the Disciples of Mahomet and who with his prophane and poysonous breath thought at once to blast and overturn the whole Disciplin of the Church who bewails the Punishments inflicted on Hereticks and in short who strove to turn all things topsie-turvie and is arrived at that degree of pride and madness as to despise the Authority both of Popes and Councils and has the confidence to prefer before them all his own single Judgment That he therefore had shewed himself a true Son of the Church in that he had nothing to do with that pernicious Rascal nor embraced any of his erroneous Opinions but in all things imitated the Vertues of his Fore-fathers That this made so many grave and understanding Men outvie each other in his Commendations And that he could not but think himself bound to return his most hearty Thanks to God who had bestowed on him so many rich endowments of Mind He says he had long borne with Luther's Sauciness and Temerity hoping he would in time grow ashamed of his Folly but now when he saw him deaf to all his Admonitions and that he was only hardned by the gentleness which he used towards him he was forc'd at last as in a desperate Disease to have recourse to a desperate Remedy to prevent if possible the farther spreading of the Contagion That having summoned therefor the Conclave and had the Advice of several learned Men in the matter after much serious deliberation he had signed the Decree being guided by that holy Spirit whose aids can never be wanting to an Infallible Church In it were recited some of his Tenets which were picked from among a great many more part of which were downright Heretical others directly contrary to the Precepts of the Gospel and some were destructive of Morality and even common Honesty it self and were such as by degrees would debauch Men into all manner of Wickedness That he had sent him a Copy of this Bull to let him see what monstrous Errors that Agent of Hell did maintain But now his Request to him was That he would admonish him not to persist in his Pride and Obstinacy but publickly and solemnly to recant all his former Writings which if he refused to do within a prefixed day then to take care to have him seized and committed to Prison by this means he would wipe off the Reproach of his own House and of Germany too and get himself immortal Honour by putting a timely stop to that flame which would else not have ended but in the ruin of his Country and it would be a Service also very acceptable even to God himself The Bull it self was very long and was published on the Fifteenth of June the substance of it was this After a Quotation of some Texts of Scripture which were applied to his present purpose his Holiness Pope Leo having called upon Christ St. Peter and St. Paul and the rest of that glorified Society to avert those dangers which at this time threatned the Church complains that there was now started up a Doctrin which not only revived all those Opinions which had been formerly condemned as Heretical but also contained in it several new Errours never before broached in the World and such as would justle out all sense of God and Religion That he was troubled that this Heresie should have its rise in Germany a Country always very Loyal to the Church of Rome and which to uphold the Dignity of that See had fought even to the last drop of Blood and never refused to undertake any the most difficult Enterprizes That it was yet fresh in memory with what Heroick Spirits and with what Zeal they maintained the Catholick Cause against the Bohemians and the Followers of Husse That some of their Universities had lately given Instances of a Vertue and Courage equal to what inspired the first Planters of Christianity But because he was Christ's Vicar here on Earth and the Care of the Universal Church was committed to him he could no longer neglect the discharge of his Duty After this he repeats Luther's Tenets which he says were repugnant to that Christian Love and Reverence which all Men owe to the Church of Rome That he had therefore summoned together the whole College of Cardinals and several other learned Men who after a long Debate all declared That these Points ought to be rejected as derogating from the Authority of Councils Fathers and even the Church it self Therefore with their advice and consent he condemns this whole summ of Doctrins and by virtue of his Supremacy commands all Persons under the severest Penalties to yield Obedience to this his Decree by renouncing those Opinions which are censured in it and he enjoyns all Magistrates especially those of Germany to use their endeavours to hinder the farther progress and growth of this Heresie He orders also Luther's Books to be every where brought forth and burnt Then he relates how Lovingly and Fatherly he had dealt with him in hopes to reclaim his by those gentle methods how he had admonish'd him by his Legates and cited him to come and make his Purgation at Rome not only granting him a safe Conduct but promising to furnish him with all Necessaries for his Journey but that he slighting this Summons had appealed from him to a General Council contrary to the Decrees of Pope Pius and Julius II by which it is enacted That whosoever shall make any such Appeal shall from that time be adjudged an Heretick and be obnoxious to the same Punishments That therefore it was in his power to have prosecuted him at first with the utmost rigour of the Law but that out of meer pity he had forborn so long if perhaps as the Prodigal Son his Calamities might bring him to a sense of his Errours and he would at last be willing to return into the bosom of the Chuâ—ch That he had still the same tender Affections towards him and that he most passionately intreated him and all his Followers that they would cease to disturb the Peace of Christendom and if they yield to this his request he promises to shew them all the kindness imaginable In the mean time he forbids Luther to Preach and prefixes Threescore days within which time he should amend burn his own Books and publickly Recant If he did not he condemns him as an Heretick and orders him to be punish'd according to Law he Excommunicates him and commands all Persons to avoid his Company under the like Penalty ordering this Decree to be read in all Churches upon certain days As to what he says of Pius and Julius the matter stands thus In the Year of our Lord 1359 Pius II on account of the War with the Turks holds a Council at Mantua and there among others makes a Decree That no Person should Appeal from the Pope to a Council because he said there could be no Power on Earth Superior to that of Christ's Vicar Therefore he
consult with him in what manner they might put in execution their Commission and that afterwards when they understood that it was not possible for them themselves to have access into all places that stood in need of their help they had been necessitated to employ others This Indulgence or Indult of the Popes as they call it the Emperour presently sent to all the German Bishops admonishing them severally to use gentle and mild ways and to try all Courses by fair Language Exhortation and Entreaty before they should come to Threats and Excommunication Wherefore the Archbishop of Mentz writing amongst others to the Landgraves Governours and Counsellors and having said much of his own Pastoral Care and of the Emperour's earnest Concern for the Publick requires them to shew the Pope's Indulgence to the Ministers of the Church and command them to obey it The thing being proposed to the Preachers their answer was That their Doctrine agreed with the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles and that though their Lives and Conversation did not suit with their Profession yet they acknowledged no Error in their Doctrine and that therefore they stood not in need of an Indulgence from the Pope that they had preferred Marriage before an unchast single Life according to the Word of God and that they would not forsake their Wives and Children whom Christ himself commanded us to love cherish and provide for That in administring the Sacrament under both kinds in their Churches they therein followed the command of Christ and the custom of the Primitive Church and that there was no reason to admit of any Alteration therein In the Month of May Peter Martyr and the Divines of Oxford disputed publickly concerning the Lords Supper and the Presence of Christs Body in the Sacrament Martyr proposed these Points to be defended That the substance of the Bread and Wine was not changed and That the Body and Bloud of Christ was not Carnally or Corporally in the Bread and Wine but sacramentally united to them Afterward there was a Book of this published wherein the presidents of the Dispute who were appointed by the King give no obscure intimation that Martyr had the better on 't in that Debate On the Tenth day of June the Queen of France was crowned at St. Denis as the custom is the Ceremony being performed by the Cardinals of Bulloigne Guise Chastillion Vendosme and Bourbon for all the rest were at Rome Six days after the King made a most splendid and magnificent Entry into Paris the chief Town of the Kingdom where he had not been seen publickly since the death of his Father and two days after the Queen During his abode there some were put to death for Lutheranisme and as it is said he himself was a Spectator of the Execution Afterwards July the Fourth he made a solemn Procession and Prayers in the Churches and next day after published a Printed Proclamation declaring the causes of it to have been That he might give God thanks for the many Blessings he had bestowed upon him that he might pray to God for the safety and preservation of himself his Wife and Children and of the whole Kingdom and Commonwealth as also for the Souls of good Men departed especially for the Kings of France his Progenitors and the late King his Father after whose Example he was resolved to take upon himself the protection and defence of the Catholick Religion the Authority and Liberty of the Apostolick See and of the Ministers of the Church that amongst others this was also a chief cause that it might publickly appear how much he detested those who contrary to the command of Christ contrary to the Traditions of the Apostles and the consent of all Antiquity deny the presence of the Body and Bloud of Christ who take away all force and efficacy from Baptism Penance good Works and the Sacraments who professedly despise the Authority and Hierarchial Order of the Church who reject the Worship and Adoration of Saints and Relicks Moreover that by that solemn Procession and Supplication he might make known what his Judgment and Inclinations were to wit that according to the Example of his Forefathers and in a certain Hereditary Imitation he so thought and believed as the Catholick Church the Apostles Creed the first Council of Nice and many other Councils of the Fathers enjoyned as also that he was fully resolved to root out of all his Territories those Heresies which were long ago condemned but now again partly revived and partly contrived by Luther Carolostadius Zuinglius Oecolampadius Melanchton Bucer Calvin and such other monstrous and pestilent Arch-Hereticks and severely to punish such as deserved it This Writing set forth in the Vulgar Tongue he sent all over France commanding it to be published to the People and accordingly publick Processions and Prayers to be made in all places A little while after he caused Monsieur de Vervius to be beheaded for surrendring the Castle and Town of Bulloigne as was mentioned in the Fifteenth Book and confined to perpetual Prison his Father in Law d' Abigny a very ancient Man who had been Governour of all the Bolonese and one of the four Mareschals of France For many Months now he had solicited the Switzers to renew with him the League they had made with his Father and though the Emperour by Messengers and Letters did what they could to dissuade them from it yet they judging it more for their Interest consented and first the Catholick Cantons with the Rhinwalders and Wallisserlanders and afterwards also those of Basil and Schafhawsen to the great astonishment of many because of those Edicts and Punishments we spoke of For it was the general opinion that no League nor Society ought to be made with him who so cruelly persecuted the Reformed Religion and by name condemned their Churches and Doctors But the Cantons of Bern and Zurick following the counsel of Zuinglius as may be seen in the third and sixth Book refused to enter into that League We took notice before of the Convocation at Leipsick But now that some talked and complained that Popery was again stealing in upon them Duke Maurice in his Letters addressed to his Governours July the Fourth tells them that he was informed many partly out of a too solicitous jealousie and partly through the suggestions of others were apprehensive that the old Errours might be by degrees introduced again that some of the Ministers of the Church and other busie and restless spirits that delighted in changed were not altogether free from fomenting of that Calumny that by several Declarations he had formerly made publick what his Purpose and Resolution was which now because of the Slanderous Reports raised he again repeated thereby to convince all that his Religion was dear unto him that therefore he required those who either out of a fond credulity or through the suggestions of others were
