and wil saye they doe it of dutie to the end that they may haue the gouernment and also the possession of the goods But wher these men saye they are bounde to admitte fellowes of their Religiō and to exclude no man out of the kyngdome of heauen It doth not excuse them for there is one only fayth whiche all that are christians ought to professe and obserue This faith in tymes past both Emperours and kynges and all Princes and Rulers of the Empire and the people also confirmed by an othe Uerely this catholique faith is the selfe same which we of Germany from the beginning vnto this time haue followed those excepted that haue reuolted from the same Wherfore there is nothing to be made newe but all thynges ought to be referred to this fayth and the mynde is to be subdued that it may obeye the catholique churche He that doeth otherwise and taketh to him selfe any priuate Religion he vnlesse he obeye admonishementes ought of his Byshop to be excommunicated and to be remoued from all function His goodes also ought by the ciuile Magistrate to be published neither is he to be suffered within the limites of the Empire For that same libertie or licenciousnes of Religion the fathers haue alwayes reiected as a certen confusion of the faith made this lawe that what thinges so euer were once determined of coūsels in matters of faith shuld no more be reasoned nor called in doubt so that it is lawful for none to ordeine or propounde any thing to the cōtrary For histories teache vs what time Ualentinian themperour admitted all kinde of sectes what trouble arose of the same Again if this shuld be receiued that whosoeuer dissenteth frō the catholique faith shuld be excused by his conscience Than should the Anabaptistes Zwinglians a Schuuenchfeldians suche other like also be excused in this peace cōprised They saye how the promesses of God wherby he promiseth vs euerlasting life apperteine to all men in generall neither ought they of thē to be restreined As though those promesses apperteined to thē only whiche be of their profession But the thing is far otherwyse For what tyme they shall swarue from the communion of the churche they are excluded from the kingdom of heauē euen by their own iudgement And where there is no saluation out of the churche howe should the kyngdome of heauen belonge to them whiche reiecte the Sacramentes of the churche and contemne the ordeining of priestes vnto whome Christe hathe geuen power to binde and lose And if there be no priestes consecrated amonges them howe obteyne they remission of their synnes And except their sinnes be forgeuen how shall they be made partakers of the heauenly kingdome Therfore those promises apperteine not to them only But rather they are to be thought to be of that nomber whome Christe sayeth he knoweth not They bragge that they are able to proue howe the Catholiques by sondry abuse both religion the churche goodes But let vs see what thing is herein to be blamed After the holy Scripture and the lawes of the fathers and counselles the churche goodes ought to be distributed to Byshops and ministers of the churche to be imployed vpon the poore vpon reparations and if the thing require so vpon the raunsomyng of them that are kept prysoners of the Turkes and Barbarians Uerely this custome hath continued a thousand and thre hondreth yeares since that the same goodes shoulde bee imployed to Godly ministers and vses Of the whiche sorte be to saye Masse to shewe Gods worde to repare and builde churches to fynde pore men also Monkes Freers and Nunnes But what do they putting out certen Byshops they make newe as they were prophane and ciuile officers vnto whome they geue as small a portion as they can possible They ioyne to them other ministers whiche bring the sely people into errour whilest both they contemne the sound doctrine and minister to the people the Sacrament whole and the bread in dede not consecrated to witte a creature in place of the creatour and vnder the colour of true worshipping committe Idolatrie They saye that from henceforth they wyll imploye the churche goodes aboute none other matters but to the vse of scholes nor wyll conuert no part therof to them selues well let it be so but by this vse the catholique religion should be polluted and vtterly oppressed And this vse shall be a great deale worse than if the same goodes were bestowed about prophane matters For these causes therfore it is not lawefull for the Catholiques to allowe this condition as it is wrytten This wryting as I sayed was extraordinary and priuatly made The Protestaūtes being aduertised hereof write against it and first shewe what is the true doctrine the same verely whiche is conteined in the wrytinges of the Prophetes Apostles Secondly they declare how muche the doctrine of the Papistes differeth from the same whiche haue so many wayes polluted the Lordes supper whiche haue brought in so filthie errours of purgatory of praying to the dead whiche take awaye and denie the remission of sinnes whilest they saye we must alwayes doubte of the grace of God whiche so muche