carefulnes I haue suppressed the parte of the proclamation touching the Lordes supper promysing hereafter all diligence that a reconcilement may be had For what causes I can not reuolte from the lawes and ceremonies of the churche I haue shewed For both Christ sayeth that the church must be heard and also the thing it selfe teacheth the fourmer age whiche renewyng nothing abode in the Religion of their forefathers to haue bene muche more quiet and fortunate in all thinges than this is nowe where all thinges are tourmoyled with sectes and dissentions and many men rauished toste hither and thither with euery wynde of doctrine Wherby I would the rather haue thought that you would not haue answered in this sorte And nowe albeit that this aunswere of yours may be throughly confuted yet for as much as we must treate of contributions and subsidies and therof shortly determine vnlesse you be determined to suffer extreme miserie I wyll not be ouer longe trusting also that you wyl doe both as the matter it selfe and also as the consideration of your dutie requyreth They agayne solicite the same thing and saye howe they can not leaue it And in case they can obteyne nothinge they saye it wyll be the cause that the same consultation of geuing him ayde wyl surely be hindered and letted For that they haue no commission to promyse any thing herein vnlesse they haue first good assuraunce for Religion and Ministers of the churche and for Scholemaisters that they may be authorised to teache frely In the moneth of February Henry Duke of Brunswick taketh to wyfe the sister of Sigismunde king of Poole About this tyme dieth Iohn Isemburg Byshop of Treuers and hath Iohn Ley his successour The .xxvi. daye also of the same moneth departeth at Alzeme Fredericke the Pausgraue Prince Electour a man of great yeares Whome Otto Henrick his brothers sonne succedeth who had lōg since receiued the doctrine of the Gospell and was in daunger therfore to haue lost al his possessions Taking an othe of his people he commaundeth by and by that no man within his dominion should say Masse or vse any other ceremonies Of the trouble that Osiander styred vp in Prusse who had brought in a newe doctrine of iustificatiō is spoken in the xxii boke But where as the moste part of learned men reprehended that opinion Albert Duke of Prusse by open wryting professeth that he wyll followe the doctrine of the confession of Auspurg He commaundeth therfore the ministers of the churche that they teache according to the same and promyseth to saue them harmeles in case they obeye And to the ende the matter might be throughly appeased Iohn Albert Duke of Megelburge sonne in lawe to the Duke of Pruse a Prince excellently learned going thither and hauing learned men about hym brought Iohn Funccius who was chief of the secte of Osiander to that poinct that both he acknowledged his errour and affirmed that he would confesse it openly and would hereafter teache after the confession of Auspurg Where as others would do the same they were agreed with the other diuines and the state of the churche was appeased The fourth daye of Marche began to shine a blasing starre and is sene by the space of twelue dayes In this moneth the Ambassadours of Princes and cities mete at Regēspurge and treate the cause of Marques Albert of Brandenburge For his aduersaries in the counsell of the last yeare had againe required the ayde of Princes against him but through the mediatiō of his frendes and that the matter should be heard by intercessours Where he therfore in the moneth of February of this yere came out of Fraūce into Germany his matter was heard the causes of thempire differred till the moneth of Aprill The Archebishop of Cantorbury already condēned after the death of Ryddley Latimer retourned to prison as before is said the .xxi. of this moneth is burnt at Oxforde Certen daies before being put in some hope of life through the perswasion of certen he had reuoked diuerse articles of doctrine neither shewed he constancie And when he sawe he must die he made an oration to the people and speaking many thinges of the amendement of life of maners to the ende he might haue his audience attētiue at the lēgth sheweth how greuously he had offended God by denying of the truthe reciting the chief articles of doctrine declareth briefly what he thought and confirmeth Papistrie to be the kingdome of Antichriste He had no so ner said so but he was had thence not without moste bitter railyng wordes to the place of execution And when he came thither stretching forth his right hand this hād saith he hath wickedly offended in subscribing to the wicked opinions which the ennemies of the truthe had propounded to me Wherfore it shall first suffer punishment Thus being tied to the stake so sone as the fire began to burne he stretched forth his hande into if as far as he coulde reache that it might first fele the torment And so was burnt the primate of Englande a man of greatest learning authoritie From the time that the Popishe marke was taken from him they call it degrading whiche is wont to be done with many cerimonies they put vpon him a most vile garmēt so brought him forth amonges the people to be laughed at But many hauing cōpassion of his vnworthy chaūce could not kepe thē frō sheding of teares although thei doubted nothing but that he should flitte out of this miserable lyfe in to the heauenly countrie and life euerlasting His promotions got Cardinall Poole made Archebyshop when he had Massed before And like as they of Austriche so also the Bauariās sollicited Albert their Duke cōcerning religiō in maner at the same time The Duke seing that kyng Ferdinando his father in lawe had permitted some thing to his subiectes he also when he exacted mony graunted some thing for a time that they might receiue the Lordes supper whole and on daies prohibited when necessitie requireth to eate flesh Howbeit he prosesseth with many wordes that he wyll not departe from the Religion of his auncesters nor alter any thing in ceremonies such other thinges for the same not to be lawfull for him to doe without the consent of his supreme Magistrate both spirituall and temporall And where he permitteth these two to be for a tyme only tyll some thing be established by publique authoritie or a reconcilement made For he wyll that his proclamations of fourmer tyme concerning Religion be exactely and stryghtly kept these two thinges only excepted He wyll procure also as muche as in him lieth that the Metropolitane and Byshops shall confirme this graunte and that they shall not for this cause seke to moleste any man This proclamation was written the daye before the Kalendes of Aprill The Metropolitan of whome he speaketh is the Archebyshop of Salisburg At this time certen noble men of
the Swycers Zuricke and Bernes agreed in one Religion the Lucernaites Urites Swites Unternaldians and Engians whiche abhorred moste this doctrine make a league with kyng Ferdinando Clement byshop of Rome the .xiij. day of Aprill sendeth Iohn Thomase of Mirandula to exhorte the prynces to warre against the Turke And al be it that he hath susteyned great losses of late yeares yet promyseth he to assiste them with ayde and to doe his endeuoure that the Emperour and the Frenche king being accorded the counsell may begynne immediatly to the intent that Germanye may embrace again the same religion that other countreis do In this assemblye the Senate of the Empire woulde not permitte Daniel Miege Ambassadour for the citie of Strasborough to sitte in counsel for by cause the Masse was abrogated before this counsell imperiall not withstanding that they were intreated to the contrary wherfore Iames Sturmius Ambassadour for the same citie sayed vnto them that in case they were thus displaced contrary to the lawe custome of the Empire let them not loke from henceforth that they wyll beare any part of charges But all might not preuayl and Ferdinando hym self aunswering the intercessours bad that any other citie that obserued the Emperours decrees should be substituted in the place of the other After a longe dispute of Religion the fourmer actes of Spires were repeted and a new decree made on this wyse They which haue hitherto obserued the Emperours decree let thē obserue the same styl vntyll the generall counsell and bynde the people to do lykewyse but suche as haue altered their Religion and can not nowe departe from the same for feare of sedition let them staye from henceforth and alter nothynge besydes vntyll the tyme of the counsell Furthermore that their doctrine whiche teache otherwyse of the Lordes Supper than the churche doth be not receyued nor the Masse abolyshed nor that in suche places where this newe kynde of doctryne is anye man be letted to go to Masse that wyll The Anabaptistes also such as defende their opinion obstinately shall suffer death the ministers of the churche are commaunded to teache according to the interpretaciō receiued by the church referring al disputable questions to be in the coūsell decided Moreouer that all states kepe the common peace none to hurte other for the cause of Religion neither one to take the defence of an others subiecte they that shall do otherwyse to be accompted in the numbre of outlawes This decree resisted the Prince electour of Saxony George Marques of Brandenborge Ernest and Frances Dukes of Lunenborough the Lātgraue counte Anhald who the .xix. of April recite openly in wryting the causes why they doe not consent thereunto And firste they doe repete the decree of the former assemblie whereby euery man hathe his Religion permitted him frely vntyll the counsell from this maye they not departe nor infrynge those thynges whiche after great delyberation were for a common quiet establyshed and with their sygnetes and othes also confirmed They woulde in deede be glad after the example of their progenitours to do all thynge that myght content the Emperour and as for their goodes and lyues also they wyll spende them wyllinglye in his hyghnes seruice but this present cause coucerneth the euerlastyng saluation of all men Wherfore they desire them not to be offended with them for that thei herein dissente from them for like as the former decree was made by the common assent of all so can not the same be broken with out all their consentes They wyll not be against that they shall in their own countrey establysh what religion shal seme good vnto them beseching God to illuminate the hartes of all men with the light knowledge of his truthe And where as there hath bene dissention and controuersie about religion certen yeares it was declared in the counsel at Norinberge who haue bene the authours and causers therof as well by the confession of the byshop of Rome hym self as also by the requestes of Prynces and states of the Empyre which were delyuered to the byshoppes legate to the numbre of foure score wherof notwithstanding as yet no redresse is made And that of al consultations this hath euer bene the ende that for the debating of controuersies and refourmyng of vices there is nothyng better than a generall counsell And where as the same left a parte they haue nowe decreed that suche as haue chaunged their Religion and can not nowe without muche trouble forsake the same shal alter nothyng from henceforth that can they neither cōmende nor allowe vnlesse they should discredite the doctrine whiche they haue professed hitherto as both true and Godly graunt moreouer that they ought to leaue the same if thei might with any tumulte or vprores And what thynges els were that thā to denye gods worde whiche is taught them purely and syncerely whiche were the moste heynous offence that coulde be committed For they must confesse it not in wordes only but in very deede also Moreouer what an hynderaunce this abnegation would be and howe muche preiudiciall to the fauourers of the Gospell it is easy to coniecture As cōcernyng the Masse it is ryght well knowen with howe strong and inuincible testimonies of holy Scripture the preachers within their dominiōs haue confuted the Popishe Masse and in steade therof instituted the Lordes supper according to the institution of Christe and the maner by the Apostles obserued wherfore they can neither admitte this part of the decree neyther permitte their subiectes to heare Masse whiche is abolyshed For though the byshop of Romes Masse were neuer so good and godly yet if they should haue in their churches two cōtrary Masses al mē may wel perceiue what grudge dissentiō would there vpon ensewe Moreouer where they do prescribe what they shal commaunde their owne subiectes and what lawes they shall make with in their owne dominions they can not a lytle maruell consyderynge that they them selues would not suffer any man to doe the lyke with them Furthermore what thyng is taught in their churches touchyng the presence of the body and bloud of Christe is so euydent to all men that it nedeth no further declaratiō Notwithstandyng as they haue sayde oftentymes so thynke they it good now also not as yet to make any decree against thē that teache otherwise for that the Emperours commissiōs teach the Latin beneth maketh no mentiō therof And agayne for as muche as the maynteners of that doctrine are nother called nor hearde whiche in so weyghty matters is muche to be considered that nothyng be determyned at any tyme and they not hearde speake whome the matter doth chiefly concerne And where as they saye that the Gospell must be taught after the interpretations approued by the churche that is very well but all the stryfe is which is the trewe church But seyng there is no doctrine more certen than Gods worde and besydes that
written vpon certen of his Prophetes whiche of learned men are muche commended At the .xxix. daye of December the Ambassadours of the Protestauntes mete agayne at Frankeforte to finishe vp the rest concernyng the preparation of their defence In the which assemblie the cities of Goslarie Embecke were receiued into their league a litle be fore that they also of Eslyng But George the Marques of Brandenburgh and the citie of Norinberg Campedown and Hailbrune were absent For all be it they professe that same Religion yet were they not of that league The Emperour in the begynning of Ianuary toke his iourney from Bruselles to go to Regenspurge for the assemblie before mentioned By the waye when he came to Mentz at the begynnynge of February the Archebyshop there and the Palsgraue intreate hym agayne for peace whiche the Emperour grauntinge vnto they aduertyse the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue wyllynge them to doe the lyke Wherfore by theyr letters sent to and fro they appoynte to mete at Schwinfurte a towne Imperiall by the Ryuer of Moene at the begynning of Apryll There dyd they begynne to treate of a peace whiche shoulde continue vnto the generall counsell The Prynces that were intercessours were there present and by ordre geuen by the Emperour do propounde these conditions That besydes the writyng exhibited at Auspurge touching Religion they should alter nothing teache nothyng nor publyshe any thing but remayne in those boundes vntyll the tyme of the counsell so as they haue nothyng to doe with the Zwynglianes and the Annabaptistes Neither that through the occasion of Religion they do allure vnto thē other Prynces subiectes and permitte any of their Ministers to preache out of their owne countrey that they abstayne from wordes of reproche that they disturbe not the iurisdiction rytes and ceremonies of the churche that they geue their ayde agaynst the Turke and obey the decrees of the Empyre whiche concerne the common wealthe and politike gouernaunce that they be obedient to the Emperour kynge of Romaynes And if they haue made any league againste the Emperour kyng or other states of the contrary Religion to abolyshe the same If they wyl thus do they truste how the Emperour and the king wyll leaue and forget all displeasure paste The Duke had sent thether his sonne Iohn Fridericke being him selfe sore sicke There was also Fraunces Duke of Lunenburg and Counte Anhalde agayn the Ambassadours of other Prynces cities whereunto came also the Nortusians and Halbestans of Swelande After muche debatyng the intercessours aduertise by their letters the Emperour of the whole matters who was than at the assemblie of Ratisbonne to knowe his further pleasure in matters Unto that demaunde whiche was that the Duke of Saxon and his fellowes should obey the kyng of Romains They wryte an aunswere to the Emperour what lacke they fynde and what they woulde requyre hym to doe therein and deliuered the same sealed to the intercessours the .xvij. daye of Apryll the effect wherof was that Ferdinando should not take vpon hym to be kyng of Romaines but in case the Emperour had nede of a coadiutour that than by the aduyse and counsell of the Prynces Electours he should so interprete the lawe Caroline makyng an acte therof for euer the it myght be done lawefully after this sorte That as longe as the Emperour lyueth there should neuer hereafter be chosen a kynge of Romaines vnlesse the seuen Princes Electours and sixe other Prynces of the Empyre ioyned with them iudge it so mete to be done And what tyme it shall appeare to be for the profite of the common wealth that than the Archebyshop of Mentz shall appointe the rest of the Electours syxe other Prynces to mete in a place conuenient for a further consultation to be had therin And whan they shall haue considered the whole matter diligently that than the Prynces Electours only with the kyng of Boheme shall haue authoritie to electe a kyng of Romaynes who so long as the Emperour lyueth shall gouerne the cōmon wealth in the Emperours name onlye and otherwyse to take vppon hym none aucthoritie or gouernment That the Princes and states of the Empyre be not bound to him by any fidelitie or othe except it be after the Emperours death And whan a newe kynge shall be created that he be sworne after the order of the lawe Carolyne and that it be not in the Electours power to alter the same He that shal be proued to haue done contrary to that othe or els be had in great suspicion therof and maketh not his purgation shal be depriued of all ryght of Electourshyp for euer Moreouer that there be not chosen three kynges successiuelye of one house of Prynces that none be chosen kyng of Romaynes except he be of some house of the Princes of Germany Suche thynges as are establyshed by the lawe Caroline concernyng the kynges election neyther the Emperour nor kynge of Romaynes maye chaunge Whan it shal seme good to the electours to create a king of Romaines that they shall not nede to signifie the same before to the Emperour Neither that it shal be lawfull for the Emperour in this case to commaūde the Archebyshop of Mētz to assemble the Princes electours but what tyme there shall appeare iust cause to electe a kynge of Romaynes duryng the lyfe of the Emperour that the Archebyshop at a certen daye call his company to Franckfurth And that it lie not in his authoritie to appointe the assemblye els where vnlesse his collegues doe vpon weyghtie considerations permitte hym that the Archebyshop of Mentz shall not demaunde the Crowne Scepter and other ornamentes of the Empire of them of Norinberge but by the consent of his peres Neyther that he diminishe anye parte of thre monethes which after they be sommoned is graūted to the Prynces to haue cōference together for it may be daungerous to the Empyre and cōmon wealth if one or two comyng not in tyme should be absent That whilest the Electours consulte at Frankeforth all others be shut out If any of those matters be infrynged that thē the Electours be not bonde eyther to repare thether or there to remaine and what soeuer is there done to be voyde and of none effect That neyther the Emperour nor king of Romans in Italy Fraūce or other places do permitte harmes of the Princes Electours to be borne before hym or their offices to be executed but by the Electours them selues or their deputes That the kyng of Romaynes do not solemnyse his laste coronation vnlesse eyther the electours or their deputes be present that neyther the Emperour nor kyng of Romaynes be a let to the Ambassadours of foreine kynges and Princes wherby they may not come to the counselles of the Empyre there to propounde their matters for that this apperteyneth both to the lawe of nature and is also a thyng full of humanitie ciuile dutie That neither the Emperour nor kyng
of theyr enterpryse And whylest Ferdinando referreth the matter to the trial of the lawe they marche forwardes with their armie and the fourtene day of May chauncing to mete with theyr ennemies which were twelue thousand foote men they shotte of theyr ordinaunce and put them to flyght besydes the towne of Lausene in the lande of Wirtemberge The generall of Ferdinando his armie was Philip Counte Palatine who at the same battell had his hele stryken of with a great pece In the chase many were drowned in the Ryuer of Neccar wher into they ran headlong for feare of their ennemies that pursued them Whan the battell was done all men for the moste parte of the Dukedome of Wirtemberge yelded them selues to their naturall Prynce Ulrichus Asperge situated vpon a verey hyghe mountayne standyng alone also Urach Tubinge and Nipha all stronge castelles of nature in fine rendred also Ferdinando the fyrst of Maye set forth a proclamation that no man shoulde ayde that faction but that al men should resiste them to the vttermoste of their power and had wrytten to the Protestauntes his seueral letters touching the same matter And likewise had the Emperour done a litle before and openly no man did assiste them And al men marueled to what end this stiring wold grow to About the tyme of this warre the archbyshop of Mentz George Duke of Saxon the Lantgraues father in lawe sought the reconcilement of kyng Ferdinando and the Prince Electour of Saxon. And at Cadamea town of Boheme the last day of Iune sauing one they concluded a peace with those cōditions For religiō no force to be attempted nor any sute in the lawe commensed and the same peace that Cesar hath made to be obserued Ferdinando in the Emperours place shall brynge to passe that the Iudges of the chamber shall surcease from al proces against the Protestauntes amonges whome notwithstanding neyther Anabaptistes nor Sacramentaries nor any other suche lyke sectes be comprehended The Duke of Saxon and his fellowes shall acknowledge Ferdinādo for king of Romaines gyue him that title Ferdinando shall againe within a certen tyme deuise so with the Emperour other princes Electours that a decree be made after this sorte Whan tyme shall hereafter require to make a kynge of Romaines duryng the lyfe of the Emperour that than the Electours do first assemble and consulte whether the cause be iuste and reasonable and if it so appere that than they do proceade after the Tenure of the lawe Carroline That whiche shall be otherwyse done to be frustrate And vnlesse this decree be made within ten monethes than the Duke his fellowes not to stande bound to these cōdicions and that within the same time the Emperour shall also cōfirme the Dukes succession in the possessious of his father progenitours Ferdinando shal also endeuour that the Emperour do ratifie such compactes of matrimony as are betwixt the Dukes of Saxō and of Cleaue Whilest thei treate of these matters they take in hande also an other peace making And the Duke of Saxon offereth for the Lātgraue the Duke of Wirtemberge as their substitute that they shal ratifie what so euer they should agree vpon After muche debating the Dukedome beinge wholy recouered they cōdicioned thus Ulrich the Prince his heires males shall holde the Dukedome of Wirtemberge of kyng Ferdinando as Archeduke of Austriche and so to be his wardes and clientes if it fortune the house of Wirtemberge to be without heyres males than the Princes of Austriche to possesse that region to holde the same of the Empyre whiche they shal be bounden therunto Ulriche to acknowledge Ferdinando for king of Romaynes to make no league againste hym That the Lantgraue and Duke Ulriche restore suche goodes as they haue gotten in this tyme of warre to their owners that they doe constreyne no man to chaunge his Religion that it shall be lawefull for suche as are fled for feare or for shamefastnes to retourn home And they that lyste to take theyr goodes and goe where they wyll The peces of ordinaunce that were for the defence of Auspurge shall remaine to kyng Ferdinando the kinges debtes for his own priuate affayres he him selfe shall paye but that which was employed for the cōmoditie of the countrey the Duke shal aunswere For suche landes of the Dukedome as are holden of the kyngdome of Boheme the Duke and his heire shall holde styl of Ferdinādo his heires as kings of Boheme That Philip the Palsgraue and the residue of the prysoners be let go without raunsome that the Lantgraue and the Duke shall submitte them selues aske pardon of kyng Ferdinando either in their own persons or by their deputes than Duke Ulriche to receiue full state and possession of kyng Ferdinando Ferdinādo shall entreate that the Emperour will also forgeue thē for the charges of the warre nothinge to be required on either parte that the Lantgraue and the Duke shall sende vnto Ferdinando out of their armes fyue hondreth horse men and thre thousand fotemen whiche shall immediatly go to the sege of Munster of their cost and charge there to promyse their fidelitie to Ferdinando by an othe and if nede requyred to serue him for a thre monethes For at the same time was Munster a towne of Westphalia kept by the Anabaptistes beseged as hereafter shal be declared Wherfore king Ferdinando requyred of thē this aide for the winning of the towne Whan the Duke had by this meane recouered the countrey of Wirtemberge made his peace with Ferdinando before the yeare was ended he repaied the French king his money recouereth the possession of Mompelicarte And the lone money the king forgaue him whiche was no small somme This peace making did Peter Paule Uerger the byshops legate toke not very well And in Clements name did expostulate sore with king Ferdinando that he had taken Luther princes into his amitie And he answered that he dyd it in cōsideratiō of the time for the auoyding of further trouble What time Duke Ulriche was expulsed his sonne Christopher being a child of .iiij. yeares olde was first brought vp vnder the tuicion of his vncle Williā Duke of Bauer after that he was remoued frō thence to Insprouek a towne of Ferdinandos in the countie of Tirol And whē after the Turkes retire as I sayde before the Emperour retourned into Italy he through the motion aduise of his frendes cōueyeth him self out of the Emperours traine repareth again into Bauier For being the sole only heire this was thought to be the deuise that he sholde haue bene lead into some straūge countrey made religious but after that his father was restored he wēt into Fraūce attended vpon the frēch king When the matter was pacified the Lātgraue sent a messager with letters to the Emperour in Spain the cōditions of peace in writing craning pardon for him self for duke Ulrich