Holy Scripture was to be preferred far before his The Cardinal then extolling the Dignity of the Pope prefers him before all Scriptures and Councils and quotes the abrogation of the Council of Basil which had decreed otherwise condemning also Gerson the Parisian Doctor and the rest who approved that Opinion On the other hand Luther denies the Authority of the Pope to be greater than that of a Council and quotes the Parisian Divines as the Approvers of his Judgment When after much Debate they could not agree Luther desired Time to consider and coming again next Day in presence of Notary and Witnesses and some of the Emperours Counsellers also he professed That he Reverenced and Submitted to the Holy Church of Rome that if he had said any thing to the contrary he disowned it but that since he was admonished and commanded To Renounce his Errour and meddle no more for the future he was of the Opinion that he had asserted nothing that disagreed with the Scripture the Judgment of the Fathers the Decretals of the Popes or right Reason it self that he did not deny indeed but that he might err and be deceived that being incident to Man and that therefore he submitted to the Judgment of a Lawful and Holy Church and referred his Cause to be tryed thereby Nay more That he was ready in any Place to give an account of his Doctrin that if he was not pleased with this he would answer his Arguments in Writing and submit to the Judgment of the Universities of Germany and Paris Cajetane urged again as he had done the Day before that Decretal of Clement as making for him and at length allowed him to exhibit his Mind in Writing which was to this purpose That at the Time he published his Theses and when after he wrote the Explication of them he had read the Decretal of Clement but that it had not satisfied him for that though it be made a Rule That the Decretals of the Pope of Rome are no less to be received than the Words of the Apostle S. Peter yet that ought so to be understood provided they agree with Holy Scripture and deviate not from the Decretals of the Ancients that S. Peter's Voice was indeed Sacred and Holy and yet he had been sharply rebuked by St. Paul and his Doctrin not received till the Church which then was at Jerusalem consented to it That the Sayings of Men were to be heard but that every thing should be referred to the Voice of Christ who alone could not be deceived That that Decretal was repugnant to many places of Holy Scripture which was the Reason that at that time he Published his Position and afterwards Commented upon the same That from that time forward he had resolved to dispute no more about it and rather to listen to the Opinions of others but that now though he had rather be instructed by others and especially the Pope of Rome yet since there lay a necessity upon him of defending his own Assertion he would essay and use his endeavours to reconcile his Positions to that Decretal if by any means it could be done Having thus addressed to the Cardinal in a Preface he falls to the handling of the matter it self and explaining the Decretal affirms That it made for him yet so that he did not thereby derogate from the dignity either of the Pope or him Then he comes to the other branch of the Accusation and by many Texts of Scripture fully proves That it is Faith which Justifies us before God And therefore he prays him to deal kindly with him and shew him his Errour for that the Texts of Scripture which he had alledged were of so great force that he believed them to be Self-evident wherefore he could not forsake that Truth since it was better to Obey God than Men. That therefore he desired to be excused from that over-hard condition of Retracting and to be Reconciled to the Pope That it was not out of Arrogance or any desire of Vain-glory that he had entred the Lists and that he wished for nothing more than that the Truth might be discovered by any more Learned and Pious than himself so that he beg'd he might not be compell'd to wound his own Conscience Cajetane took this Writing from him and upon reading made slight of it but promised however to send it to the Pope In the mean time he urged him to retract else he threatned him with the Punishment appointed by the Pope and with that bid him be gone and see his face no more unless he changed his mind Three days after Luther had been thus threatned October the Seventeenth he wrote a very humble and submissive Letter to the Legate for after that the Legate had chid him as we said and sent him away he had dealt privately with John Stupitz Provincial of the Augustine Fryars that he might incline him to make a voluntary Recantation Now in that Letter Luther gives him an account of what pass'd betwixt Stupitz and him who had omitted nothing that could be expected from an honest Man and faithful Friend He thanked him for his Good-will and Kindness towards him which he had understood from Stupit's discourse whereby he had been so much comforted that there was no Man-living he would more willingly gratifie than His Eminence He confesses that he had been too sharp and had not behaved himself with the respect and reverence that was due to the Papal Dignity but that all that was to be attribuâ—ed to the impertinence of the Collectors He begs Pardon for what he had done and promises greater modesty for the future and that he would hereafter do his Holiness Right in his Sermons That he would not mention the Indulgences in time to come provided his Adversaries were enjoyned to do the like but that he should retract the Opinions which he had divulged and hitherto defended he could not with a safe Conscience so long as he was not convinced of Errour by clear Testimonies of Scripture He therefore craves that the Tryal of the Cause might be referred to the Pope for that nothing would be more pleasant to him than to hear the Voice of the Church about such Controversies Since Cardinal Cajetane made no Answer to this Letter and had uttered some threatning Words he took his Friends counsel and two days after departed leaving behind him a certain Appeal which should afterwards be publickly affixed and about the time of his departure he wrote again to the Legate That he had omitted nothing which was his duty to do That being a weak sickly Man he had made a long Journey on Foot and come to Ausburg that he might manifest his Submission to the Pope but now that his Money was almost spent and that he would not be any longer troublesome to the Carmelite Fryers who had lodged and entertained him in their Convent he would return home especially seeing His Eminence had discharged him to come any more into
inconsiderable a Person as he was they ought at least to write to his Highness or to the Emperour or else to some Eminent Bishop of Germany and appoint a free Disputation to be held in some Place that hitherto they had denyed him all these things but that if they persevered therein it might easily be judged who were in the Fault he or they That since therefore they offered nothing but Severity and Cruelty he ought not to be moved at their Words for that it was far more easie for them to mark down what they thought to be Erroneous and to publish them for such through Germany than for him to be at vast Charges and endanger his Life in going to Rome to have his Errours examined and discussed there That after all as to what he boasted of That the Cause should be judicially tryed at Rome unless he either went thither or were banished the Country he did not refuse Banishment for that he very well knew no Place could be safe for him so long as he was pursued by the Malice and Treachery of his Adversaries that it would be also a great Grief and Trouble to him if any Man should be brought into Danger for his sake that therefore to prevent their Enterprizes he would leave the Country and go whither God pleased to call him At length he concludes with hearty Thanks to his Highness and prayes for his Welfare and Prosperity rejoycing in himself That God would think him worthy to suffer any thing for the Glory of the Name of Christ Afterwards the University of Wittemberg on the 21 November wrote to Duke Frederick That they had been informed by Luther of Cajetane's Letter what it was he demanded and what again Luther offered at Ausburg that therefore since Luther desired both that his Errour might be made appear to him and that he submitted to the Holy Church of Rome they prayed his Highness to endeavour that they might not take any Severe Course with him but convince him of his Errour by Arguments taken from Holy Scripture that he indeed had great Confidence in the Courteous and Gracious Disposition of Pope Leo but was much afraid lest his Flattering Adversaries might incense him and abuse the Name of the Church Though the Elector Frederick complied not with the Papists and took special Care that Luther should not suffer any Injury as may sufficiently appear from what hath been said yet to that very Day he had not read any of Luther's Writtings nor heard his Sermons as he himself professed in a Letter which at Ausburg he wrote to Cardinal Raphael Riario who upon account of Ancient Acquaintance had friendly admonished him not to undertake the Protection of Luther In the mean time during these Transactions Pope Leo being apprehensive of some defection in that State of Affairs on the eight of November published a Bull in confirmation of Indulgences affirming it to be the Doctrine of the Church of Rome the Mother and Mistriss of all other Churches that the Pope the Successor of S. Peter and Vicar of Christ hath Power of granting that great Blessing which availeth not only the Living but the Dead also in Purgatory that that Doctrine was to be embraced by all if they would not be separated from the Communion of the Church This Bull he therefore sent to his Legate Cardinal Cajetane to be by him published He in obedience to the Command published it at Lintz a Town of Austria upon the Danube in presence of some Publick Notaries and Witnesses and having caused many Copies of it to be written out sent them in the Month of December after to the Bishops throughout Germany charging them in the Pope's Name under severe Penalties That they forthwith publish and seriously recommend them to the People of their Diocesses Because Luther had understood by Cajetane's Letter That they would proceed to a Sentence against him at Rome on the 28 of November he made a new Appeal In the beginning whereof he professes That he would not impeach the Authority of the Pope of Rome so long as he was sound in his Judgment and far less dissent from the Church that nevertheless seeing the Pope was like other Men it was possible he might err and do amiss and that it was not to be attributed to him as if he alone could not err nor be deceived This he affirms by the Example of S. Peter whom S. Paul rebuked openly and sharply because he had erred in the Sound Doctrine That seeing the Pope had so great Power and Wealth that he both commanded what he pleased and could not be restrained by the Authority of any Man the only Remedy that remained for those who thought themselves injured by him was in Appeal Then he relates How that being forced by the too great Austerity of Cardinal Cajetane he had Appealed to the Pope thinking he might have had some Protection in his goodness seeing he had offered most reasonable Conditions and promised to do any thing provided he were convinced of his Errour but that now seeing he perceived that this Appeal being slighted and the Conditions also rejected there was no Hopes of Help or Relief from the Pope as appeared by Cardinal Cajetane's Letter to the Elector of Saxony he was by extream Necessity brought to make his Appeal from the Pope to a future Council which was every way to be preferred before him Afterwards Pope Leo sent Charles Miltitz whom we mentioned before into Germany and presented the Elector Frederick with that Golden Rose which is yearly Consecrated by the Pope with great Pomp and many Ceremonies and commonly presented to some great Person as a Mark of singular Good-will and Favour He wrote also to Degenart Pheffinger a Nobleman and one of Duke Frederick's Council intreating him to assist Miltitz in what he was to negotiate with the Elector in his Name that Luther the Son of Satan might be restrained and that the most Noble Family of Saxony which had been always reckoned zealous for Religion might not be sullied by any Blot or Blemish To the same Purpose also he wrote to George Spalatiner and the more to persuade him told him That he was wholly taken up in rooting the hurtful Weeds out of the Field of Christ In like manner his Vice-Chancellour writing to Degenart prays him That he would exhort Duke Frederick to imitate the Example of his Ancestors that he might not do any thing unworthy of their Memory When Miltitz arrived in Saxony he presented the Rose and vigorously set about the Discharge of his Commission This coming to Luther's Knowledge on the third of March he wrote a very submissive Letter to the Pope That he had been grievously accused to Frederick Elector of Saxony as if he behaved himself perversly towards the Church of Rome which troubled him not a little for that it exceedingly grieved him to have fallen into his Holiness's Displeasure and that nevertheless he could not tell what