dishonour matrimonie instituted of God which with detestable and horrible crimes are defiled in this their senglenes of lyfe euē with the same vices that Saint Paule rehearseth Of these thinges it may clerely appeare who haue forsaken the true Religion And seing it is so suche ecclesiasticall persones as either haue nowe already or els hereafter shall imbrace the pure doctrine can not be of them neglected As touching the churche goodes all thinges be maruelously defiled also Truthe it is that a benefice is geuen for dutie but it is to be considered diligently of what sorte is the office of a priest or byshop And that a consideration of scholes must also be had For euen from the tyme of the Prophetes this maner hath euer remayned And nowe the prelates of churches seke chiefly that suche thinges as are due to ministrs of the churche to teachers schollers and scholes to almouse houses and hospitalles they imploye to their own vses that they may liue in al voluptuousnes The same do thei with Abbeies Colledges Doeth not the Byshop represent a great Prince who taking first the possessiō of his byshoprike entreth the citie with two thousand horsemen And these thinges in dede they do where there is none of them all that can doe his dutie What mynde or conscience is there Can these obiecte sacrilege and extortion to others Their doctrine is in dede condemned of Freers But through their wickednes that perswade them not to reade their wrytings And that the Pope and that the rabble do condemne and despise it to be no maruell For after the same maner was Christe and his doctrine intreated of Anna Caiphas and all the sorte of Phariseis and Byshoppes They make oft mention of counselles and of the churche But it lieth not in
do nothyng but that might stande with his honoure In all other thynges throughe Gods helpe he would do as shoulde become a Prince of the Empire and an obdient childe of the church What tyme this answere was geuen them After some deliberation they began to recite howe many thynges the Byshoppe of Rome had done and suffered that Luther mighte at the length retourne into the right way but that he hath kepte no parte of his promyse And that it lyeth not nowe in the Archbishoppe of Treuers to here the matter for so muche as the Bishoppe of Rome hathe taken to him selfe the same to whom onely it apperteineth to be iudge in suche causes the conclusion of theyr talke was that they said how they must procede according to the Bishoppes decree And so not longe after they burned Luthers workes Aleander was an Italian borne right skilful in the Hebrew tonge he was sometyme a Reader in Paris commynge to Rome he grewe in estimation and was first made Archebistoppe of Brunduse after that Cardinal To the same degre of dignitie came also Carracciolus When Luther vnderstoode this he calleth forthe all the studentes of Wittenberge and in the presens of many learned men he burneth the Byshop of Romes law and the decree lately published openly the tēth day of Decembre And the next day in his lecture admonisheth al men that regarde theyr saluation to beware of that Bishoppes kyngdom Afterwarde he set forth a boke wherin he sheweth the causes why he burned the Canon lawe First that it hath bene an olde custome obserued at all times that naughtie and Pestilent bokes should be burned a testimony wherof is yet in the actes of the Apostles Moreouer that it concerneth his dewtie that is baptised in Christe whiche is a professour and an open teacher of holye Scripture to impugne wycked doctrine and to teache men that is holesome and to plucke out of mēs mindes false and erronious opinions And that the same apperteineth also to many others And although that they bryng letted eyther through ignoraunce or for feare of perill do not that they oughte to do yet can that be none excuse to him vnlesse he do his dewtie Moreouer the Bishoppe of Rome and all his rable are so obstiuate and shamelesse that not onely they wyll heare no good admonitions but also condempne the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and compell men to committe open Idolatry Furthermore he supposeth howe these booke burners haue no commission to burne his bookes no more than had the Diuines of Collen and Louain of the Emperour Finally for as muche as his workes beyng burnt and the brute therof spread abroade ouer all countreis many will growe to be weaker and doubtfull supposynge they were not caste into the fyre withoute cause therefore dyd he seynge his aduersaries past all remedy burne theyr Bookes also that he might therby erecte confyrme the mindes of men Wherfore he besecheth all men that laying a syde thambitiouse and proude titles of his aduersaries they would looke nerer to the thinge that is howe wicked and pestilent opinions are conteyned in those bokes of the Law Which thinge that it maye be the better perceyued of innumerable he hath gathered a fewe thynges whiche belonge to the reproche of almightie God to the iniurie of the ciuill magistrate and to the establisshing of their owne tyranny to the numbre of