÌ„ at Spires collected entreating them to set in a foote and to helpe what they could with their authoritie The message from the CouÌ„cell of Spires to the Citie of Strausburgh They ready to satisfie the Byshops request sent a solemne Ambassie to the Senate and Citizens of Strausburgh about Decemb. the yere about said requiring them not to put downe the Masse for neither it was sayd they in y e power of the Emperor nor of any other estate to alter the auncient Religion receiued from their forefathers but eyther by a generall or by a prouinciall Councell whyche Councell if they supposed to be farre of at leaste that they would take a pause till the next sitting of y e Empire whych should be with speede where their requests being propouÌ„ded and heard they should haue such reasonable aunswer as should not miscontent them for it was sayde they against all lawe and reason for a priuate Magistrate to infringe and dissolue those thyngs which by general consent of the whole world haue bene agreed vpon and therefore good reason required that they shoulde obteine so much at theyr handes For els if they should obstinately procede in this theyr attempt so with force and violence to worke as they began it might fortune the Emperour their supreme Magistrate vnder God and also Ferdinandus his deputie would not take it well and so shoulde be compelled to seeke suche remedie therein as they would be sorie to vse Wherfore their request was aduise also that they shuld wey the matter diligently with themselues folowe good counsaile who in so doing should not only glad the Emperor but also worke that which should redound chiefly to theyr owne commendation and safetie The bishops of Hildesseme and of Strausburgh trauaile to keepe the Citye of Strausburgh in their olde religion Besides the messengers thus sent from the Councell of Spires the Byshop also of Hildesseme had bene wyth them a little before exhorting them in the Emperours name after like maner Neither did the bishop of Strausburgh also cease wyth his messengers and letters daily to labour his frendes there and especially such of the Senatours as he had to him bound by any feaulty or otherwise by any gifts or friendship that so much as in them did lye they should vphold the Masse and gainstand the contrary proceedings of the other The Senate of Strausburgh in the meane time seing the matter did so long hang in controuersie the space now of 2. yeares and the preachers daily and instantly calling vpon them for a reformation and sute also being made to them or the Citizens assembled their great ful councel to the number of 300 as in great matters of importance they are accustomed to doe and there with themselues debated the case declaring on the one side if they abolished y e masse what danger they should incurre by the Emperor ReformatioÌ„ of religioÌ„ at Strausburgh On the other side if they did not how much they shuld offend god and therefore geuing them respite to consulte at the nexte meting required them to declare their aduise and sentence in the matter When the day came that euery man shoulde say his mind so it fell out that the voices and iudgements of them which went against the Masse preuailed Whereupon immediatly a decree was made the 20. of Februarie Anno. 1529. that the Masse should be suspended and layde downe til the time that the aduersary part could prooue by good Scripture The Masse ouerthrown at Strausburgh the Masse to be a seruice auailable acceptable before God This decree being established by the coÌ„sent of y e whole Citie the Senate eftsoones commaunded the same to be proclaimed and to take full place and effect as well within the Citie as also without so farre as their limites and dominion did extend and afterward by letters certified their Byshop touching the doing thereof Who hearing these newes as heauy to his heart as leade did signifie to them again how he receiued their letters how he vnderstode by them The bishops patience perforce the effect and summe of their doings all which he was enforced to digest with suche patience as hee coulde thoughe they wente sore againste his stomacke seeing for the present time he could no otherwise chuâ—e heereafter would serue he sayde he would see therunto according as his charge and office should require ReformatioÌ„ beginneth at Basill Thus howe the Masse was ouerthrowne in Zurike in Berne in Geneua in Strausburgh you haue hearde Now what folowed in Basil remaineth likewise to vnderstand In this citye of Basill was Oecolampadius preacher as is aboue signified by whose diligent labor trauaile Ioannes Oecolampadius the Gospel began there to take such fruit that great dissention there also arose among the citizeÌ„s about religion and especially about the Masse Wherupon the Senate of Basill appoynted that after an open disputation it shoulde be determined by