Ambassades For he proueth that the same doth tende to theyr owne hynderaunce and bondage sayinge that there is no people so stronge that can long prosper and floryshe vnlesse they be mainteined by the league and amitie of theyr neyghbours But the frendshyp of the kynges of Fraunce and the Prynces of Germanye hath bene of suche auncientie and both nations procedinge of one originall and lye so borderynge together that they maye be not onlye an ayde and strengthe but also an honour and beautie the one vnto the other Therfore whan the kynge hearde saye howe the Germaynes dyd hardely agree amonge them selues he was ryght sorye and as muche as in hym lyeth wysheth a reconcilement fearyng lest this dissention in Religion should come to some sorowfull ende Wherfore vnderstandinge that for theyr owne preseruation they were nowe here assembled the kynge had sent hym to declare vnto them his aduise to be thus That for as muche as a free and general counsel could not as yet be obtained the Germains within thē selues shold assemble altogether come to some vnitie concord for the furtheraūce of the which cause in case they be so contented he will chose out certen well learned men and experte diuines in Fraunce and sende them into Germany to be at the same reconcilement or els if they woulde sende some of theirs in to Fraunce for the lyke purpose they should do him a maruelous great pleasure In the meane tyme he doth exhorte them to be at peace amonges them selues knitte their mindes with mutual consent brotherly loue and the king wyl neuer ayde their ennemies neyther with his helpe nor counsell in case they continue their good wyll towardes hym as they haue done alwayes hitherto In the beginnyng of this booke I shewed you howe the iudges of the imperiall chamber contrary to the Emperours decree made out proces against the Protestauntes For the iudges in dede wer of the Romish religiō and what tyme the Emperour was retourned from the warre of Austriche into Italy they at the suite of the clergie whiche had complayned on the Protestauntes attempted the lawe against them And albeit the Emperours proclamation were to the contrary yet did they proceede against them The protestauntes wrote herein to the Emperour And the Duke of Saxon him selfe traueled to kynge Ferdinando who cōmaunded the lawe to cease and ratifieth the peace made by the Emperour but that would not staye them Than did the Protestauntes vtterly refuse their iudgement as suspected and their enemies declaryng the causes wherfore But that would not be admitted for they were encouraged by the Emperours letters whereby he gaue them authoritie to iudge whiche were matters of Religion and which not so that after that they proceaded not onlye in doubtfull causes but in suche also as concerned religion and nothyng els After this the Duke of Saxon obtayneth a newe commaundement from the kyng Ferdinando but all was in vayne Finally after muche adoe Ferdinando consented that he would fynde the meanes to staye all matters in the lawe whiche the Duke and his fellowes had touchyng Religion cōprysed in the peace of Norinberge Unto suche thynges as the French Ambassadour had spoken this answere was made Albeit that of the execution done reportes went diuersly yet for that he sayeth how thei went about sedicion they can not be muche offended with the kynges doynges herein whiche in deede woulde suffer no suche thynge them selues in their owne countrey Neuerthelesse they woulde wyshe the kynge should haue a respecte vnto suche as do professe the pure doctrine of the Gospell whiche they protested in the assemblye at Auspurge and not to punyshe them with the rest for it can not be denied but many false and wicked opinions are crept into the churche which vnlearned and malicious persones do defende with great crueltie to maynteyne their lucre and Authoritie and they through a maruelous polycie do forge oftentimes great crymes vpon the good and innocēt persones to exasperate the kynges mynde agaynst them But seyng that it is the propre office of kynges and Princes to seeke Gods glorye to pourge the churche of crrours and to inhibite vniuste crueltie they desyre instantly that the same moste mightie kyng would wholy applye him selfe hereunto for if he so doe than wyll they suppose that he beareth a frendly and louyng mynde towardes them which they wyshe to be lucky and fortunate to his highnes to the churche Touchinge the auncient alliaunce and frendshyp betwixt the kynges of Fraunce and the Prynces of Almaygne all his talke was to them ryght pleasaunt and they wyll to their powers endeuour that the same mutuall loue and amitie may long continue And as concernyng the reconcilement of opinions in religion they desyre nothyng els but that the matter may be heard indifferently and determined by a lawfull counsell And for as muche as it is not the office of the byshop of Rome only to appointe the counsell but that the same thynge also concerneth other kynges and Princes they desyre the kynge to forsee that there be no violent counsell called in a place suspect perillous to the intent that vnder the name of a counsel the true doctrine be not extinguished but that in so weyghty matters as concerne the preseruation and peace of the vniuersall churche and euery particular persone free disputations and vpright iudgement be had accordingly Whiche thinge should get the kyng immortal fame and thankes not only in this present age but also in tyme to come so longe as the worlde should endure As for the conferens to be had betwene the learned mē of Fraunce and Germany it requireth a long deliberation and diuerse cōmissions extende not to suche matters But so sone as any thyng may be determined herein they wyll aduertyse the kyng by their letters For they desyre nothyng more than that holsome doctrine myght be set forth and auaunced last of all where he sayde howe the kynge would geue none ayde against them they were very glad to heare thereof wherfore in all thynges that concerne not the Emperour and the Empyre they also wyll assist no man against hym The Ambassadour had also priuate talke with Pontane with Melancthon with the Lantgraues learned men and with Iames Sturmins of sondry doctrines and declared what was the kynges opinion in euery article and the myndes also of other learned men in Fraunce especially of Paris Of the byshop of Romes supremacie of the Lordes supper of masse of the inuocation of sainctes of Images of free wyl of purgatory of iustification of monastical vowes of marriage of priestes And that in moste of these thynges the kyng agreeth with the booke that Melancthon hath wrytten of common places touchyng the byshop of Rome the kynge is wholy of Philippus opinon that he is not chief supreme by Gods lawe but by mans lawe as he affirmeth but the kyng of England denieth both And certenly the
Byshop had lately appointed at Mantua And for as muche as the Emperour had oftentymes promysed them a free counsell in Germany and especially in the peace concluded at Norinberge and what this shall be they can not perceiue by the wryting they desyre hym that he woulde see the matter myght be indifferently heard and vsed In this same moneth the byshop of Rome publysheth an other wryting and sayeth howe in the meane tyme tyll the counsel begynne he wyl refourme the holy citie of Rome the head of all christendome and maistres of doctrine maner and disciplyne and washe it cleane from all spottes and vyce to the intent that his owne house being first well pourged he may after more easely take ordre for the rest and because the nature of man is full of imbecillitie neyther can he do so great a thing alone and also dispatche other affaires of the common wealth therfore hath he chosen certen Cardinalles whome the liuing God hath ioyned to hym as the coadiutours and companions of his cure and of office to be the workers of this necessary and holsome busynes the Cardinall of Ostia Sauseuerine Ginute Simonet and with them thre byshops whome he commaundeth all men to obeye vnder a great penaltie In the moneth of Octobre the Emperour imbarketh him selfe at Genes to sayle into Spayne The Frenche kynge came afterwardes to Paris and on new yeares day gyueth in mariage madame Magdalene his eldest daughter to Iames the fift kynge of Scottes who came into Fraunce in Autumne before And in maner about the same tyme Laurence Medices through treason in the nyght murthered Alexander Medices Duke of Florence of his owne kyndred and familie whan he had allured hym home to his house putting hym in hope to enioye a noble matrone that was his neyghbour who in beautie honest fame farre excelled others Who being slayne the gouernment came vnto Cosmus Medices which after by the Emperours consent married Elenor daughter to Peter Toletane Uiceroy of Naples At the Ides of Ianuary the kyng of Fraunce came in to the court of Parliament at Paris whiche thinge is seldome accustomed And there in a great audiēce he maketh a sore complaint of the Emperour and declared causes why the countries of Flaunders and Artois whiche the Emperour holdeth of the kynges of Fraunce as his elders haue done also ought to be called againe to the patrimony of Fraūce The speaker hereof was Capell the kynges aduocate and he named hym not Emperour but Charles of Austriche In the meane tyme the cities of Zuricke Bernes Basyll and Strausborough make sute to the Frenche king for such as were imprisoned for Religion intreating hym that the exiles myght be restored the kyng graunted partly vnto their requestes but yet accomplished not their desyre Wherfore whan they had receyued their aunswere the foure and twenty of February by Annas Momorantie the Conestable and suspected that the kynge through his impulsion dealt the lesse frendly with them the Ambassadours vsed afterwardes the helpe of the Quene of Nauarre the kinges owne syster a very good ladye and whiche bare a great zeale to the true doctrine In this meane whyle the kyng hauing mustred his men in the beginning of Marche leadyng his army towardes Arras besegeth the towne and strong castell of Hesdine whiche he had rendred to hym within a moneth At the selfe same tyme came to the kynge an Ambassadour from the byshop of Rome Reignalde Poole an Englysh mā borne of the bloud roial lately made Cardinal The cause of his ambassade was thought to be to worke some mischief against the kinge of Englande About the same tyme that the kyng of Scottes maried the Frenche kynges daughter the byshop had sent him for a present a fayre sworde riche well wrought and did exasperate him against the kyng of Englande For the byshoppes are accustomed on Christmas daye at nyght amōges other thinges with certen ceremonies to consecrate as thei terme it a sworde whiche after for an honour and token of beneuolence they geue or sende vnto some man to whome it lyketh them Sixtus the fourth was first authour of this custome as is mentioned in the booke of their ceremonies Afterwardes Cardinall Poole wrote a booke whiche he had intitled a defence for the vnitie of the churche And he addresseth his style and speache vnto king Henry and reprehēdeth him sore that he toke vpon him to be head of his churche for that title to be longe only to the Byshop of Rome whiche is the Uicar of Christe and the successour of Peter whome Christe appointed Prince of the Apostles For he it was only that aunswered how Christe was the sonne of God vpon hym as vpon a Rocke Christe buylded his churche And howe Christe prayeth for his fayth that he being conuerted myght also conuerte his brethren And that Iohn after Christes death did euer obeye Peter And what tyme they made haste bothe to Christes Sepulchre he wold not go in before but gaue him this honour The cure and charge to fede the shepe was committed chiefly to hym of Christ And the nette also ful of fysshe whiche many were not able to hale vp was drawen vpon the shore by Peter alone Than hath he a long discourse of the deathes of the byshop of Rochester and syr Thomas Moore detestinge his crueltie Moreouer howe the kyng had afflicted all the states of his realme And into how muche mysery he had brought a moste floryshynge kyngdome what daunger he stode in of the Emperour for the diuorsement of his Aunt and subuersion of Religion and sheweth hym how he neyther can nor ought to loke for any ayde eyther of his owne subiectes or any other men whiche hath deserued so euyll of the common wealth And tourning his tale to the Emperour with many wordes stireth him vp prouoketh him and prycketh hym forewarde to auenge that notable reproche done vnto his familie and sayeth howe the Turkyshed seede is sowen abroade in Englande and in Germany signifiyng the doctrine that is contrary to the byshop of Rome Finally after many opprobrious wordes and sharpe rebukes he prouoketh hym to regentaunce telleth hym howe there is none other remedy but to retourne agayne to the bosome of the churche whiche ones he defended by setting forth of bookes greatly to his honour This booke printed at Rome bearyng no date was of long tyme kept close and at the last after manye yeares it came to one or two in Germany And he sayeth the cause of his wrytinge therof was for that the kynge had desyred hym to wryte his opinion And albeit that certen learned men in Englande whiche had done the lyke had lost their lyues yet could not he whiche was so muche bounde vnto hym dissemble what his opinion was neyther ought it to be imputed to hym as raylynge or cursed speakynge for he doeth both of his naturall disposition and also by a certen ordre
of Germany bryng al other states into their subiectiō it is by many of their doings so well knowen that it nedeth no further declaration For verely vnder the swete name of Religion they haue allured into their cōfederacie the chiefest cities of Germany through their force furniture haue gottē the landes possessiōs of others How they now also go to worke compelle other Princes subiects to take their partes and disturbe many in their religion and inforce them to another kinde of lyfe cast also diuerse in pryson and fetters and threaten them cruelly and robbe and spoyle churches the thyng it selfe declareth For this is the very cause why they couet to haue them in their league that by this meane being made stronger they might the more easely accomplyshe their pretensed purpose he doubted not but they also perceiue these thinges and vnderstande ryght well what incommoditie or discommoditie they may loke for by their societie And seing the matter is thus and inasmuche as they ar not ignoraunt both of his good will also of the causes of the warre he trusteth that they wyl refuse their league and kepe their soldiours at home and call home suche are gone to serue into the warre vnder a set penaltie and doe nothing contrary to the auncient leagues and by the example of the residue obserue peace and amitie For this shall both redounde to theyr owne prayse and shal be to hym also ryght acceptable vnto the which letters they wryte again after the same sort as they answered thambassadour before and desire him to accept in good part their delay in answering And in asmuch as he affirmeth that this war is nether to oppresse Religion nor yet the libertie of the countrey they say how they will do again none other wyse thā shal become thē For if any be gone out of their confynes a warfare the same is done without their leaue and knowledge as oft times it chaunceth And their maner is not to call thē again that go forth without their licēce but what time they retourne home to punish them And as they did moue the Swisses so likewyse the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue sollicited the Bohemers but thei made such aunswer as it appered wel that their myndes were alredy perswaded through thaccusation of king Ferdinando Whan they perceiued this by their letters about the end of August they wryte again and shewe them manifestly that this war is attempted against religion and sent vnto them the bokes whiche haue bene lately set forth concerning the same and require thē to worke no displeasure against them and last to signifie vnto thē what they intend to do About the same time also thei publish a wryting wherin they say how they are aduertised by them that are credit worthy how the bishop and Antichrist of Rome an instrument of the deuil authour of this war who in certen yeres past by his hired ministers set many townes of fire in Saxon hath now sent forth impoysoners to infecte their welles and standing waters to thintent that the same which war and that sword can not distroy these may dispatche with their poyson Wherfore they do admonish vniuersally al mē but chiefly their owne subiectes to waite narrowly that such men be apprehēded and being put to torture whan they shall haue tried their mischief that they suffer accordingly And within a fewe days after the Duke of Saxon his sonne Iohn William in his letters published geueth warning to his coūtrey that they take diligent hede to thē selues For lately not far frō Weynmar a town of Turing a certen Italian was taken of suspiciō who cōfessed that he diuerse others had money giuē them at Rome in the byshops name that they shuld with fiering poyson do as much hurt in Germany as they possible might Cōcerning their outlawyng how themperour sent a copy therof to the Duke to the Lantgraue I haue shewed you before Wherfore whā they had receiued it in their cāpe at Ingolstad the secōd day of Septēber in the defēce of their honor estimatiō they answer in a very lōg wryting That he so highly cōmendeth his zeale good wil to-many it is nothing but dissimulatiō for since the time he was first chosen Emperour he hath always sought meanes how to bring it in bondage For this was verely the cause why he leauing Spaine and his other countreis hath retourned so oft in to Germany and bene at so importunate charges Of like sort is the same which he speaketh of religiō For his purpose hath bene alwayes the hauing oportunitie he might oppresse the sincere doctrine For so oft say they as he graūted peace vnto vs our religiō he did it craftely for a time only vntil we had giuē money to serue the publique vses necessities of thempire After he called the decrees made in doubt into question helde the matter so long in suspence till he had made peace with the French king taken truce with the Turck that the bishop he espiyng a time conuenient had appointed the counsell of Trent concluded vpon a league but hereof wil we bring probations Fiue yeares past at Regenspurg he made a decree of religion and wher as in diuerse pointes we misliked the same he declared his minde more at large and gaue it vs in wryting sufficiently The same in other assemblies after his deputies king Ferdinando did cōfirme And yet two yeres since in the cōuention at Spier whan mention was made therof he sayd how he did remēber no such declaratiō The last yeare in the cōuention at Wormes the Byshop of Hildesseme said openly before al the Princes how themperour promised the catholikes that the decree of Spier shuld take no place after the Frēch warres A few monethes past when he went to the conuention at Regenspurg Granuellan spake it to me sayth the Lantgraue in the presence of the Paulsgraue of my counsellours the Ambassadour of the Duke of Wirtēberg how that decree of Spier was applied vnto the time And that now themperour can not longer mainteyn the same against the other states Sixe yeres past at Hagenaw king Firdinando whan he sheweth his commission to the catholiques said that vnto vs should no decrees be obserued For they were made for fear of the Turkish warre what time he had nede of our ayde What thinke you Was not this a goodly cause and a fetch to supplant vs our felowes They confesse the craft thē selues wherby they licked vs of our money Therfore it is playn that he intended alwayes the distructiō of religiō as the late cōfederacie declareth taried but only for a time to serue his purpos because he wold appere to haue the matter lawfully decided he was euer in hād with vs that we shuld submit our selfs to the bishop of Romes coūsel but why we might not so do it is
in this same conuention so great a matter can not be finished Neuertheles they wyshe vnfainedly that the same amitie which hath bene alwayes betwene bothe nations may remayne ferme and vnuiolable That suche priuate suites as he hath with the Emperour myght be appeased they both couet chiefly and also wyll refuse no paynes and trauell therin And where as the kyng affirmeth that the Emperour deteineth diuerse thinges that ar his and signifieth plainly that he hath thinges to lay clayme to they thinke it not against reason that he shewe what thing that is For they are mynded to preferre the controuersie to the Emperour be as meanes therin And they desire very much that the kyng would accept these thinges in good part Nowe as concerning the alliaunce betwene the Germaynes FreÌ„che men I haue spoken in the eight booke And that whiche the Frenche Ambassadour speaketh here of the house of Lutcemburge thus it standeth The Erle of Lutcemburge Henry had a sonne named Henry whiche was after made Emperour the seuenth of that name he had a sonne Called Iohn whiche by mariage was made king of Boheme Who aided Philip Ualose the Frenche kyng against the kyng of Englande Edwarde the third goyng hym selfe with hym to the fielde and the battell being foughten where the Englishmen had the victory he was slayne and amonges others lefte a sonne called Charles whiche afterwarde was made Emperour the fourthe of that name father to Wenceslaus and Sigismunde whiche were after both Emperours and this Sigismunde also kyng of Hongary and Boheme the procurer of the counsell of Constance Albert of Austriche of whome he speaketh the sonne of Raffe the Emperour whan he was Emperour he obserued perfit amitie with Philip le beau kyng of Fraunce notwithstanding that the Byshop of Rome Boniface the eight did wonderfully incense him vnto warre Duke Maurice besydes the deliueraunce of his father in lawe vrged two thynges chiefly One that of suche matters as annoyed the libertie of Germany the whiche he hym selfe had recited by name kyng Ferdinando MaximiliaÌ„ his sonne and the intercessours themselues shuld nowe forthwith examine and according to the lawes and custome of Germany determine the same Another was that peace myght be graunted to Religion and that no man should he molested therfore tyl suche tyme as the whole coÌ„trouersie were fully reconciled This way did not thintercessours discoÌ„mend but themperour by his Ambassadours declareth what lacke he findeth therin thought it reason that those which had bene faithfull to him and therfore had chaunced into extreme miserie should be first recompeÌ„sed their losse After much debating what time diuerse pointes were mittigated they agreed at the length that the third day of July the Emperour shuld answer directly that the war should cease in the meane time Wherfore thintercessours wryting their letters the .xvi. day of June exhorte themperour vnto peace Whan that castel of Ereberg was taken and afterwarde Inspruck spoyled I shewed you howe the Princes retorning through thalpes about th ende of May came backe again to Fiessa And marching froÌ„ thence the .xix. day of June pitched their tentes at Eistet which is the Byshops town bordring vpon Bauier and ther the whole army longed sore for Duke Maurice coÌ„ming not without great thought carfulnes Who comming thither at the length sheweth them in what case the matter stode and the laste daye of Iune he retourneth from thence to Passaw by post horses that he might be there at the daye appointed and his fellowe Princes remouing their campe the next morning the fourth day after came to Roteburg whiche is a towne nere vnto Francony by the riuer of Duber But Marques Albert neuerthelesse pursued his enterprise and hauing driuen the citie of Norinberge to make their peace he compelled also the nobilitie and states in these parties to be at coÌ„maundement For albeit he mainteined the common cause at the first as in the writing set forth he professed to do yet was he not of the same league and whaÌ„ the siege of Ulmes was leuied he went about his priuate affaires whether it were for that he would wynne to hym selfe alone what soeuer the chaunce of warre had geuen hym or that he myslyked Duke Maurice his doinge or els moued by the Frenche kynge was bent otherwyse Notwithstanding those that he toke the faith of he commaunded to perfourme the same fidelitie also to his felowes Afterwarde inuading the prouince of the Archâ—bishop of Mentz by the Ryuer Meyne doeth exceading muche harme with burning and spoyling and demaundeth of hym a wonderfull summe of money And where diuers made intercession neither yet could thei agree vpoÌ„ the summe The Archebyshop fyrste synkynge hys great Artylarie in the Rhyne the fyrste daye of Iuly fled awaye to saue hym selfe The selfe same tyme also Marques Albert whiche lefte nothynge vnattempted wylleth the Archebyshop of Treuers to deliuer vnto him the chiefest castell of his dominion whiche is situated where the Riuers of Rhine and Mosell mete vpon an hyghe hyll naturally strong and very commodious And he sayd howe he required this of him in the FreÌ„che kynges name He after he had conferred with his counsell sent him worde that he could not accomplyshe his request herein For as muche as the Princes intercessours in the latter part of their aunswere that they made to the Frenche Ambassadour as before is mentioned sayd howe they thought it reason that the kyng should declare what he required of the Emperour The Ambassadour by the kyng aduertised whan he was with the armie besydes Eistet the .xix. daye of Iune wryteth to them agayne how the kyng hath attempted this war for none other cause doubles but to profit the whole common wealth and chiefly to restore the libertie of Germany sore opressed what tyme certen Prynces had long and muche requested hym to the same And assuredly sought no priuate gayne to him selfe therein and that may the thing it selfe beare witnes For he had taken nothyng at al in Germany where it had not bene harde for him to haue done He permitted the Princes also to warre frely as they list And albeit that in the meane tyme that he hymselfe laye styll with his armie by the Riuer of Rhine his ennemies had inuaded Fraunce yet did he not once remoue tyll he was aduertised by Duke Maurice that suche thinges myght be obteyned by peaceable meanes for the whiche this warre was attempted Whiche thing knowen he was not a litle glad whan he sawe the thinge procede after their hartes desire For his aduise and counsell was first that the Princes should not neglect so goodly an occasion as this was neither disceiue them seluws or by others be abused as they were before Moreouer for so muche as he had shewed so notable a token of his good wyl and fidelitie that the amitie of both nations might assuredly be established to thintent that he himself may afterwardes haue better
Reliques of the holy gost The Cardinall writeth to the Duke of Saronis Campegius oratioÌ„ to the Princes at Norinberge The princes aunswere The decre of Wormes repeted The pope is wel monied The Suises are offended with them of Zuricke Yeare for the Hoste The Marchaundise of the clergie The answer of them or zuricke Authors of Scismes Matrimonie lawfull for all men What nedeth gold in the churche What is true coÌ„fessioÌ„ Howe the yoke of the Papistes is to be shaken of The Bishop of CoÌ„stance maketh a booke in defence of Images Images breÌ„t at Zuricke The decre of Norinberge Suite betwixt the Bishop senate of Strauso Thomas Murner Campcgsus raileth agaiâ—â— holye Matrimony A decree of Papistes against gospellers The lamentatioÌ„ of Lut. The golden Rose sent to the kynge of Englande Erasmus boke of Free will A decree of the duke of Loraine Henry Zutphan The Emperor biameth the Princes Themperor defendour of the Romishe churche Lut. coÌ„pared with Mahomet The duke of BourboÌ„ besieged Marfelles The begynnynge of the rustical war The Papistes fight for their bely The coÌ„plaiÌ„te of them of Zuricke The cause of theyr hatred To serue foreine princes is vile The eraâ—t of the Papistes Ecksuc theÌ„ Popes champion The pouertie and boundage of the Swices The riches and libertie of the same The constaÌ„cie of them of Zurieke The FreÌ„che kyng taken prisoner The vnconstaÌ„cie of Clement The victors of themperâ—alles The coÌ„motion of the bulgare people Theyr demaundes The duke of Wirtemberge atteÌ„pteâ—â— warrs The fyrste slaughter of Bowres Another slaughter The great crueltie of the Bowres A most cruel maner of burnynge The warre of Bowres in Loraine The slaughter of Bowres The crueltie of the Archebishop of Treuers Geismer captaine of the Bowers The league of Swelane The Masse abolisshed at Zuricke Muncer a great anabaptists Muncer will haue a token ared of God He teacheth that all thinges should be common Muncer maketh gonnes Phifer his companion Phifers enterprise The death of Fridericke the noble duke of Sax. The princes make a power A seditious oration of Muncer The saith of Abraham obteined of god great benefites Muncer rai leth on the Princes A blouddy Preacher bloweth the Crompet Gods power appeareth in sewest men Iud vii .i. Sam .xiiii. and .xvii. Muncer disceaueth the people by the Rainebowe Fearein MuÌ„cers Campe. A messenger slaine agaist the lawe of Armes An exhortaci on of the Lantzgraue The madnes of the Munceriane The slaughter of the MuÌ„cerians Muncer is taken His cruell answere He is reproued of the Lantzgraue The vnreasonable laughter of Muncer At the houre of death he repenteth Lut. diswadeth theÌ„ from sedition ii Thess .ii. The dewtie of a good Magistrate How the Magistrate shold deale wyth the Papistes Gods wrath is slowe but yet sore Thauthors of rebellion are wythout excuse What thing rebellion is How wicked dominion is to be shaken of The best way to ouer threw the popes authoritie Lu. did more with that word thaÌ„ cold haue bene don by force of Armes It appereth by the Prophecies of Briget and others The Practise of the deuill The popishe kingdoÌ„ maie not long indure Preachers ought to be circumspect Theyr demaundes Huntinge Haukyng Fishyng prohibited Lut. answer to the Bowres The Bours vse Godlye titles Gen. 7 Gene. 19. Math. 26. Roma 13. We are all blind in our own cause The state of a magistrate wherin it coÌ„sisteth The Magistrate is as necessary as the seune to the worlde The law of nature aloweth a Magistrate The christiaÌ„ lawe Math. 5. The christeÌ„ profession is harde The nature of veritie The craftes of the deuill to oppresse the Gospel Aunswere to the demaundes of the bowers No maÌ„ may be kept from the Gospell Howe ministers shoulde be ordayned Tithes must be payde Christianitie taketh not away boÌ„dage Bondage is not let to christen libertie Luters office The false title of the bowers Psal 107. The Gospel is sclasidered with rebellioÌ„ The rasers of tumultes The part of a wyse man The dutie of a Magist The ende of tyranny Of Not Daniel and â—ob Luther bloweth the troÌ„pet against the boures Ther can be nothig worse then sedicioÌ„ Lut. to vehement TheÌ„perors letters to the princes of Germany An assemble called at Auf. Carolostadius writeth against Lu. Carolostadius maketh his porgatioÌ„ Faith ought not to vauer Luther maried a NuÌ„ne Luther and Zwynglius met at Marpurge The Popes letters to theÌ„ of Paris Faber driueÌ„ out of Paris The kynges letters for Faber The story of Pruse Lut. letters of submissioÌ„ to the kynge of England The chief point of Lu. doctrine The ende of the Papistes doctrine Luth. letters to George Dake of Saxon. Duke George hateth the Gospel Thomas wulley Cardinal a Butchers sonne A league betwene EnglaÌ„d FrauÌ„ce Godlines is not to be sought for in the court The peace of Madrice The lady Elenor The kynges sonnes are pledges Counsell at Spyres The Emperours letters The Turke inuadeth HuÌ„gary A league betwene the venetians Pope FreÌ„che kyng Against false Freers The noÌ„ber of holy days A decree for Religion The begynninge of the ProtestaÌ„tes league The kynge of Hungary slayne The Emperour maried a wyfe A disputatioÌ„ at Baden A Priest burnt Discorde in Hongary The FreÌ„che league agaist the Emper. The Popes benefites to the Emper. The Emperours aÌ„swer The kyngdoÌ„ of Naples A point of that lawe Rome is the treasure house of that whole worlde The Pope the Emper. are two gret lyghtes The Pope is a warrier A counsell promysed The frenche kyngs leters to the prynces of Germany The Empe. confuteth the letters An apologie for the freÌ„ch kyng The princes letters to the Emperour An assemble at Regensburg Iohn Fridmarrieth Sibille of Cleue Rome is sacked The king of Englande The begynning of Anabaptistes The FreÌ„che Armye The Duke of Baurbon conoempned at Paris Englande hath title to Fraunce Leonarde Cesar Hopocrisy of byshops The power of Bernes Lawes of their disputacion Theames or conclusions Prayers for the dead are superfluous Religion reformed The prebids departe Ambrose Blaures Religion reformed at Geneua The victory of the gospel The kinges of FrauÌ„ce EnglaÌ„d Amballade to the Emperour The FreÌ„che kings inuectiue against the Emper. He offereth the Emper. the combat The letters of Iohn Uaiuode to the states of the Empyre His Ambassadours takeÌ„ Kyng FerdinaÌ„do forsoke kyng Lewis FerdinaÌ„dos title to Hongary The duke of Saxon the Lantgraue prepare theÌ„ to warre Paccen beheaded The Emperours aunswer to the FreÌ„ch king Themper Heraulde came at Paris An assemble at Spires Lantrech be segeth Naples Contention about the Masse The papists forboden to preache The Ambassadour of the chamber imperiall to Strausbor The bishops letters The Masse put down at Stansbor Dissentid at Basil for religion They of Basill take armure Images put downe The Masse put downe Images breÌ„t on â—sh wednesday The assemblie of Spir. The papists iÌ„ SwicerlaÌ„d make leage with kynge Ferdinando The Ambâ— of Srausborough excluded The