thyrtie places whereby he sheweth that he had iuste cause to burne them Than prouoketh he them to shewe the reasons wherfore they burnt his workes And the cause why fewe or none haue in diuerse ages past attempted anithing agaynste the tyrannye of Antichrist he saieth hathe bene for that the Scripture hath prophecied howe he shoulde destroy his aduersaries and haue the kynges to assist him Seyng therfore that the Prophetes and Apostles haue tolde vs before of suche tyrrible thynges to come it is easye to consydre howe greate it behoueth hys crueltye to be For so commeth it to passe ordenarily in worldly matters that of the best begynnynge of thinges procedeth the worste ende Whiche after he hathe proued by diuerse examples he inuergeth agaynste the Citie of Rome whiche beyng indewed of God with many benefites and ornamentes is vtterly gone out of kynde and with her contagion hathe infected a great part of the world that this the Byshoppes ordinaūce is agaynst the lawes agaynst good customes nether is he to be suffered for that he fleeth from lawful iudgement for that he affirmeth him selfe to be aboue all lawes and iudgementes I tolde you in the fyrste Boke how Syluester Prierias wrote agaynst Luther whan he had answered him sharpely Ambrosius Catarinus an Italian toke in had to defende him setting forthe a booke of the dignitie of the Bishoppe of Rome to the whiche Luther aunswereth at large and interpretynge certen places of Daniell teacheth that the Byshoppes Tyrrannye is there paynted out and proueth that suche thinges as he hathe prophecied of the kyngdome of Antichriste do altogether concerne the See of Rome After this was Catarinus made Archbyshoppe of Cossent The thirde Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the Empire of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the thirde Booke DUke Fridericke obteyneth letters of safeconduict for Luther to come to Wormes there to defende his opinions and writinges before themperor and the other states and perseuereth constantly although themperor threateneth him wyth banishment and the Pope had cursed hym in the Bulle of the Lordes supper And the Prynces seuerally soughte to peruerté him The counsell of Constaunce was set before his eyes vpon which occasion mention is made of Wyclese of Iohn Hussc and of ʒ ischa a Bohemer the Sorbonistes condempne Luthers bokes Whilest the Pope and the Frenche kynge made a league with the Swisses ʒ wmglius diswadeth thē from takyng Pensions of thē Luter beyng exiled by letters patentes auoydeth The kynge of Englande writcth agaynst him Pope Leo dyeth Adrian succedeth Solyman the greate Turke hathe luckie successe in Hongary Commotions in Spaynè themperor couetyng to appease them after he had treated wyth Englande goeth thyther The Byshoppe of Constance persecuteth ʒ wynglius Troubles at Wittenberge The Annabaptistes aryse for the which there is an assemble at Norinberge The Pope sendeth thyther letters and Ambassadours The Turke taketh the Rhodes ʒ winglius hauyng set forth hys doctrine by certeyne Articles is assayled by the Papistes but in fyne the Ghospell is receyued at ʒ uricke DUke Fridericke accompaniynge the Emperour to the assemblie at Wormes had obteyned that Cesar sayde he would call for Luther and heare his matter whiche Luther vnderstanding by the Dukes letters wrote agayne aboute the latter ende of Ianuary that he was exceadyng glad that the Emperor would vouche saufe to heare this matter which in dede is a common cause And that he shal be content to do any thing that he may do with a
depraued And the same that they did touchinge theyr concubines ought nowe to be euery where receiued for lawfull wines In the meane tyme Luther who had kepte him selfe closse cercertein monethes retorneth to Wittenberge fearinge lest the duke should it take in euyll part he writeth vnto him in Marche signifiyng that where as he is retourned without his commaundement he dyd so of no euill wyll or contempte he knoweth that some will beare him in hande that the same shall be daungerous for his grace for asmuche as he is condemned bothe by the Bishoppe of Rome and themperour Whose powers bothe are great this did he consyder before longe and ofte but there be three causes of his retourne fyrst that he was oftentimes requested by sundrye letters of the Churche of Wittenberge to retourne whose desyre he coulde not but accomplishe for that the same people are properly committed to his charge of God ought not to be neglected And albeit that some are muche offended with this refourmation of doctrine and reporte euill therof yet knoweth he moste certenly that this his profession is vnto God most acceptable Secondarely in the tyme of hys absence throughe the crafte of the Deuill who can not abyde this lyght of the Ghospell there was styrred vp trouble in his churche whiche vnlesse he him selfe were present coulde not be well appeased which matter was so great and weightie that it might be in no wise neglected for if the thinge might haue bene dispatched by letters he coulde righte easelye haue forborne