many graue and discreet persons came to visit him exhorting him that he would chaunge his opinion to speake more modestly FrauÌ„ces answered againe that he mainteined no opinion erroneous or hereticall if he semed to be somewhat vehement with the Friers that was to be ascribed not to him so muche as to theyr owne importunity hereafter he woulde â—rame himself more temporaâ—â—y Wherupon the spaniards thinking him better come to himself San Romane deliuered out of prison discharged him out of prison Which was about y e time wheÌ„ y e Emperor was in his couÌ„sel at Ratisbone an 1541. San Romane thus beyng freede out of Prison came to Antwerpe where he remayned aboue tweÌ„ty dayes From thence he went to Louane vnto a certaine frend of his named FraÌ„ciscus Driander Frances Dryander who also afterward dyed a Martyr with whom he had much conference about diuers matters of Religion who gaue him counsell not to alter the state or hys vocation being called to be a marchauÌ„t which state he might exercise with a good conscience doe much good And as touching Religion his counsell was that he should say or do nothing for fauour of men wherby the glory of God should be diminished but so that he required notwithstanding in the same a sound and right iudgement conformed to the rule of Gods word lest it might chauÌ„ce to him as it doth to many who being caried with an inconfederate zeale leaue their vocations while they think to do good and to edifye they destroy do harm and cast themselues needles into dauÌ„ger It is God sayd he that hath the care of his Church and will stirre vp faythfull Ministers for the same neither doth hee care for such which rashly intrude themselues into that function without any calling This aduertisement of Dryander Fraunces did willinglye accept promising hereafter to moderate himselfe more considerately But this promise was shortly broken as you shall heare For passing from Dryander he went to Ratisbone and there hauyng tyme and oportunity conuenient to speake to y e Emperor he stepped boldely vnto him The boldnes of San Romane to the Emperour beseeching hym to deliuer his country and subiectes of Spayne froÌ„ false religion and to restore agayne the sinceritye of Christes doctrine declaring and protesting that the Princes and Protestantes of Germany were in the truer part and that the Religion of Spayne beynge drowned in ignoraunce and blindenes was greatly dissonant from the true perfect word of God with many other words perteyning to y e same effect The Emperor all this while gaue him gentle hearing signifying that he would consider vpon the matter so do therin as he trusted should be for the best The Emperours gentle answere This quiet answere of the Emperour ministred to him no litle incouragement of better hope albeit he mighte perceiue there in the City many examples to the coÌ„trary yet all that discouraged not him but he weÌ„t the second also the third time vnto the Emperor Who quietly agayne so aunswered him as before And yet this our Fraunces not satisfied in his minde sought with a greater ardency the fourth time to speake to the Emperour but he was repulsed by certayne of the Spanyardes about the Emperor who incontinent with out al further hearing or aduising y e cause would haue throwne him headlong into the riuer of Danubius had not the Emperor stayd them wylled him to be iudged by the lawes of the Empyre By which commaundement of the Emperor he was reserued deteined with other malefactors in bandes till the Emperor tooke his voiage into Aphrike Frances San Romane brought into Spayne TheÌ„ Fraunces with other captiues folowing the Court after that the Emperor was come into Spayn was there deliuered to the Inquisitours by whoÌ„ he was layd in a darcke prison vnder the ground Oft many times he was called for to examination where he suffered great iniuries and contumelies but euer remayned in his conscience firme and vnmooueable The Articles wherupon he stoode and for which hee was condemned were these The articles of San Romane That life and saluation in the sight of God câ—â—meth to no maÌ„ by his own strength workes or â—â—rites but only by the free mercy of God in the bloud and Sacrifice of his sonne our mediator That the Sacrifice of the Masse which 〈◊〉 Papistes do recount auayleable Ex opere operato for remission of sinne both to the quick and dead is horrible blasphemy That auricular confession with the numbring vp of sinnes that SatisfactioÌ„ Purgatory Pardons inuocation of Sayntes worshipping of Images bee mere blasphemy agaynst the liuing God Item that the bloud of Christ is prophaned and iniuried in the same aforesayd After the Inquisitours perceaued that by no meanes he could be reclamed from his assertioÌ„s they proceded at last to the sentence condemning him to be burned for an hereticke Many other malefactors were brought also with him to the place of executioÌ„ but all they were pardoned dismissed Barrabas deliuered Christ taken he onely for the Gospell being odious to the whole world was taken burned As he was led to the place of suffering they put vpon him a Miter of paper paynted full of deuils after the spanish guise Furthermore as he was brought out of the Citty gate to be burned there stood a woodden crosse by the way wherunto Frances was required to do homage Which he refused aunswering that the maner of Christians is not to worship wood The maner of Christians is not to worshyp wood and he was sayd he a Christian. Hereupon arose great clamor among the vulgare people for that he denied to worship the wooden crosse But this was turned incoÌ„tinent into a miracle Such was the blind rudenesse of that people that they did impute this to the diuine vertue as geuen that Crosse from heauen for that it would not suffer it selfe to be worshipped of an hereticke A great Spanish myracle and immediatly for the opinion of that great miracle the multitude with theyr swordes did hew it in pieces euery man thinking himselfe happy that might cary away some chip or fragment of the sayde Crosse. When he was come to the place where he should suffer Frances constant to the death the Friers were busye about him to haue him recant but he continued euer firme As he was layd vpon the heape of woode and the fire kindled aboute him he began a litle at the feeling of the fire to lyfte vp his head toward heaueÌ„ Which when the Inquisitours perceiued The death and martyrdome of Frances San Romaine hoping that he would recant hys doctrine they caused him to be taken from the fyre But when they perceiued nothing lesse in hym the aduersaryes being frustrate of theyr expectation wil led him to be throwne in agayne and so was he immediatly dispatched After that the Martyrdome of this blessed man was thus consummate the