it the alteration that hath chaunced in this our time is most notable of all others The Romain Empire whyche should both be the last and also much greater then the rest the prophet said shuld be deuided and brought from that huge and vnmeasurable great quantity to a right small thing as it is now manifest whiche only consisteth within the limites of Germany and hathe bene manye times in great hasard and daunger partly by reason of domesticall euils and partly throughe the factions of forain enemies But at the length God hath geuen vs such an Emperour as a more mighty hath not bene these many hondreth yeres For vnto him haue descended mooste ample realmes and prouinces which as they be most ritch and welthy so also be they mooste commodious for the doing of thinges in sondrye places bothe by sea and lande And like as he him self excelleth in power all other Emperors of Germanye that haue bene sence the tyme of Charles the great so also by reason of the thinges that haue chaunced in his time and gouernment is he most famous and notable But amonges all other thinges the alteration of Religion hath the chiefest place whiche with the beginninge of his raigne toke her originall For at that time whan the Emperour Maximilian departed out of this present life that matter had not ben in hand aboue .xiiii. monthes but what time the Princes electours chose this manne Emperour in a manner the self same time Luther beinge prouoked came forthe to reason the matter and disputed openly with Eckius at Lipsia and than fell men to theyr study on ether side Wherefore thempire of this man ought to be considered dilligentlye and waied with the memory of former times For god hath at euery time stirred vp certain great princes more no table thā the rest whē ether the state of religion or comon welth shuld be altred of the which sort was Cirus Alexander of Macedonie Iulius Caesar Constantine Charlemaigne Also Ottous of Saxonie and now he of whom we speake Charles the fift And certenly this alteratiō is of such sort wherof we now make mention that no man that knoweth the thing perfectly can thinck theof without great maruel and wonder For the beginning was ful small and in manner to be contemned and one man alone susteined the malice violence of all the world And yet might he him self haue ben appeased and quieted in case his aduersaries would haue taken the condition which at the beginning he offred them For he promised to kepe silence so that they would do the like But when they refused that and prescribed him a recantation and herein perseuered and he said that vnlesse they could first shewe his erroure he coulde not chaung his opinion the dissention increased the matter was brought before the counsell of thempire now is come to such a great maner as we se And by what meanes it came so to pas what thing the Bishops of Rome what the vniuersities what Kings Princes haue at tempted how he him self hath pleaded his own cause before themperour and counsell of princes how diuers men of excellent learning haue ioyned them selues with him howe the matter again hath ben debated in thassembles of thempire howe meanes of reconcilement haue bene assaid how oftentimes the Bishops of Rome haue bene in hand with the Emperour and other Kinges how oft they haue put them in hope of a reformation and of a counsel what persecution and burning ther hath ben what leagues and conspiracies haue hen made how this same religiō hath ben setforth not only in Germany but in other places also how diuers haue reuolted and others remained constant what tumultes warres and battels haue risen by this occasion these I say so great and sondry things to leaue vnspoken and not to commit them to memory by wryting I think ther is no man but would iudge it blame worthy Moreouer it is not to be passed ouer in silence what was the state of the common wealthe during this mans Empire by the space now of six and thyrty yeres what wars he hath kept what commotions and tumultes haue ben in the meane season and what things haue chaunced in all realmes and prouinces Neuerthelesse thordre that in this argumente shal be obserued hereafter shal be declared For like as this Emperor raigneth ouer moste large and ample dominions so hath he had also most strong and puissant enemies Wherfore the matters haue ben wonderful great that haue chaunced in this our memorye and duringe the raigne of thys Emperor And therfore certen yeres past diuers worthy and wel lerned men when they chanced to talke of such matters began to perswade with me that whosoeuer had chanced in these dais especially touching the cause of Religion I shuld put in wrytinge And here vnto dyd exhort me not for that I could do this best or for that ther wer not others much more mete for this purpose but because they saw me delite much in that same kinde of exercise and therefore supposed that through acerten natural inclination to the thing I should not bestow my time and labor amisse I my self doubtlesse who knew wel enough what a daungerous sea I muste enter into and how that case required an other maner of man endued with a greater wit eloquence Albeit I was almost in despair that I could bring the thing to passe yet vanquished by theyr auchority which had that opinion in me I determined to assay the thing And beginning from the time that Luther began to inuey against the selling of pardons brynging the matter still vnto the disputation of Lipsia appoynted by Duke George that same that I hadde so composed I sente vnto them that were my setters on at Woormes where that time was the counsel of thempire ten yeres past to read and peruse ouer They afterward by their letters by mouth also did more importune me that I should procede but not longe after ther chaunced a sorowfull time to Germany whan there arose warre which as it was a great let and hindraunce to study learning so did it also disturbe and let all my purpose doings For nether could I procede as I desired many times must I tarye and make delay but so sone as I was relieued from those euils especially those iii. yeares paste I imploide all my study and trauel herein and neuer reasted till I came to thend wished for And surely this worke is made chiefly and principally concerning Religion neuerthelesse for obseruynge an order I thought good also to put in polliticke matters Now as touching the whole narration after what sort that is euery man by reading shall easely perceiue Nothing becommeth an history better then truth sidelity And doubtlesse I least any man should finde lacke in me in this behalf haue traueled diligently For I haue written nothinge by lighte reportes or by hear say but I haue compiled my worke of publick records
straunger But I maruell muche why he preferreth the Spaniarde before the Frencheman Certes I lament the state of Germany For if we folowe the steppes of oure elders we shoulde nede no forayne helpe But nowe seyng that we seke vpon straungers what other thinge do we then procure our owne bondage But leauynge of this complainte I will folowe the same order that my lorde of Mentz hath done and speake fyrst of the lawe and of oure othe And the chiefe cause and ground of the law I suppose to be this lest if a foreine prince should be chosen that had no certen habitation in Germany the dignitie of thempire shoulde by litle and litle be alieuated to straungers If this be the meaning of the lawe then can no more the Spaniarde be chosen then the Frencheman But now if Charles may be created because he hathe landes lyinge within the Empire of necessitie the same must be of force also in Fraunces which hath Millan and other membres of our common weath Wherefore of two thinges propounded let vs see whether is better Certaynly whā Fraunce was vnited to Germany then did our Empire most florishe in so muche that the remembraunce of that time doth not a litle delite me when I chance to reade the stories therof And now is the like occasion offered vs whiche certainly would not be let slippe Foreyne nations are also of this opinion the bishop of Rome the venetians all the Princes and cities of Italie For the Frenchmen come of the same ofspringe that we do and vse almost the same lawes and maners shewyng all loue and gentlenesse to our men And for the vicinitie therof are very necessary for the Italiās and vs. If any tumult shall arise straight waies shall an armye be ready and Fraunce shall paye their wages And if the Turke shall inuade either Hungary or Italye as verelye I thincke he wil shal it not be a goodly matter to haue so nere and so florishing an Emperoure fournished with the strength of either nation As for the Spaniards though they be accompted warlicke what notable thing did they euer in Italye without the healpe of the Germanes Furthermore because they be so farre from vs We can loke for no helpe at their handes in time And though they would neuer so faine yet can they not healpe vs greatlye For Spaine is so wasted with continual sayling that it can send forth no great nombre of men Moreouer we shall haue the Frenchmen our fellow souldiours and companions of our trauell and paines But the Spaniardes if any thing be wel done will haue al the praise to them selues they will enioye our boaties and rule our countries Then shal we bewaile our bondage all to late But I will leaue this comparison and come to the election If we chose the kynge of Fraunce there shal be none occasion of warre in Italy For he hathe Millan nowe in possession and we shall perswade him that he shall attempte nothinge against Naples nether against the base countreis of Flaūders Artois so that they wil be quiet And yet I see not why we shoulde thincke that these countreis ought to be defended of vs. They be in dede oure neigbours but we haue no league with them neither do they obserue the lawes of thempire nor geue any thing towardes our cōmon charges no more thē doth Englād or Scotlāde Seing than that the Frēch kīges power is greatest that he hath Lūbardy in quiet possessiō is furnished with al thinges necessary he wil attempt greater enterprises more honorable moue warre namely against the Turke bend al his power thither wardes that the cruel enemie expulsed out of Hūgary Italy Germany maye liue at rest But in case we preferre Charles before him O liuing God what tumultes shall we raise vp in Italy He wil recouer Millan that wil be a long warre whilest this goodly coūtrey shal be thus tourmoyled the Turkes will inuade Hungary with theyr whole power Who I praye you shall resiste them Or be able to bringe a sufficient Armie agaynst them These thinges would be consydered more diligently and not passed ouer lightly Nowe what the end of the Italyan warre shal be it is vncerten If the Frenche kynge conquere he will couet Naples and it maye be that the Byshoppe of Rome throughe his impulson will vndo oure Election what trouble will arise thereby euerye manne perceyueth righte well Agayne if Charles get the better hande let vs not loke to haue Italy restored againe the Spaniardes will kepe that to them selues foreuer And not onely that but wyll hardely let out of theyr handes this our Empyre About the kepyng of Naples the possession wherof it is wel knowen how they came by what misery haue they suffered they may not therfore be brought into Italy Now will I speake some thinges of either king I doubt not but king Charles is of a milde and gentle disposition for so is he reported of many but being but a yonge man howe can men discerne such vertues in him as be required in a mightye prynce The common welth had nede of suche a one as besides other thinges could establish reforme the state of the church as my Lord of Mentz here did wittely admonishe This verely can king Fraunces performe best of all men for he hath both a good wit and a good iudgemente hath oftentimes conferens with lerned men of religion and readeth muche him selfe Moreouer the state of this presente time requyreth a Prince and captaine skilfull in warres payneful and lucky But who shall in this behalf take the price away from Fraunces for his vertue is rightwell tried and knowen Of king Charles we haue noue experiment but that his towardnes promiseth some thinge but the other in prowes and dedes of Armes doeth farre excell all his auncestours For he hath latly ouercome in battaill the Swisers a mighty nation and neuer subdued syns Iulius Cesars time A yonge man therefore oughte in no wyse to be preferred before so worthye a Capitayne My lorde of Mentz doeth accompte it a discommoditie if thēperour shold be longe out of Germanye but yet he biddeth vs take no thoughte for that matter But I thinke it a matter full of greate daunger to haue an Emperour absente farre withoute the borders of the Empire For who shall resiste the inuasions of the Turkes Who shall represse the sodayne insurrections and Ciuile vprours And there arise a tempest Who shall saue the Shyppe that wanteth her Master He shal know no certentie of oure affayres beynge absent many thynges shal be told him vntruely he shall haue no Germaines of his counsell but Spaniardes onely he wyll make many decrees and send them vnto vs farre out of tyme and season Afterwardes if he beynge tyckled wyth false complaintes and sklaunders should come into Germany at anyetyme an Armye of foreine souldiours In what state thinke you shall be our wyth Empire then
as it is reported in the Campe before the cytie of Ptolomais After wardes dyd they subdue Pruse lande when Frederick the second was Emperour And after they had kept warres of long tyme with the kynges of Polande beyng vanquyshed in battell they became subiect geuyng their fidelitie by an othe to Casunire kyng of Pole the father of Sigismund From the first maister to the Marques Albert of BrandeÌ„burg were thritty and thre This Albert being chosen the yeare of our Lorde M.D.xi. kept great warres for two yeares together with Sigismunde kyng of Polle And in the yeare M.D.xxi. there was a trewce takeÌ„ for .iiij. yeares In this tyme Albert sued oft to the Emperour and the states of the Empyre for ayde and commyng to the councell at Nurrenberg wherof we haue ofte tymes spoken had his place amonges them as a Prynce of the Empyre For the cause of the warre was that he wold not be sworue to the kyng But what tyme the Emperour was empeched with the Frenche warres and the Turke inuaded Hongary and Germany was so tourmoyled with the sedition of the communaltie that no ayde was to be looked for from thence and the tyme of the trewce was expyred he maketh peace with the kyng of Pole geuyng hym him his faythe as to his suprome Magistrate receyue the doctrine of the Gospell alteryng the order he taketh Pruse for his own And he that before was maister no we by the kynges assente is called Duke of Pruse And shortly after he maried Dorothe the daughter of Frederick kyng of Denmarke and foundeth the vniuersitie of Conningsberge called the kynges mount Wherby he had the displeasure of all the order for al be it he kept the countrey and was supported here in by the kyng of Pole yet by a common assent was chosen in his rowme Walther Cronberge which shold represent the auncieÌ„t name and dignitie who after in all assemblies complayned vpon hym greuously Againe he defended his cause by wrytyng declaryng howe he was dryuen by extreme necessitie beinge vtterly forsaken of the Empyre to submytte hym selfe vnto the kyng There is an epistle of Leo the tenth to Sigismunde and Alberte exhorting them vnto concord and eyther to committe their matter to his legate whiche he wold sende or to the counsell of Laterane for that it is moste conuenient that the coÌ„trouersies of Princes shold be decided and determined by generall counselles ✚ The syxthe Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the Empire of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the syxth Booke LUther wrote to the kyng of England and to Duke George but thei both reiected the same Christerne kyng of DeÌ„marke had moued Luther to do so the sycknes of the Frenche king duryng his imprysonment hasted the treaty of Madrice The king being deliuered his two Sonnes were geuen as pledges Whylest the estates were assembled at Spyres aboute matters of Religion the Turke entreth into Hongarry A disputation was hoïoen at Baden in Swycherlande Pope Element and the Frenche kynge make a league The Emperour and the kyng complayne sore the one of the other Rome is sacked by the Duke of Burbon The Frenche kyng sendeth Lawtrecke into Italy The secte of Anabaptistes beginneth A disputation is kept at Bernes for a reformation A contention betwyxt Ferdinando and the Uayuode Paccius is beheaded at Andwarpe The Emperour and the Frenche kyng offer them selues to the combat The Masse is abolished at Strasburge Troubles at Basyll for relygion The CaÌ„â—ous Papistes make a league with Ferdinando An assembly is holden at Spyres where the name of Protestauntes hath his begynning Ciuile warre emonges the Swychers a treate of peace at Cambray Uienna beseged of the Turke The sweatyng sycknes The Protestantes make a league YOu haue heard heretofore howe the kynge of Englande wrote agaynst Luther and Luther agaynst hym But when he had hearde certen thynges that sounded muche to the kynges coÌ„mendation delighted with that reporte he writeth to hym with great submission Doubting not but he had sore offended his hyghnes by setting forth his booke neuerthelesse he dyd it not so muche of his own accorde as by the instigation of others And where as he is so bolde to trouble hym with hys letters at this present it proceadeth of his Prynclyke humanitie whiche is hyghly commended of manye Moreouer for that he vnderstandeth howe the bookes set forthe agaynst hym were not of hys owne doynge but wrytten of certen Sophisters whiche full craftely tooke an occasion And speakynge here by occasion of the Cardinall of Yorke he calleth hym the plage of Englande And that he heareth moreouer to his great comforte howe that his grace mislyketh that naughtye sorte of men and gyueth his mynde to the knowledge of the truthe Wherfore he besecheth hym to pardon hym that one facte And that it woulde please hym to remembre that syns he is a man mortall he ought not to beare ennemytie immortall And if he shal commaunde him he wyl confesse his faulte openly and commende his pryncelike vertues in an other worke After he exhorteth his maiestie to gyue no eare to sklaunderous tales that reporte him to be an heretyke For the chief point of his doctrine is how al we must be saued by fayth in Christ whiche bare the punyshement of our synnes on his necke shoulders and al his body who dyed for vs rose agayne reigneth with his father for euer And this to be the doctrine of all the Prophetes and Apostles This foundatioÌ„ ones layde he teacheth the dewty of charitie what one ought to do for an other howe we must obey the magistrate and applye our whole lyfe to the profession of the Gospel If there be anye errour or wyckednes in this doctrine why do not his aduersaries shewe it hym Why do they condeÌ„pne and banyshe him beyng neyther examined nor conuicted where as he writeth against the byshop of Rome and his adherentes he doeth it for that they teache contrary to Christ his Apostles for their owne gayne and lucre to the intent they may coÌ„maunde all men lyue lyke gluttons in all voluptuousnes for vnto this ende tende all their denises and doinges whiche thing is so well tryed and knowen that they them selues can not deny it but in case they wold amende their liues and not leade this idle beastly lyfe to the losse iniury of manye the stryfe myght sone be quieted Diuers prynces and cities in Germany haue embraced his doctrine acknowledging it reuerently to be Gods benefite and he woulde gladlye wyshe that he myght also be accoÌ„pted in that nombre And where as the Emperour and certen others do attempte thynges agaynsthym it is no newes For Dauid hathe prophecied longe synce that kynges and other people should conspire and imagine many thynges agaynst the Lorde and his annoynted reiectyng his lawes and commaundementes So that when he considereth suche places of Scripture he maruayleth
that there is anye Prynce that should fauour the doctrine of the Gospell Fynally he requyreth hym that he may receyue a gentle aunswere And not longe after he wryteth also to George Duke of Saxony signifyinge howe God hath accustomed in the beginning to chastise mē seuerely sharpely but after gētly louīgly to embrace the same he was aterrour a feare to the Iewes whā he gaue thē the law by Moses but after by the preachig of the gospel he shewed thē great ioye gladnes that he hath followeth the same maner in hādling some ouer roughly euen him for one but yet since hath he writtē other thingesful of fruite cōsolatiō wherby it is easy to se that he taketh al this payn to profit others of no euil will but of a zeale he beareth to the truth And where as he heareth that he relenteth nothing in the displeasure that he beareth hym but increaseth his malice against him daily more and more that is the cause whye he nowe wryteth vnto hym desyryng him to surcease to persecute his doctrine whiche is consonaunt to the writinges of the Prophetes and Apostles he admonysheth him also to haue no respect to the basenes of his persone for the matter is not his but Gods almighty Al be it that all men should fret fume therat yet shall this doctrine continue for euer And therfore it greueth him the more that he is so muche offended with the same which he may in no wise forsake and yet for that he seketh to gratisie him he desyreth to be forgeuen if he hath spoken any thing sharpely against him he wil agayne craue pardon of God for him in that he hath persecuted the Gospel doubteth not but he shal obtein so that he leaue of in time seke not to extin gwishe that great lyght of the Gospel that appereth nowe vnto al the worlde For if he so procede he will pray for Gods helpe against him doubteth not but his prayer shal be heard whiche he taketh to be strōger than all the craftes of the deuyll which alwayes is his refuge and moste assured defence Whan the kyng of Englande had receiued Luthers letters he made a sharpe aunswer defendeth his boke whiche he sayeth is well accepted of diuers good and well learned men And where as he hathe rayled on the reuerend Father the Cardynall of Yorke he marueyleth nothing therat which can not abstayne frō the contumelies both of men sainctes he sayth the Cardinall is a necessarye instrument for hym and his whole Realme And where he hath loued hym before dearelye well nowe wyll he set by hym ten tymes more consyderyng that he myslyketh hym For amōges other thinges this doeth he forsee with great dylygence that none of his Leprosye contagion and heresye do infecte any parte of his Realme After he casteth in his teeth his incestuouse marryage whiche is a vyce moste detestable This Cardinalles name was Thomas Wulsey a Buchers sonne of Ipswyche but in hyghe authoritie wyth hys Prynce Lykewyse Duke George made Luther suche an aunswere as a man myght well perceyue what mortall hatred he bare hym When the Ambassadours of Fraunce whiche were sent into Spayne for a peace amonges whome was Margaret the Frenche kynges syster a wydowe could brynge nothyng to passe Ales his mother whiche had the gouernaunce for her ayde and defence founde the meanes to bryng into her league and amitie Henry the kynge of Englande whiche was done in the moneth of Auguste The fyrst and chiefest poynt of this league was that the violens of the Turkes and the pestiferous secte of Luther should be dryuen kept out which is no lesse daungerous then the Turkes be The Cardinal of England whiche might do al at the tyme was thought to haue perswaded the king vnto this league for he bare the Emperour no great good wil for that he toke him to haue bene thonly let that he was not chosē bishop of Rome after the death of Adriā as in dede certē of thēperours haue expressed in their writinges Whan Luther red the kyng of Englandes aunswere in printe and sawe that he ascribeth to him vnconstancie as though he had chaunged his opinion considering how this did not concerne his owne priuate iniurie but the professiō of the gospel he toke the matter heuely that to gratifie his frendes he made so humble a submission In lyke maner he intreated gētly both by word and writing Christerne kyng of Denmarck that he wold receiue the pure doctrine trusting to haue preuayled with gentlenes and nowe he perceiued how farre he is abuse The lyke thinge happened vnto him in Cardinal Caietane in George Duke of Saxonie in Erasmus of Roterdame vnto whome he hath written frendly at the request of others and hath obtayned therby nothynge els but made them more fierce cruell to be fondely done of him to thinke that he coulde haue foūde godlines in the courtes of Princes that sought for Christ wher sathan ruleth or loketh for John Baptist amonges thē that were clothed in purple Wherfore seing that he can not preuaile by this gentle and frēdly kinde of writing he wil take an other order frō henceforth The frenche kyng for that the treaty of peace toke not place through a great thought and pensiuenes fel syck but comforted again by the gentle talke of the Emperour who bad he should be of good chere he began to be somewhat better The Emperour also waying with hym selfe what a pray he should lose if any thyng chaunced vnto him other wise then wel inclyned his mynde to peace daylye more more wherfore the .xiiii. daye of January then concluded of all thynges at Madrice in the whiche wryting emonges other thynges is this recited that the Emperour the kyng haue this respect chiefly that the ennemies of the christian religion and the heresies of Luthers secte should be extyrped and that the peace being concluded they shall set an ordre in the common welth and moue warre against the Turkes and Heretikes that be out of the communion of the churche for this is verye nedefull and the byshop of Rome hath often warned them and bene in hande with them to applye this thing diligently wherfore the rather to satissye his request they are determyned to entreate hym that he would appoynte a certaine daye in some place conuenient for the Ambassadours of all Prynces to assemble in hauyng ful power authoritie to agree vpon all suche thynges as shal be good and requisite as well for the Turky she warres as also for the wedyng out of Heretikes In this peace makyng was Elenor the Emperours syster which had bene maryed to Emanuell kyng of Portugall beyng espoused to the Frenche kynge the Emperour promyseth to gyue hym for her dowery two thousand ducates certen landes in high Burgundy For the which they were at controuersie And the kynge shall within two monethes