Wittenberge Thyrdely he sayeth he feareth and doth in maner foresee a wōderfull great tempest in Germany which so racklesly doeth contemne this present benefite of God For many in dede do embrace the trewe doctrine but in their liuyng they sklaunder it abusynge the libertie of the spirit after theyr carnall appetit Others be wholy gyuen to quēch and oppresse the worde they rare not howe whiche contempte of his word God must nedes punnishe with one plage after an other as he did in times past the Iewes and theyr citie Hierusalem Wherefore it is his part and suche others as he is to admonishe all men hereof with their whole force and diligēce for albeit they should trauaile in vaine and be laughed at yet may not they therfore leaue theyr office vndone seyng that it pleaseth God who hathe committed vnto them the cure of soules wherefore he prayeth him not to be offended that he is thus retourned beyng neither called nor commaunded of him for sythe it is altogether Christes cause his trust is that he shall sustayne no displeasure or perill for his retourne The trouble whiche in his absence he sayde was in his Churche was this Andreas Caralostadius in the meane tyme that Luther was absente preached contrary doctrine and disorderlye styrred vp the people to caste the Images oute of the Churche For the which cause Luther beyng called againe of his frendes dispraiseth the rashenes of Carolostadius shewyng that fyrste the Images should haue bene remoued out of the peoples harts being instructed that God is not pleased with Images but with faith onely And then if they should be taken away the same to be done by the Magistrates and not by the tumulte and rage of the common people The same tyme began a secte of them that saide they had talke with God who had commaunded them that sleyng all wicked men they should begin a new world wherin onely the holy and innocent people should lyue and beare rule These kepte them selues priuelye in that parte of Saronie that lyeth by the riuer of Sala whose opinion as saith Luther Carolostadius also fauoured And when he could not bringe hys matters to passe at Wittenberge beynge defaced by Luthers aucthoritie he went from thens vnto them Of this sorte of men was Thomas Muncer whiche styrred vp the people against theyr magistrates in Thuringe and Franconie as shall be recyted in his place Luther hearyng that in the lande of Boheme there were some whiche in common assemblies counseiled to receiue agayne the Bishop of Romes aucthoritie or elles there shoulde neuer be ende of contention and controuersies he wryteth vnto them in the moneth of Auguste that their name was in times past odiose and hated of him before such tyme as he knewe the Bishop of Rome to be Antichriste But nowe syns God hath restored to the worlde the lyght of the Gospell he iudgeth farre otherwise and so hath professed in his workes in so muche that nowe the Byshoppe and all his Clientes are much more offended with him thē they are with them His aduersaries haue many tymes saied howe he was fledde into Boheme and in dede he hath ofte wisshed to go thyther but lest they shoulde call his iourney a runnynge awaye he hath altered his purpose And nowe is the matter brought to suche a passe that there is good hoope howe the Germaynes and the Bohemers shall professe the gospell the same Religion together Where many be sory that they be deuided into sectes they are not greued without iuste cause but if they reuolte vnto Papistrie they shall not onely not take awaye theyr sectes but increase and swarme in the same For there is no where mo sectes than is in the Romishe kyngdō as is to be sene by the graye Freres which differ much amonges themselues And yet are all suche thinges done and mainteined by the Byshop of Rome whose kyngdome throughe mens discorde is nourished and establsshed For this is the verye cause whye he setteth Princes together by the eares and seketh alwaies to styrre vp matters of grudge and displeasure Wherfore let thē take goodhede lest whilest they go about to abolish those lesser sectes they fal into more pernicious as al those Romish be vtterly vncurable Frō the which now thorow Gods benefit Germanye is latelye delyuered And howe there is no better medicine to take awaye euill than if the Pastours of the Churche woulde setforth the doctrine of the Gospell purely and syncerely And in case they can not reteyne the weake people in theyr dewtie but that they wyll reuolte at the lest wyse let them indeuour to kepe styl the Lordes Supper wholy and the memoriall of Husse and Hierome of Prage vndetiled For it may be that the Bishop will attempt to take these two thinges from them chiefly Wherfore if any of them relent and graunr the tyrant bothe it shall not be well done of them Howe be it though 〈◊〉 Boheme do reuolte yet will he set forth and commende the doctrine of Husse vnto all posteritie Wherfore he praieth and exhorteth them 〈◊〉 perseuer in that state of Religion whiche they haue defended 〈◊〉 with muche bloud and valeauntnes neither through their 〈…〉 yng blemishe the gospell that nowe florisheth And all beit that al thinges be not wel established amonges them yet will not God fayle them but whan he seeth time he will styrre vp some faythfull minister to reforme