men which were also appreheÌ„ded for religion into the Temple of S. Mary called De Minerua the 5. daye of Septemb an 1553. either there to reuoke or to be burned There sate vpon them 6. Cardinals in high seates beside the Iudge before whome preached a Dominicke Fryer which cruelly inueighing agaynst the poore prisoners incensed the Cardinals with al the vehemency he might to theyr condemnation The poore men stoode holding a burning taper in theyr handes Of whome some for feare of death reuolted But this Doctor Mollius with a Weauer of Perusium remayned constant Then Mollius began an earnest sermon in the Italian tongue whereâ—â— hee confirmed the Articles of the fayth by y e sacrete scriptures declaring also that the pope was not the successour of Peter but Antichrist and his sectaryes do figure the whore of Babilon Doct. Mollius cyteth the Pope to the tribunal seate of Christ. Moreouer he cited theÌ„ vp to the Tribunall seate of Christ and threw away the burning taper from hym Wherupon they being replenished with anger condemned hym with the Weauer to the fire and commaunded them to be had away So were they caried incontinent to the camp or fielde called Florianum Where they remayned cheerefull and constant First the Weauer was hanged The martyrdome of Doct. Mollius and the Weauer Mollius then willing the hangman to execute hys office lykewise vpon hym began to exhorte the people to beware of Idolatry to haue no other sauiours but Christ alone for he onely is the mediator betweene God and man And so was he also hanged commending hys soule to God and afterward layd in the fire and burned The people hauing diuers iudgementes vpon hym some sayd he dyed an hereticke some sayd he was a good man Ex Henr. Pantal. lib. 19. an 1543.  Two monkes of the house of S. Austen in Rome At Rome Ann. 1554. Furthermore in the same Cittye of Rome Two Augustine MoÌ„ks Martyrs and about the same time in the Monastery of Saint Austen were found two Monkes in their Celles with theyr tonges and theyr heades cut of onely for rebukyng the immoderate outragious excesse of the Cardinals as witnesseth Manlius Suche was the cruelty then of the malignant aduersaryes Ex Ioan. Manl. in dictis Phil. Melanct The Senate of Millain Franciscus Gamba Franciscus Gamba martyr At the City of ComuÌ„ in the dioces of Millian Ann. 1554. Fraunces Gamba borne in the Cittye of Brixia in Lobardie after he had receaued the knowledge of the gospell went to Geneua to conferre about certain necessary affayres with them that were wise learned in that Church which was about the time wheÌ„ the Lordes Supper there was administred at Penticoste Who there also at the same tyme did communicate with them Afterwarde in hys returning home as he was passing ouer the Lake of Come hee was taken brought to Come and and there coÌ„mitted to ward During the tyme of which imprisonment diuers and sondry as well nobles as others with Doctors also especially priestes and monkes resorted vnto hym laboring by all maner of meanes The blynde iudgement of the world in Gods matters most fayre promises to reduce him froÌ„ his opinions which semed to some but phantasies comming of some humors to some they semed vncatholicke or hereticall But hee constantly disputing w t them by the manifest scriptures declared the opinions whiche he defended not to be any vayn speculations or imaginary phantasies of mans doting brayne but y e pure verity of God and y e euident doctrine of Christ Iesus expressed in hys word necessary for all men to beleue also to maintayn vnto death and therefore for hys part rather then he would be found false to Christ his word he was there ready not to deny but to stand to Christs Gospel to the effusion of hys bloud Thus when he coulde in no wise be reclaymed froÌ„ y e doctrine of trueth letters came from the Senate of Millain that he should be executed w t death Which execution as they of Comum were about to prepare in y e mean while came other letters from Geneua writteÌ„ by the Emperours Ambassadour and other nobles of Millain by y e which letters his death was delayed for a tyme till at length other letters were sent from the Senate againe of Millain requiring execution of y e sentence Neuertheles through intercession of his friendes one weekes respite more was graunted hym to proue whether he might be wonne agayne to the popes Church that is to say lost from God Thus he being mightely long assayled both by friendes by enemies terrified Patience in persecution yet by no perswasions would be expugned but gaue thankes to God y t hee was made worthy to suffer the rebukes of this world and cruell death for the testimonye of hys sonne and so went he chearfully vnto hys death Then came certayn Franciscan Fryers to hym to heare his confession whiche he refused Also they brought in theyr handes a crosse for him to behold to keep hym from desperation at the feeling of the fire But hys mynde he sayd was so replenished with ioy and comforte in Christ that he needed neither their Crosse nor theÌ„ After this as he was declaring manye comfortable things to the people of the fruition of those heauenly ioyes aboue whiche God hath