Electors opened the Case and told them That the whole Question consisted in three Points to wit Whether Francis King of France Charles King of Spain or else some German was to be chosen As to the French King saith he I think we are barred from chusing him by our Oath and Laws whereby it is provided That this Dignity of the Empire should not be transferred to Strangers and no Man doubts I think but that he is a Foreign Prince Again though his Country were no Hindrance yet it is not for the Interest of the Publick because the French King will think of enlarging his Dominions and make War against Charles King of Spain whom he hateth nay and hath already denounced it so that Germany will be involved in great Troubles But we ought to take Care That no Civil-War be raised among us Austria belongs to the Dominion of Charles If the French King invade this as certainly he will shall we leave it to his Mercy Hath the Emperour Maximilian deserved no better of us and the Empire Do you think that our own Liberty will be long safe if these Provinces be once subdued He hath lately enlarged his Borders by the accession of the Dutchy of Milan the same will he attempt to do in Germany We ought not to be moved by their large and magnificent Promises for Covetousness and Ambition transports Men commonly and makes them forget their Duty There were many Princes heretofore in France but now their Number is contracted within a very narrow Compass for the King now is in a manner sole Monarch they say he is a Prince of great Courage but that aims wholly at Monarchy Aristocracy is the Goverment we ought chiefly to retain They promise great Matters of making War against the Turks that were to be wished indeed as a thing of greatest Advantage to the State nor am I ignorant of how great Moment a conjunction of Germany France and Italy would prove but he will make the first Essay of all their Power and Prowess upon the Provinces of King Charles He 'll attempt the Netherlands and set upon Naples that he may recover it as an Hereditary Kingdom belonging unto him And shall we Arm him for the accomplishment of these things Nor is it to be said that I am Prophecying of future and uncertain Contingences for he is already raising an Army Since therefore the Laws our Oath and the Love of our Country lay an Obligation upon us I declare it to be my Opinion that we cannot chuse him Now will I proceed to the other parts Some of you I believe are against the Election of Charles because Spain lyes at a great distance from us and that Germany will suffer by his Absence either through a Turkish War or Civil Dissensions For my own part I not only acknowledge these things to be true but when also I consider them more attentively I am stricken with horror and apprehension For I think with my self that if the Emperour being any way provoked should come into Germany and bring Spaniards with him our Liberty would be in great danger Nay it runs in my mind too that the Spaniards will be very loath to part with or ever restore to us again this Imperial Dignity but if they chance by their force and valour to recover Milan will endeavour to keep it to themselves So that I am almost inclined to think it safest to chuse a fit Person of our own Country in Imitation of our Progenitors who passing by Strangers have been often content with Natives I would not be thought to deny this however the State of Affairs had another face then and the Age was much happier But now if we have an Emperour weak in Power do ye think that those of the Netherlands and Austria the Subjects of Charles of Spain will be Obedient unto him Or should the French King make War against Charles as he certainly will either in Flanders or Italy must he be an idle Spectator And must this our new Emperour suffer a great part of the Empire to be dismembred by Foreign Nations Nay as the Times are now it is probable that the Princes of Germany despising their own Emperour will make Alliances and Joyn some with the Austrians and others with the French. In the time of the Emperour Frederick III Charles Duke of Burgundy made War in Germany as Philip Maria Duke of Milan did in Italy without controul and certainly much to our disgrace Nay which was more ignominious the Emperour was at that time blockt up in Austria and driven out of his own Country by the Hungarians and nevertheless the Bohemians were then joyned with him as were also my Grand-father Albert Marquess of Brandenburg and Albert Duke of Saxony If that happened then you see what is to be expected at present when some will be Pensioners to some and others to other Princes not to mention many causes that may intervene why Princes and Cities will refuse to give obedience Grievous Troubles and Stirs seem now also to be threatned upon account of Religion for there are Debates arisen about Indulgences the Power of the Pope and Ecclesiastical Laws which look indeed as yet as if they were curable but will in a short time bring along with them great Desolation and Alterations in the Church for very many espouse that Cause and especially the Saxons and Switzers most valiant People nor can the evil be remedied but by a Council Now how can an Emperour low in Power either procure the calling of a Council or defend it especially if other Kings oppose the same There is a Turkish War also to be thought on and that not only Defensive but Offensive also that we may regain what we have lost and above all things restore Greece to its Liberty Now for accomplishing of this there will be need of the Forces of many Nations And how shall an Emperour of small Power and Authority be able to procure them For these Reasons then it is my Judgment that we should chuse some Potent Prince and that Charles Arch-Duke of Austria ought to be preferred before the other Princes of Germany As for those Inconveniences which may seem to scare us I think they are far less than those that would arise if the chief Government were put into the hands of any other For he is both a German by Extraction and has many Provinces holding of the Empire nor will he permit our common Country to truckle under the Bondage of any but will give us a solemn Oath That he shall neither suffer the Empire to be transferred nor our Rights and Liberties diminished The Reasons I have alledged are indeed of very great weight and yet I should not have been moved by them if his Temper and Disposition were not known for he is Religious Just and Modest a hater of Cruelty and a Prince of pregnant Parts These his Vertues will always mind him of his Duty and of the Care of the Government
prescribed by the Electors which the Emperour's Ambassadours ratified and as is customary gave Security in his Name under Hand and Seal for performing the same Now they were these That he shall protect and defend Christendom the Pope and Church of Rome whereof he is the Advocate that he shall equally administer Justice and maintain Peace that he shall not only confirm the Laws of the Empire especially that which they call the Golden Bull but also when there is occasion with their Consent amplifie and enlarge them that he shall chuse and appoint a Council of Germans to govern the State that he shall not alter nor diminish the Rights Priviledges Dignities and Immunities of the Princes and States of the Empire that it shall be lawful for the Electors to meet together upon occasion and consult about publick Affairs and that he shall in no ways hinder them to do so nor take it ill when they do that he shall rescind and annul the Leagues and Associations of the People or Nobility made against the Princes and make a Law that no such be made for the future that he shall make no League or Compact relating to the Affairs of the Empire with Strangers but with the Consent of the Electors that he shall neither sell nor mortgage the Publick Lands and Revenues of the Empire nor any ways imbezil them and that he shall with the first Occasion regain those Lands or Goods that have been invaded and possessed by other Nations or have been dismembred from the Empire but so still that it be not prejudicial to those who are supported by Right or Priviledge That if he himself also or any of his Family possess any thing belonging to the Empire not lawfully purchased he shall being demanded by the Electors restore the same that he shall live in Peace with his Neighbours and other Kings and not make War either within or without the Limits of the Empire for the publick concerns thereof without the Advice and Consent of all the States especially of the Electors that he shall not bring any Foreign Soldiers into Germany unless the States be willing but that if either he himself or the Empire be attacked by War he may make use of any Assistance that he shall not call a Dyet of the Empire nor impose any Taxes but with the consent of the Electors neither shall he hold Dyets without the Limits of the Empire that in publick Affairs he shall not employ Strangers but Germans chosen from among the Nobility and that all publick Writings shall be made in Latin or the Vulgar Language that he shall not summon any of the States to answer in Law without the Bounds of the Empire that seeing many things are acted at Rome contrary to former Agreements made with the Popes he shall negotiate with the Pope That no encroachment be made upon the Priviledges and Liberty of the Empire that he shall advise with the Electors How the Monopolies of Merchants that are very pernicious to Germany may be restrained and bring that matter which hath been often stated before them to an Issue that he shall impose no Toll nor Customs without the consent of the Electors nor by Grants and Patents lessen or prejudice the Customs belonging to the Electors upon the Rhine that if he have any Action or Suit against any of the States he shall try it by Law but shall not use Force against those who offer to stand a fair Tryal that he shall not put any Man to the Ban of the Empire without a hearing but therein follow the course of Law that he shall not bestow upon any Person the vacant Goods and Revenues of the Empire but reserve them for the publick that if he acquire any Foreign Province by the Help of the States he shall annex it to the Empire that if he recover any thing that belongs to the Publick by his own Forces he shall restore it to the Commonwealth that he shall Confirm and Ratifie what the Electors Palatine and Saxony have acted in Publick Affairs during the interreign that he shall entertain no Counsils nor Design of making the Imperial Dignity proper and Hereditary to his own Family but shall leave the Electors in full and free Power of Election according to the Statute of Charles IV and the Provision of the Canon Law that what is done otherwise shall be void and null that with the first Opportunity he shall come into Germany to be Installed When his Ambassadours had upon Oath confirmed and approved these Conditions in his Name as hath been said they gave every one of the Electors an Instrument of the same under hand and Seal And this was done on July 3. What they said of the Cannon Law refers to the Decretal Epistle of Pope Innocent III which grants