an other and some of them also mainteine the false doctrine they shall not escape vnpunished It was neuer his purpose that the Papistes should be oppressed with force of Armes but that the ciuill Maiestrate shoulde compell them to do theyr dewtie and herin to extende theyr right and aucthoritie And that they neyther with theyr lenitie nor yet with dissimulation should confyrme their boldenes and lewde doynges And as touchyng the cōmon people they muste be earnestly admonished that they styrre not except the Magistrate commaunde them For that way they labore al together in vayne and God wil auenge the thing and that with some greuous punishment And wheras the Magistrates worke so slowely herin where they beare and suffer so many vnworthy things and are not moued with so manifest iniuries and mockeries of the Cleargie that is done throughe Gods permission that he alone myghte auenge all the matter and powre out all his indignation vpon them But in case this matter should come to a tumult and that God could be content with so light a punishment yet were all this maner of procedyng not onely discommendable but also vnprofitable For in a seditiō there is no reason to be had and for the most part it chaunceth that thinnocent parsons are plaged soner than others Moreouer there is no man that stirreth vp rebellion that can be excused be his matter neuer so iuste And in a great cōmotiō of people the good with the bad the honest with the wicked of necessitie must perishe together Wherfore let them haue an eye to the Magistrate and so long as he styrreth not let there be no priuate attempt For all sedition is against the cōmaundement of God who cōmaundeth that all the controuersies of priuate men shouldebe lawfully decided before a Iudge But consyderinge that Rebellion is nothyng els but a priuate reuengement no man nede to doubt but the god disaloweth abhorreth the same And that this sedition which is like to coine is reised by the Deuill hym selfe the enemye of all mankynde who for that he can not abyde the lyght of the treweth styrreth vp tumultes by men that professe the gospell that he might bringe in cōtēpt and hatred the trew doctrine that hath bene through Gods benefite in these former yeres restored as though it proceded not of God which semeth to geue an occasion to so many euils This do the aduersaries of the gospell already bragge of But theyr iudgementes are to be cōtemned Whom he vtterly dispiseth herin For he hathe neuer written nor spoken that thing that might kindle any sedition Now vnto such as will question obiect what shall we than do Howe longe shall we suffer theyr enormities seyng that the Magistrate winketh therat I answer that they ought to folow this order Fyrst let them acknowledge theyr faultes wherwith God beyng offēded hath suffered the tyrrany of the Clergie to continew so long and to stretche so farre as it doeth for their wicked cruell gouernement is the reward of our offences From the which if we wyll be deliuered we oughte fyrste to reconcile our selues vnto God through thamendement of life And than with earnest prayer to desyre gods aide against the popish knigdome by the example of king Dauid who praied God many times to breake the power and prid of the wicked Finally that the doctrine of the gospel be preached and set forth and the iuggelinges of the Papistes made manifest to the world that theyr errors beyng detected and the trueth knowē men may esteme lightly and clerely contemne what so euer shall procede from them And this to be the rediest way to ouerthrow theyr authoritie by strength and forse of Armes ye can preuaile nothinge and commonly it chaunceth that throughe warre they are made stronger But in case you cōpare Christ with the Pope the gospel with his doctrine than shall it openly appere what difference there is betwixt the lighte of the sunne mere darkenes and howe great a benefite of God it is that the way vnto the knowledge of him is made open al lettes being takē away Thā slideth faleth downe all their force and estimation which thing may appere by his example which hath more afflicted the popishe kingdome than any force of armes could haue done And therfore there is no other rebellion to be wished after For only this preachyng of the gospell which is raised vp of Christe him selfe is mightie and sharpe ynough to ouerthrow all Papistrie Hereupon let them fixe theyr eyes and mindes also and loke for no other meane Furthermore not to be his owne matter wherin he is so muche occupied for so great a weight exceadeth the strength and capacitie of mās witte And that it is more than he loked for that the matter is brought so farre forth as it is And therfore he putteth no doubt but that he which hath laide the foundation of the worke and hath gyuen increase to the same will bringe it also to the conclusion and ende maugre the heads of all his aduersaries He