prepared for hys because he should speake no more to the people hys tongue was bored thorough and so immediately beyng tyed to the stake there was straÌ„gled till he was dead euery man there geuing testimony Frances Gamba his tongue bored thorough which saw hys constancie that he dyed a good man Ex Epistola cuiusdam Nobilis Comensis apud Henr. Pantal. Lib. 10. Celium Pope Paulus the 4. The Magistrates of Venice Pomponius Algerius At Rome Ann. 1555. Pomponius Algerius borne in Capua Pomponius Algerius martyr a young man of great learning was student in the Uniuersitie of Padua where hee not beyng able to conceale and keepe close the veritie of Christes Gospell whiche he learned by the heauenlye teaching of Gods grace ceased not both by doctrine and example of lyfe to informe as many as he could in the same doctrine and to bring them to Christ. For the whiche he was accused of heresie to Pope Paulus the fourth Who sending immediately to the Magistrates of Uenice caused hym to be apprehended at Puada caryed to Uenice where hee was long deteyned in prison bandes till at last the Pope commaunded y e Magistrates there to send hym vp bouÌ„d vnto Rome which the Uenetians eftsoones accomplished After he was broughe to Rome manifolde perswasions and allurementes were assayed to remoue the vertuous and blessed younge man from hys sentence But when no worldly perswasions could preuayle against the operation of Gods spirit in hym then was hee adiudged to be burned aliue which death most constaÌ„tly he susteyned to the great admiration of all that beheld
ambassadors in Spaine there was again set at liberty When as the ambassador coÌ„plained hereof to y e Cardinal he laid al the fault vpon Clarentius laying also that Clarentius had defied y e Emperor w tout the kings knowledge at the request of the Herald of FraÌ„ce wherfore at his returne The Cardinâ—â— set Clarentius 〈◊〉 the Emperour and afterward would 〈…〉 death he should lose his head at Callis Wherof Clarentius being aduertised by the captaine of Bayon in hys returne tooke shipping at Bullen so priuely came into England and by meanes of certaine of his frends of y e kings priuy chamber hee was brought vnto the kings presence before the Cardinal knewe of it where as he shewed vnto y e king the Cardinals letters of Commission and declared the whole order and circumstance of theyr gentle intreaty When the king heard the whole circumstance thereof and had a while mused thereupon he sayde O Lord Iesus he that I trusted most told me all these things contrary Well Clarentius I wil no more be so light of credeÌ„ce hereafter for now I â—ee wel that I haue bene made beleue the thing that was neuer done and from that time forwarde y e king neuer put any more confidence or trust in the Cardinall The cause why the Cardinal should beare the Emperor all this malice grudge after some wryters it appeareth to be thus At what time as Pope Clement was takeÌ„ prisoner as is before sayd the Cardinal wrote vnto the Emperor that he shuld make him Pope But when he had receiued an answere that pleased him not he waxed furious madde The Cardiâ—â—â—s pâ—oâ—de 〈…〉 against the Emperour and sought al meanes to displease the Emperour wryting very sharpely vnto him many manacing letters that if he would not make him Pope he would make such a ruffling betwene christian Princes as was not this 100. yeares before to make the Emperor repent yea though it should cost the whole Realme of England Wherunto the Emperor made answer in a little booke Imprinted both in Spanish and Dutch answering vnto many manacings of the Cardinal and diuers of his Articles but specially to that his ruffling threate wherein he manaced him that if he wold not make him Pope he wold set such a ruffling betwixte Christian Princes as was not this 100. yeare though it should cost the whole Realme of England Wherunto the Emperor answering again biddeth him looke wel about him The Empeâ—ouâ—â— aunswere vnto the Cardinalls threates lest through his doings and attempts he might bring the matter in that case y t it shuld cost him the Realme of England in deede You haue heard before howe that when Pope Clement was prisoner in the Emperors army the Cardinal required the king because he did beare the title of defendor of the faith y t he would rescue the Pope also what the kings answere was thereunto and what summes of money he had obtained of the king Nowe because you shall not also be ignorant by what meanes and vppon what occasion this title of the defender of the faith was geuen vnto the King The title of defâ—â—dour of the faith we thinke it good somewhat to say in this place When as Martin Luther had vttered the abhomination of the Pope and his clergy diuers bookes were come into England our Cardinal here thinking to finde a remedy for that sent immediately vnto Rome for this title of defendour of the faith which afterward the vicare of CroydeÌ„ preached that the kings grace would not lose it for al London 20. mile about it Neither is it maruel for it cost more then London 40. mile about it considering the great summes whyche you haue heard the Cardinal obtained of the King for the Popes relief beside the effusion of much innocent bloud When thys gloryous title was come from Rome the Cardinall brought it vnto the kings grace at Grenewich and though that the king had it already and had read it yet against the morning were all the Lords and Gentlemen that could in so shorte space be gathered sent for to come receaue it with honour In the morning the cardinall gate him through the backe side into the Frier obseruants