of the Gospel who being apprehended by the cōmaundemēt of the byshop of Passauie defendeth these opinions that faythe onlye doth iustifie that there be only two Sacramentes Baptisme and the Lordes supper the Masse to be no sacrifice not to profite the quicke nor the dead The confession of Syns to depende of counsell and not of commaundement that Christe only hath made satisfaction for synnes That the vowe of chastitie byndeth not That the scripture maketh no mention of Purgatory That there is no difference of dayes That the dead be not intercessours for vs That in diuine thinges mā hath not free wyll When he was examined he woulde haue declared these thynges to the people more at large but he coulde not be suffered Emonges other there was Eckius who reasoned altogether in Latin that the people should not vnderstand but the other answered him in the vulgare tongue neither yet coulde he cause him to doe the lyke In fyne being condempned by the byshops owne mouthe for an heretyke he was burnt the .xvj. of August by the commaundement of William Duke of Bauar vnto whose iurisdiction he was cōmitted after his condempnation for the byshop lest he shoulde in deede defile the sacred thynges and become prophane and irregular gyueth not sentence of lyfe and death What tyme Ferdinando who was the Emperours depute in Germany was after the death of kyng Lewis created kyng of Boheme and contended with Uaynode of transiluania for the kyngdome of Hongary Philip of Baden substituted in his place appointed a counsell of the Empyre in Cesars name cōmaunding them to be at Regēsburg at the beginning of Marche in the yeare followyng to consulte of Religion and the Turkyshe warre The senate and people of Bernes whiche are of moste fame and power emōges the Swycers cōsydering howe the dissention about religion encreased daily and that the Ministers of the churche not at all one doctrine doe assigne an other disputation within their Citie at the .xvij. of Decembre And settyng it forth in wryting called vnto the same all the byshops nere about them as the byshoppes of Constance Basyll Sedune and Losanna Warnyng them to come them selues and brynge their diuines with them or els to lose all their possessions that they haue with in the precincte of their lymites After this they nombre the clergie with in their iurisdiction appoyntyng that the Scripture onely of the olde and newe Testament shoulde be of force and authoritie To all that wyll come thether they graunt saufe conduicte And make this lawe that all thynge be done quietlye wythout chydynge and brawlynge that euery man shoulde speake his mynde frelye and pronounce it in suche sorte as euerye mans sayinges myght be written And what so euer shold there be agreed vpō that the same shold be ratified obserued through out al their domions And to thintent men myght know what thynges shoulde be decided and comme thether all prepared they propounded ten conclusiōs which the ministers of their church Fraunces Colbe and Bertholde Haller dyd professe and sayde they would proue by the Scriptures Whiche are these that the trewe churche wherof Christe is the only head procedeth of Gods word perseuereth in the same and heareth none other mans voyce that this self same church maketh no lawes without Gods worde therfore are we not otherwyse bounden to mens traditions bearyng the name of the churche but in as muche as they be consonant to Gods worde that Christe only hath made satisfactiō for the synnes of the whole worlde Therfore if any man say that there is any other waye of saluation or meane to put away synne the same dothe denye Christe howe it can not be proued by the testimonie of Scripture that the body and bloud of Christ is really and corporally receiued that the vse of Masse wherin Christ is presented and offered to his heauenly father for the quicke and the dead is against the Scripture and a contumelie to the sacrifice which Christ offered vp for vs that only Christ is to be called vpō as the mediatour and aduocate of mankynde to God the father that there should be any place after this lyfe wherin soules should be pourged is not to be founde in the Scriptures wherfore all those prayers and ceremonies yearely Diriges and Obites whiche are bestowed vpon the dead also Lampes Tapers and suche other thynges profite nothyng at all That any image or lykenes should be set vp to be worshypped is against the holy Scriptures therfore if they be errected in churches for that intent they ought to be taken downe That matrimony is to no kynde of men prohybited but for to auoyde fornication is commaunded and permitted vnto all men by holy wrytte Where as euery whoremonger is euen by the testimony of Scripture sequestred from the communiō of the churche That the syngle life vnchast and fylthy is moste vnsemely for the order of priesthode What tyme the men of Bernes had wrytten their letters concernynge these matters vnto all the Heluetians exhortyng them both to sende their learned men and to suffer all others to passe saufelye through their countreis the Lucernates Uranites Unterualdians Engianes Glareōs Soloturnians and they of Friburg exhorte them with long letters to leaue their enterpryse sayinge that it is not lawfull for any nation or prouince to alter the state of religion but the same to belonge to a generall counsell wherfore they desyre them that they wold attempte no suche wycked acte but contine we in the religion whiche their parentes and elders haue obserued Fynally they saye that neyther they wyll sende nor suffer any of their men to come nor graunt saufecōduit to any others to passe through their countrey All this not with standyng the men of Bernesse procede in this matter and at the daye prescribed whiche was the .vij. of Ianuary begynne their disputation There came none of the byshops before named They of Basyll Zuricke Abbecell also the Shafusiās Sangallians Mullusiās their neighbours of Rhetia sent theirs moreouer thei of Strausborough Ulmes Auspurg Lindaue Constance and Isne dyd lykewyse The doctours of the same citie before named began the disputation their conclusions defended Zwynglius Oecolampadius Bucer Capito Blanrer and diuers others And there impugned them emonges others Conrade treger an Austen freer of great fame who at the laste what tyme he sought for helpe besydes the Scriptures and the maisters of the disputation would not permitte hym so to doe for that it was forbydden by the lawe he departed out of the place The disputation ended the .xxvj. of Ianuary and the forsayde conclusions approued by the common assente of the moste parte were ratified and obserued not only at Bernes but also proclaimed by the magistrates in sondry places there aboutes Masses Aultars Images abolyshed in all places They of Constance had chaunged certen thynges before And when they had made a lawe against whoredome adultrye and dishonest or
suspected company these that are called Cannons departed thence in great displeasure Ambrose Blaurer was preacher ther who was a gentleman borne but had professed him selfe a Monke in the Abbey of Alperspacke in the Dukedome of Wyrtinberge whyche by the readyng of Luthers workes chaunged his mynde and his cote together returnyng home agayne to his frendes His Abbot woulde haue had hym agayne and wroote earnestlye to the Senate of Constance for him Wherfore Blanrer expresseth the whole matter in writyng and propoundeth certen conditions where vpon he was contēt to retourne but they were suche as the Abbot refusyng he remayneth styll at Constance Where after the disputation at Bernes Images Aultares Masse and Ceremonies were vtterly abolyshed Lykewyse they of Geneua in remouinge their Images and ceremonies dyd imitate them of Bernes wherfore the byshop and clergie forsoke the citie in anger The Religion being thus altered they of Bernes renoūced the league made with the Frenche kynge prohibitynge the hyred warfare as they of Zuricke had done and were contented with that yearely pension that the kyng payeth them to kepe peace And wrote the daye and yeare wherein they forsoke the Popyshe religion vpon apyllour in golden letters that it myght be an euerlastyng memory all to their posteritie I shewed you how the Cardynal of Yorke was sent into Fraunce When they were agred vpon the matter both kinges sent their ambassadours to the Emperour And the Frenche king requireth to take his raunsome delyuer his sonnes that were pledges The kyng of Englande agayne his debte to be payde him which is threfolde first thre hondreth thousande Crownes that he lent hym secondarely fyue hundreth thousande for not obseruing the contracte of Matrimonie thirdly foure yeares pension whiche the Emperoure promysed hym as before in the third boke is declared When the Emperour hereunto had aunswered not after their myndes the kynge of Englande also sent hym defiaunce by an Herault of Armes who at the same tyme was consultynge howe he myght be deuorced from Catherine the Emperours haunt and Marry an other whiche he did afterwardes as shal be recyted in his place the Emperoure in his letters to other kynges accused the Frenche kyng moste greuously that he kept not his fayth and promyse and had ofte tymes sayd so muche to the Frenche Ambassadours Where vpon the kynge in his letters wrytten at Paris the .xxviij. of Marche which he sent by an Herault By the talke sayth he whiche thou hast had with some of myne I perceiue that thou braggest certen thinges that founde to my dishonour as though I had escaped thy handes against my fidelitie And nowe al be it that he whiche after the compacte made hath put in pledges is hym selfe quytte from bonde so that I am hereby sufficiently excused yet neuerthelesse in the defence of my honour I thought to wryte this briefly vnto the. Therfore if thou blame this facte of mine and my departure or sayest that euer I did any thyng contrary to the dutie of a noble Prynce I tell the playnly thou liest For I am determined to maynteyne myne honour and estimatiō whylest I haue a day to lyue We nede not many wordes therfore and if thou wylt ought with me thou shalt not nede hereafter to wryte but appointe the place where we may fyght hande to hande For if thou darest not mete me and in the meane tyme ceasest not to speake euyll of me I protest that all the shame therof belongeth vnto the for by our combat all the stryfe shall be parted I tolde you before of the contention betwene kynge Ferdinando and the Uayuode of Transiluania Whan the same burst out in to a cruell warre and Ferdinando was of the greater power the Uayuode in the moneth of Apryll wryting his letters to the states of The empyre After the lamentable death of kyng Lewis sayeth he I was by the common assent of the nobles chosen and crowned kinge of Hongary except three whome pouertie hatred and hope of better fortune had seduced that forgettyng the wealth of their countrey they subscribed to Ferdinando kyng of Boheme And what tyme I was wholy addicted to succour my countrey to recouer that was lost and by the same meanes to procure your quiet beholde he inuadeth my Realme with violence taketh certen Townes and by those whiche were of his faction was created kyng at Posonye I marueled not a lytle and it greued me also exceadingly that this nation should be molested by hym whiche ought moste of all to succour and releue the misery of the same It had not bene harde for me at that tyme to haue gyuen hym the repulse but I would not hasarde rashely the remnant of the power lefte of so manye shypwrakes and losses of that Realme hath had of late I complayned vnto Clement the seuenth to Fraūces the Frenche kyng to Henry kyng of England and to Sigismūde kyng of Pole And in dede the kynge of Pole sendynge his Ambassadour without my knowledge entreated him that he wold not in this daungerous tyme make away through ciuile discorde to let in the foreyne enemy whiche after neyther he nor yet any other should be able to kepe out but that he would kepe peace with me ioyne his power to myne to resiste the common ennemye And where as Ferdinando answered that he would attempt nothing against ryght and equitie it was agreed vpon that a certen daye fytte men should be sent to debate the matters of controuersie I was content and sendyng also my Ambassadours vnto you and submytting my selfe vnto your arbytriment I made request that you woulde gyue none ayde to myne aduersarie but what tyme they came into Ferdinando his countrey beyng taken and deteyned as prysoners against the lawe of all natiōs they could not declare their commission And from you they shoulde haue gone to the Emperour And al be it that this same was an extreme wronge iniury neuerthelesse at the daye appoynted by the kyng of Pole I sent certen others that were very desyrous of peace both of themselues and also by my commaundemēt Notwithstanding Fardinando his men propounded thinges so farre out of reason that ther could be nothyng concluded Whylest these thinges were a workyng certen of the nobilitie entysed by the crafte and polycie of Ferdinādo breake their fidelite which before they had gyuen me And for somuche as the waye is layde that I can neyther come nor sende vnto you I thought good to declare vnto you by my letters howe vniuste warre he attempteth peraduenture intending to recouer the same that his auncetours Frederick and Maximilian Emperours haue lost here to fore for the one of them when he was triumphyng and thought hym selfe sure of the kyngdome of Hongary myne vncle Emeryck expulsed out of the whole countrey And my father Stephen Sepuse when Matthie was kyng did disconfite them both in suche sorte as he adioyned Uienna to Hongary And I
the matter in fine was quieted at Wormes about the ende of Decembre by the intercession of the Palsgraue There be some that thinke it was not altogether nothyng that he had spoken of the conspyracie And the assemblie of certen princes at Regensburg foure yeares before that encreased the same suspicion Wherfore it is supposed that some suche thing was conceaued but not brought to perfection nor fully determined Whiche thyng I doe not here affirme for a certentie but leaue vnto euery man his owne iudgement The assemblie of the Empire which I shewed before shold haue bene in the beginning of the spring tyme at Regensburg was in this warlyke preparation not at all the Emperours deputie sending worde that they should not come there The Frenche kynges letters wrytten in the later end of Marche the Emperour receiued the seuenth daye of Iune Afterwardes sendyng an aunswer by an Herault of armes the .xxiiij. day of Iune frō Moūtison I blame the not sayeth he nor accuse the for departing home for the same was done by my leaue and permission but for that thou diddest not returne againe into my custody captiue as thou diddest promyse me by thy fayth thou wouldest vnlesse thou fulfillest the conditions of peace lyke as in dede it is to be proued by wryting subscrybed with thyne owne hande This in dede if thou haddest done thou haddest played the parte of a Iuste man and of a worthye Prynce But nowe for so muche as thou hast herein broken thy faith I affirme and that without any lye that thou hast done shamefully and wyckedlye And where as thou desirest to haue a place appointed for the cōbate I am content and do assigne the place by the Ryuer that runneth besyde fount Arabie and Andey whiche thou oughtest in no case to refuse For if thou diddest their credit thine owne lyfe and thy chyldrens two yeres past what tyme being set at libertie to retourne home thou gauest them to me for pledges thou mayest aswel now also committe thy selfe to the same assuredly And to the intent it be not differred by long delay let noble men be sent thether on both parties that are skilfull in suche matters whiche shall espye out a place conuenient and agree vpon the kynde of weapons and appoynte a certen daye But in case I receyue none aunswere from the within fourty dayes after the receipt of my letters what thy mynde is herein the fault of the delaye and all the shame shall remayne towarde the and to the cryme of falsifying thy fayth shall this be added also These letters the Emperour delyuered vnto the Herault that he goyng into Fraunce should reade them before the kynge openly or if he refuse to heare them than he cōmaundeth him to deliuer them to the kyng to reade When the Herault came at the lengthe the kynge syttyng at Paris hearyng of a sermon with his nobles about hym demaunded of hym if he had brought the maner of the combat He sayde he had both that and somwhat to saye besydes that and more howe he had in commaundement to reade it before hym or els to delyuer it to his owne handes whiche he besought hym that he myght doe But the kynge vnderstandyng ryght well the Emperours request herein and lothe to haue the thyng read openly fallyng at woordes with the Herault arrose and would neyther heare hym speake any more nor receyue anye letters of hym as in deede the Emperours men affyrme in theyr wrytinges The firste of August the Emperour wryting his letters from Ualolete calleth a counsell of the Empyre of Spyres against the beginning of February to treate of Religion and the Turkysh warre He excuseth hym selfe by certen affayres by meanes whereof he can not be there present appoyntyng of his deputes his brother Ferdinando Friderike Palatyne William of Bauer the byshop of Trent and of Hyldesseme Lantrechus the Lieutenaunt of the Frenche kynges Armie after he had taken Pauie and Alexandria as you haue hearde wyntered he and his Armie at Bononie And in the begynning of the spryngtyme went forewarde and beseged Naples whiche was kept and defended by Alphonsus Daualus Ugo Moncada Ferdiando Alarco Philibert prynce of Orenge and Ferdinando Gonzago But in the moneth of Iuly a sore Pestilence consumed a great part of his Armie and Lantreth hym selfe also in the moneth of Auguste and before hym Mounsour Uaundemont brother vnto Anthony duke of Lorayne whiche serued the kyng in hope to attayne to the kingdome of Naples for that the house of Gaunte whereof the house of Lorayn hath also his ofsprynge affirme it to be their ryght After the disputation of Bernes Religion was altered in sondrye places wherupon the preachers at Strausborongh emonges other errours of the bishop of Romes doctrine taught chiefly that the masse was wicked and a great blasphemy to Gods holy name wherfore it ought to be abrogated the right vse of the Lordes supper instituted vnlesse they could proue these thinges by the testimonies of holy scripture they wyll refuse no kinde of punishment Againe the byshops ministers taught otherwyse which bred no smal contention whom afterwardes the senate for bycause they refused to dispute or conferre with the others cōmaunded to sylence The byshop in his letters to the senate exhorted them to perseuer in the auncient religiō of their elders The Senate desyreth hym agayne as they had done oftentymes before that suche thinges myght be set forth as appertayned to the trew seruice and glory of God and the residue taken away and abolyshed for the same belongeth to his office But he notwithstandinge that he would some tyme appoynte a metynge and a daye for suche matters would do nothyng in ded but only put them in feare with his letters wherin oftentimes he mingled with intreatinges threateninges that they should alter nothyng And when he was almoste in dispayre of the thynge he intreateth the Senate of the Empyre whiche was at that tyme at Spyres by their authoritie to set in foote in the matter Who sendynge their Ambassadours solemnely at the later ende of Decembre requyre them not to put downe the Masse for that it is neyther in the power of the Emperour nor of other states to chaunge the auncient Religion of theyr forefathers but eyther by a generall or els by a prouinciall counsell whiche if they supposed to be farre of or ouer long to that they would differre it at the leste vntyl the next assemblye of the Empire and there put vp their requestes where they doubted not but that they shoulde receyue a reasonable aunswere for it is forboden by the lawes that a priuate Magistrate may vndo such thinges as be agreed vpon by the common consent of the whole worlde wherfore it is reason that they should obtayne this at their handes For if they should obstinatly procede in their enterpryse and worke by force and violence both the Emperour theyr hyghe Magistrate and kynge Ferdynando also his
nothyng ought to be taught and such places of Scripture as appeare to be some what obscure can not be better expouÌ„ded than by other more manifest places of the same Scripture therfore wyll they dwell herein endeuourynge that the bookes of the olde and newe Testament may be taught syncerely and playnly For this is the onely meane and waye that is euermore certayne sure And as for mens tradicions they are grounded on a weake foundation The decree of the last assemblie was enacted for peace and concorde but in case this decree should take effecte it would opeÌ„ the waye to muche trouble and displeasure for euen nowe all be it the decree of Wormes was suspended doe some Princes seke to make some of their subiectes to forfyte their goodes for not obseruyng that decree where of men may easely coÌ„iecture what wyll insewe if the same decree shal nowe take place agayne and that some of them wyl vse force and coÌ„pelle men to suche thinges as can not be done with a saufe conscience But that is not well spokeÌ„ that the fourmer decree was penned with suche wordes as many did abuse the same thyng tyl the counsell were called they myght doe what they lyste this is bruted of them chieflye whiche are lytle afrayde of the last iudgement whan all thynges shal come to lyght for their partes they wyll not refuse to aunswer before indiferent iudges to suche as wyll saye that they haue in anye poynte broken the same decree Whiche thynges standyng thus they can not consent to this their decree And howe they wyll aunswere the matter both openly before all men and also to the Emperour hym selfe And in the meane tyme tyll eyther a generall or els a prouinciall counsell of Germany shal be called they wyll do nothyng that shall deserue iuste reproufe Unto this protestation of Prynces certen of the chief cities laying their heades together did subscribe as Strausborough NoreÌ„berge Ulmes Constance Rutelinge Winsseme Meminge Lindane Campedune Hailbrune Isne Wysseburge Norling and Sangall And this is in dede the first original of the name of ProtestauÌ„tes which not only in Germany but also emonges foreyn nations is nowe coÌ„mon and famous Ferdinando was departed out of the assemblie of Princes before thei had protested notwithstanding that the Duke of Saxon and his felowes required him to tary a litle After this the protestantes deuise a certen appellation wherein they doe appeale from the decree made at Spires vnto the Emperour to the next lawful general or prouinciall counsell of Germany and to all iudges that be not suspected and determined also to sende Ambassadours to the Empeperour Not long after this the men of Zurick and Bernes sent forth their armies against their ennemies of the fiue townes that made league with Ferdinando declaryng why they so did by wryting And emonges sondry causes and iniuries whiche they recite this is one that what tyme certen of their Citezens came for money that was dewe vnto them the Snites whypped them naked and the UnterualdiaÌ„s had in despyte hanged vp their Armes and also the Armes of the Cities of Basil and Strausborough vpon the gallous and howe they haue all ioynctely made a league wyth kynge FerdinaÌ„do to oppresse Religion and to roote them out of the couÌ„trey wherby they haue not onlye infringed the lawe of nature but also broken the bondes that were betwene them in conspiring with their moste vtter and mortall ennemie whome to subdue they haue long and many yeares euen froÌ„ the first beginning of their league with one assent ioyned together al their force and power When both armies were ready to ioyne in battel by the mediation of their neyghbours and by them of Strausborough the matter was taken vp FerdinaÌ„do had sent theÌ„ ayde which came as farre as the Rhine emoÌ„ges other thinges it was agreed vpoÌ„ that they should haue no warre for religion and that from henceforth they should absteyne from all opprobriouse wordes vnder a great penaltie The Frenche kynge consyderynge the state of his chyldren whiche he had lefte pledges in Spayne and what euyll successe he had of his warres in Italye hauynge loste bothe his Armie and also his chieftayne Latrechus And more ouer Androwe de Aure of Genes a Captaine of the Sea moste skylfull who about the same tyme that Lantrech the Coronell dyed reuolted from the Frenche kyng to the Emperour restoryng his countrey vnto lybertie he inclined hys mynde to peace Wherfore at Cambrey a Cytie in Artoys mette the Ladye Margaret the Emperoures Aunte and Ales the kynges mother and many other Nobles and emonges others Erarde Marchiane Cardinall and Byshop of Liege whyche concluded a peace in the moneth of Auguste wherein they recite the decree which was made thre yeare before in Spayne agaynste the Lutherians whiche they newely ratified the other conditions were partely altered For the Emperour permitteth the Frenche kyng to inioye Bourgundy in case he haue a sonne by his sister And the kyng paieth vnto the Emperour for the delyuery of his sonnes tweÌ„ty hoÌ„dreth thousand crownes accompting herein the debte dewe to the kyng of Englande Not loÌ„g after the Emperoure imbarked hym selfe in Spayne and arryued at Genes At what time also Soliman the Emperour of Turkes by the prouocation of Iohn Uaynode made by his Ambassadour Hierome Laske a Hongarian a man of an excellent wytte marcheth with an armie innumerable through HoÌ„gary into Austrice and in the moneth of Septembre layeth sege to Uienna the chief citie of that countrey He assayed to vndermyne it and where as he had ouerthrowen the walles he gyueth the assaulte desperatly but seynge the Souldioues of the garnyson whiche were Germaines whose chief captaine was Philip the Palsgrane defendyng the breache moste valiauntly by the space of one moneth about the eight day of Octobre he raised his siege and departed without his purpose many thousandes of meÌ„ in his retourne partely slayne and partly lead away into myserable and vyle captiuitie At his departure he created the Uayuode kynge at Buda This yeare also was Germany sore afflicted with a newe kynde of disease called the Sweathing sicknes Men were sodainly takeÌ„ with a pestilent sweate and within foure and twenty howres eyther they died or amended And before the remedye was knowen many thousandes peryshed It began at the Ocean sea and in a very small tyme spred ouer all Germany and with vnspeakeable spede lyke a fyre conâ—â—med all thynges farre and nere it is called in Germany the English sickenes For in the first yeare of Henry the seuenth kyng of England whiche was the yeare of our Lorde M cccc lxxxvj the same death began in that Ilande and because in a new disease the remedy was not knowen it made a wounderful destruction Moreouer this yere was small plenty of wyne and corne wherfore all those thynges whiche God in his displeasure is wonte to caste vpon vnthankefull people sedition warre sycknes