saieth howe the Deuill knew longe before of this great alteration and how he went about to let it and by certein men prophecied of these tymes to the intent he might driue men farre from this holsome doctrine But where he seeth his attempte to be in vaine he seeketh a newe waye and styrreth vp men to rebellion to let that there should be no reuolting from the Bishoppes kyngdome his But yet shall he faile of his purpose For through the preachinge of the pure doctrine their kingdome shall more and more be confounded In which true doctrine we must styll perseuer declaring howe mens decrees helpe nothinge at all vnto saluation Moreouer howe men must be warned that they suffre not them selues to be bounden to Monkish vowes and suche as are intangled already to forsake the same Furthermore that they giue no money to vaine and foolish vses of the church as for Tapers Belles Tabels Uessels Armes Workes Ornamentes and suche other like thinges For the lyfe of a Christian consisteth not in these thinges but in faith and Charitie Thus if the people be taught there is no doubt but that the aucthoritie and kyngdome of the Bishoppe and all his adherentes will fal in a fewe yeares But in case this doctrine be not taught nor therrours plucked oute of mens myndes Papistrie shal continew though neuer so many conspiracies be made against it Let them nowe consyder and pōder with him what he in litel time brought to passe by his doctrine only which his aduersaries can testifie that wanted their wonted commodities Wherby it may be easely perceiued what would haue come therof in case this doctrine might haue had free course but two yeres longer Wherfore the Deuill that smelleth out all the matter doeth nowe bestyrre him goeth about to let this enterprise through sedition but we must worcke wisely and commēde this benefite
into his handes The Frenche kyng whiche was retourned home leauing his children for pledges in Spayne sayde the conditiōs of peace were vnreasonable Wherfore sendyng Ambassadours to and fro the byshop of Rome and the Uenetians enter into league with hym the effect wherof is this That for the defence and quietnes of Italy they shall fynde an armye of .xxx. thousand fotemen of men at armes and lyghthorse men syxe thousande They shall also prouide an Nauie of two and thirtye galleys with Shippes of bourthen that what tyme they shall haue vanquyshed the enemy in Lumbardye and Italye they shall muade the kingdome of Nayles both by sea and lande which beyng ones wōne to remayne in the power of the churche of Rome yet so as .lxxv. thousande duckates be payde yerely to the Frenche kyng which claymeth a tytle in it That the dignitie of the house of medicees be maynteyned in the citie of Florence The Frenche kyng leaueth the Duckdome of Myllan to Fraunces Sfortia whome the Emperours men besegyng in the Castell of Millan constrayned to rendre and promiseth him his owne ayde and the Swycers to helpe hym also a wyfe in Fraunce of the bloud royall yet vpon this condition that he shal paye vnto him therfore yeare fyfty thousande crownes and fynde his brother Maximilian whiche is prysoner in Fraunce After this the byshop of Rome wrytyng his letters to the Emperour recyteth his benofites towards hym what goodly offers he refused at the Frenche kynges handes for his sake howe that when the kynge was taken he gaue a hondreth thousande Duckates to his captaynes vpon certayne conditiōs that he hath vttered vnto hym oftentymes the coūsels of his enemies that what time his men dyd besege Frances Sfortia in the Castel of Millan and certen men of great power moued hym to ioyne in league against hym he would not heare them For all the whiche thynges he is full euyll recompensed For his souldiours haue wrought suche iniuries shame and mysery to hym and the churche of Rome as hathe not bene hearde moreouer that neyther the condicions are fulfylled nor his money restored how it appeareth what good wyll he beareth hym whiche woulde not make hym prinie vpon what conditions he concluded with the Frenche kynge that he vtterly reiected his suite intercession made for Sfortia howe he sent the Duke of Burbon frō the siege at Marseilles to reyse vp a newe kynde of warre in Italye for the whiche causes he is of necessitie constrayned to make a league with suche as loue the quiet and wealth of Italy Wherfore if he wyl also be content to embrace peace well and good if not he shal not wāt force and power to defende Italy and the common wealth of Rome In this league was comprysed the kyng of England and with great promyses was desyred to be the protectour therof Unto this epystle Cesar aunsweryng at Granato the .xviii. of September reaccompteth his desertes and benefites done vnto hym Howe that by his sute and meanes he was made byshop of Rome howe before that tyme he gaue hym an yerely pension of ten thousande duckates out of the reuenewes of the Archebyshop of Toledo when he was legate to byshop Leo notwithstandyng that he had conspyred against hym with Albert prince of Carpes to haue dispossessed hym of Naples and Sicily