and parte of the Gentlemen went round about and welcomed him from Rome parte met him halfe way and some at the Court gate The king himselfe mette hym in the hall and brought him vp into a great chamber The glorious â—â—nitye 〈◊〉 the Cardinal laughâ—â— to 〈◊〉 whereas was a seat prepared on high for the king and the Cardinall to sit on whiles the Bull was read Which pompe all men of wisedome and vnderstanding laughed to scorne Thys done the kyng went to hys Chappell to heare Masse accompanied with many nobles of his realme and Ambassadours of sundry Princes The Cardinall being reuested to sing masse the earle of Essex brought the basen of water the Duke of Suffolke gaue the assay the Duke of Norfolke held the towel so he proceded to masse WheÌ„ masse was done the bull was againe published the trompets blew the shawmes and suckbuts played in honor of the kings newe stile Then the king went to dinner in the midst wherof the king of Herauldes and his company beganne the largesse crying The kinges stilâ— augmented Henricus Dei gratia Rex Angliae Franciae defensor fidei Dominus Hiberniae Thus was all things ended with great solemnitie Not much vnlyke to thys was the receyuing of the Cardinalles hatte which when a ruffian had brought vnto him to Westminster vnder his cloke he clothed the messenger in riche aray and sent him backe againe to Douer appoynting the Bishop of Canterbury to meete hym The thrasonicall receauing of the Cardinalls hatte and then an other companye of the Lordes and Gentlemen I wote not how often before it came to Westminster where it was set vpon a cupbourd and tapers rounde about it so y t the greatest Duke in the lande must make curtesie thereuunto and to his emptie seate he being away And for somuch as we are in hande with the actes and doings of Cardinall Wolsey among many other thyngs The cruell dealing of the Cardinall against Richard Pacie Richard Pacie Deane of Paules whych of purpose we ouerpasse this is not to be exempted out of memorie touching hys vncourtuous or rather currish handling of Richard Pacie Deane of Paules Thys Pacie being the kinges Secretarie for the Latine tounge was of such ripenes of wit of learning eloquence also in forein laÌ„guages so expert that for the one he was thought most meete to succeede after Iohn Colet in the Deanery of Paules beside which he was also preferred to the Deanry of Excetour For the other he was sent in the kinges affayres Ambassadour to Uenice Which function there he so discharged that it is hard to say whether he procured more commendation or admiration amoÌ„g the Uenetians both for dexteritie of hys witte and especially
to be a farre vnequall recompence and satisfaction for a thinge whiche ought of right and iustice to be ministred vnto him that a king therefore should reuocate and vndoe the actes and statutes passed by a whole Realm contrary to hys owne honour and weale of hys subiectes c. Where is moreouer to be vnderstanded The crafty packing of the Papistes how that the Pope with all hys papistes and the French king also and peraduenture Stephen Gardiner too the kynges owne Ambassadour had euer a speciall eye to disproue and disapoynt y e kings successioÌ„ by Queene Anne whoÌ„ they knew all to be a great enemye vnto the pope thinking thereby that if that succession were diminished the popes kingdome might soone be restored agayn in England But yet for all their vniust and craftie packing they were throughe Gods prouideÌ„ce frustrate of their desired purpose For although they so brought to passe the next yeare folowing to adâ—â—lle the order of that succession by a contrary Parlament The Papistes frustrate of their purpose yet neither did they so adnihilate it but that both K. Edwarde followed yea and also the same succession afterward by the said king and other parlaments was restored againe and yet God be praised hath hetherto raigned doth yet florish in the Realme of England Nowe as wee haue declared the Kings doings in the Realme of Scotland and of Fraunce proceding further in the kings proceedings wyth other Princes let vs see how the king defended himselfe and his cause before the Emperor sending his ambassador vnto him vsing these wordes before his maiestie as here foloweth The Oration of the kings Ambassadour before the Emperour in defence of his cause SIr the king my maister taking and reputing you as his perfect frende confederate and allye and not doubting but you remembring the mutual kindnes betwene you in times past The Oration of the Ambassadour to the Emperour wil shew yourself in all ocurrents to be of such minde and disposition as iustice truthe and equitie doeth require hath willed me by his letters to open and declare vnto you what he hathe done and in what wise hee hathe proceeded concerning suche Marriage as by many yeares was supposed to haue bene betwene your Aunte and hys grace Diuisions consisting in 2. partes In which matter being two principall poyntes specially to be regarded considered that is to say the iustice of the cause and the order of the processe therein hys highnes hath so vsed hym in both as no man may right wisely complaine of the same First as touching the iustnes of the cause that is to say of that Mariage betwene him and your sayde Aunte to be nought The iustnes of the kinges cause and of no moment ne effect but against the law of God nature and man and indispensable by the Pope and in no wise vailable his highnes hath done therein asmuch as becommeth him for discharge of hys coÌ„science and hath found so certain so euideÌ„t so manifest so open and approued truth