cause of religion were decided notwithstanding howe the Emperour in the meane time should appointe certen that should preache without the reproche of any mā this was proclaimed by the herault vnder a great penaltie The twenty of Iune the parliament began and the Emperour goyng to heare Masse as the maner is cōmaundeth the Duke of Saxon to be there to beare the sworde before him For that is the of fice of the house of Saxon in such Solēnities he asked the aduise of that preachers who said how that he might be there present for as muche as he was called forth to do his office Then wēt he not to heare masse as gods seruice but to execute his office accōpanied with George Marques of Brandenburg none of the rest came there from masse he came to the court of parliamēt There Frederick coūte Palatin excuseth the long absēce of themperour repeteth the causes of the calling of that assēblie After this was recited a lōg oration writtē as the maner is wherī was aswel declared the cause of themperours departure out of Germany into Spayne of his lōg abode there as also of his returne now the callīg of this assēblie which is instituted chiefly for two causes th one for establishing of religiō for the which sins his depature he hath heard to his great griefe what tumultes and commotions haue bene in Germany the other for the Turkyshe warre cōsidering what turmoyle of late the Turkes haue made in Hongary taken Beigrade and many other fortes castels slayne kynge Lewis wonne all the towres fortresses betwixt the riuers of Saue Draue spoyled and brent the whole countrey slayne of mē ful many a thousād how sins that also they haue inuaded Slauonie lieng aboue the Goulfe of Uenise from whence after they had doue exceadynge muche mischiefe in slaughter burnyng spoylyng destroying and rauyshynge they led awaye .xxx. thousande in to moste myserable captiuitie and howe this laste yeare they made an incursion into Austriche with an Armye innumerable and beseged the chiefe citie Uienna destroyed the countrey farre and nere tyll they came almoste to Lincie workyng all the crueltie that coulde be imagined cuttinge a sondre in the myddes yonge infantes deffouring and rauyshing yong maidens and wyues and driuing them awaye before them lyke a sorte of beastes At the whiche tyme he was fully determyned to haue cōmen with his whole power against them and so he wrote to his brother Ferdinando the Prynces and captaynes that were beseged in Uienna that they shoulde defende it valeauntly and loke certenly for his commyng but hearyng that the Turke had leuid his sege he chaunged his purpose supposyng it moste requisite to sette all thynges at quiet in Italy and to conferre with byshop Clement for the establyshyng of religion here in Germany to the intent that peace and cōcorde and one vniformitie of Religion had in all places the Turke may the better be resysted of all handes and stronger armies sent against hym than haue bene For al be it he toke not Uienna at this present but caried his Armie back agayne yet lefte he behynde hym in the borders garysons and captaines not only to vexe Hongary but Austriche also and Stiria and all other places nere And seyng that he hath his limites extended vnto ours there is no doubte but at the next occasiō he wyll retourne with a greater power to the vtter destruction of all especially Germanye wherfore to be very neful requisite to cōsulte nowe how that houge and cruell ennemy whiche seketh to brynge all men vnder his subiection yea to bannyshe them quyte out of the bondes of nature may not only be resisted repulsed and discomfited but also subdued vāquished and dryuen out of all Europe Wherunto we haue nede to be contributaries for greater ayde of Men and mony the highe byshop hath promysed him for his parte largely and liberally and although he hathe bene at all the charges of his coronation at Bononie him selfe alone whiche hath cost hym a great quantitie of treasure yet in so holye and necessary a businesse he wyll doe that whiche shall become his estate and lykewyse his brother kyng Ferdinando whiche is nowe set forth as a strong bulwarke of christendom but chiefly of Germany to flāke the Turkyshe rage And also other kynges and Prynces wil not faile to helpe vs wherin he hath wrytten to some alreadye and wyll be in hande with the reste And where there hath bene dissention in religiō euer synce the first begynnyng of his empyre to his great discomforte he according to his office and dutie intendyng to prepare a remedy in tyme made a decree at Wormes by their common assentes whiche if it had bene obserued Germany had not bene these yeares past so sore afflicted with the sedicion of the commonaltie and the wycked secte of the Anabaptistes And where as at sondry assemblies touchyng the same nothynge coulde be concluded hytherto thinkyng that his presens shoulde be auayleable herein he hath called this assemblie to the intent that euery man may herein propounde what he wil in writing that the matter may so muche the soner and more easely be vnderstāde and determined and that he wyll both in this and all other causes of the Empyre do that thynge that shall concerne his office and dewtie for the loue he beareth to the common wealth and countrey and requyreth that all others would bryng hyther with them the lyke mind and affection euery man for his parte The Prynces after deliberatiō taken iudged it mete first to treate of relygion The fourth daye after in the consistory before the Emperour and the other Prynces Cardinall Campege made an oration in Latin exhorting the whole numbre there present that in matters of religion they would folowe and obey the Emperour commending his vertue and deuotiō And that he wil in the name of the high byshop do his endeuoure that all maye professe one and the same fayth that their mindes being reconciled they might moue warre against the Turke This done the Ambassadours of Austriche come in and declare what an ouerthro we they haue had by the Turke and desyre ayde After this the Marques George the electour of Saxony the Dukes of Lunenburge and the Lantgraue intreate the Emperour that he would heare the confession of their doctrine comprysed in wrytinge he commaundeth the writing to be exhibited and layde downe agayne thei for as muche as the same thing concerneth their estimatiō their lyfe landes and goodes and also their euerlasting saluation and for because happely the thyng hathe bene other wyse reported vnto hym than it is in dede requyre hym instantlye to be heard The Emperour commaundeth them to come home to his house the next daye but the wryting to be deliuered hym nowe They agayne vrge hym and beseche hym as earnestlye as they could deuise saying howe they had thought ful little that this should
hande The next day after they were gone the Emperour calleth before hym all the states and first he commaūdeth the Ambassadours of the cities by Truckesse that they shuld not departe before the end of the Assemblie after that declareth what had bene done with the Duke of Saxon and his fellowes and because the cities of Strausborough Constance Memmyng and Lyndaue had exhibited a seuerall byll by them selues he sheweth howe he wyll treate with them in lyke case After are debated other matters of the Empyre chiefly of the Turkyshe warre This tyme at Rome the Ryuer of Tiber ouerflowed exceadingly to the great terrour of the citie by reason that the wynde blewe sore against the streame droue backe the course of the water from the sea wherfore it did much hurte A lyke deluge and more cruell was in Hollande and Zelande where the Sea brake in ouer the walles that are made to kepe it out in those parties and drowned al the countrey farre and nere Finally the xiiij daye of Octobre whan al the states besydes the Protestauntes were called and assembled in the courte the decree was red to the Ambassadours of the Cities who requyryng a Copye were sayde naye but it was repeted ones or twyse When al for the moste parte had allowed it they of Auspurge Ulmes Hales and Franckeforth desyred further delyberation the eight day after the deputes of the Duke of Saxon his fellowes declare vnto the Archebishop of Mentz whiche is chief emonge the Prynces that if they maye haue their Religion quiet vntill the counsell they are also contented to become cōtributaries with them for money and ayde towardes the Turkyshe warre wherfore the next daye beyng called into the courte there was red before them a certen tenure of the peace wherin they only were comprised whiche had consented vnto the decree made where about rose a contention the Ambassadours affirming that it concerned them nothynge at all or if it did howe it ought to be vttered with playner wordes to take awaye all ambiguitie They said how they would moue it to the Emperour After two dayes the Emperour sent for home to his house thē of Strausborough and their fellowes and before all the states commaundeth the confutation of their doctryne to be red openly a wrytyng long and tedious and also where it touched the Lordes supper ful bytter and sower The authors therof were John Faber and Eckius And for because the argument was odiouse they left out no kind of excusation wherby to kyndle the Emperour and Prynces agaynst them the ende was this For as muche as in their Religion they professed an opinion contrary to al the reste and allowed that moste heynous errour of the Sacramēt had also cast their Images our of their churches abolyshed the Masse and plucked downe Colleges builded in tymes past through the lyberalitie of kynges Emperours maynteyned sondry sectes and dispersed their bookes wrytten of suche matters throughout Germany therfore he requyreth them eftsones to come to amendement and receyue agayne the auncient Religion for otherwise wyll not he fayle to do the thing which his office requireth They aunwer not long after that in this confutation they were charged with many thinges that were vntrue for in ther cities is nothyng done out of ordre but the same is extremely punyshed wherfore seing thei be clere in cōscience the cause weightie the cōfutation ouerlong can not be aunswered before they make certificat home to their cities they desyre fyrst therfore to haue a copie secondarely that credite be not geuen to this accusation before suche tyme as their pourgation be heard and examined In all other matters they wyll do any thyng for his sake The Emperour sayeth he wyll take aduisement and the fyst daye after she weth them by the Marques of Brandēburge how they can haue no copie For that was for weightie causes denied of the Duke of Saxony and all disputatiō of fayth is nowe prohibited But if they desyre to be reconciled and retourne agayne to the churche he is content that they shall heare the confutation red agayne ones or twyse but he chargeth them to professe the same kynde of doctrine that al other Prynces and states do and to gyue ayde against the Turke for vnlesse they forsake theyr stubburnes he wyll worke by the counsell of the byshop of Rome and other kynges as shal become hym After this they make a further sute to obtayne a copie and the same not graunted to haue peace and quietnes in their Religion tyll the begynnynge of the counsell and therin to haue their cause decided and they wyl in the meane time geue theyr ayde against the Turke so farforth as their power wyll extende or els could they graunte nothing The Maques promysed them to be a petitioner for them to the Emperour At after noone was red vnto them a graunt of peace wherein were only conteyned suche as receiued the decree as was rehearsed before to the deputes of the Dukes of Saxon and his fellowes wherunto they aunswered in lyke case that the same touched them nothyng and desyred to knowe further of the Emperours pleasure herein In this meane whyle had they of Ulmes Auspurge Franckeforth and Halles forsaken the decree made as concerning Religion and vrged sore to haue a cousel But Faber and Eckius craue a great rewarde of the Princes for makyng the confutations and had it And promyse from hēceforth to bestowe theyr trauayle in the defence of the Romyshe Religion For they and dyuerse others sought preferment by the meanes of Luther and in dede Faber was afterwardes by kyng Ferdinando made byshop of Uienne Wherupon Erasinus of Roterdame was wont to say merely howe poore Luther made many ryche In the meane ceason the Saxons and their fellowes put vp a supplication to the Emperour intreating hym to establyshe a peace throughout the Empyre that no man be put in trouble or daunger for Religiō But where this coulde not be obtayned they wryte an Epistle to all states makyng a brief rehearsall what thinge hath bene done desyryng that the names of their Prynces be not put in to the later ende of the decree emonges the reste And for as muche as they haue sued for peace in vayne they saye howe they can graunte none ayde to the Turkyshe warre More ouer where it is prouided in the decree that they only shall haue place in iudgement and counsell chamber whiche allowe the decree made they requyre that the same may be chaunged and amended for els can they beare no parte of the charges whiche the chambre requyreth What tyme they had thus denounced they departed the next daye beyng the .xij. of Nouembre I shewed you in the fyft booke howe Marques Albert of Brandenburge was by the kyng of Pole made Duke of Pruselande But the Emperour beyng sued vnto by Walter Cronberge disallowed all that treatie or cōpacte as made to the dammage of the Empyre and
he seeth hym selfe howe directly it were againste the lawe againste the ryght and lybertie of the Empyre agaynste promyse and conuenaunt and the fayth that he oweth to the common wealth confyrmed by a solemne othe Moreouer howe incommodiouse also it were for hym and howe chargeable to the whole Empyre to haue two Rulers at one tyme whome they must obeye And because they woulde be sory if any suche thynge shoulde be layde to his charge for breakynge his fidelytie or also vnto them for their sloughtsulnes in defending the cōmon wealth therfore do they ernestly beseche him to impute this their writing to the loue of him their coūtrey and to the world that now is that he would call to his remembraunce thynges past and by his office and aucthoritie prohibite the creation of this new kinge that he woulde consyder well wyth hym selfe to how many euils mischiefes this thinge wyll hereafter geue occasion vnlesse it be forseen signifyeng howe they wryte also touching the same matters to the resydue of the electours trusting that they wyll worke for the profit of the cōmon wealth and do their endeuour that there be no diuision made amonges the states of the Empyre for the rest they will doe as muche for his sake as their habilitie and power wyl extende to Afterwardes the Duke of Saxon writeth his seuerall letters to the Prynces hys colleges that for as muche as he was somoned to Collon by the arche byshop of Mentz therfore hath he sent thither his sonne and certen of his coūsayle which shal do in his name that shal be requisite He requireth them to leaue of their enterprise and to waye with them selues what a preiudice and discommoditie this wil be vnto thē and al theyr posteritie for to breake the right libertie and honour of the Empyre he desyreth them also that in suche thinges as his sonne and counsellours haue to treate with them of they woulde so vse them selues as it may appeare and be perceiued that they loue the common wealth of their countrey The Duke of Lunēburge the Lantgraue Counte Anhald and the Erles of Mansfelde wrote vnto the Electours at the same time long letters of the same effect admonishing them righte ernestlye that they doe not suche an open wronge to the lawes to their countrey sayeng howe it is reported that the matter is handled with brybes and promesses whiche is also openly agaynst the lawe Caroline After this the laste of Decembre as well the Princes as cities before named by cōmon assent wryte their letters to the Emperour wherin they recite the treatie of religion at Auspurge how long they sued for peace what aunswer he made also what maner of decree was there made afterwarde And al be it he him selfe did mitigate the wordes of the Electour of Brandēburge affirming that he had made a compact with the rest of the Princes for his owne defence only and not to offende others Yet if that authoritie be committed to the chambre imperiall as the decree purporteth to whome can it be doubtful but that the same thinge apperteyneth both to force and violēce but seyng that both they and their aūcesters haue shewed many testimonies of great good wyll to him and his progenitours they beseche him in as muche as he hath mitigated the saying of the Electour of Brandenburge he woulde also qualifie in deede and take away the terrour of confiscation to the intent they may be assured that vntyll the ende of a Godlye and free counsell they shall nede to feare no violence The causes which the Emperour alledged to create a king of Romains at the first cōmunication with the princes in Collō were these First because that he had the rule of sondry realmes nations could not be always in Germany agayne for that the state of christendom was troublesome namely in Germany by reason of the dissention in Religion and for the violent power of the Turkes for the late sedition and rurall warre and for disobedience within the Empyre Wherfore he thought it very necessary and for the profit of the common wealth that there should be a kyng of Romaynes chosen vnder hym as it were an other head of the Empyre in his absence which should be wyttie cyrcumspect industrious of great power that loued peace and concorde and were skilfull in matters of the Empyre and in euery poynte suche a one as he myght repose his whole truste and confidēce in And he knoweth none more mete for that charge than his brother Ferdinando king of Boheme and of Hongary For his realmes and dominions are a defence vnto Germany against the Turkyshe oultrage The Princes electours after delyberation had intreate the Emperour that he woulde not forsake Germany but to sette and plante himselfe there but where he persisteth stiffe in his opinion conferrynge their counsels together The fyft daye of Ianuary they proclayme Ferdinando kynge of Romaynes The Duke of Saxon as muche as laye in hym by his sonne protested that this election was faultie and shewed the causes why and that he coulde not allowe it Longe before they departed from Auspurge The brute was that Ferdinando should obtayne that dignitie Afterwardes they went all from Collon to Aquon where Ferdinādo was crowned kyng the .xvj. day of Ianuary and streightwayes were letters dispatched into al partes of Germany to signifie the same Cesar also commaundeth by his letters patentes that all men shall acknowledge him for kyng of Romaines and therof sent his seueral letters to the Protestantes This done from Aquon the Emperour wēt to Brussel in Brabant ✚ The eyght Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the eyght Booke THe Protestauntes from Smalcalde sent letters to the kinges of Fraunce of Englande agaynst sondry false reportes and sollicite the kyng of Denmarcke and the cities by the sea coaste to entre into their league Into this league the Swycers are not admitted The kyng of Fraunce who is descended of the Almaines aunswereth their letters so doeth also the kynge of Englande About the strife of the creation of kyng Ferdinando An assemble was holden at Franckforth where was also debated the controuersic betwixt the byshop of Bamberge and George Marques of Brandenburge The Emperour appointeth a metyng at Spyre whether the Duke of Saxon being moued to come excuseth hym selfe Conditions are put in wryting whiche graunted the Protestauntes offer them selues to be there The fyue Cantons geue battell to them of ʒ uricke wherein ʒ wynglius is slayne Shortly after dieth Ecolampadius A peace is graunted to the Protestauntes vntyll a counsell Christierne kyng of Denmarke is committed to pryson The Turke inuadeth Austryche but he is thence repulsed The Pope by his Ambassadour sent to Duke Iohn Fredericke who had lately succedeth his father the conditions of the counsell The Duke and his associates
free and Godly counsell for to haue the controuersie decided by waye of disputation rather then by that sworde lyke as theyr requeste is so semeth it vnto him also to be both more honeste and profitable for the common wealth whiche shall suffer great misfortune in case the matter come to handstripes Where he speaketh of the familiaritie and alliaunce betwyxt Fraunce and Germanye thus it is The Germanes of Franconie bordering vpon Swaues in times past makyng inuasiō into Gawles subdued the people about Treers Gelderlande Cleauelande and so down to Terwen and Tourney and vanquyshed Amiens Beanuois and the Soissons setlinge them selues at the last in that parte of Gawles which is yet called Fraunce vnto this day the chief citie wherof is Paris And where as many of their kynges there reigned and enlarged their dominiō at the last the gouernemēt cam vnto Pipine also to his sonne charles which was after for his worthy actes called Charlemaigne All people saluted hym with the tytle of the Emperour Auguste he possessed Germany Italy and Fraunce Afterwarde his sonne Lewis and his ofspryng were kinges of Fraunce Wherunto kyng Fraunces doth ascribe his originall and sayeth howe he is lineally descended of the stocke of Frankons The same perswasions vsed he also what tyme after the death of the Emperour Maximilian he did seke the dignitie of the Empyre For knowyng that by an aūcient lawe no straūger myght attayne the crown imperiall he went about also to proue hym selfe a Germayne But in dede the laste kynge of Fraunce of the heyremales of Charlemaigne was Lewys the fifte who died without isshewe in the yeare of grace nyne hōdreth foure score and eyght whan that possession of that kingdome had remained in the same familie two hondreth and eight and thyrty yeares After his death the succession had descended by ryght to Charles Duke of Lorayne vncle to kyng Lewys But Hughe Capet Erle of Paris as they reporte whose mother fetched her petygrewe from great Charles discomfiting and takynge the Duke of Lorayne prysoner vsurped the kyngdom and left it to his sonne Robert whose heyres males continued afterwardes vntill kyng Fraunces Some there be that saye howe that this Hughe Capet was of lowe and base hyrth but the moste parte of the wryters of Frenche Cronicles recite his originall as I haue sayde heretofore Henry the eight kyng of England writeth to them agayne the thyrde day of Maye That he hath red their letters to his great cōtentation for as muche as they be inclined and bent that true religion remayning styll saufe and peace conserued the faultes and abuses of the churche and clergie maye be refourmed and all suche thynges redressed as haue bene eyther by the wyckednes or ignoraunce of men corrupted and depraued Moreouer howe he toke great displeasure to reade ouer the whole discourse of their procead inges That a reporte in dede went of them that was not very good as though they should maynteine certen franticke personnes whiche sought to disturbé and tourmoyle all thynges vpsyde downe But he gaue therunto no credite first for because that Christiā charitie doth so requyre secondly knowyng for certentie that suche kynde of sclaunder can take no place in mē of suche dignitie Nobilitie and wysdome And all be it he would neuer haue beleued anye suche reporte before he had certenly tried and knowen it to be true Yet for as muche as they haue thus pourged them selues he is glad for thys cause that he was not disceaued in his opinion and iudgement And where as they desyre a refourmation in that they doe agree with his mynde and the opinion of all other good men For the state of worldly thynges is after suche a sorte that lyke as mans body so also in the cōmune wealth and publique administration there is nede of continual remedies wherfore they deserue great prayse that can lay to such medicines as wyll so heale and cure the disease that they doe not brynge to an outrage the matter And doubteth not but that their endeuoure tendeth to the same ende Notwithstanding howe they had nede to take diligent care of that sorte of men who seke alterations woulde haue all men a lyke and brynge the Magistrate in contempt For he hath had certen of that secte within his Realme whiche came thether out of Germany And for because in their letters they mētioned of the obedience vnto Magistrates therfore he thought good to admonishe them at fewe wordes that they geue no man ouermuche lybertie For if they beware of this and seke a reformation they shall doubtles doe hygh seruice vnto the common wealth Howe he also desyreth chiefly a generall counsell besechyng God to styre vp the hartes of Prynces vnto this desyre And hath so good an hope of them in all thynges that there is nothyng that he wyll not ve glad to doe for their sakes And wyll be a peticioner for them to the Emperour that meanes of peace and concorde may be founde and wyll worke so herein as they them selues shall from tyme to tyme thinke best for theyr purpose When the daye came of their assemblie at Franckefourth the Ambassadours of the Cities as it was agreed vppon declare what they thought touchyng the creation of the kyng of Romanes And after long consultation they founde that it was not expedient for the title style of king Ferdinando to enter in to any sute or trouble For so long as the Emperour lyueth or is within the lymites of the Empyre the whole power is his And in his absence it commeth in dede to Ferdinando but as to the depute or lieutenaunt of the Emperour They haue at sondry tymes promysed to do what so euer laye in their power And nowe in case they should resiste the creation of the kynge many woulde iudge that promesse to be vayne and therfore would beare thē the lesse good wyll and woulde also worke against them whiche els woulde haue done nothyng at al against the cause of Religion It is also to be feared lest suche as would haue ioyned them selues vnto this league wyll be affcayde nowe of this and withdrawe them selues For that which cause they may not be against the election of kyng Ferdinando but holde it indifferent as it is But if Ferdinando shall commaūde any thyng cōtrary to Gods worde they wyll not obeye it or if he attēpte any force then wyll they worke after the prescripte of the league and defend to the vttermoste of their power But the Prynces wrote vnto the Emperour and Ferdinando that they could not allowe that thing which was done against the custome and lybertie of the Empyre nor attrybute vnto hym the tytle of kyng of Romaynes The Duke of Saxon in his letters to the Emperour added this moreouer that if the matter might be lawfully vsed he would not be vnlyke his auncestours As concernyng the Swycers whome the citie would gladly haue receyued into
of Romaynes in cases of the Prynces of the Empyre take vpon them any authoritie of determining but suffer the same to be lawfully decided in place where they ought to be That suche thinges as shal apperteine to the honour welth and preseruation of the Princes and of the Empyre and suche as the Emperour hath promysed vpon his fidelitie to obserue he doe maynteyne and in case any thynge be otherwyse done to refourme it and bynde the kynge of Romaynes by a lawe to obserue the same And if the Emperour woulde after this sorte expounde and confyrme the lawe of Charles the fourth the Duke of Saxon woulde not faile to doe his dutie when so euer the common wealth should requyre any suche consultation But in case the intercessours coulde not obtayne these thynges of the Emperour that they woulde not refuse any lawfull hearyng of the matter Yet so that in the meane tyme king Ferdinando should neyther take vpon him nor vsurpe any gouernement of matters of the Empyre nor authoritie namely ouer thē ouer Williā and Lewys brethren Dukes of Bauier And if this wyl not be graūted them that then the Emperour would heare thē openly in the coūsayle of the Princes and other states where they wyll declare vpon how weightie and iuste causes they disalowe this election And for so muche as for the refusall of the same they perceyue how they incurre not only with the Emperour but also with foreine kinges and natiōs in to the suspicion of rebellion they desyre muche that the Emperoure would not take it displeasaūtly that they should make theyr purgatiō as well within Germany as also without the lymites of the Empyre for this must they do of necessitie Where amonges other thynges it is sayde that the Electours should sweare after the ordre prescribed in the Caroline thus it standeth What tyme they be comen to Franckeforth when masse is done they go vp to the Aultar and there lay their handes vpon the holy boke as they call it and certen wordes beynge spoken take a solempne othe by the fayth that they owe to God and to the Empyre that they wyll chose a newe and hyghe Magistrate suche a one as they shall thynke moste worthy mete and necessary for that office so farreforth as thei can coniecture by their wytte and iudgement without any compacte bribe rewarde or promyse Where they accompte the Dukes of Bauier to be of their numbre this is the consideration They also misliked the election of kyng Ferdinando takynge their counsell herein entred into league with the Duke of Saxon the Lantgraue and the Frenche kynge to defende the lybertie of Germanie And indede the kyng of Fraunce delyuered into cucustody of the two brethren Dukes of Bauer an hondreth thousande crownes to be alwayes in a readines if nede requyred The Prynces that were intercessours make aunswere hereunto the .xx. day of April Howe they treate of these matters for a concorde neyther had they thoughte that they woulde haue propounded these thynges For in that they haue chosen a kynge of Romaynes the Emperour yet lyuyng they haue moste weightie causes whiche were at the same tyme declared to Iohn Fredericke his fathers deputie there and if nede requyre may be yet more playnely expounded but synce this matter cōcerneth not them only but the Emperour also and the kyng and residue of their fellowe Prynces they wyll not make many wordes therof but leaue it alone to the intent they may come more easelye to the reconciliation of the rest Neuerthelesse if they be constrayned to make aunswere for their doinge they wyll not refuse iudgement herein and doubt not to approue their doynges in suche sorte that nothinge can iustly be layde to their charge But in case these thynges should be reported to the Emperour they feare muche that it should not only take no place but also let and hynder the whole treatie of peace Wherfore that both truce may be taken and a reconcilement may be had as wel for Religion as for the Election and that neyther be separated from that other they ernestly beseche bothe the father and the sonne Dukes of Saxon that they would consyder the thyng and forsake their opiniō And in so doing they doubte not but that the Emperour and the king woul put them in good assuraunce that this election shoulde not be hurtfull to them nor to their heyres and woulde shewe them besydes all the pleasure they coulde as well in matters of Religion as otherwyse For that Religion shoulde haue peace graunted and the matter of election remayne vndertermined they feare muche that this coulde not be obtayned Thus verely doe they frendly counsell them and requyre them to take it in that parte and so vse thē selues that they may perceyue their aduise is regarded and their diligence well imployed Hereunto aunswereth Duke Iohn Fridericke the fourth daye after that he loked for no suche aunswere of them For where they sayed lately amonges other thinges that the kyng of Romaines was elected for the welth and dignitie of the Empyre they oughte of necessitie to to aunswere to this poinct for the satisfiynge as well of his father as his fellowes who are perswaded that this electiō is not good nor profitable to the Empyre And where as they susteyne the persones of intercessours he had thought certenly that they woulde neuer haue defended the matter but haue left the same doubtful and vndetermined for such thinges as they haue spoken do not concerne them that be intercessours but ought to be referre dvnto that time whā these things shall come in comon consultation In dede at Collon what tyme the Emperour desyred to ioyne with hym his brother Ferdinando in the fellowship of the Empyre he adledged certen causes why it ought so to be But those semed not to be so great as therfore the lawe Caroline the ryght and libertie of the Empyre ought to be infringed At what tyme he and other of his fathers Ambassadours did aunswere them why it ought not so to be done Wherfore the thynge that was spoken in the last place nowe they repete agayne also that in case the Emperour wyll not admitte theyr requestes that then the matter determined in lawfull iudgement where the reasons of theyr refusall may be heard And seyng they treate of equitie he supposed they wold also in this case haue founde out some way and honest meane and profitable for the Empyre But in as muche as it is not so done in this cōtrouersie he wyll no further moleste them herein But vndoubtedlye his father and his fellowes wyll declare yet to the iniury of no man howe the lawe of libertie of the the Empyre are by this meane infringed he trusteth also that for so much as these thynges concerne the honour and preseruation of the common wealth the Emperour wyl not take them displeasauntly In the reste of theyr demaundes that same first poinct whiche is touching the