When the Frenche men were dryuen out of Italy by the conducte of Bourbon he could not deny him but that he myght warre in Fraūce or els where to recouer of the Frenche kyng his owne he graunteth the kyngdome of Naples to be holden of hym not withstandynge in case sayeth he you should make any warre there you shoulde thereby lose all your right and tytle for euen for the same causes that the Cliente loseth the benefite graunted for the selfe same also doth the Patrone lose his prerogatiue Before the kyng was taken you entreated of a peace but it was to the intent you might haue inioyed the Dukedome of Millan And therfore the Uenetians and Florentines withdrewe their ayde through your motion from my captaynes against their league For the Frenche kyng confesseth openly howe throughe your prouocation he entred into a newe league before he went out of Spayne And I knowe by certayne reporte that you haue dispensed with him for his othe wherby he is bounden to me Furthermore you haue moued warre before the letters wherein it was proclaymed were vnto me deliuered seking not only to dryue me out of all Italy but also to depose me from the dignitie of the Empyre For all this am I able to proue by the letters of Ferdinando Daualle Marques of Pistare whome you would haue entysed in to your league promising hym the kyngdome of Naples I haue tytle to Millan by mo wayes than one yet for the quiet of Italye I suffered Sfortia to enioye it And whan he was greuously syck I would haue placed in his steade the Duke of Bourbon for that I sawe it pleased you well and dyuers others in Italy And the cause why Sfortia was besieged in the Castel of Millan was that he had committed treason against me by ioynyng in league with you wherof beyng detected he would not delyuer to my captaynes the Castelles of Cremone and Millan neyther make his pourgation nor come to any talke in the matter Your request was that I should forgyue hym altogether whiche I neyther coulde nor in deede ought to doe lest by an euyll example I shoulde gyue an occasiō vnto Clientes to offende against their patrones Touchyng the peace concluded with the Frenche kyng I kept nothing secret from your Ambassadours for the condicions be suche as I would not haue concealed for they tende to a publique peace and to the resistaūce of Christes ennemies But se the vnworthines of that thing Ther commeth more money yearely to Rome out of my Realmes and prouinces than doth from all other nations That is to be proued by the requestes of the Prynces of Germany what tyme they complaynyng greuously of the court of Rome desyred a reformation Whose cōplaint at that tyme I neglected for the zeale I bare to the churche of Rome Whiche thynge considered and for as muche as I haue geuen you none occasion of offence I do instantly requyre you to lay down your armies And I wyll doe lykewyse And seynge we are bothe appoynted of God as two great lyghtes let vs endeuour our selues so as the whole worlde maye be lyghtened through vs and not that by reason of dissention there should aryse an Eclypse Let vs regarde the publique weale and attempt to dryue out the Turkes to quenche the secte and errours of Luther For this appertayneth vnto Gods glorye and hereof ought we to begynne and after to debate other controuersies you shall haue me ready vnto all these thynges which if I can not obtaine but that you wil nedes perseuer to play the man of warre I do proteste here that I
warre against them as other wycked Prynces doe for they are holy men and good people The Lantgraue readinge ouer their booke and their letters noted what he thought blame worthy and cōmaunded his learned mē to aunswer it And for as muche as they had in fewe wordes and those abscure written that their king was not so muche of theirs as of Gods appointment he demaundeth of thē wherfore they did not expresse those places of Scripture wherby they thought it lawefull thus to doe And why they dyd not confirme the thynge before with signes and wonders For of the cōminge of Christe God had declared longe before by all the Prophetes so euidently that it was well knowen not only of what house or familie but also whan and where he should be borne They had also requested that the matter might be heard wherunto the Lantgraue answered that the same might not now take place For so much as they had takē vpon them the aucthoritie of the sworde and had bene the workers of so muche mischiefe For all men see what marke they shoute at certēly to subuerte all lawes and common wealth And lyke as their intente is wicked and detestable so is nowe their requeste to haue their cause heard fayned and dissembled He doubtles sent vnto thē faythful preachers and ministers of the churche of whome they were ryghtlye instructed And where as they nowe contēpning their doctrine do resist the magistrate take other mens goodes mary sondrye wyues haue chosen them a newe kynge Where also they denye that Christe toke the humane nature of the virgyn Mary where they affirme that man hath free wyll where they compell men to make their goodes