That the Electoral Princes of Germany have the right of chusing the Emperour and that the Imperial Dignity does not depend on Succession but Election Now Pope Innocent lived about the Year of our Lord 1200. But let us return again to Luther Much about that Time Erasmus of Roterdam writing from Antwerp to Frederick Elector of Saxony among other things takes notice also of Luther whose Books he said were read with great Applause by Good and Learned Men and that no Man censured his Life as being free from all Suspicion either of Covetousness or Ambition but that the Divines of Lovain hearing that he was much born down by the Authority of Cardinal Cajetane did now triumph and rail against him in all their Sermons and at their Feasts as if he were an Heretick and the Antichrist That he was much displeased thereat especially seeing he had but proposed some things for Disputation sake and had submitted himself to the Judgment of those both to whom he ought and to whom he ought not but that they had neither admonished the Man Friendly nor as yet taught him nor convinced him of his Errour but only made a turbulent and seditious Noise and Clamour about the Matter which was a way of Proceeding altogether unworthy of Men that made Profession of the Christian Religion but especially Divines for that no Man was to be rashly accused of Heresie To the same effect he wrote also to the Archbishop of Mentz and Cardinal Campegio and in his Letter enveighs against those Sophistical Divines and Monks who could not endure the Study of Languages and Eloquence nor of sound Doctrine He wrote in like manner to Luther at that time telling him That he had received his Letter which shewed both a sharp Wit and Christian Disposition but that his Books had raised a sad Tragedy in those Parts and that for them he lay under both the Envy and Suspicion of the Divines who would admit of no Excuse at his Hands That there were many Men in England and of great note too who had a great esteem for his Writings that he himself also had perused his Commentaries upon the Psalms and hoped
those of Cologne taking no notice of this proceed to Censure Capnion's Book with a Salvo as they pretend to the Credit of the Author and in February 1514 they publickly burnt it this the Bishop of Spire took as an Affront put upon him and because the Prosecutor having been legally Cited had never appeared at the Day but made Default he gave Judgment for Capnion with an Approbation of his Book and condemned Hogostrate to pay the Costs of the Suit. He that he might avoid this Sentence hastens to Rome In the mean time the Divines of his Party make their Applications to the University of Paris and by the Help of Erand Marchian Bishop of Liege who was then in the French Interests they cajoled Lewis XII so as to make him inclinable to favour their Cause Therefore after a long Consultation those of Paris also Condemn the Book as deserving to be Burnt and whose Author ought to be compelled to make a Recantation and their Judgment was That the Jewish Talmuds were justly censured by former Popes and deservedly burnt by their Predecessors This was in the same Year on August 2. To prevent this the Duke of Wirtemberg had interceeded with them by his Letters and Reuchline also himself had written very courteously as having been formerly a Scholar of that University and he sent inclosed the Judgment given by the Bishop of Spire but all to no purpose Hogostrate being come to Rome managed his Business with very great Address but there were some Cardinals who favoured Reuchline upon the account of his eminent Learning among these was Adrian who has a Piece extant concerning the Latin Tongue Leo at last appoints certain Delegates to inspect the matter and they seeming to lean towards Capnion's side Hogostrate having met with nothing but Disappointments after above three Years stay in Rome sneaked away Home into his own Country But it is not to be thought what a Scandal the Divines of Cologn brought upon themselves by this Imprudent Act of theirs for there was not a Man who pretended to any thing of Ingenuity or Scholarship in all Germany who had not a Fling at them in some smart Lampoon or Satyr applauding Reuchline and ridiculing them as Blockheads and Dunces and sworn Enemies to that Laborious but useful Study of Languages and to all other more polite Learning And Erasmus of Roterdam was not wanting to use his interest with the Cardinals in Capnion's behalf concerning which he has several Epistles yet extant which he then sent to Rome The Divines of Louvain before they would declare what was their Opinion in Luther's Case consulted first with the Cardinal Adrian Bishop of Tortona who had been a Member of their College and Order and who was at that time in Spain and being backed with the Authority of his Judgment they published their Censure Luther finding himself so hard beset on all Sides addressed himself in an Epistle to the late elected Emperour Charles V and having made his Apology That a Man of his mean Quality should presume to write to so great a Potentate he tells him That the Reasons were very weighty which had emboldned him to do this and that the Glory of Christ himself was concerned in his Cause That he had published some few small Books which had procured him the Displeasure of a great many Persons but that the Fault ought not to lye at his Door for that it was with great Reluctancy that his Adversaries had drawn him to enter the Lists That a Private Retired Life was much more agreeable to his Inclinations but that his chief Care and Study was to make known the pure and uncorrupt Doctrin of the Gospel in opposition to the false Glosses and even contradictory Ordinances of Men That there were a great number of Persons eminent both for Learning and Piety who could attest the Truth of what he said And that this alone was the Cause of all that Odium and Infamy of those Dangers Contumelies and Losses to which almost for three Years he had been continually exposed That he had omitted nothing which might contribute to an Accommodation but that the oftner he made any Proposals tending that way the more resolved his Adversaries seemed to continue the Breach That he had frequently and earnestly requested them to convince him of his Errours and to give him such Rules by the which he might the better guide himself for the Time to come but that he could never obtain any other Answer from them but barbarous Injuries and railing Buffoonery their Design being to rid the World both of him and the Gospel together That by these Means he was driven to have recourse to the last Remedy and forced according to the Example of Athanasius to fly to him as to the inviolable Sanctuary and Protection of the Law And to beseech him to take upon him the Patronage of the Christian Religion and vouchsafe to shelter him from all Violence and Injury until he should be more fully informed in the Matter If it should appear that he had been ingaged in the Maintenance of any thing that was Unjustifiable he then desired no Favour His humble Petition was only to have a fair Hearing and that every one would t'ill then suspend his Judgment That this was a part of his Duty and that therefore God had intrusted him with this Supreme Power that he might maintain and distribute impartial Justice and defend the Cause of the Poor and Weak against all the Insults of their powerful Oppressors After this he writes much to the same purpose to all the States of the Empire telling them how unwilling he was to have ingaged in this Controversie and with what bitter Malice he was prosecuted by his Enemies when his Aim was purely this by propagating the true Doctrin of the Gospel to convince Men how Inconsistent it was with those false Opinions of which they had been so long but too Tenacious Then he recites in short all that had been done by him in order to a Reconciliation how he had several times promised by a voluntary Silence to let the Cause fall upon condition his Adversaries would cease their impertinent Babling desiring nothing more than to be better informed if he was in the wrong and being willing to submit freely to the Judgment and Censure of all good Men But that these Requests of his had not as yet had their desired Effect his Adversaries continually loading him with all manner of Injuries and Reproaches That since it was so he desired them not to give Credit to any disadvantagious Reports which they might hear of him If he had at any time been guilty of any Sharpness or Petulancy in his Writings it was no more than what he had been forced to by their paultry sawcy Pamphlets which they were almost daily spawning against him In the last place he makes now the same Profers for the composing the Difference which he had so often formerly done
form the minds of Men that the Magistrate himself might clearly understand his station and condition of life to be highly acceptable to God and the People on the other part might be sensible that Honour and Obedience to the Magistrate was required from them by the Law of God who would not hold him guiltless who should offer Contempt to the Power ordained by Him. Besides since they themselves by the Divine bounty are appointed Governors over others what a madness must it be for them to tolerate such a Doctrine as would let loose the reigns upon the necks of Men dissolve their Obedience and arm the People against themselves What their present sense is of the Governors of the Church they have manifestly declar'd in the foresaid Writing viz. That they are convinc'd of the legality of administring Ecclesiastical Affairs and that the Ministry of the Word or the Power of the Keys is entertain'd by them with the greatest Veneration And now since they understand themselves to be loaded with these and such like Imputations and being sensible how much it would be for the Publick Interest that they who are Princes of so great prudence and authority should have a right and regular understanding of the Cause they were therefore willing for the better clearing of themselves to acquaint them throughly with these things in writing and humbly to intreat them that they would not give Credit to those Calumnies nor entertain any sinister opinion of them but that they would keep themselves unprejudic'd till they have an opportunity given them publickly to clear themselves which is the thing they most earnestly desire They likewise beseech them to use their Interest with the Emperor that since the greatness of the Cause and the good of the whole Church requires it he would convene a free and religious Council in Germany as soon as may be and that he would not determine too severely against them till the matter was legally debated and decided For that hitherto they had always faithfully discharg'd their Duty to the Empire and that 't is neither out of covetousness nor petulancy but for the Glory of God and in Obedience to his Commands that they now make Profession of this Doctrine for which they are call'd in question And this 't is that gives them the greater hopes that their Requests will not be rejected by them For it must needs highly redound to their Honour if by their Authority and Interposition they could so bring it about that these Controversies might not be decided by the Sword but that a right Judgment might be made of things that so these Distempers might be healed and the Churches reconcil'd and no violence offer'd to the Consciences of Men. Lastly they should esteem it a very signal Favour if they would let them understand by Letters their Pleasure in this Affair In the month of February the Elector of Saxony summon'd all his Allies to make their Appearance at Smalcalde on the 29th day of March there to concert about making a Defence against any Hostile attempt that might be made These were those Princes and Cities we before mention'd but the Duke of Saxony being himself ill sent thither his Son John Frederick In the former Convention it was agreed upon to solicite Frederick King of Denmark together with the Saxon and Martime Cities concerning the League Therefore now at their second meeting that Transaction is reported together with what Answer each of them did make The Dane reply'd That truly the Doctrine of the Gospel was very dear unto him but that he had in his Kingdom many Bishops who were very powerful as well in Wealth as in their dependencies and conjunction with the Nobility and therefore it would not be safe for him to enter into the League as King but however he refus'd not to do it in right of those his Provinces which held of the Empire Henry of Mecklenburg excus'd himself upon the account that his Embassadors