haue no suche councell as hathe bene promysed what sorowe and grief that thynge wyll be to mens hartes it is easy to coniecture Agayne if the byshop shall refuse the dewe examination triall of the matter it is to be feared lest the cōmon welth and state of the churche shall be tourmoyled with sorer tempestes thā it hath bene hitherto But where as the states of the Empyre haue in all theyr assemblies cōdescended vpon an vpright counsel they distrust not but they will perseuer also in the same vtterly refusing the snares and bondes wherwith the bishop intendeth craftly to catche thē trusting that other kynges Princes wyl do the like For the bonde that he goeth about is full of craft deceitfulnes neyther can there be true iudgement vnlesse the myndes of all men be franke free so that if he procede thus hold the counsel after his owne pleasure they wyll cōmitte the whole matter vnto God whiche doubtles will defende his owne cause doctrine Howe be it in case the matter should so come to passe that the byshop should be permitted so to do they wold take further aduisement what were thā nedeful to be done And if perchaunce they shal be sūmoneth se that they shal be able to do any thing for the glory of Gods holy name they wil come thither by saufe cōduict whā they are made wel assured or send their Ambassadours to propounde what soeuer the necessitie of the cause shall requyre neuerthelesse vnder that condition that they wyll in no wyse admytte those requestes of the byshop nor acconsente to any counsell that is contrarye to the decrees of the Empire For they can not see howe this interprise of the byshop can make for the contynuall peace of the churche and the common wealth Neyther is it also semelye for hym so to doe in case he would execute the office of a true Pastour whiche is to haue a care for all men and to feede them with the true doctrine of Christ Whiche thynges standing thus they desyre them to cary this theyr aunswere to the Emperour and the bishops and that the Emperour whom thei do reuerently acknowledge to be their chief souereigne appointed of God do not take the same in euyll parte but that he woulde fynde the meanes that the counsell myght be had according to the decrees of the Empyre and that the whole controuesie may be decided by vertuous men and nothyng suspected For certenly this appertayneth to his cōmendation and vertue to employe al his power and aucthoritie to the aduauncement of true doctrine and not to the establyshynge of theyr crueltie whiche nowe these many yeares haue persecuted innocent persones only for the profession of the Gospell and holsome doctryne For the residue they committe all that euer they haue vnto the Emperour neyther is there any other thyng whiche they wyll not be glad to doe for his sake At the same tyme with kyng Ferdinando was the byshoppes Ambassadour Peter Paule Uerger whome I spoke of in the former booke And because the byshop of Rhezo was an aged man and sickly Clement commaunded Uerger that in case any impedimēt happened vnto him he should supplie his rowme but he geueth hym an especiall charge that he beare alwayes in memory what his mynd and wyll is touchyng the counsell Let hym loke therfore that in no wyse he doe passe the boundes of his commission no not one fynger breadth nor that he dryue not hym to suche an exigent that he must of necessitie kepe a counsel though king Ferdinādo would neuer so fayne haue it so and vrged hym streightly therunto ✚ The nynth Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the nynth Booke GEorge Duke of Saxon marketh suche as fauoured the Gospel and accuseth Luther to the Electour of Saxony his cosyn Pope Element meting the Frenche kyng at Marseilles geueth his Niece in marriage to Henry Duke of Orleaunce The Dake of Wirtenberge dryuen out of his countrey Henry the eight kyng of Englande putteth away Quene Katherine his wyfe and forsaketh the Pope The Pageaunt of the spirite of the graye freers of Orleaunce is recited The Lantgraue recouereth the Duke dome of Wittemberge The agrement betwene kyng Ferdinando and the Duke of Saxon and the articles of peace betwixt Ferdinando and 〈…〉 ich Duke of Wirtemberge are rehersed Clement dieth Paule of the house of Fernese succedeth persecutiō at Paris by reason of certen placardes the kyng pourgeth him selfe to the Germaynes therfore The Emperour taketh the citie of Tunnes Moore and the byshop of Rochester are beheaded Pope Paule by his legate Uergerius sommoneth the counsell of Mantua wherfore the Protestauntes metyng at Smalcalde sende their aduyse in wrytinge The Lorde Langey being sent thether by the kyng of Fraunce solliciteth them to a league and debated diuers matters wher vnto the Protestauntes made aunswere The kyng of Englande also sent thether to declare what woulde be the ende to attende for suche a counsell The league of Smalcalde is renewed into whiche are newly admitted sondry Prynces and Cities WHan they had made this aunswer they appoynted diuines and lawyers to delyberate vpon the action for the counsell to come and determined to set forth the byshops aunswere in prynte and communicate the same to forein kynges and nations Also to sende Ambassadours to the Iudges of the chamber who contrary to the Emperours proclamatiō graunted out proces against certen in causes of Religion whose iudgement vnles they surceased they would refuse Moreouer to sende an Ambassade to the Archebyshop of Mentz and to the Palsgraue which were intercessours And last of all to reporte vnto the Emperour the whole matter in wryting I haue tolde you oftener than ones howe Duke George of Saxony bare malice to Luther priuely and hated his doctrine openly And where as he vnderstode that diuers of his subiectes did holde opinion that they ought to receyue the Lordes supper after the commaundemēt of Christe he charged the Ministers of his churches to geue vnto all suche as after the olde custome at Easter confessed their synnes and receiue the Sacrament after the byshop of Romes lawe certen tokens whiche they should afterwardes deliuer vnto the Senate to the intent it myght be knowē who were of the Romyshe and who were of Luthers opinion So were there founde in Lipsia whiche is the head Towne of that countrey to the numbre of lxx without tokens They had consulted with Luther before what was nedefull to be done Who wrote vnto them that suche as beleued certenly howe they ought to receiue the whole supper should doe nothing against their owne conscience but rather suffer death Wherfore being thus encouraged they sticke vnto it and whan the Prince called them before hym geuing them two monethes respite to deliberate and they woulde
any thyng determyned wherwith the kyng toke excedyng muche displeasure Neuerthelesse lest it should appeare that he should do anythyng vniustly the kynge sent into Fraunce Italy and Germany to enquyre the opinions of all vniuersities And the moste part consented to the kyng and emonges other the diuines of Paris approued the kynge by the vniuersitie Seale and as it was thoughte were lyberally rewarded therfore But amōges others of the quenes maydes there was one of an excellent beautie called Anne Bolen whome the kyng began to fantasy in so muche as men myght easelye perceyue that he entended to marrie her to his wyfe Whan the Cardinall of Yorke perceyued this whiche was chief about the kyng and as they saye authour of the diuorsement he chaunged his purpose admonyshyng the byshop of Rome by his letters that he should not approue the diuorsement For than shoulde an other succede Quene Katherine whiche was infected with Luthers opinions Whiche thyng whan the kyng vnderstode by his Ambassadour that was ledger at Rome he was sore offended And not longe after for this and other thinges whiche he had practised in 〈…〉 e where he was Chauncelour of the Realme and had thre of the beste byshop 〈…〉 hes York Duresme and Wynchester first he displaced hym from his office and after taketh away two of his byshoprikes And in conclusion what time he leading a priuate lyfe at home had spooken certen wordes that were arrogant and importing a desire of reuengement the kyng sent Syr William kingstone Captaine of the garde to discharge his house and brynge hym to London but fallyng in to a vehement 〈…〉 ixe by the way he dyed and was buried at Lecester But the byshop of Rome to the intent Campegius myght haue some excuse to departe reuoked the sute into his own handes And perceiuing that the marriage of quene Anne would be to hym preiudiciall he warneth the kyng full ofte and goeth about also to feare him with threateninges that he should leaue of his enterpryse But whan he could not preuayle to please the Emperour he gaue sentence with his a 〈…〉 t Katherine this yeare the .xxiij. of Marche where as the kynge had a yeare before married an other forsakynge Katherine proclaiming his daughter Marie a bastarde But after he perceiued that sentence was geuen against hym he conceaued a mortall hatred against the byshop And immediatly maketh a lawe whereby he declareth him self to be head of the church through out Englande abolishyng the byshop vtterly and commaundeth vnder payne of death and maketh it treason if any man ascribe vnto the byshop of Rome the supremacie he denieth also the yearely pension whiche was wont to be geuen to the bishoppes Collectour And with moste weightie wordes enacteth that from henceforth no monye be conueyed to Rome and this did he by the consent of the whole nobilitie and commons of the Realme by ordre of the hyghe courte of parliament Fraunces the Frenche kynge was thoughte to haue furthered very muche this diuorcement to the intent he myght thus cleane with drawe him from the frendshyp of the Emperour concerning the trybute payed to Rome thus it standeth Inas kyng of Britane aboute the yeare of our Lorde fiue hundreth and forty for the opinion of Religion and deuotion made the Realme tributory to the byshop of Rome as it is leaft in memory in ioynyng euery house to paye a penny Wherfore the byshoppes had their Collectours cōtinually there to gather this annuall stypende called of the common people Peter pence The byshoppes collectour at this tyme was Peter Uan who retourned not to Rome but remayned styll in Englande And where as this money had bene continually payed frō that time vnto these our daies kynge Henry firste of all men made a restrainte therof and an inhibitiō that it should be payed no more You haue heard how Erasmus and Luther wrote one againste the other of free wyll in the fourthe booke And this yeare their contention began a freshe And Luther takyng an occasiō by one of his frendes epistles chargeth Erasmus sore as though he should call the christian Religion in doubt mocke it and condempne it And also alledgyng certen places of his owne workes goeth about to proue the same and sheweth that in his wrytyng he is ambiguous and with his eloquence practyseth a kynde of Tyraunye And for as muche as in Godly thynges he trifleth dalieth thus with doubtfull wordes where as he coulde oughte to speake more playnly he aduoucheth that all thynges ought to be construed agaynst him Wherunto Erasmus afterwarde aunswered and that ryght sharpely for he feared most of al other thynges left his workes should lose their grace and authoritie About this tyme in Fraunce the Grey freers of Orleaunce wrought a terrible and a bloudy enterpryse And thus the thinge was The Mayers wyfe of the citie prouided in her wyll that she would be buried without any pompe or noyse For whan any departeth in Fraunce the Belmen are hyred to goe about the Citie and in places moste frequented to assemble the people with the sounde of the bell and than to declare the name and title of the partie deceased also wher and whan they shal be butied and last to exhorte the people to praye for the dead And whan the coarse is caried forth for the moste parte these beggyng freers go with it all to the churche and many torches are borne before it and the more pompe and solempnitie is vsed the more is the concourse and gasyng of people but this woman wold haue none of all this gere done for her Wherfore her husbande which loueth her well followed her mynde herein and gaue vnto the Graye freers in whose churche she was buried besydes her father and her grandfather syxe crownes only for a rewarde where as they looked for a great deale more And afterwardes whā he cut down a wood folde it the freers craued to haue part therof without money and he sayde them nay This toke they in maruelous euyll parte And where as they loued hym not before they deuise now a waye to be reuenged saying that his wyfe was damned euerlastingly The workers of this tragedy were Coliman and Stephen of Arras both doctours of diuinitie and the first in dede was a coniurer and had all his trynkettes and furniture concerning suche matters in a redinesse And they vsed the matter thus They set a yoūg man that was a Nouice aboue ouer the vaulte of the churche And when they came to mumble vp their mattyns at mydnyght after their accustomed maner he made a wonderfull noyse and shryking a lofte than goeth this Colman to crossynge coniuring but the other aboue woulde not speake beynge charged to make a signe to declare if it were a dume spirit he rustleth maketh a noyce agayne that was the signe and token Whan they had layd this foundation they go to
from henceforth promiseth al due obediēce for him for the other This was in the moneth of Iuly And in Septēbre following the Emperour answereth hym by letters frō Ualentia how that he vnderstode the whole matter already by his brother Ferdinādo vnto whome he hath written his mynde in this behalf now sheweth him more by his Ambassadour by whō he may vnderstand of his clemencie and desire of peace and quietnes Wherfore he doth admonishe him to perfourme in deede the thinges which he hath promised in wordes vsing him self obediētly eschewig all troublesome coūsell During the warres of Wirtēberge Fraunces Sfortia duke of Millā taketh to wife Christine the daughter of Christierne king of Denmarck captiue the Emperours nece by his syster The Frenche kyng would haue moued warre agaynst hym But the death of Clement the seuenth with whome as I sayde before he had made a league was supposed to haue bene the lette and delaye therof For he being diseased in the stomack whan after the aduise of his phisicion Curtius he had chaunged his diet being an aged man dieth in this moneth of Septembre and had to his successour Paule the third surnamed Farnesius whiche shortly after made Alexander his young Nephewe by his Bastarde Sonne Peter Aloise and his Nephewe Ascanius by his bastarde daughter Constance bothe Cardinalles After that he calleth home Peter Paule Uerger oute of Germany to vnderstande the state of the countrey And he consulteth with his Cardinalles howe the counsell myght be differred tyll suche tyme as by their priuie practyse they might fynde the meanes to set the Emperour and other kynges together by the eares In conclusion they agreed to sende Uerger againe into Germany to make promyse of a generall counsell and that he should so handle the matter that their craft and subtiltie were not suspected as it was in Clementes tyme And that he should aduertyse the prynces howe the counsell should be holden at Mantua and there to entreate of the condicions And that he shoulde chiefly marke what forme of disputation the Protestauntes would seke to haue that one 's knowen he myght after prescribe vnto them suche lawes as he knewe they woulde not come there for the same He had also commaunded him to incense the hartes of Prynces against the kyng of Englande whose Realme he intended to geue awaye for a pray to hym that coulde get it And that he shoud see more ouer whether that Luther and Melancthon myght throughe anye meanes be broughte from their purpose Also certen Cardinalles and byshoppes were chosen to deuise some refourmation for the Clergie whiche in fyne was made and puplished as in place shal be declared Kynge Ferdinando was causer that Paule sent againe Uerger saying that he was a very fitte man for the purpose At this tyme was Andrewe Gritte Duke of the state of Uenyse a man of great authoritie for his singular wysdome and experience Who what tyme he liued at Constantinoble had a bastarde sonne called Lewys whiche being there brought vp frō his yougth where he had a good witte by his syngular industrie had attayned to great ryches and throughe his lyberalitie had gotten many Frendes first by the gentlemen of the courte and after by the meanes of Ibrain Bascha who at that tyme myght doe all thynges alone he was so well knowen with the Emperour Soliman that he was also admitted vnto his priuate talke Thus vsing the oportunitie of tyme through the beneuolence and liberalitie of the great Turke he came in to Hongary with great power dignitie to possesse that part of Slauonie that is next vnto the borders of Uenife to his own priuate vse to kepe the nether part of Hongary wherof Belgrade is chiefe for the Emperour of the Turkes He had a sonne named Anthony bishop of Quineueecclesia whom bishop Clement purposed for his father grādfathers sake to haue made Cardinall But in the meane whyle that Lewys was in hope of no lesse than a kyngdome and had in muche reputation of all men And that his father was glad exceadingly of the good and lucky successe of his Sonne by occasion of a grudge and a faction reysed againste him he was taken by his aduersaries and beheaded aboute the same tyme that Paule succeded Clement In this meane tyme beginneth anewe persecution in Fraunce againste them that were anye thynge suspected of Lutheranisme wherof in dede the occasion was this In the citie of Paris and certen other places and euen within the kynges palace aboute one tyme in the night season sondry billes were set vp against the masse and other poinctes of Religion And streight wayes inquyrie and searche was made and many were apprehended some by information and some by suspition whiche after they were racked were brent alyue and vnstrangled whiche was terrible to beholde For they beyng fastened to an engyne and lifted vp in to the ayre wer after let downe into the fyre from on hyghe and there fynged skorched were hoysed vp agayne and at the length the hangeman shoulde cut the corde and they fall downe into the fyre vnderneath them And suche also as were any thynge learned had their tongues cut out lest either thei should vtter the cause of their death or declare vnto the people the somme of their doctrine And for this busines was Iohn Motine the Lieuetenaūt Criminell a very mete minister For as he could moste craftely smel and searche them out that were any thynge at all suspected so lykewyse whan he had founde them in execution and extreme punyshement he passed in all extremitie Neuerthelesse at the same tyme came forth a booke in Frenche without the name of the authour against Romyshe marchauntes tempered with mirth and grauitie And first he sayeth howe that marchandise is a kynde and trade of lyfe neyther dishonest nor vnprofitable for the common wealth so it be voyde of fraude and auarice For of this kynde of men Christe toke his similitude what tyme he commaunded that the talentes receiued should be occupied that they might be made gainfull Whiche place in dede is to be vnderstande in a mistery for nothynge lesse becommeth the pastours and ministers of the churche than the lest suspicion of filthy lucre Notwithstanding almighty God being offended with the wickednes of men hath suffered to enter into his churche not only ryche and welthy marchauntes but also theues and murtherers For who wyll not call hym a thefe that eyther selleth an othermans goodes for his owne or counterfeited wares for ryght and true Is not the bier foule disceaued But this thyng hath chaunced vnto vs longe synce For in steade of true shepeheardes are crept in exceadyng rauenyng wolues And al be it that no mans witte or tongue is sufficiētly able to expresse theyr craft and subtiltie yet wyll I touche it a little Wherfore these marchauntes of whome I speake here are craftie beyonde
mother holy churche An therfore the people beleue that there is nothynge more hurtfull and wicked in all the worlde than this kynde of people And it is cōmonly seen there that whan they are burning in flammes of fyre the people wyll gnashe theyr teeth at them and euen in the myddes of theyr tourmentes wyl curse and deteste thē as wicked and vnworthy to loke vpō the sonne And where as the Turkes Ambassadours were at the same tyme in Fraunce and the kyng hymselfe had heard that he was for this same cause brought into hatred and suspicion throughout Germany And that this fyryng had offended manye the first day of February he addressed his letters vnto all the Prynces and states of the Empyre excusyng both the commyng of the Turkes Ambassadours into Fraūce by the example of others whiche haue sent receyued Ambassadours from the Turke in lyke case And also the burnyng of Lutherians saiyng that he was constrayned to be seuere against his owne nature wyll by reason of the rashenes of certen whiche vnder the pretence of Religion intended the destruction of the common wealth and so excuseth the matter as though it had bene for rebellion and not for Religion that these men were executed At the first beginning of the spring tyme the Lantgraue went vnto king Ferdinando as in the yeare before it was agreed vpon for a full reconcilement and there founde he Peter Paule Uerger newly come thither from Rome Who vpō this occasion did his message to the Lantgraue concerning the counsel before mentioned but he taking deliberation made him none other aunswere After that Uerger traueling to the rest of the Princes applied his busines with diligence And a fewe monethes after the Lantgraue Duke Ulriche also went vnto kyng Ferdināde For where as it was conuenaunted that they should both come and aske him pardon commyng at seueral tymes it was easely graunted Howe beit Duke Ulriche was sore offended both with the Lantgraue and also with the Duke of Saxon that they had consented that he shoulde holde his landes of the house of Austriche and was of long tyme doubtful whether he woulde ratifie the peace made or no at the lengthe by the perswasion of his frendes he went to Ferdinando according to the conuenauntes In the moneth of Aprill the Emperour tooke shippinge at Barchin and transported his armie into Barbarie And whan he had wonne the citie of Tunnes and taken the castell of Golete he restored the kynge of that countrey Muleasses being of Mahumetes Religiō whome Barbarossa the Turkes admirall had before expulsed byndyng hym to paye him tribute and after he had fortified the Castell with a strong garnyson he sayleth into Sicilie Unto this warre byshop Paule sent certen Galleis furnyshed by the cōduicte of virginie Ursine also did permit him to take tenthes of the clergie in Spaine Barbarossa through our mens negligence and ignoraunce steppynge asyde escaped And first he fled to Hippon and from thence to Argiers where he repared his nauie and returned to Constantinople In Englande were two notable men Iohn Fysher byshop of Rochester and syr Thomas Moore knyght both very well learned For the fyrst wrote sondrye bookes against Luther and Moore also whilest he was Chauncelour whiche is the chiefest office there extremely punished suche as were suspected to be of Luthers doctrine They neither approued the kings diuorsemēt much lesse the act of Parlamēt which denying the byshop of Romes supremacie affirmed the kyng to be head of the church of Englād wherupōbeing both apprehended wher they perseuered obstinatly ī their opininiō th◠yere in the month of Iuly they were beheaded The byshop of Rome had made Rochester Cardinall whylest he was prysoner in the Towre which thyng was supposed to haue kyndled more hatred against hym Afterwarde about the ende of Octobre Fraunces Sfortia Duke of Millan died without issewe whiche gaue the occasion of a newe warre as shal be shewed hereafter In the meane tyme the Emperour came out of Sicilie vnto Naples and in his letters written the laste daye of Nouembre to the Protestauntes he sayd in dede that he wold obserue the peace of Norinberge notwithstandyng he was informed howe thei had taken churche goodes and did withholde the same and whan iudgement was geuen that they should make restitution they refused alledging the pacification of Norinberge which appereth vnto hym vnreasonable and can not but discontente and offende hym About this time also went the prince Electour of Saxony vnto kyng Ferdinando in Austriche and hauing dispatched his busines for the whiche he went thether in his retourne home at Prage the chief citie of Bohemy met him the byshoppes Legate Peter Paule Uerger who declared vnto hym his message touchyng the generall counsell whiche the byshop Paule intended as he sayed to holde at Mantua free Godly and lawfull without any condicions whereunto al other Prynces had consented for he had bene with them all namely in Germany Wherfore if he should nowe refuse it men woulde suppose that nothinge could contente hym When both the Emperour and kynge Ferdinando are willyng with the thing and the place and the byshop so ernestly desyreth the same that vnlesse he brynge it to passe he wyll doubtles be wery of his lyfe Therfore nowe the tyme requyreth that he should declare howe muche he loueth the aduauncement of Gods glory and the common wealth willing him not to let passe this presēt oportunitie whiche he should hardely at any tyme hereafter recouer And albeit he woulde nothynge further the counsell yet neuerthelesse should it procede and Christ they trusted would not fayle them Wher vnto the Duke of Saxon sayd whā he had deuised with his fellowes he wold make him an answere requiring him to deliuer vnto him such thinges as he had spoken in wrytinge Wherfore at the kalēdes of Decembre exhibiting a wryting he declareth thinges more at large and otherwyse than he had spoken before howe other Ambassadours were sent vnto other kinges and he vnto king Ferdinando the Princes of Germany how Mantua is the place agreed vpon by the Emperour other kynges that Germany is ful of Sacramētaries Anabaptists and suche other sectes that it is to muche daunger for other nations to kepe a counsell emonges them for they are for the moste parte Franticke and without all reason Agayne such as supposed that the byshop woulde gyue place in his ryght that hath bene of so longe time confirmed to be farre disceaued And they also that beleue howe the Emperour can holde a prouinciall counsell of Germanye agaynste the byshops wyll are as muche abused And where as they talke of a saufe conduicte and pledges for theyr commyng into Italy there is no cause why it should so be For Mantua is a Citie of the Empyre nere vnto Germany and nexte the dominions of the Emperour and the Uenetians wherfore there is no daunger Finally he