as wherunto his maiesty ought of good congruence to geue place which by al other ought to be allowed and receiued not as a matter doutful disputable or depending in question and ambiguitie but as a plaine determined and discussed verity of the true vnderstanding of gods word and lawe which all Christian men must follow and obey and before all other worldly respects prefer and execute In attaining the knowledge whereof if hys highnes had vsed only his owne particular iudgement sentence or the minde only opinion of his owne natural subiects althoughe the same might in his conscience haue suffised woulde not muche haue repugned if some other had made difficulty to assent to him in the same till further discussion had bene made thereupon But now forasmuch as besides hys owne certaine vnderstanding and the agreement of thys whole Cleargie to the same in both Prouinces of hys realme his maiestie hath also for him the determinatioÌ„s of the moste famous vniuersities of Christendome Vniuersities staÌ„ding with the kinges cause and most indifferent to pronounce and geue iudgement in this case and among them the Uniuersitie of Bonony all feare of the Pope set apart concluding against his power and also Padua the Uenetians threates not regarded geuynge their sentence for the truth euident words of Gods law there should no man as seemeth to him gainsay or wythstand either in word or dede the truth thus opened but for his honor and duetie to the obseruation of Gods law willingly embrace and receiue the same According whereunto his grace perceiueth also aswell in his Realme as els where a notable consent and agreement amongest all Diuines and suche as haue studied for knowledge of Gods lawe without contradiction of anye number vnlesse it be such applying their minde to y e maintenaunce of worldly affections do either in defence of such lawes as they haue studied eyther for satisfaction of theyr priuate appetite forbeare to agree vnto y e same The number of whoÌ„ is so smal as in the discerning of truth it ought not to be regarded in a case so plainly described and determined by Gods word as thys is And if percase your Maiestie heere not regarding the number but the matter shall seme to consider in thys case not so much who speaketh as what is spoken to aunswer thereunto I say Syr the king my maister is of the same mind for his own satisfactioÌ„ taketh hymselfe to be in the right Both the number and matter maketh with the king not because so many sayeth it but because hee being learned knoweth the matter to be right Neuertheles reason would and enforceth also that straungers to the cause and not parties therein should be induced to beleue that to be truth that such a number of Clearkes doe so constantly affirme specially not being otherwise learned to be iudges of theyr sayings as your maiestie is not And if you were then could your highnesse shew such reasons authorities and grounds as cannot be taken away and be so firm and stable as they ought not of Christen men in any part to be impugned like as hath bene partly heeretofore shewed by his sondry ambassadours to your Imperiall maiestie and shuld eftsoones be done were it not too great an iniury to y t is already passed in the Realme to dispute the same againe in any other countrey which being contrarious to the lawes and ordinances of his realme he trusteth your prudeÌ„cie will not require but take that is past for a thing done and iustly done and as for Gods part to leaue hys conscience to himself qui Domino sua stat aut cadit and for y e world to passe ouer as a frend that whych nothing toucheth you and not to maruell though the said king my master regarding the wealth of his soule principally with the commodity of his person and so great benefit quiet of his realm haue percase
power lieth ministred iustice indifferently to all persons whiche doing then wee thinke your grace should not thinke it any lacke of frendship that wee did not certifie you of the offense of youre Chaplayne although in deede the cause hath already bene certified And we trust your grace both of youre naturall nearenes to the Kings Maiestie and your owne good wisdome will not mislike our Ministerie in the execution of the lawes of the Realme and the pleasure of the Kyngs Maiestie So we wish to your grace from the bottome of our hart the grace of almighty God with the riches of his holy giftes * The Lady Mary to the Counsell the 11. of May. MY Lordes it appeareth by your letters of the vj. of this presēt which I haue receaued that the imprisonmēt of my Chaplaine Doctour Mallet is for saying of Masse and that he was condemned for the same In deede I haue heard that he was endited but neuer condēned Neuerthelesse I must needes confesse and say that he did it but by my commaundement and I sayde vnto him that none of my Chaplaynes shoulde be in daunger of the lawe for saying Masse in my house And thereof to put hym out of doubt the Emperours Embassadour that dead is declared vnto him before that time how after what sorte the promise was made to his Maiesty wherby it appeareth that the mā hath not in that willingly offēded Wherfore I pray you to discharge him of emprisonment and set him at liberty if not ye minister cause no◠only to him but to others to thinke that I haue declared more then was true whiche I woulde not wittingly doo to gaine the whole world And heerein as I haue often sayde the Emperours Maiestie can be best iudge And to be playne with you according to mine old custome there is not one amongst the whole number of you all that woulde be more loth to be founde