had subscrib'd the Augustane Decree however he promis'd that he would not be their Enemy Bernin Prince of Pomerania said That he was not at all averse but that the chief management of affairs was yet wholly in the hands of his elder Brother The Lubeckers did not decline it but said it ought to be consider'd that they had been at vast Expences in the War and if Christiern King of Denmark who was driven from his Kingdom should attempt any thing they desired to know what Assistance they might expect from them The Lunenburgers declar'd That they would do whatever should seem good to Ernestus their Prince The next things that fell under their deliberation were the procuring of Votes for the speedy raising of Forces the Contribution of mony for the keeping up those Forces the choice of Commanders and the admitting those into the League which were willing to come in the appointment likewise of Proctors and Advocates who might answer for them in Court if any Suit should arise in the Exchequer either by the Command of the Emperor or the Solicitation of others To this branch of the defence George Duke of Brandenburg together with the Cities of Nuremburg Camin and Heilsburg do make themselves Parties though the League it self they refus'd It was farther decreed That all notorious Enormities should be severely punish'd in each of their Dominions But before they enter'd into the League not only the Lawyers but Divines also were admitted into the Consult It had indeed been always the Doctrine of Luther That Magistrates ought not to be resisted and upon this Subject there was a Book of his Extant But when the Learned in the Law had in this Consult declar'd That Resistance is sometimes permitted by the Laws and had shewn that the present State of affairs was such as the Laws in relation to that case do particularly mention Luther ingenuously confess'd that indeed he had been ignorant of this Legality But now since the Gospel according to his constant Doctrine does not militate against nor abolish political Laws and since things might so fall out in these perilous and difficult times that not only the Law it self but also necessity of Conscience might call upon them to Arm he therefore pronounces that they may justly make a League in their own defence if either the Emperor himself or any body else in his Name should make War upon them He likewise publishes a Writing wherein he expresses how obstinate the Papists had been in the Diet of Auspurg and then strictly charges all Men not to yield Obedience to those Magistrates that should command their assistance in such a War. And having ript up the many grievous Errors of the Popish Doctrines he tells them that whoever list themselves on that side do take up Arms in defence of those Errors and this he saies is highly wicked and sinful Having therefore shewn them how much the minds of Men were in these daies enlightned by the knowledge of the Gospel he exhorts them to
State and how much it will be expos'd to Misunderstandings and Tumults of the truth of this Allegation the Emperor's Edict which was then publish'd is a sufficient proof It was never their intention to plead in bar to the Jurisdiction of the Chamber in any Causes but those of Religion and they believ'd that Court could not prove the contrary upon them But they were very much troubl'd to hear from his Excellency that the Emperor had given the Chamber Authority to determine the quality of the Cause for they did believe all those Causes to be of a religious Nature and they were really such which could not be decided till the Extent of the word Religion was defin'd in a lawful Council which thing both by Letter and their Embassadors they had several times acquainted the Emperor and King Ferdinand with For this Dispute concerning the meaning and latitude of Religion is a preliminary Question and ought to be setled by the Council before other matters which relate to it are determin'd And in regard Benefices ought to be bestowed in consideration of Merit and Function They said they could not allow that those in their Dominions who were of a different Religion from themselves should enjoy the Revenues of the Church to which they had no manner of right because they were either unwilling to discharge their Office or wanted abilities to do it and since Conscience is more than ordinarily concern'd in the present case the usual Pleas of Law founded upon the right of Possession or Restitution ought not to be urg'd Moreover when the Treaty of Nuremburgh was on foot they particularly mention'd all those Suits and Difference which were then depending in the Chamber and in other Courts and represented them under the notion of Ecclesiastical Causes to the Princes of the Mediation who promis'd that they would endeavour to perswade the Emperor that they should be all exempted from the Jurisdiction of the Courts which was also promis'd by King Ferdinand at the Convention at Cadan besides it 's plain from that Clause in the Emperor's Edict which stops all Prosecutions of this nature that the Chamber of Spire has no Authority to determine the Quality of Causes And to say nothing more severe they could not choose but observe that the apparent Inclination of that Court to give Judgment against them had made a great many Persons much bolder and more contentious than they had formerly been which they were able to prove more than one way For when those of their Party moved that Court in any Cause their Suit was not only rejected but they were sent away with reproachful Language And lately the Hamburghers were commanded by them not only to restore the Clergy of their City their Goods and Estates but also to return them their old Religion and Jurisdiction back again and because they could not do this with a good Conscience they were amerced in a great Sum of Mony and therefore there needs no more Instances to let the Emperor understand what the Design of that Court is for if any Cause relates to Religion this certainly does But if the Judges are allowed to proceed in this manner the Truce serves to no purpose If the Rites and Ceremonies which were abolish'd may be lawfully restor'd by such Methods as these there will be no need of Council and yet the Emperor is pleas'd to grant that all Differences of this nature ought to be determin'd there and since their Exceptions against the Proceedings of the Court were not consider'd they were forc'd to decline the Jurisdiction of it As concerning the Persons of the Chamber there was not above one or two of the whole Bench of their Religion what Provision was made at Ratisbone for this Affair was well known it being apparent that those who were most violent against the Reformed were most acceptable to the Chamber nay a man may plainly discover how they stand affected by observing the air of their Countenances when they are trying of Causes and therefore they hope his Imperial Majesty will send them a positive Order to desist As for the Penalty which his Excellency mention'd was decreed at Ratisbone against Mal-administration that was no advantage to them Indeed if the Cause had related to Property and secular Affairs they might have had a compensation this way but matters of Religion were too weighty to be satisfied with Costs and Damages However if the Emperor is of opinion that they have intermix'd any civil Causes in their request they are willing this matter should be tried provided there may be a stop put to the Proceedings of the Chamber in the mean time Now as concerning those who came over to their Religion since the Pacification of Nuremburgh they confess'd that some few years since the Princes of the Mediation did insist at Schweenfurt that no more might be admitted into their Association which Proposition they then rejected and afterwards at the Convention at Nuremburgh they persisted in the same Opinion As to what his Excellency objects in reference to the Promises and Articles by which several of the States had engag'd themselves not to make any alteration in Religion To this the parties answer That some of them promis'd nothing others in private Treaties reserv'd this Liberty for themselves a third sort it 's true did engage themselves but it was upon the assurance which the Emperor gave them that a Council should be intimated within six Months and opened the year after But since this Assembly was delayed beyond their expectation and God had been pleas'd to give them a fuller apprehension of the true Religion they could not defer so good a Work any longer but thought it their Duty to make an open profession of that Doctrin which they were assur'd had both Truth and Piety to recommend it This the Canon-Law it self would justifie them in for from thence they had learn'd that if any Person had sworn to do a wicked Action this Oath did not oblige Besides as their Adversaries would not refuse any one who offer'd himself for a Convert so neither did they think it lawful to bar any person from coming over to themselves Therefore their earnest request to the Emperor was That the Judges might be check'd and that not only themselves but those who joyn'd them afterwards might be comprehended in the Peace For if matters should be otherwise carried and any violence should be offer'd they could not desert those they were allied to both by Vertue of their League and Religion This had been already declar'd to King Ferdinand at Vienna and that with a great deal of reason for the Cause of these later Confederates no less than their own belongs to the Cognizance of the Council But if the Judges of the Chamber will fore-stall the Hearing and hale in the business of the Council to their Court this is no less than down-right Force and Injustice against which by the Laws of Nature they are bound to defend themselves
offered a yearly Tribute for procuring it That nevertheless the Amity he had with the Turk was so far from being prejudicial that it would be extreamly useful to Christendom if not prevented by the Emperor 's insatiable Ambition for that the Title of most Christian had been given to the Kings his Predecessors in whose Steps by God's Grace he intended to tread and never do any thing that might make him seem unworthy of so glorious a Name That it was an outragious Injury then to disperse such a Calumny of him amongst all People for what a Madness nay Fury would it be to assist the Enterprises and encrease the Power of him who in a very short time after would ruin himself That neither was the Council of Trent retarded or hindered by him since he could reap no Benefit from so doing and that it was a thing very inconsistent with the Examples and Customs of his Ancestors who had many times promoted Councils and done them all the good Offices they could but that the Emperor was so transported with Malice and Hatred against him that he made all even his best Actions Criminal and was of that Temper himself that nothing would serve him but to rule over and make Slaves of all People cloaking this his Ambitions in the mean time with such specious Words and Pretexts that he would be thought forsooth to be a very virtuous and pious Prince That therefore since things were so he prayed his Holiness not to give Credit to Slanders but to think so of him as that there was nothing but what he would do for the Publick for him and for the Church of Rome A little before this died William du Bellay of Langey often mentioned before a Man of great Honour and Virtue and the Ornament of the French Nobility for his extraordinary Learning Eloquence Experience and singular Dexterity in management of all Affairs Very unlike to most Courtiers whose chief Care is to enrich themselves But he a Man of an Heroick Disposition had no other Prospect but by solid and true Virtue to purchase to himself lasting Glory and faithfully to serve his Prince though with Prejudice to his own private Fortune We told you before of the Parisian Preacher Francis de Landre who having made an ambiguous Answer to the Heads of Doctrine proposed to him and persisting still in his way of Teaching was sent to Prison some Days before Easter This was done at the Instigation of the Sorbonn Doctors who had accused him to the Lieutenant Criminal Some Days after the King came to St. Germins and being informed of the whole Matter sent for Landre to appear before him He came according to Command but being terrified by some Mens Words who told him That the King was exceedingly incensed against him he did not shew that Constancy which many expected from him and being ordered to return to Paris he was on the Twenty ninth Day of April forced to condemn what before he had taught For that Day there