sayeth howe he wil go to kyng Ferdinando abiding there for their aunswere He had been before in Saxony and had spokē with Luther at wyttemberge And in his retourne to kyng Ferdinando he met with the Duke comming from thence homewarde The Protestauntes were appointed before to mete at Smalcalde the sixte of December for other matters Wherfore the .xxi. of the same they framed an aunswere for the byshops of Romes Ambassadour whiche they saye is not so exacte as the thynges requyreth yet for as muche as he desyred to haue the same with expedition playne manifest And first howe they haue declared their myndes concerning a counsell both in diuerse assemblies and also two yeare synce to the Emperours and byshop Clementes Ambassadours For they also wyshe to haue a lawfull counsel for the preseruation of the cōmon wealth and common saluation of all men and haue required this of the Emperour ioyntly with other Princes who also thought it nedefull hym selfe doubting not but all good men do desyre suche a counsell as may helpe and profite the common wealth For it greueth many good men that the true and holsome doctrine is through the wicked crueltie of certen men euery where oppressed the members of the churche tone a sondre and open crymes mainteined but suche crueltie becommeth not the Rulers of the churche Wherfore if euer there were any nowe is moste nede of a counsell that bothe the olde accustmed vyces maye be roted out and also vniuste violence and crueltie be restrayned and the churche from henceforth set in due ordre They therfore wyll not fayle the common wealth herein but wyll ryght gladlye come vnto suche a counsell as in sondrye assemblies of the Empyre hath bene agreed vpon Besechyng God that all the doinges there may redounde vnto his glory and the saluation of men And wher as the bishop hath chosen Mantua to be the place they truste assuredly that the Emperour wyll not in this poynte swarue from the decrees of the Empyre and his owne promyse also in as muche as it was prouyded that the counsell should be holden in Germany For where he sayeth it is daungerous keping of the same there the truthe is farre other wyse for what peryll can be there where all the Prynces and Cyties are obedient to the Emperoure onlye Where the Cyties be so ordered that they defende straungers from iniuries and saue them from all peryll Therfore oughte it chieflye to be kepte there to the intent that matters in controuersie might duely be debated that men might frankely speake and iudge vpryghtly and feare no force nor faction but saye theyr myndes freely Two yeares paste Clement the seuenth promysed a counsell with conditions verye captions And nowe the chiefest point is craftely left out touchyng the lybertie of the counsell and more of the treatie and partlye referred to the Byshop of Rome whose office they saye it is to call and ordre the counsell Nowe is the byshop whiche hath so ofte condempned theyr religion and doctrine their opē enemie But in case they should permitte theyr aduersary to geue iudgement than coulde not the counsell be free wherein by the aduyse of the Emperour and other Prynces Mete men should be chosen out of the whole numbre whiche accordyng vnto Gods worde might heare and determine the cause For a counsell is the iudiciall seate not only of the byshop of Rome but of all other states also for it is to be proued by the examples of the primatiue churche and also by holy scripture that Prynces and other states haue in tymes paste been admitted in counselles for the hearyng of matters But wheresome woulde haue the byshoppes power to be aboue the authoritie of the whole churche it is agaynst all reason and full of tyrannye For it belongeth as well to the Emperour and other ciuile states to set in foote in counselles and to chose experte men especiallye in suche causes where the byshoppes errours be impugned that is to wytte false doctrine and Idolatry for this thynge is permitted also by the byshop of Romes lawe And feinge that this is the vniuersall cause of all men and concerneth the whole common wealth it is the Emperours parte and other Prynces to forsee that vpryght iudgement be had For both other byshops of their owne people and also byshoppes of Rome haue in times paste bene condempned for Heresy and obstinacie of the Emperoure and the churche together And at this tyme there is contention of manie weightie matters whiche the byshop doth defende not in wordes only but also by wycked and cruell decrees punishyng most sharpely suche as obey not the same For as muche therfore as he is an aduersary and susteineth the one halfe of the sute the thinge it selfe requireth that the whole church the Emperour other kinges take in hande to prescribe an ordre for the deciding of the matter wherfore as they haue done euer so they requyre nowe also that the matter maye be handled vpryghtlye accordynge to the examples of holye wrytte and the olde primatiue churche And if it so maye be they wyll not be behynde with theyr partes trustynge that truthe shall come to lyghte and the glorye of our Sauioure Christe be aduaunced and tranquillitie be restored to the Churche but if it be otherwyse there is no doubte but greater commotions wyll arryse therof than hytherto hath bene seen for their partes they wil at no tyme neglecte the common wealth And as they can not forsake nor shrynke from the true doctrine so lykewyse in all other matters they will do all thynges for peace and concorde The kyng of Fraūce whiche was fully determined to make warre in Italy sent Ambassadour Williā Bellaye to this assemblie at Smal calde Who the .xix. daye of Decembre had there an eloquent oration And first he excuseth the kynges seueritie in punyshynge certen of his owne subiectes whiche not withstanding was nothing preiudicial or hurtfull to their cause of Religion though some euill tongues dyd reporte so no more than it was displeasure to him what tyme they with all their force did suppresse the rebellion of their commons and punyshed the Anabaptistes doing yet nothing without iust cause wherfore he distrusteth not but they be men of such wysdome and grauitie that they wyll of no lyght reporte conceaue any euill opinion of so noble a kynge that is their frende who was nowe for vrgent causes not here to be spoken of constrayned against his nature to vse extreme punishment lest hauing so large a Realme he should through ouermuche lenitie set open the wyndowe of wickednes to the temeritie of manye And touching their religion and doctrine the kyng wyll not take vpō him the persone of the iudge but in dede lyketh many thinges well the rest he leaueth vndiscussed After this he goeth about to wynne theyr fauour and confuteth theyr opinion whiche had warned them to be ware of forayne
for that the kynge hath lately deliuered his realme of Englande out of that moste fylthie bondage and restored it vnto lybertie that Idole Antichriste is nowe starke madde and where as he can work no mischief openly he goeth about fraude and gyle and with false forged sclaunders to incense kynges against hym And al be it he woulde do any thynge to mainteyne his authoritie yet is this his deuyse and polycie to styre vp cruell warres and set one in an others toppe And the kynges pleasure was that he should thus declare vnto them not for that he stode in feare of the byshop for he was so furnyshed with all thynges that he cared neyther for hym nor yet for all his adherentes but to the intent they might clerely perceyue what Antechristes purpose is chieflye at this present tyme whan he pretendeth to holde a counsell but in his mynde intendeth farre an other thynge The kyng doeth confesse and graunte that a lawfull disputation were very profitable and expedient for the common wealth But yet for all that it ought to be forseen in any wyse that ther be no such coūsel had as shal intreate only to establysh the bishoppes authoritie Wherfore he requyreth and admonysheth them that they wyll allowe no counsell before a common peace be made through out christendome Moreouer he wisheth that Gods true Religion and seruice maye be restored whiche thinge to accomplyshe and mayntaine he is content to ioyne hym selfe with them And that these are the thynges which they were commaūded to declare vnto them And moreouer required thē that they might hereafter haue further conference in these matters priuately with certen appointed persones For the kyng bare suche an affection towards them and their Religion that he would employ herein al his treasure and hym selfe also Whereunto they made aunswere and commending the kinges good wyll do shewe howe their chief desyre is that the doctrine of the Gospell myght be spred far abrode And whatsoeuer they do herein to be done of dutie And all be it they haue suffered for the same great rebukes and iniuries and although thei haue procured thē selues hereby moste heinous displeasures and haue oftentymes endured the malice and threatnynges of many yet haue they nothynge relented nor slacked therfore their enterpryse in settyng forth that moste holy thyng And the only cause of so great hatred Malice was that they had forsaken wicked errours and false doctrine Now where the kyng promysed his ayde herein so ample maner where also he hath expulsed and banyshed out of his Realme the tyranny of the byshop of Rome from whence as out of a well sprang all wicked idolatrye they are glad and ioyful to heare it and beseche God that he may thus procede Moreouer where he doeth admonyshe thē to beware that there be no dissention in their doctrine they gyue hym harty thankes but doubtles there is no controuersie at all they doe perseuer in the same doctrine whiche they professed at Auspurge For as concernynge the Anabaptistes they be with thē extremely punyshed vnlesse they come to amendement And that they also reigne chiefly in those places wher the doctrine of the Gospell is prohibited The talke also of the byshop and of his craftie dealynge pleased them very muche and that the byshops legate is nowe in Germany makyng promyse of a counsel to be holden at Mantua and howe he had talked herein with the Prynce Electour of Saxony But what deliberate aunswere they made vnto his demaundes is comprised in wryting whiche he shall haue deliuered vnto hym to beare vnto the kyng to the intent he may vnderstāde what is their mynde herein for the kynges societie and coniunction wherof he spake they yelde him harty thankes And also to the intent that this so holsome doctrine may kepe his ryght course they wil spare neyther paynes nor peryl and doubte not but God wyl gouerne these affayres although their aduersary doe neuer so muche contende and spurne against them And for because he desyreth to conferre of these thynges more at large with some men priuatly they haue chosen certen for the same purpose with whome he may cōmunicate his things praying him to reporte of them so vnto the kynge as theyr good wyll towardes hym may appere the better through his commendation Whan the Duke of Saxon was retourned from kynge Ferdinando to Smalcalde the twelfte of Decembre on Christmas euen a decree was made that the league whiche lasted one yeare longer shoulde be renewed for ten yeares and howe the reste of their furniture shoulde be prouyded and were agreed to receyue into the same league such as were wyllynge and desyrours so that they professe the doctrine propounded of them at Auspurge and woulde beare with them scot and lotte Emonges whome were the Prynces of Pomerane Ulriche Duke of Wyrtemberge Roberte Bauier Prynce of Bipounte Aulpurge Franckeforte Kempten Hamborough and Hannobria And herein toke ordre howe to withstande defende themselues againste the vniust iudgement of the Emperiall chambre At the same tyme also was William Erle of Nassowe admitted into the league And albeit that the Lantgraue by reason of the controuersie that was betwixt them for the lande of Chattes did not assente yet if any wrong were offered him for the profession of the Gospell he sayde he woulde not fayle him in case he desyred his ayde This yeare also the Senate of Auspurge all dissention at the length taken cleane awaye receyueth the doctrine of the Gospell and wrytinge their letters vnto Luther intreate hym that he would sende them faithful ministers of the churche and amonges others Urbanus Regius ✚ The tenth Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the tenth Booke THe citie of Munster through the preachyng of Barnarde Rotman receaued the Gospell wherupon the clergie with theyr byshop forsoke the place neuerthelesse a reconcilemēt was made by the Lantgraue There came thether out of Hollande an Anabaptiste called Iohn of Leiden who hauing wonne Rotman and diuers others infected the whole citie with his poyson in so muche as they of that secte being set on mischief became strōger had all thinges in common and married many wylles Iohn of Leiden after the death of Iohn Matthewe is declared the chiefest Prophet and shortly after kyng vniuersall hauing his cheyalry and power of life and death The citie being beseged a metinge was appointed at confluence to enforce the siege The Anabaptistes had sent letters to the Lantgraue and a booke of their doctrine whiche Luther than impugned The citie being in extreme famine at the last was surprysed and wonne The kyng and his companions were taken prisoners whose execution is after recited About this busines of Mūster was an assemblie appointed at Wormes The Duke of Sauope besegyng Geneua is repoulsed The kyng of Fraunce prepareth
this decree was made the byshop of Munster deliuereth his armie vnto Obersten But where as the money was ouer negligeÌ„tly leuied and almost in dede to late there coulde no notable exploicte be done And the captaynes them selues for lacke of money were oftener than ones in daunger of their lyues through the sedicion of the souldiours What tyme the matter was brought to suche an extremitie within the citie that many died dayly for famine many also departed thence and went a broade so pyned and hongerstoruen that their very ennemies had pitie and compassion vpoÌ„ them The Captaines sent worde to the townes men that in case they would deliuer the king certen others they should haue no harme Whiche albeit the citezens woulde fayne haue done yet were they so afrayde of the kynges crueltie vigilaÌ„cie that they durst attempte nothynge for he was so obstinate that so loÌ„g as any thyng remayned for him selfe a fewe others to eate he would neuer rendre Wherfore the captaynes wryte againe and bidde them sende out no more from hence forth not so muche as women or childreÌ„ This was the first day of Iune The next day they wrote an answer complayning that their matter could not be heard and said they were afflicted without desert of their parte For if any man coulde detecte them of errour they would do as should become them After this they doe expounde a certen place of Daniel of the fourth beast which was much more cruell than all the rest The conclusion of their letters was that they would through Gods helpe perseuer styl in this confession of the veritie All whiche thinges were thus wrytten after the kynges mynde But whan thynges were brought to a maruelous extremitie in the citie two certen men escaped out the one of them was taken of the souldiours the other vpon his fidelitie came to the byshop and eyther of theÌ„ shewed the meane how to wynne the citie Countie Obersten and the byshop hearyng bothe their tales the two and twenty of Iune sommoned the towne charging the citezens to rendre it vp and yelde them selues that the people might be saued and not perysh thus for honger They cause Rotman to aunswer on the walles the kynge standing there by in suche sorte as they would not relent nor chaunge their purpose Two dayes after about aleuen a clock in the nyght the fotemen were brought closely to the citie and certeÌ„ chosen souldiours through the conduict of the two men escaped got ouer the dyche vp to walle and slewe the watche others followyng theÌ„ fynde the posterne gate open and about fiue hondreth with certen captaynes and ensignes entred the citie Than the tounes men being assembled together stayed the reste that would lykewyse haue inuaded and longe it was or euer they coulde put them backe and shut the gate that done they geue charge by and by vpon those that wer come in and slew many of them And whan they had foughten sore by the space of one houre or two the souldiours that were enclosed stept to the next gate that was kept with a small garde and breake it open perforce and so made way for their fellowes without which immediatly pressed in with a stroÌ„g power And wheras the townes meÌ„ at the first made resistaunce and kept the market place whiche they had wel fortified for their own defence at the last the matter being desperate and many of them stayne at the first encountre they craued and founde mercy But the kynge Cnipperdoling were taken at the same instante Botman being out of all hope to liue running amoÌ„ges his ennemies where they were thickest was stayne lest he should come into their handes alyue Whan the Citie was won the Byshop toke to hym selfe the munitioÌ„ and half the spoyle after discharging his armie he reserueth to him selfe two enseignes only to asiste him in the citie Than followed an other counsell imperiall at Wormes in the moneth of Iuly wherin kyng Ferdinando by his deputes propounded and demaundeth whether that the citie beyng nowe taken they shall treate furthermore howe to destroye all the Anabaptistes He admonysheth them also to call vpon the Byshop of Rome for a counsel Thei saye that as touchyng the Anabaptistes it hath bene all redy set forth by diuers proclamations what is mete to be done And the Byshop hath bene oft enoughe sollicited for a counsell euen by the Emperoure hym selfe neyther can they doe any thinge more therein In the same counsell the byshop of Munster requyreth to be recompenced for his charges and coÌ„playneth that the money promysed was not yet paide Whan nothyng els could be concluded and very fewe states also wer there present An other metinge was there assigned against Nouembre wherin they shoulde take ordre for the accomptes and charges of the warre and howe the commoÌ„ wealth of Munster hereafter should be gouerned Whan the daye was come Ferdinando his Ambassadour in fewe wordes repeteth the causes of that assemblie and that amonges other thynges they myght deuise also how the citie lately taken maye remayne from hence forth in the olde religion After this the Byshoppes Ambassadour declareth what charges he hath bene at all this warre tyme what great somes of money he hath borrowed and Howe after the citie was taken for the auoyding of tumultes and â—ut ther daunger he was enforced to buylde two fortes in the citie and to manne them Of all the which thinges he desyreth that a coÌ„sideration might be had Hereunto aunswere was made that the byshop had the greatest part of the spoyle all the munition also the citezens goodes All the whiche thynges do in dede apperteyne to the common wealth of the Empire wherfore reason would that of al these thynges an estimate should be made and so much be out of the charges diducted and than the ouerplus to be aunswered accordinglye After it is decreed that the byshop of Munster should be vnder the Empire according to the olde custome that all the Nobilitie of the citie should be restored the citezens also that are fled awaye so that they be not Anabaptists Touching Religion the Byshop shall take ordre therein accordinge to the decrees of the Empyre that in the spring of the next yere following the Ambassadours of the Prynces should go to Munster and vnderstande the state of the citezens that they saue the innocent people and destroye all the fortifications made by the Anabaptistes and that the byshop shall also caste downe the two fortes whiche he hath buylded within the citie And that he execute immediatly the king Cnipperdoling and Crechtinge prysoners according to their demerites and kepe them no longer To that point concerning ReligioÌ„ the Duke of Saxon the Lantgraue the Duke of Wirtemberge and Countie Anhalde protested openly that they would neuer assente to The cities also professed the same neyther would they haue the olde fortification defaced for the newe they were not against The
Ascanius Wherof Lewis inuaded the Dukedome and begot two sonnes Maximilian and Fraunces The Duke of Orleaunce had by Ualentine Charles Philippe and Iohn Charles was father to Lewis Duke of Orleaunce whiche was after king of Fraunce the twelfth of that name Philippe died without issewe Iohn Erle of Engolesme had a sonne named Charles father to kyng Fraunces who toke Maximilian Sfortia prisoner and subdewed all Lumbardie But Leo the tenth and the Emperour dispossessing hym agayne restored Fraunces Sfortia an exile Who being nowe dead kyng Fraunces to reclayme his ryght as he saieth and to be auēged moueth warre agayne For that after the death of Sfortia the Emperour had taken the possessiō of Lumbardie by Anthony Leua whō he left his depute there what tyme he sayled into Barbaria as before is mentioned Wherfore so sone as he had anye knowledge of the kynges enterpryse he leuieth immediatly all the power he myghte in Germanye and other places to come into Italy And coming frō Naples to Rome in the beginning of Aprill within a fewe dayes after his repayre he required that a Senate might be called wherin before the byshop and a great numbre of Cardinalles and the Ambassadours of foreyne Prynces he had a graue and a vehement oration against the Frenche kyng who breakyng league of an olde hatred and malice hindreth impecheth his moste worthy and Godly enterprises The ende of his oration was to declare that he was ready to fight with him the combat to the intent that through the priuate losse of one of them two rather than by publique domage of the whole worlde the warre might ones haue an ende Before he departed from Naples The Uenetians entred into league with him against the Turke the rather for that they hoped well that he would delyuer the possession of Millan to some priuate man For the states of Italy chiefly the Uenetians wouldneyther that the Emperour nor yet the Frenche kyng should enioye the goodly Dukedome of Millan And therfore in these former yeares they conspyred oftentymes one whyle against the Frenche kynge an other whyle against the Emperour that Fraunces Sfortia myght be restored of whome they supposed to stande in lesse daunger For the league which Clement and the Uenetians made against the Emperour ten yeares before was for this cause only Thinkyng that the Emperour hauyng displaced Sfortia would haue kept to his owne vse all Lumbardie whiche in dede they supposed would be to their great hinderaunce And where at the intercession of Byshop Clement sixe yeares past he restored Sfortia at Boloigne la grasse he got him wonderfull fauour and great good wyll At Naples also the Emperour finished vp the mariage of his bastarde daughter with Alexander Medices whome he had made Duke of Florence as I tolde you in the seuenth booke This Alexander was the bastard sonne of Laurence Medices which had to father Peter whiche was drowned in the mouth of Lire as in the last boke is mentioned You haue heard howe Uergerius was sent into Germany Whan the Emperour was arriued at Naples the byshop calleth hym home againe who returning with great expedition whan he came to Rome declareth his Ambassade how the protestauntes required to haue a free and a Christian counsell and that within the precinct of the Empyre in a place conuenient as the Emperour had made them promyse Of Luther and the rest there is no hope vnlesse they be dispatched out of the way And as concerning the king of Englande the Protestauntes wyll not assente to it and the reste of the Princes are very colde Howe George Duke of Saxonye affirmeth that there is great daunger of the Lutherians whiche can not be otherwise eschewed or auoyded vnlesse the Emperour and the Byshop make warre against them ryght shortly Whiche thynge whan the Byshop vnderstode he sendeth hym to Naples with all spede to recite these thynges to the Emperour especially concernyng the warre to be attempted agaynste the Lutheriās Aterwardes whā the Emperour was come to Rome he was earnestly in hande to haue a counsel called and coueted greatly to cary with hym the letters patentes of the same The Byshop said he was content notwithstāding he woulde chouse some citie in Italy and prescribe therein certen conditions necessary for the churche of Rome Hereunto the Emperour so that he woulde do it ones he cared for no more For he would bryng the greater parte of Germany to followe hym herein so therfore the Byshop chouseth out nyne of that nūbre to make the wrytte Those were Campegius Cesius Simonet Ginucius Cōtarene Poole Cardinals The Archebishop of Brunduse the Byshop of Rhezo and Uergerius thā made byshop of Modruse and not long after of Instinopulis All these together first in the Byshops presence afterwardes seuerally by them selues deuise the forme of Somoning the counsell You haue heard before of the Ambassadours of Englande with whome it was accorded at Smalcalde vpon certen conditions that the kyng should set forth the pure doctrine of the Gospell whiche they professed at Auspurge and maynteyne the same with them in a lawefull counsell if any suche shal be that neyther of them admitte the calling or place of a counsell but by cōmon assent Neuerthelesse if it may appere by certayne and manifest reasons that any suche counsel is like to be as hath bene declared to Peter Paule Uerger the Byshoppes legate that it be not refused but in case the byshop continue his purpose that than his enterpryse be letted and by open protestation be refused And lyke as the kynge hath ioyned hym selfe to their religion so lykewyse to ioyne with them in league also and to be called the Patroneand defendour of the same That common opinion of the supremacie of the Byshop of Rome to be vtterly reiected for euer If anye warre be attempted against other parte for Religion or other cause that no ayde be geuen vnto hym that inforceth the same That for the defence of the league the kyng shal paye one hundreth thousand crownes wherof the one halfe the confederatours shall and may employe whā nede shall requyre the rest of the charges to be borne of their own money whiche they shall contribute amonges them but if the warre shal longe endure and the force of the ennemy driue them to it thā the king to disburse two hundreth thousand crownes for as much as they if the lyke chaunce should fortune stande also bounde not only to spēd their goodes but their bloud and lyfe also And of this somme also the like consideration to be had as before and that it be not emploied to any other vse than to defende the league and the remainder to be restored whan the warre is finished That the Ambassadours shall wryte to the kyng hereof and whan they knowe his mynde to aduertise the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue therof that after a commō Ambassade maye be sent vnto hym Whan
heare saith he how the Frēche kyng hath requyred your ayde but not obteined which was to me great pleasure and I haue aduertised the Emperour hereof And certenly reason would it should so be For the Emperour gaue none occasion of this warre but was fully resolued this sommer to haue warred vpon the Barbarians and the ennemies of our Religion Notwithstanding the Frenche kynge immediatly after the death of Fraunces Sfortia Duke of Millan albeit he hath no right nor title therunto a composition made touchyng the whole matter certen yeares paste contrary to the conuenauntes sought to renewe warre and to recouer Lumbardy And at the same tyme passing the Alpes with a great armie inuaded the Duke of Sauoye a Prynce of the Empyre to the intent that hauing ones subdued his countrey he might haue the way open to passe further And nowe that the Emperour hath leuied an armie to resiste hym as he was in dede constreined I am informed that he craueth nowe ayde agayne of you Neuerthelesse for as muche as he breakyng his fidelitie hath commenced warres a freshe I desyre you that you doe not assiste hym Whereby you shall do the Emperour and me pleasure and preserue the quiet of your owne commō wealth In this meane while the Protestantes had sent an Ambassade to the Emperour in Italy to make their purgation in that he had charged them by letters to haue taken the churche goodes and further more to complayne of the iudges of the Emperiall chamber But before the Ambassadours were arriued the Emperoure the seuenthe of Iulye had sent letters to the Protestauntes from the Towne of Sauilie signifieng how he hath at al tymes both present and absent by his letters and Ambassadours sought the quiet of Germany and hath both promysed them peace in theyr Relygion and also perfourmed the same And nowe for as muche as the Frenche kynge against whome he is enforced to rayse an armie maye perauenture by false suggestion perswade with them that he would now take occasion to breake that treuce of Religion therfore hath he thought good to admonyshe them by his letters to beleue no suche thinge but assure them selues that he woulde obserue his promyse neyther would he moue warre vpon any man for religion nor styre vp any trouble in Germany for all this preparation of warre is to mainteyne his ryght and authoritie Wherfor let them quiet them selues and styre not what so euer they shal heare For this shall be both to hym acceptable and to them also profitable Whan the Emperours power was come altogether he marched through the myddest of Italye with a stronge armie tyll he came in to prouynce of Fraunce The kynge had incamped hym selfe at Auignion betwyxte the Ryuers of Rhosne and Druence and destroyinge the countrey Whereinto he perceiued the Emperour woulde come and kepyng hym selfe from geuynge the battell he brought his ennemies into great perplexitie and myserie For the Emperour enforced through the penurie and scarscitie of all thynges and the losse of manye thousandes whiche died for famine and pestilence and also for the death of Anthony Leuie dischargeth the reste of his Armye and retourneth to Genes An other Armie of his that warred this sommer in Uermandoys beseged the towne of Peronne by the cōduicte of Henry Erle of Nassowe but preuayling not leuied the siege about the same time that the Emperour retyred in the prouince and the reporte of eyther newes brought vnto Paris the same daye reioysed the citie exceadynglye For they were in verye great feare and the Preachers in their Sermons to the people inuehed sore against the Emperour And the kynges Lieutenauntes began to intrenche the cytie and kepte the gates with watche and warde William Furstemberge a Germane serued the Frenche kynge in this warre About the begynning of this warre ended his lyfe the Frenche kynges eldest sonne Fraunces the Daulphin eyghtene yeares of age the reporte went that he was poysoned and one Sebastian de moute Cuculo an Italian beyng had in suspicion was fyrste racked and after torne in pieces with sondrye horses at Lions And the kynge afterwardes in his letters to the Prynces of Germanye amonges other made a greuous complainte hereof against Anthony Leuie and Ferdinando Gonzage the Emperours Lieutenauntes in whome he layd all the blame Herman Archebyshop of Collon of long tyme intending a reformation of his churche holdeth at this tyme a counsell of his owne prouince callynge to it as the maner is the Byshoppes within his iurisdiction of Liege Utreicht Munster Osenbridge and Myndes Herein were decrees made of ceremonies and doctrine and after set forth in a booke compyled by Iohn Gropper wherein were al Popyshe Ceremonies for the moste parte paynted out with new colours whiche booke dyd not contente the Byshop than as hereafter shal be declared About this tyme also in the moneth of Iuly Erasmus of Roterdam departed out of this lyfe an olde man of thre score and ten yeares and was buried at Basill Howe excellently learned and howe eloquent a man he was and howe muche al learnyng is bounde to hym his own workes shall testifie By occasion of puttyng downe papistrie in Englande and suppressing of certen Abbeyes vnder thre hundreth markes of yearely valewe there arose a commotion in Lynkcolneshyre in a market towne they call Lowthe styred vp by Doctour Mackerell a false Monke who named him selfe captayne Cobblar and after that it was appeased by the Duke of Southfolke the kynges Lyeutenaunt an other began in Yorke shyre a grear deale worse For those Rebelles were manye and stronge and came as farre as Dankcaster where the Duke of Northfolke met them with the kinges power and when they should haue ioyned together in battell by the mediation of the Erle of Shrewisbury which was a man welbeloued of the commons the matter was taken vp without bloudshed Their chief Captaine was Robert Aske who was after executed for his treason with certen others of the Nobilitie his adherentes Unto the letters which the Emperour wrote in Iuly the Protestaūtes answer the nynth day of Septembre and where it pleased hym to wryte so gentle and so lyberally they shewe hym howe they conceaue great pleasure in theyr mindes for albeit they did neuer distruste his promise yet for as much as diuerse reportes of his displeasure came to their eares and agayne for that the iudges of the imperiall chamber and others makyng none accompte of the peace concluded did procede diuerse wayes agaynste them they had some cause to doubte and feare the matter But nowe that he hath wrytten againe so louingly and playnly they are out of all doubtes that he wyll perfourme the same and refuse the sclaunderous reportes of their aduersaries lykewyse wyll they doe and geue no credite vnto suche as shall otherwyse reporte of him and in al other thinges also doe according to their dutie than came they to the counsell which the