cōmon where they saye there is no remission for a sinner that falleth all these thynges are against the lawes both of God and man Whan this answer was brought vnto thē they wryte agayne and sende a booke with all compyled in the vulgare tōgue of the misteries of Scripture And againe in an Epistle they amplefie their cause and defende their opinions And in this booke they deuide the course and tyme of the whole worlde into thre partes the fyrst age from Adam to Noe they saye was destroyed with the Deluge of water the secōd wherein we are nowe at this daye shal be consumed with fyre but the thyrde shall be cleane a newe worlde wherein iustice shall reigne neuerthelesse before this last tyme shall appeare this present age must be pourged by fyre but that shall not be tofore that Antichriste shall be reuealed and his power vtterly abolyshed Thā shall it come to passe that the scate of Dauid whiche is decayed shal be newly erected and Christe shall possesse his kyngdome here in earth and the wrytinges of the Prophetes shall be accomplyshed And that this present worlde now is lyke the tyme of Esaw For iustice kepeth silence and the Godly are persecuted But as after the captiuitie of Babylon so nowe also the tyme of restauration is at hande to delyuer vs from all these myseries and to rendre vnto the wycked aboundantly after their demerites as in the Apocalipse is declared And that in this same Restauration goeth before the worlde to come to the intent that all the vngodlye beynge destroyed the house and seate of iustice myght be prepared and beautified Whan the Lantgraue had red this booke he set in hande the Ministers of his churche to wryte against it The residue of the states imperial assembled at Essinge do mislyke the doinges of them that were at cōffuence affirming that they had no authoritie to impose or charge them with any burthen vnlesse it had bene by the consent of the Emperour and all states In the moneth of February Corne within the citie waxed very scarse in so muche that some also died for honger and wante of meate It fortuned that one of the Quenes pitieng the people had sayde to the rest howe she supposed that God woulde not that men should peryshe thus with famine The kyng whiche had his stoore houses furnyshed at home not only for necessitie but also for riot and voluptuousnes after he knewe it brought her forthe in to the Market place and all the reste with her and commaundynge her to knele downe stroke of her heade and whan she was dead vttered her to haue played the whore This done the residewe syng and gyue thankes to God the heauēlye father After that the kynge daunceth wyth them and exhorteth the rest of the multitude whiche had nothynge lefte them but breade and salte to dauncynge and mery pastymes Whan Easter came and no deliueraunce appered at all the kyng whiche had promysed so stoutely to inucnte some excuse fayned him selfe sicke for the space of syxe dayes After he commeth abroade amonges the people and telleth thē howe he hath ryden on a blynde Asse and that God the father hathe layde vpon his backe the synnes of the people Wherfore they are now made cleane and delyuered from euery spotte And this to be the deliueraunce whiche he promysed wherwith they ought to holde them cōtented Luther amonges other thynges whiche he set forth in the vulgar tongue about this tyme wrote also of this tragedye of Munster Alas sayeth he howe should I complayne or lamente those wretched men for the thynge it selfe declareth that there dwell deuylles thycke and threfolde but yet ought we to praye the infinite mercy of God herein and haue good cause so to doe For albeit that for the contempt of the Gospell the reproche of Goddes holy name and the shedyng of innocent bloud Germany hath iustly deserued to be plaged yet hathe God hetherto restrayned the force and violence of Sathan and hath not permitted him to haue the reignes at libertie but mercifully admonysheth vs and by this tragedye of Munster nothinge at all artificious calleth vs to the amendement of lyfe For vnlesse God had brydeled hym and holden hym backe I doubte not but that moste subtille fynde and wylie artificer would haue handled the matter farre other wyse But nowe that God hathe made a restraynte he rageth and tourmoyleth not so muche as he woulde but so much as he is permitted For the wycked spirite that seketh the subuersion of the Christian fayth goeth not this way to worke to perswade the marriage of many wyues For seyng both the vnlawfulnes and the fylthye beastlynes of the thynge is apparent in the syght of all men he perceiueth well enough that men woulde abhorre it In dede the politicke and ciuile gouernemēt may through this meane be disturbed but the kingdom of Christ must be attempted with other weapons and Ingines He that would circumuente and deceaue men maye not affectate rule and gouernment and playe the tyraunt For all men disalowe this and see playnely what his intente is But he must attayne thereunto by secrete meanes as it were by certen bypathes To goe in olde and euyll fauoured apparell to