assembled in the Cathedral Church the Judges and Counsellors of Parliament the Provost de Merchands with the rest of the Magistrates and a great number of Divines Then the Church Doors were shut and Guards in Arms set to keep off the People When all had taken their Places his Opinions were read to him and being asked his Judgment as to every Particular he answered as they would have him confessed he had erred promised Obedience for the future and then acknowledged the Heads of Doctrine which the Divines first and then the King's Counsellors propounded to him to be true and Holy. The same thing was done though with less Solemnity a little after with de Pensier another Teacher of the People Who at first having flattered and not made his Recantation plainly enough he was forced another Day after to make a Sermon to the People wherein he explained openly and distinctly all the Points of Doctrine he had taught to the Satisfaction of the Divines who were present There lived then in France one Clement Marot who in the vulgar Tongue far surpassed all the Poets of that or the former Ages He was not so well acquainted with the Latin however he had much improved himself by the Conversation of the Learned Nor was there any thing in the Books of the Poets but he was so much Master of it as to translate and apply it to his Purpose Thus he borrowed some things in his Elegies but not professedly from Tibullus Propertius and Ovid And out of Catullus he took his Epithalamium on the Marriage of Hercules Duke of Ferrara and Renate of Bretagne Daughter of Lowis XII of France He translated also most elegantly the First Book of Ovid's Metamorphosis Now in his latter Years he employed the Talent he had that way on Holy Scripture and intended to have turn'd all the Psalms of David into French Metre but he lived only to finish Fifty of them which are now extant and read not without great Esteem of his excellent Wit. For nothing can be more taking more neat and clear nor more quaint and proper than his Stile He published them this Year at Geneva whither he had fled because he was not safe in France as being suspected of Lutheranism He had Two Years before published Thirty Psalms at Paris but with a great deal of Trouble and could not have it done till the Doctors of the Sorbonne had given a Licence That the Book contained nothing contrary to the Christian Faith. This perhaps is wide of our Purpose but I thought it not amiss to commend the Name of so excellent an Artist to other Nations also For in France helives to all Posterity and most are of Opinion that hardly any Man will ever be able to match him in that kind of Writing and that as Cicero says of Caesar He makes wise Men afraid to write Others and more learned Men too than he have handled the same Subject but came far short of the Beauty and Elegancy of his Poems It has been mentioned in the Tenth Book that the Archbishop of Cologne had a great mind to reform his Church and approved not of that Synod of his Province though a Book on that Subject was published in his Name Now after that it was decreed in the Diet of Ratisbone and Injunctions laid upon the Bishops both by the Emperor and the Popes Legate that they should in their several Provinces and Diocesses set about a Holy Reformation He called a Convention of his States which consist of the Clergy of the Cathedral Church Earls Nobility and the Deputies of Cities After some Deliberation it was agreed upon by all that so holy and wholsom a Work should be taken in hand wherefore he employed some to draw up in Writing a Form of future Reformation and look out for good and able Ministers of the Church This Writing he sent to the Divines of Cologne desiring them to examine it and give their Judgment
it was a great argument of God's goodness towards them that in this dissension about Religion they lived in peace together whereas upon that occasion grievous commotions were raised in other places for the quieting whereof he had from the very beginning of his Pontificate applied all Remedies and made use of greatest lenity that he had lately betaken himself to the last refuge by calling a General Council and appointing it to be held at Trent a Town of Germany where that vicious Seed of Hereticks most encreased to which Town they might safely come and there if they pleased maintain their own interests That he had hoped that that being so august an Assembly to which Christian Kings and People had always payed a great deference and the Congregation of so many Bishops who under the conduct of the Holy Ghost treated of Matters of Religion no man would be so wicked as not to submit to so great an Authority and presently forsaking all erroneous Doctrines yield to the judgment and decision of the Catholick Church That he entertained still the same opinion of them and hoped that by reason of their domestick peace those of them who had continued faithful and constant would obey the Council and that the rest who not deliberately but by too much credulity had been led away into errour would not slight the Authority of the Assembly which that they would do and repair to the Council as unto a Celestial Congregation wherein God himself presided he now again earnestly exhorted them as he had done before But that it was a great grief unto him that there were not a few in Germany and of the number of those also who were reckoned Princes that not only with pride and insolence despised the Council but reproached and reviled it also declaring that they would not submit to its Decrees that it chiefly therefore grieved him to see himself necessitated by the stubbornness and obstinacy of those desperate men to seek a remedy by Arms. For that he could no longer suffer neither the loss of so many Souls which perished daily through Heresies nor this oppression of the Christian Religion the one whereof belonged to his Pastoral Office and the other concerned the Dignity of his Place and Character And that whil'st he was often casting about in his thoughts for a remedy and making his Prayers to God that he would discover to him a way it happened most opportunely that the Emperour a most religious Prince being provoked by the same Crimes in a manner of wicked men as he himself was had resolved to revenge the cause of Religion by Arms for when by his means and at his intercession a Council was granted to Germany it seemed to him that they who refused and slighted it despised also what he had done and set light by his authority that therefore he had willingly embraced this occasion as offered by Heaven and was resolved with all his own and the Revenues of the Roman Church to further and assist the Emperour 's laudable inclinations for that should he do otherwise should he act negligently and remissly there was no doubt to be made but that God would require at his hands as at the hands of a Father the Souls of so many Children corrupted and undone by the treachery of Hereticks that therefore he made known to them this his purpose and resolution that they might both see the anxiety that overburdened him and joyn their Wishes and Prayers with him that is with God and Religion That they were famous for many noble Exploits but that a more honourable Name they could not procure to themselves than by entertaining their ancient Amity with God according to the example of their Forefathers by paying their wonted Love and Obedience to the Church of Rome which had always gratified and obliged them and lastly by contributing their Aid and Assistance which he earnestly begg'd of them in this so just and religious a Cause The Embassadours of the Protestants of Upper Germany on the fifth of July came to Baden from Ulme to a Convention of the Suizers and having delivered their Message were put off to the Month of August Their Demands were That they would not grant a Passage to foreign Soldiers through their Countrey And that if there was occasion they would permit their Subjects to serve them in the War. The Men of Brunswick Goslar Hildesseim and Hannover by orders from the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave demolished Wolffembottle the chief Fort of Henry Duke of Brunswick which to this time he had kept by a good Garrison In these stirs and commotions the Elector Palatine by his Embassadour Sir Wolff Affensteyn made application to the Emperour at Ratisbonne and desired to be informed what the Cause of the War was and against whom these Preparations were making he disswaded him also from hostility and begg'd that he might have leave to mediate Some days after the Emperour sent him this Answer by Granvell and Naves That it was no difficult thing for him to know both what the cause of the War was and against whom it was designed Afterwards he objected the same things almost that he had before alledged in his Letters to the Free Towns That they would not obey him that not only in Germany but in foreign Parts also some had contrived and plotted many things against him under a colour of Religion that they would be bound by no Laws that they had invaded other mens Possessions and especially Church-Lands disposing of them in a tyrannical manner with no other intent certainly than that by a kind of hereditary right they might transmit Bishopricks and other Ecclesiastical Dignities and Possessions to their Children and Off-spring was it credible that they who committed such things would abide by any fair and lawful tryal and was it not rather their intention by raising Broils and Troubles to baffle all Justice and Censure that there was not the least hopes of amendment and that he himself knew what lenity he had used and how many faults he had pardoned them that nevertheless all he had got thereby was that growing more insolent they tampered with the rest of the States and stirred them up to Rebellion That he knew not by what Arts they did do so but that it might be easily perceived by any how unworthy a thing it was and how justly to be lamented by him That since they without any regard to Law or Justice acted arbitarily and by violence trampling upon the Decrees of the Empire there was no other way now to be essayed but that which was familiar and common to themselves that 's to say Force and Arms that therefore it was his purpose by this War not only to settle Religion but also to compose all other differences restore the Peace and Liberty of Germany and to secure those under his protection who did their duty but severely punish all disturbers of the publick peace and oppressours of liberty according
you left at home that they look carefully about them that no sudden surprize happen and that they consult with their Neighbours whom they think they can safely trust And if I can do you any kindness that way I 'le willingly assist you that if any Commotion happen which I think will not you may be in the greater readiness whatever fall out And seeing we are not far distant one from another I 'le take it kindly if you 'll hereafter write to me of what you hear I shall do the same and not fail to acquaint you with what I think concerns the Publick nor be wanting in giving that necessary protection and defence to all that expect and deserve it Some days before Montfort was come back to Trent and therefore the Ambassadours of Wirtemberg went to wait upon him and tell him That hitherto they had obtained nothing by the help of the Cardinal nor of Don Francisco de Toledo and that since he and his Collegues represented the Emperour there they desired that their Princes demands might be heard But receiving no satisfactory answer then neither they began to despair of success and to think of returning home as the Prince had lately enjoyned them if they found they were put off with longer delays The Deputy of Strasburg gave Count Montfort also an account of the business he came about as he had done before to Poictieres and he likewise took a Copy of his Commission Now were the Disputations of the Divines over and the Fathers met daily that having examined all their Opinions they might frame the Decrees as we told you before Three of the German Nation were chosen for that purpose the Bishops of Cologne Vienna and Julius Pflug Bishop of Naumburg Whil'st these were taken up about that affair and prepared all things for the future Session at length January the Seventh came the Ambassadours of Duke Maurice of whom the Emperour had written a little before and these were Wolf Coler and Leonard Badehorn a Lawyer Their coming cheared up the Bishops whom I named before and chiefly the Emperours Ambassadours who thought that Duke Maurice being peaceably inclined was now no more to be suspected The third day after they came they