vntrue of their word then I. And well I am assured that none of you haue found it in me My Lordes I pray you seeke not so much my dishonour as to disprooue my word whereby it should appeare too plaine that you handle me not well And if you haue cause to charge my Chaplaine for this matter lay that to mee and I wyll discharge it againe by your promise made to the Emperours Maiestie which you can not rightfully denie wishing rather that you had refused it in the beginning then after such promise made and to such a person to seeme to go from it which my Lordes as your very friend I hartely desire you to consider and to geue me no cause to thinke you otherwise then my friends considering I haue alwayes and yet do God is my iudge wishe to you all no worse neyther in soules nor bodies then to my selfe and so wyth my hartye commendations I commit you all to God From Beaulien the 11. of May. Your assured friend to my power Mary ¶ The Counsaile to the Lady Mary the 27. of May. 1551. AFter our due commendations to your grace although the same receiueth not aunswere so soone as perchance was looked for vpon the returne of your graces seruaunt Yet we doubt not but youre grace vnderstanding that where we haue matters of estate pertaining to the Kings Maiestie in hand as in deede we haue had of late the differring of the answere in a matter being no greater requireth to be borne withal And touching the answere of your graces letter for D. Mallet we pray your grace to vnderstande that although you write he was indited but not condemned and so seeme to take exception at the maner of his imprisonment yet if they which enformed your grace of that maner of reason in the law were as well disposed to please your grace with truth as the reason in deede is not true then should they haue told your grace that by the Acte of Parliament if either Mallet haue bene conuicted by the othes of twelue men or that the fact hath bene notorious then the punishment doth follow iustly The trueth of the one and the other way of conuiction in this case is notorious enough besides his flying from the processe of the lawe And where your grace to releeue him woulde take the fault vpon your selfe we are sory to perceiue your grace so ready to be a defence to one that the Kings lawe doth condemne Neuerthelesse he is not punished because your grace bad him and willed him to do that which was an offence but he is punished for doing it and if we should not so see the Kings lawes executed without respecte it might appeare that we too much neglected our duty and for that your grace taketh it as a discredite to your selfe that he should be punished for that you bad him do alledging to him that you had authoritie so to do and so promise made to the Emperour it hath bene both written and sayde to your grace what is the truth in that behalfe and howsoeuer that your grace pretendeth your licence to haue Masse said before your selfe for a time of your reconciliation it had bene so far out of reason for to haue desired that whosoeuer was your Chapleine might say Masse in any house that was yours when your graces selfe was not there For so is D. Mallets offence for saying Masse at one of your houses where your grace was not whych thing as it was neuer graunted so do we not remember that euer it was demaunded The sute that hath bene at anye tyme made either by the Emperous Embassadour that dead is or by him that now is was neuer but in respect of your grace and not to be taken that the Emperour or his his Embassadour meant to priuiledge mayster D. Mallet or any other to say Masse out of your presence Wherefore as we do plainely write to your grace so do we pray you to take it in good part and thinke we be as ready to do our due reuerence towards your grace in any thyng wee may doe with our dutie to our maister as any youre grace may commaund and of suche wisedome we knowe your grace to be that ye should iudge the better of vs for that we be diligent to see the lawes of the Realme executed wherein resteth the strength and safegard of the kings Maiestie our soueraigne Lord and Maister The Lady Mary to the Lordes of the Counsayle 21. Iune 1551. MY Lords although I receiued by my seruant this bearer who lately deliuered vnto you my letters wherein I desired to haue my Chaplayne D. Mallet discharged of his imprisonmente your gentle message in generall wordes for the whyche I geue you my hartye thankes yet haue I no knowledge whether you will set him at liberty or no But I thinke that your waighty affayres at that time was the let and cause ye did not write For else I doubt not you would haue aunswered me Wherefore not being satisfied and vnderstandyng yee would gladly pleasure mee I thought
the cognisaunce of the Lorde of hostes This cognisaunce of the Lorde standeth not in forked cappes The Lordes cognisaunce standeth not in forked caps c. but in suffering for the Lordes sake typettes shauen crownes or such other baggage and Antichristian pelfe but in suffering for the Lordes sake The world shall hate you sayth Christ. Loe â—here is the Cognisaunce and Badge of Goddes children The world shall hate you Reioyce therefore my dearely beloued reioyce that God doth thus vouchsafe to beginne to conforme you and make you like to Christ. By the tryall of these dayes yee are occasioned more to repent more to pray more to contemn this world more to desire life euerlasting more to be holy for holy is the end wherefore God doth afflict vs and so to come to Gods companye Whych thing because we can not doe as long as this body is as it is therfore by the dore