acquainted the Emperours Ambassadours with their Instructions and at first alledged that the safe Conduct granted by the Council was not sufficient security for the Divines to come and that it was the cause why the Princes had sent none that he himself was very well affected towards the Publick and earnestly desired that some way of Concord might be found that therefore he was fully resolved to send some good and peceable Men and doubted not but most of the rest would do the same but that it might be so his demands were first That those who were to come might have a safe Conduct in the form of that of the Council of Basil which was heretofore given to the Bohemians That when they should come all that had been done before might be reviewed and debated again of new and the day of the ensuing Session prorogued That there should be a Council wherein all Nations and People might meet That the Pope should not take to himself the Authority of President but submit to the Council and absolve all the Bishops from their Oaths of Canonical Obedience that so all the Votes in Council might be free and no constraint laid upon Mens Judgements That they would propose these things more at large in the Congregation of the Fathers when it should be thought fit and move that something might be done therein with all expedition That now the Divines were about forty Miles forward on their Journy and waited only till they should be sent for That was done on the Tenth day of January They made answer That they were very glad of their coming and that they would make a Report of all they had said to the Council They informed the Emperour also of the whole matter who to soften Duke Maurice advised and counselled the Fathers to return a mild and friendly answer to his Demands The Duke of Wirtemberg also hearing that Duke Maurice had sent thither ordered his Ambassadours to stay till the next Session and there exhibit their Writing At the same time the sent another short Paper much to the same purpose that the Demands of Duke Maurice were as will appear hereafter and that he would have also produced with the confession of Faith and Doctrine The Deputy of Strasburg had orders to stay either till the Mauritians came or that it were certainly know they would not come When they were come therefore he communicated to them the cause of his Deputation told them how Affairs stood and learned of them what Instructions they had Those of Wirtemberg did the same and so all joyned in the common cause which they as coming latest did chiefly prosecute and therefore made earnest suit to the three Electoral Archbishops the Cardinal of Trent who was Duke Maurice's familiar Friend and the Emperour's Ambassadors that for the sake of the Publick they would both be favourable to them themselves and persuade the rest of the Fathers also to be so For none of the Ambassadours went to the Legate Crescentio or his Collegues lest they should seem to own their Authority but because in obedience to the Emperour and to comply with the Imperial Decree they had been sent to the Council therefore they applied themselves in all Matters to his Ambassadors who was the chief and supream Magistrate And at the same time News was also brought that Duke Maurice would in a few days be with the Emperour which raised the hopes and expectations of all Men. The King of England's Uncle whom we named before was in this Month beheaded at London and some of his familiar Friends suffered with him No Man doubted but that this was done by the influence of the Duke of Northumberland and wiser Men began now to be concerned for the good King whom they saw more exposed to Danger and Treasons now his nearest Relations were taken out of the way for after the death of the Duke of Somerset Northumberland brought in new Bedchamber-men about the King and amongst these his own Sons and Relations The day of the next Session of the Council now approaching the Emperour's Ambassadors sent for those of Duke Maurice and told them what they had done with the Fathers in their Affair that they had obtained a safe Conduct such as they desired that all farther Action also should rest and be put off until they came and might be present that it was not in the power of the Fathers that all Nations and People should meet there that the Council was lawfully called and though all did not come it nevertheless retained its Authority and Dignity that they themselves might consider how undecent a thing it would be to handle the Decrees already made over again for that it would redound to the
Hoffe he went to Blasseburg his Principal Castle When Albert was retired Henry with his Army sat down before the City of Brunswick and battered it very furiously with his Cannon but the Bishops and the Norimbergers who maintained his Army sending for him he demanded of the Inhabitants of Brunswick about fourscore Thousand Crowns they denied this at first but the Garrison within the City refusing to bear Arms any longer for their defence without Pay forced them at last to promise Payment of it And Henry having appointed his Soldiers the day when they should receive their Pay marched away and passed through Thuringe This being known to John Frederick Duke of Saxony who till then had not been reconciled to him he left his Lady who was then sick at Weimar and with his three Sons went to Gothen to that purpose But Henry being then on his March wrote a Letter to the Duke to this Effect Though said he I have had a just Provocation and not been destitute of an Opportunity of late Years to revenge the Injuries you have done me in former times yet because then you were the Emperor's Prisoner I never attempted any thing against either your Children or Subjects but committed my wrongs to the Determination and Judgment of the Laws But you Sir were so far from acknowledging your former Injuries that you have lately entertained comforted aided and with your Council assisted the Marquess of Brandenburg the destroyer of Germany and my particular Enemy and although you did this very privately yet I was well acquainted with it If therefore my Army has in its March done any dammage in your Territories you have no reason to complain because you began your self Henry had in truth resolved to waste the Territories of Albert and Volrate Earls of Mansfield upon the account of the War the last Year but Augustus Duke of Saxony had interposed his Mediation at their Request and put an end to that difference upon the receipt of this Letter John Frederick sent Ambassadors to Henry and endeavoured to allay his anger so that Henry came to Weimar with two Troops of Horse and two Foot Companies and quartered the rest of his Army in the neighbouring Country And here he was met by Minquice the Duke's Chancellor and having entred into a Treaty with him at length he disposed him to terms of Amity And whereas Henry had before demanded great Sums of Money he perswaded him to remit a great part of it and after two days stay in that City without doing any dammage he friendly and quietly marched away The eighteenth day of October there was a Conference or dispute began in London by the command of the Queen concerning the Presence of Christ as they call it in the Sacrament of the Altar It was continued six days though not without some heats and ill Language One Weston a Roman-Catholick Divine who was the principal Mannager of the Dispute behaving himself very Intemperately What was the Issue of this Dispute we shall set forth together with the Laws which passed in this Session of Parliament About the end of October one Michael Servetus a Spaniard was burnt at Geneva He had many years since Printed several small Books in which amongst other things he had discoursed concerning the Trinity contrary to the Sense of the whole Church And coming this year to Geneva the Senate being informed of his being there commanded him to be apprehended and ordered Calvin who had before written against his Doctrines and the other Ministers of their Church that they should enter into a Conference with him There was a long and a sharp dispute between them Servetus without any Modesty often giving Calvin the Lye. In the Interim the Senate being very desirous to proceed with great deliberation in a thing of this weight consulted the Doctors of Berne Zurich Basil and Schafhouse who all said that these Doctrines were very Blasphemous and Injurious to the Majesty of God But Servetus not only stood to his Opinion but defended it with ill Language and Reproaches and was thereupon sentenced to Death When he came to the place of Execution William Farel exhorted him to call upon Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God but he refused so to do nor did he express the least Sign of Repentance yet because he did not defend his Doctrine before the People it brought a very great Envy upon Calvin whereupon he set forth a Book wherein he gives an account of his Doctrine and of whatever else had passed in this Affair and teacheth that the Sword may be lawfully imployed against Hereticks The thirtieth of October James Sturmius a Man of great Prudence and Integrity and on the account of his rare natural endowments and extraordinary Learning esteemed the Glory of the German Nobility died at Strasburg having been for two Months afflicted by a Quartane Ague he lived something above Sixty three Years About this time Reginald Pool one of the Cardinals who was sent from Rome through Germany to the Emperor when he was now arrived at Dillinghen a Town upon the Danube in the Borders of the Palatinate belonging to the Bishop of Ausburg was ordered by the Emperor who sent James Mendoza on that Errand to him to stay there till the Emperor should give him leave to come to him Henry of Brunswick left Weimar and the seventh day of November arrived in the Camp of the Confederates which was then at Lichtefelse a Town in the Bishoprick of Bamberg they had shut up in this Town nine Companies of Foot which were put into it by Albert which were the same that had before been at Birute and the Count of Plaw had some time before sate down before the Place with his own and the Forces belonging to the Confederates to which those under the Duke of Brunswick being now added and some Cannon being sent from Norimberg to batter the Town the tenth day of November they yielded themselves at discretion Some of the Captains being taken thereupon into Custody the rest disarmed and sent home without Colours This being done they Marched to Culembach a Town in the Territories of Albert and with their Cannon furiously battered it when therefore the Inhabitants saw they could not defend it they removed their Goods into the Castle of Blasseburg and having set Fire to their Houses retreated thither themselves upon this the Enemy rushing in put some few they found in the Town to the Sword and putting out the Fire took what was left Count Plaw having thus taken Lichteberg a Castle Hoffe and Birute two small Towns and dismantled them sate down before Basseburg the strongest place belonging to Albert and then very well Garrison'd About this time the French suddenly marching out of Piedmont surprized Verceile a Town belonging to Savoy and then in the Hands of the Spaniards But then considering that by reason of its vicinity to the Dukedom of Milan and being informed also that Gonzaga the
troubled Israel Then Anna du Bourg beginning with a Discourse of the Eternal Providence of God to which all things are subject when he came to the Question proposed said There were many Sins and Crimes committed by Men which the Laws had already forbidden and yet the Gallows and Tortures which were imployed had not been able to prevent the frequent Perjuries Adulteries profuse Lusts and Profane Oaths which were not only connived at but cherished On the contrary every Day new punishments are invented against a sort of Men who could never yet be convicted of any wicked Attempt for how can they injure the Prince who never name him but in their Prayers for him Are they accused of breaking our Laws perverting the Allegiance of our Cities or Provinces No the greatest Tortures could never extort a Confession that they so much as thought of any such thing Are they not accused of Sedition only because they have by the Candle of Scripture discovered the shameful and encreasing Villanies and corruptions of the Roman Power which they desire may be reformed Christopher Harlay and Peter Seguier the two Presidents said with great Modesty that the Court had hitherto justly and rightly discharged its Duty in this Particular and that it would still do the same without changing to the Glory of God and therefore neither the King nor People of France would have cause to repent the trusting to it Christopher de Thou with great freedom reflected on the King's Attorney and Advocates for presuming to defame the Proceedings of that Court and indangering its Authority Renatus Baillet desired the Judgments which were blamed might be re-examined and more maturely considered Minart having made a short Preface to soften the Envy which had been raised against them only added That he thought the King's Edicts were to be observed After these Maistre the President made a sharp Harangue against the Sectaries instancing in the Severities which Philip the August is said to have employed against the Albingenses 600 of which he burnt in one day and in the Waldenses which were massacred with Fire and Smoak partly in their Houses and partly in the Dens and Caves they had fled to The King having obliquely reproached the Court for entring upon this Debate without his Order added He now clearly saw what he had heard before That there were some among them who despised both his Authority and the Popes That this was the fault of but a few but it was dishonourable to the whole body of them but only they that were guilty should suffer the Punishment And therefore he exhorted the rest to go on in their Duty The Reflections of la Faur and du Bourg who mentioned the Story of Ahab and the frequent Adulteries exaseperated the King more than the rest and therefore he commanded Montmorancy to apprehend them who again ordered Gabriel de Montgomery a Captain of the Guard to take them and carry them to the Bastile Afterwards Paul de Foix Anthony Fumee Eustace de la Porte were also taken into Custody but la Ferriere du Val and Viole were concealed by their Friends and escaped this Storm Men censured these Proceedings as they stood affected but the Wiser were much disgusted That the King should be so far imposed on by others as to come personally into his Court to subvert those Laws he ought to have protected That he should make use of Threats and Imprisonments saying That this was a clear Instance that he was subject to the Passions of others and who could think but these things were the foreunners of great Changes The Ministers of the Reformed Religion notwithstanding held a Synod at S. German June 28 one Morelle being President in which they setled the order of their Synods the Authority of the Presidents the taking away the Supremacy in the Church the election of Ministers and their Office and Duty Deacons and Presbyters Censures the Degrees of Consanguinity and Affinity of contracting and dissolving Marriages which yet were only temporary Decrees to be varied as future Synods should think fit but to oblige particular Persons till so altered About the same time came Embassadours from the Protestant Princes of Germany with Letters to the King subscribed by Frederick Cout Palatine of the Rhine Augustus Duke of Saxony Joachim Elector of Brandenburg Christopher Duke of Wirtimberg and Wolfang Count of Weldentz In which they represent to the King How much they were afflicted to see so many Pious Quiet and Holy Men who professed the same Religion Imprisoned Spoiled Banished and put to Death as Seditious Persons in France That they thought themselves bound by Christian Charity and the Alliance which was between them and France to beseech him well to consider this Affair which concerned the Name of God and the Salvation of so many Souls that he ought to free himself from Prejudice and imploy great Judgment and Reason in it They assured him they were no less solicitous for the Glory of God and the Salvation of their Subjects than he and upon the Differences of Religion had maturely considered how they might be composed That they had found by degrees and insensibly through Avarice and Ambition many Corruptions had crept into the Church which were dishonourable to the Majesty of God and Scandalous to Men and that they ought to be reformed by the Testimonies of the Holy Scriptures the Decrees of the Primitive Church and the Writings of the most Ancient Fathers That the Corruptions and Disorders of the Court and Church of Rome had long since been complained of in France by W. Parisiensis John Gerson Nicholas Clemangius and Wisellius of Groeningen the Restorer of the University of Paris under Lewis XI and other Divines That King Francis his Father of Blessed Memory was convinced of this and had wisely endeavoured to put an end to the Differences of Religion and to reform the Discipline of the Church That now France was not involved in War abroad they besought him the Difference of Religion might by his Authority and Conduct be quietly ended That this might easily be effected if the King would but appoint Learned and Peaceable Men who should examin their Confession of Faith without Partiality or Prejudice by the Holy Scripture and the Ancient Fathers That in the interim he should suspend all Legal Severities discharge the Imprisoned recal the Banished restore their Estates to those that had been ruin'd This they said would be acceptable and pleasing to God Honourable to the King Profitable to France and very Grateful to them The King entertained the Embassadors kindly and having read the Letter said he would suddenly send them a satisfactory Answer but by that time they were arrived at the Borders of France the Fire their coming seem'd to have abated raged more horribly than ever June 19. a Commission was issued to Jean de Saint Andre the President and Promoter of these Troubles Jo. James de Memme Master of the Requests Lewis Gayaut
Elector of Saxony The University of Wittemberg interceeds with Duke Frederick for Luther Pope Leo's Bull for the Indulgences Luther's Appeal from the Pope to a Council 1519. Luther's Letter to Pope Leo. The Emperour Maximilian dies Competitours for the Empire Charles King of Spain and Francis King of France The Speech of the Elector of Mentz about the Election of the Emperour The Speech of the Archbishop of Treves The Vote of Frederick Elector of Saxony Charles of Austria chosen Emperour The Elector's Letter to the Emperour His Answer The French King vexed that Charles should be preferred before him The Genealogy of Charles the Emperour The way of chusing the Emperour The Heads of the Golden Bull. * Or Charter because it was sealed with a Seal of Gold instead of Wax The Conditions prescribed to the Emperour Charles V. Erasmus his Judgment of Luther to the Elector of Saxony He writes also to the Archbishop of Mentz and Cardinal Campegio As also to Luther A Disputation at Leipsick betwixt Luther and Eckius Zuinglius preaches at Zurich 1520. Miltitz treatâ— with Luther Luther writes to the Pope A Description of the Court of Rome Bernard in his Books of Consideration to Eugenius What Eckius gained by his Dispute Luther makes some overtures for a Peace The mischief of Flatterers Luther's Book of Christian Liberty The Emperor's Voyage out of Spain into Germany Luther's Book to Frederick intitled Tessaradecas His Book concerning Confession Another concerning Vows His Opinion concerning the Communion in Both kinds That the Bohemians always receive it so The Dignity of the Lateran Council The Pisane Council It was called by the Cardinals The Reasons why they did it The Pope's Answer to the Cardinals He prohibits all Persons to come to the Council called by the Cardinals and summons another himself An old trick of the Popes He Excommunicates the Cardinals The Cardinals Proceedings against the Pope The Council remov'd from Pisa to Milan Decius writes in Defence of the Cardinals Maximilian leagues with Julius Matthew Langus created a Cardinal in the Lateran Council Pope Julius dies and Leo X succeeds him The End of the Lateran Council The Immortality of the Soul called in Question at Rome Luther's Book condemn'd at Lovain and Cologn His Answer Ockam condemned at Paris A Comparison between the Jews and Roman Clergy The Authority of Aristotle with the Divines of Loâ—vain and Cologn Phefercorne's Judgment concerning the suppressing the Jewish Writings The Opinion of Reuchline His Book burnt Approved of by the Bishop of Spire Condemned at Paris The Censure of the Louvain Divines upon Luther's Writings His Letter to the Emperour To the States of the Empire To the Archbishop of Mentz The Archbishop's Answer Luther's Letter to the Bishop of Mersburgh The Bishop's Answer The Pope's Answer to the Elector The Pope's Bull. The Pope and Cardinals condemn Luther's Doctrin and command his Books to be burnt The Decrees of Pius and Julius concerning Appeals Luther is Excommunicated Luther opposes the Pope's Bull. The Electors come to Aix la Chapelle The Emperour enters the Town iâ— great state The Ceremonies of the Coronation The Emperour's Oath The manner of making Knights A Dyet summoned to meet at Wormes The Popes anciently subject to the Emperours The Emperours swear Allegiance to the Popes Luther's Works burnt He burns the Canon-Law 1521. Duke Frederick obtains from the Emperor that Luther should have a publick Hearing in the Diet of Wormes Luther's Letter to Duke Frederick The Emperour 's safe Conduct to Martin Luther The Bull De coena Domini The Pope Excommunicates the Lutherans Luther goes to Wormes Luther pleads his own Cause before the Emperor and whole Empire But asked time to deliberate first Eckius Interrogates Luther Luther's Harangne to the Emperor and States of the Empire Eckius to Luther Luther's answer to his Demands Eckius's â—eply to Luther Luther's Answer The Emperour's Letter to the Princes And the Princes Disagreement about it A Committee of the States for treating with Luther Vey's Speech to Luther before the Committee Luther's Answer to the Commissioners Luther submits his Works to a General Council Luther returns Home accompanied by a Herald Luther's Letters to the Emperour and States The History of the Council of Constancâ—e Huss condemned for an Hâ—retick first by the Pope And then by the Council He and Jerome of Prague burnt Wickliff's Doctrine condemned and his Body taken up and burnt The Parisian Divines condemn Luther's Books Melanchton and Luther answer the Sâ—rbonists The Switzers make Leagues with the Pope and French King But the Canton of Zurick refused the League The Emperour by a publick Decree Proscribes Luther Luther conveyed out of the way The Augustines of Wittemberg forbear saying of Mass And give Duke Frederick their Reasons for so doing Duke Frederick's Answer about abolishing the Mass The Marriage of the Archduke Frederick King Henry of England writes against Luther The Emperor's War with the French King. Pope Leo dies Adrian succeeds Leo. The Emperor returns to Spain to appease Seditions there 1522. A Diet at Norimberg A League betwixt the Emperor and King of England Mary the King of England's Daughter betrothed to the Emperor The Letter of the Bishop of Constance to the Canons of Zurich Zuinglius writes to the Bishop of Constance And to the Switzers The Custom of some Cantons about Priests Concubines Luther returns to Wittemberg And by Letters aquaints Duke Frederick with the Reasons of it Carolostadius casts Images out of the Churches of Wittemberg The Sect of Muncer and other Enthusiasts Luther's Letter to the Bohemians Three Sects in Bohemia Luther's Book against false Bishops Pope Adrian's Brief to the Elector of Saxony Pope Adrian's Letter to the States of Germany A War betwixt the Archbishop of Treves and Francis Sicking Adrian writes to the Senate of Strasburg A short History of Pope Adrian Adrian being declared Pope writes to the Colledge of Cardinals Adrian goes to Rome The Turk taketh Rhodes 1523. The Assembly of Zurich The Reformation received at Zurich Pope Adrian's Instructions about the restraining of Luther Luther's Interpretation of the Pope's Instructions The Princes Answer to Pope Adrian's Legate Troubles in Denmark Christiern King of Denmark banish'd Frederick Duke of Holstein made King of Denmark King Christiern in a publick Declaration answers the Accusations of the Danes and Swedes The Ministers of Norimberg accused by the Pope's Legate The Grievances of Germany presented to the Legate The Acts of the Dyet of Norimberg published Two Augustine Friers burnt at Brussels Luther's Interpretation of the Decree of Norimberg Vlrick Hutton dies Henry King of England's Letters of Admonition to the Dukes of Saxony George Duke Saxony Answers the King of England Pope Adrian dies Priests Marry at Strasburg 1524. An Assembly of the Switzers at Lucern Cardinal Campegius's Letter to Frederick Duke of Saxony Campegius's Speech to the Princes of the Empire The Princes Answer to the Pope's Legate The Legates Reply The Cantons of Switzerland expostulate