of death we must enter with Christ into eternall life and immortality of soule and body whiche God of his mercy send shortly for our Sauiour Iesus Christes sake Amen ¶ To Maystres A. Worcup THe euerlasting peace of Christ be more and more liuely felte in our hartes Another letter of M. Bradford to Mistres Warcup by the operation of the holy ghost now and for euer Amen Although I knowe it bee more then needeth to write anye thing vnto you good Sister being as I doubt not you be diligently exercised in readinge of the Scriptures in meditating of the same and in harty prayer to GOD for the helpe of his holy Spirite to haue the sense and feeling especially of the comfortes you reade in Gods sweete booke yet hauinge such oportunity and knowing not whether hereafter I shall euer haue the like as this bringer can declare I thought good in few wordes to take my farewell in writinge because otherwise I canne not And nowe me thinkes I haue doone it For what else canne I or shoulde I saye vnto you my dearely beloued in the Lorde but farewell Farewell deare Sister farewell howbeit in the Lorde our Lord I say farewell In him shall you farewell Bradford 〈◊〉 farewell Maâ—stres Warcup so much the better by howe muche in your selfe you fare euill and shall fare euill When I speake of your selfe I meane also this worlde thys life and all thinges properly perteining to this life In them as you looke not for your welfare so be not dismayed when accordingly you shall not feele it To the Lord our GOD to the Lambe our Christ which hath borne our sinnes on his backe is our Mediatour for euer do I send you In him looke for welfare and that without all wauering because of his owne goodnesse and truth which our euilles and vntrueth can not take away Not that therefore I would haue you to flatter your selfe in any euill or vnbeliefe but that I woulde comfort you that they should not dismay you Yours is our Christ wholy Christ is wholy 〈◊〉 with all that euer hath yours I say he is with all that euer he hath Is not this welfare trow you MouÌ„taynes shall moue and the earth shall fall before you finde it otherwise say that liar Sathan what he list Therefore good Sister farewell and be mery in the Lorde bee mery I say for you haue good cause If your welfare ioy and saluation hanged vpon any other thing then onely Gods mercy truth then might you well be sad heauy and stand in a doubt but in that it hangeth onely vpon these two tel Sathan he lyeth How to aunswere Sathan when he moueth vs to doubâ—â— Gods 〈◊〉 How to looke vpoâ— Christ. How to looke 〈◊〉 our selueâ— In case oâ— iustificatiâ—â— let no 〈◊〉 looke vpoâ— himself 〈◊〉 onely vpâ—â— the goodâ—â—â— of God iâ— Christ. wheÌ„ he would you to stand in a mammering by causing you to caste your eyes which onely in this case should be set on Christ your sweet Sauior on your selfe In some part in deede looke on your selfe on your fayth on your loue obedience c. to wake you vp from security to stirre you vp to diligence in doing the thinges apperteyning to your vocation but when you would be at peace with God and haue true consolation in your conscience altogether looke vpon the goodnes of God in Christ. Thinke on this commaundement which precedeth all other that you must haue no other Gods but the Lord Iehouah which is your Lord God the which he could not be if that he did not pardon your sinnes in very deede Remember that Christ commaundeth you to call him father for the same intent And hereto call to minde all the benefites of God hitherto shewed vpon you and so shall you fele in very deede that which I wish vnto you now and pray you to wish vnto me Farewell or welfare in the Lord Iesus with whom he graunt vs shortlye to meete as his children for his name and mercies sake to our eternall welfare Amen ¶ To mine owne deare brother M. Laurence Saunders prisoner in the Marshalsee MY good brother I beseech our good and gracious Father alwayes to coÌ„tinue his gracious fauor loue towards vs by vs as by instruments of his grace to work his glory the coÌ„fusion of his aduersaryes A letter of M. Bradford to M. Sauâ—â—ders Ex ore infantium lactentium fundet laudem ad destruendum inimicum c. Amen 1. Out of the mouth of infantes and babes he will shew forth his prayse to destroy the enemy c. I haue perused your letters to my selfe and haue read them to others For aunswere whereof if I should write what Doctor Taylor and Mayster Philpot doe thinke then must I say that they thinke the Salt sent vnto vs by your * This frieâ—â— moued 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 to the Paâ—pistes artâ—â—cles with this condâ—â—tion so 〈◊〉 as they 〈◊〉 agaynst Gods word being in deede cleane coâ—â—trary to 〈◊〉 and yet shortly 〈◊〉 he valiantâ—â— suffred death for refusing 〈◊〉 same Psal. 54. Psalm 36 Psalm 3â— Math. 10. 1. Cor 10 2. Pet. 1. Nahum â— frende is vnseasonable And in deede I thinke they both will declare it hartely if they shoulde come before them As forme if you woulde knowe what I thinke my good and most deare brother Laurence because I am so sinnefull and so conspurcate the Lord knoweth I lye not with many greuous sinnes which I hope are washed away Sanguine Christi nostri I neither canne nor woulde bee consulted withall but as a sypher in Agrime How be it to tell you how and what I minde take this for a summe I pray GOD in no case I may seeke my selfe and in deede I thankâ— GOD therefore I purpose it not Quod reliquum est Domino Deo meo committo spero in illum quod ipse faciet iuxta hoc Iacta in Dominum curam c. Omnis cura vestra coniecta sit in illum c. Reuela Domino