of life cleane abhorre that vice But in that he endeuoureth to reduce him agayne into the waye which deceiued by flatterers was strayed farre out of the ryght pathe he geueth hym a great benefite Kynge Henry had brought him vp in his yought in good letters and done very much for him But whan this alteration was in Englande whiche I haue spoken of and he myslyked it Paule the thyrde through the commendation of Contarene made hym Cardinal and sent for hym to Rome They that are familiarly acquaynted with him say how he knoweth ryght well the doctrine of the Gospell and suppose the cause to haue been why he wrote so against kyng Henry to auoyde the suspicion of Lutheranisme He caused the booke to be printed at Rome of his own coste and charge as they reporte And taking to him selfe all the Copies gaue it to reade only to the byshop him self and to the Cardinalles and others of his dere frendes for vnto such he wold be commended and feared on the other syde leste if it should be red openly of all men he should incure the rebuke and obloquie of them that had oftentymes heard hym speake the contrary ✚ The eleuenth Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the eleuenth Booke THe Protestantes hauing declared to the Emperour by ambassade three poyntes Heldus cōming to Smalcald maketh them answer to the which they reply and vrge a fre counsel such as was promised vpon this the Pope sendeth the Bishop of Aste The Protestants set forth an Apologie vpon the refusal of such a counsel and writ therof to the French king The king of England writeth against this coūsaile of the Pope I Spake of the Citie of Auspurge in the nynthe booke and of the chaunge of Religion there for the whiche cause the Clergie being for the moste parte of noble house forsoke the citie Wherupon the Senate in a writing directed to the Emperour kyng Ferdinando and all the states of the Empyre declareth the cause of their doynges howe frendly they dealte with them how many thynges they suffered and howe scornefully they behaued them selues and howe often they went about to stire vp sedition in the citie Whereunto not long after Christopher the byshop aunswered for him selfe and the reste and after many contumelious wordes exhorteth the Emperour and Princes that for as muche as the daungers concerneth aswel them as him self they would loke to it in time You haue heard in the last booke of the Ambassadours which the Protestauntes sent to the Emperour in Italy to whom they gaue commaundement chiefly thre thynges to treate of First to confute the brute whiche was raysed vp that they shoulde haue made a league with the kynge of Fraunce and of England secondly that the Emperour would restrayne the iudgement of the counsell chaumbre thirdly that suche as were come into their league since the composicion of the peace at Norinberge myght inioye the same peace Whiche requestes the Emperour in dede hearde but being wholy occupied with warelyke matters he sayde howe he woulde sende his Ambassadour into Germany who should make them aunswere Wherfore at his departure from Genes into Spayne he sent Matthie Helde his vicechaūcelour into Germany Whan the Protestauntes vnderstode that by their Ambassadours nowe retourned they appoynte a generall metyng at Smalcalde the seuenth daye of February And because the daye of the counsell approched nere neyther was there any doubte but that the Emperours Ambassadour would haue some talke of the same they were agreed also to bring with them their chiefest diuines Wherfore at the daye assigned besydes the Prynces Ambassadours of the cities came thether Luther Melanchthon Bucer Osiander and diuerse other Whan the Ambassadour was come to Smalcalde the fyftene daye of February he speaketh thus before them all Howe the Emperour had commaunded hym to doe his message only to the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgraue But for as muche as they haue thought good to make their consortes also partakers of the same he is contente to followe their mindes herein he saith in dede that he knoweth not al the Ambassadours of the league wherfore in case there be any amongs them whom this answere of the Emperous doth not concerne there is no cause why they shoulde suppose that any treaty is made with thē but chiefly they of Auspurge which haue oftentymes sollicited the Emperour both in Italy and Spayne about Religiō and nowe also lately at Genes by their Ambassadour Unto whome the Emperour sayde howe he would sende his Ambassadour into Germany whiche shoulde make them an aunswere And they not abyding his commyng haue altered the state of Religion not without both the contempte and also making of the Emperour Therefore whan he came to Auspurge beinge constrayned of necessitie to chaunge his purpose he treated with them nothynge at all and hath wrytten to the Emperour the whole matter as it standeth After whā he had exhibited the testimoniall of his Ambassade he procedeth And where they had so diligently pourged them selues of the Frenche and Englysh league the Emperoure was ioyfull to heare it whiche doeth both credit them also cōmendeth their vertue that they haue so wittely eschewed the Frenche practises full of disceirfulnes Afterwards discoursing the warre of Sauoy and speakynge many thinges of the Frenche kyng sayde that he was not only a lette vnto the Emperour that he could not bende his whole power against the Turke but also that he consulted with the Turkes prouoked thē to inuade Cristendome And that this is also his daily practise to styre vp stryfe and ciuile warre in Germany and nowe endeuoureth al that he may to perswade them that the Emperour wyll not kepe promyse with them He desireth them therfore not to credite his crafty counselles For the Emperour to be of suche honour and vertue that he wyll not shrinke from his promyse And that may they well perceiue by mo experimēts than one As touchinge the iudgement of the imperiall chambre The Emperours commaundemēt was they should meddle with no cases of Religion But they aduertised him by their letters that there was oftentymes controuersies whiche partely concerned religion partlye not And therfore the Emperour cōmaunded thē that of such matters as thei supposed were sequestred from religiō thei should iudge indifferently For it were pitie but the lawe should haue his course And seyng the Emperour hath commaunded them to surcease from determining matters of Religion they ought to be contente there with And if the iudges haue done ought contrary to the Emperours decre they shall not escape free but shal be punished according to the lawe made at Regenspurge But the Emperour againe admonished them that they would do nothing rashely neither prescribe the imperiall chambre For this thinge is neither lawfull nor voyde of seditiō and
should seme to be done in contempt of the Emperours iurisdictiō and to the reproche of the iudges whiche ar partly men of noble houses and partly of excellent learning and vertu And therfore requireth them not to hynder the lawe Unto their thirde requeste whiche is that suche also as be not comprised in the peace of Norinberge shoulde inioye the benefite therof he sayeth the Emperour can not with a safe conscience graunte it for that they haue promysed and subscribed to the decrees of the Empyre whiche are contrary to this Religion And if eche man should be suffered to swarue from his promyse whan he liste that wer the ready waye to breake the pacification of Norinberge Wherfore whan the Emperour shall knowe more certenly of their procedynges he wyll do than as shall seme ryght and reason In the meane tyme he requyreth them to obserue the peace them selues and to see that it be not broken of others whiche his truste is they wyll doe considerynge that the counsell is so nere whereof they haue wrytten to the Emperour and is the fourth thyng whiche he hath in commaundement to treate with them of And after vseth a great and long perswasiō with them that seing the Emperour and all other kynges and nations intende to be there and to further it they wyll not refuse nor be agaynst the same wherein the Emperour desyreth to vnderstand playnly their myndes For in case they should refuse take exceptions and make delaye The Emperour thynketh both that a most Godly purpose shold be stopped in the middes of the course and that straungers woulde also conceaue of them a suspicion that they loued rather the vexation of the common wealth than peace and quietnes And seyng the Emperour hath this respect only that Gods glory be set forth and the saluation of men be consydered he exhorteth and earnestly requyreth them that they would satisfie herein his desyre and the common wealthes also He hath also in commission that if anye controuersie shall happen in this matter he shall solute and appease the same wherunto his wyl and diligence shal be ready If they desyre also any further declaration of his talke with them he woulde not refuse The next daye after he had thus spoken he treateth seuerallye with the Duke of Saxony howe the Emperour beareth him an especiall good wyll but the lette that he hath declared not thesame hitherto hath bene the dissention about Religion But seing that there is great hope that all that matter shal be quieted by the counsell already called he desyreth hym to further the same and to sende his Ambassadours thether to the intente that all discorde taken awaye he may declare his good wyl towards hym For if he refuse and take exceptions what displeasure wyll come of it he knoweth well enough Moreouer for as muche as the Turke maketh great preparation to inuade Germanye he requyreth hym to sende hym the ayde decreed at Regenspurge against the Turkes force or if chaunce that the Turke come not to the field nor attempte Germany that then he woulde sende hym the same ayde agaynst the Frēche kyng who hath inuaded Sauoye a prouince of the Emperour Last for because the Emperour hath borne the whole charges of theim periall chambre of long tyme alone and hath consumed great treasure in his warres he requyreth that after the olde custome of the Empyre he would be contributary for the portion of money hereunto belōging as the residue of the Prynces haue also promysed The Duke sayeth that in as muche as these thynges concerne not hym alone but his cōsortes also he wyll take deliberation After the .xxiiij. daye of February all the confederatours make aunswere together And first wyshynge vnto the Emperour longe health and preseruation as concernynge them of Auspurge they haue heard the whole matter by their Ambassadours and say howe they can not sequestre them from theyr fellowshyp Touchyng the Emperours warre with the Frenche kyng they are not a lytle sory seyng the same to be commodious for the Turkes the ennemies of the Empyre For that the Emperour hath taken in good parte their purgation and mynded to kepe the peace made at Norinberge they are ryght glad and thanke hym But touchynge the Iudgement of the Imperiall chamber where he sayde howe sore it should greue the Emperour to stoppe the course of the lawe They shew how there was a difficultie in the thinge what time the Archebishop of Mētz the Palsgraue were intercessours How after much long deliberation there appered no surer way to establish the cōmonwelth than to graūte peace to religion to al matters annexed to the same till either a general counsell of Europe or a prouincial counsel of Germany migh be had For vnlesse it might so be except that all maner of matters that procede of religion might be cōprised together howe lightly occasion of trouble may be geuen was both than considered nowe may be also perceiued The wordes also of themperours proclamation set forth at the same time declare this sufficiently And that it was neuer their minde to pretende any other cause saue only matters of religion neither are the iudges of the counsel chāber in their opiniō able to proue the cōtrary But now where he sayth how themperour gaue them authoritie to iudge of qualitie of matters it is to them greuouse For they accōpt al those actions to concerne religion whiche in dede can not be decided vnlesse the controuersie of religion be first in a lawful counsel determined Which thing they haue many times signified both to themperour and kyng Ferdinando by letters Ambassadours For this question of Religiō is preiudiciall ought to be determined by a counsell before suche matters be examined as depend vpō the same And seing that benefites are imployed for desert dutie they can not suffer that those which wtin their dominions folowe a cōtrary religiō frō their doctrine to enioye the goodes of the church in as muche as either they wil not or can not execute their dutie And for so muche as the matter cōcerneth the cōsciēce of the mynde there remaineth no place to right of possessiō or of restitutiō And seing that whē the cōpositiō was made at Norīberg they expresseli named al actiōs sutes which hanged then eyther in the chāber or other courtes of iudgemēt exhibiting thē to the intercessours as matters of religiō who promised than to fynde the meanes that themperour should exempt thē frō iudgement The same thing also king Ferdinādo toke vpō him in thassēblie of Cadane by those wordes of proclamatiō where thēperour cutteh of all ple all authoritie to iudge of the state of matters was cleane taken away frō the iudges of that imperial chāber And although they wold not report euil of thē yet many seyng thē ready to geue sentence agaynste them wer incouraged to rather to comēce their actiōs which thing is to be prouoked
is how it ought not to be graūted thē themperour doubtles other kings in their opiniō can iudge For that the byshop of Rome hath brought errours into the churche a doctrine cleane cōtrary not only to Gods worde but also to the auncient toūselles doctours mainteineth the same that he hath also made exceading many lawes against Gods cōmaundemēt wherby the true knowledge is vtterly oppressed defaced the same vereli haue their diuines through Gods gift declared And therfore do they intēde to accuse the byshop his fellowes in any lawfull counsell of these so great matters to coudēpne thē of the same How also through euil craftes and dishonest meanes yea through force guyle they achiefe their dignities how filthie a life they leade what euil examples thei geue how they do no part of their dutie how thei neglect such as are cōmitted to their charge wallowe in all wickednes of lyfe it is so wel knowen tried that it nedeth no further declaratiō For the which causes also it is not lawfull for the bishop euen by the testimony of his owne lawe to appoint there coūsel muche lesse to be iudge in the same Neither may his sworne clientes vsurpe the persone of the iudge seing they may not in dede be any part of a lawful coūsel moreouer the place of the coūsel is appointed in Italy cleane cōtrary to the decrees of themperour states of thempire which he scornefully dispiseth Thei know not more ouer as yet whether other princes of Christendom wil allowe that place that there be weighty causes for the which it shold be daūgerous for them theirs to come thither For albeit they should haue a saufe conduicte yet for so muche as the byshop hath there his clientes euerye where which hate this doctrine most bitterly ther is great daūger of lieng in wayte priuie cōspiracies which in those parties are much to be feared Furthermore since this matter is most weighti such as vnder the sonne can arrise no greater which doubtles cōcerneth either euer lasting saluatiō or dānatiō And seing that the greatnes of the matter requireth that they should in great nūbre with the ministers of their churche preachers be there present not to cōmit so weighty a matter to their deputes proetours alone it should be a great griefe vnto thē to passe out of the limites of thempire go into Italy leauing their coūtrey people in suche grudge of mindes as is now in Germany wtout garde and their churches any long time without preachers Wherfore they moste humbly beseche that the Emperour would way with hym selfe all these poinctes diligently and seing he is the high and supreme magistrate vnto whom chiefly belongeth the setting forth of the trew doctrine that he wold applie him self wholy that the true knowledge of God might be aduaunced for they doe embrace no wicked kynde of doctrine nor seke any other thyng than the glory of Gods holy name And this aunswere concerning the counsell agreed vnto also the Ambassadours of George Marques of Brandenburge and of the cities of Norinberge Halles and Hailbrune in other thinges they medled not because they were not of the league What time the Protestantes had thus spoken Heldus the Ambassadour aunswereth by and by speaking many thinges againe of the great good will of the Emperour of the Frenche kyng whiche had conspired with the Turkes to the distruction of the cōmon wealth he cometh to that matter touching the iudgement of the imperial chambre and sayeth in deede that peace is graunted for matters of Religion no man to say the cōtrary but all the strife to consiste in this which be matters of religion which not And where as they take suche for cases of religion as others do accōpte for ciuile prophane how farre against reason is it that the thyng should not be debated the causes obiectiōs of either part be heard so procedeth further to the meaning of that same matter And as touching such as are lately receiued into their league that Emperour thiketh thus that they that be not cōprised within the peace of Norinberg are bounde al to the decrees of thempire ought to yelde to the authoritie of the coūsel And for asmuch as themperours minde is wholy addicte to peace cōcorde he requireth estsones that they wyl ayde him with men mony for the Turkish warre nedeful charges of the imperial chābre And if the Turke inuade not that thā they wold a few monthes assiste themperour with like ayde against the French king whiche if they wil doe it shall not repēt thē of that seruice wherin he desireth to know a direct answer that he may aduertise themperour therof And as concerning the coūsel they thē selues knowe what labour trauayle themperour had to bring it to passe And how his trust is that in the same shal be appeased all cōtrouersie that is in religion with quietnes the state of the cōmō wealth be reformed to the glory of God preseruatiō of men Wherfore them perour trusteth assuredly that they should make none exceptions nor swarue from the rest of men for if they should persiste herein it would be grieffull for him to heare And after he had againe vsed sondrye perswasions amonges other that the Emperour would through saufeconduicte saue them harmelesse he requyred to haue a determinate aunswere herein and besydes the names of them which are come vnto them synce the peace of Norinberge Wherein was wrytten that Marques George the cities of Norinberge Weysenburg Hailbrine Winsem and Hales were of the same Religion but not of the league Wherefore in the Emperours name he desyred to knowe what their league was and the condition of the same The selfe same daye came thether the Romyshe legate the byshop Aques with letters from the byshop of Rome to the Duke of Saxon exhorting him to come to the counsell whome the byshop of Rome sent into Germany in the place of Peter Paule Uerger hopinge well that the newe Ambassadour should some thing haue brought to passe but he also loste his labour was as little regarded in so muche that on a certen day whan he desired to speake with the Lātgraue he tolde him he was at no leasure and in maner at the same instant went to see howe Luther did who at the same tyme laye sore sycke of the stone Which thyng the Ambassadour myght see out of his lodging Uergerius had geuen this Ambassadour instructions of the whole state of Germany and how euery man in the byshops behalfe must be enterteined and vsed The fourth daye after whiche was the last of February the Protestauntes aunswer Heldus That for the Emperour him self they neuer doubted but that he woulde obserue the peace made whiche he hath also promised both in publique and priuate letters but the imperiall chamber contrary to
the crime And for asmuche as the Bishop signifieth plainly that this counsell is instituted to confirme his Authoritie we besech al men that they wold not impute this refusal to vs as a fault blame worthy Finally the very place of the counsell we can not like for diuerse causes For it is fitte to offer iniurie and altogether such as should let the libertie of speche And besydes there is muche hatred conceaued againste vs in foreine nations through the sclaunders of our aduersaries as though Religion and honest liuing were exiled from among vs which perswasion when mennes mindes be thus prepared is not without great perill Wherfore it were very expedient for this cause onely that the counsell should be holden in Germany to the entent that straungers might see the order and maner of oure Churches and Cities And not throughe false sclauÌ„ders to hate the trew doctrine The weightines of the cause also requireth that many of vs should come to the couÌ„sell oure selues but to forsake our own limites is no maner way for vs expedient And seyng that for most weightie causes it was decreed that the counsel should be holden in Germany we se not wherfore we should depart froÌ„ the same Considering therfore that this case coÌ„cerneth the preseruation of al Christendome we beseche al kinges princes to geue no credit vnto oure aduersaries but herunto rather to applie theÌ„ selues that the trew knowledge of God might be restored For they caÌ„do nothing that shal more redound to theyr honor The Bishop laboreth to this ende that he mighte perswade theÌ„ to practise crueltie the which thei ought moste chiefly to abhorre For eueÌ„ for this cause are they placed in this degre of dignitie that they shold honor Gods holy name be a light vnto the rest through their good ensample to defende innoceÌ„t persons froÌ„ wroÌ„g violeÌ„ce And if there shal euer at any time be any lawfull counsell thaÌ„ shal we so defende our matter there that all men shall vnderstande how that our endeuours haue bene euer annexed with the preseruation of the common wealth In this assemblie were these The Duke of Saxon Ernestus FrauÌ„ces bretherne Dukes of Luneburge Ulriche Duke of Wirtemberge the Lantzgraue Philip prince of Pomerane the three Erles of Anhalde Albert Counte Mansfelde besides many Ambassadors of the cities with most large ample coÌ„mission For they were admonished what thinges should there be treated Before they departed thence which was the vj. day of March they addresse their letters to the French king wherin first they excused the matter that they had not satisfied his Ambassadoure in the former assemblie and shewe the cause also whie they sende no Ambassadours as nowe vnto him ThaÌ„ they desyre him to continew his frendshippe and seynge they haue set open to him all waies to come to a concorde in religion and yet haue nothing preuailed that he would recompence this theirendeuor with his fauor and beneuolence Fynally they declare what their mynde is touchyng the Counsell and desyre to knowe what he hathe also determined to do herein The kinge afterwardes maketh Aunswere at the tenth kalendes of Iune he accepteth theyr satisfaction and promiseth largely concernynge hys continuall amitie towardes them confutyng the sclaunders of his aduersaries in a wrytynge the whiche he sent with all and saieth that this is his opinion of the counsell and euer hath bene that vnlesse it be lawefull and in a sure place he wyll neuer allowe the same neyther doubteth he but the kynge of Scotlande his some inlawe will also folowe his mynde herin He a lytle before at the beginning of Maye was retorned home with his wyfe which after aboute Midsomer ended her life there In the meane time the Bishoppe of Rome deferreth the Counsell till the kalendes of Nouember and the cause thereof he saieth is for that Friderick the Duke of Mantua mindeth to fortifie his citie with garnisons of souldiours and to employe cost therupon which thinge hath happened contrary to his expectation and saith he is sore affraid lest many folowyng his decree are already commen to Mantua and happely beyng excluded are dryuen to retourne home againe for the which chaunce he is in dede very sory but yet taketh the matter lesse greifefully forasmuche as the thinge hath fortuned throughe another mans faulte and not his And not longe after the king of Englande in his owne name and the nobles of his Realme publisheth a writing That there is a Counsell called by the Bishoppe of Rome which he hath none authoritie to do and called at suche a time whan mortall warre is betwene themperour and the Frenche kynge and the place appointed at Mantua whither it is neyther saufe nor commodious for all men to come He in dede desyreth a Christian Counsell wyth all his harte but vnto the Byshoppes Counsell he wyll nether come him selfe nor yet sende hys Ambassadours For this is alwayes theyr facion that for theyr own lâ—cre sake they wyll in suche maner of assemblies oppresse Christ and his veritie And for his parte he will haue nothynge to do with the Bishoppe of Rome nor regardeth no more his Decree than the wrytynge of anye other Byshoppe Addynge that Counselles were wont to be called by the authoritie of the Emperour and kynges which maner ought to be restored especially at this tyme whan the Byshoppe hath so many graue personages to accuse him Yet neuerthelesse can he neither be reprehended without the daunger of a mans life nor accused presently but in a lawfull Counsel nether is there any prouision made for him or his by saufconduicte and thoughe there were yet manifest daungers shoulde let hym that he coulde not come for it is no newes to the Bishoppes to falsefie theyr faith and to sprincle and desile them selues with innocent bloude And albeit it should be lawfull for others to repaire thither yet were it no saftie for him whome the Bishop hath laide waite for whoÌ„ he hateth deadly whom he seketh to bring in hatred with other kinges for none other cause assuredly than for that his Tyrranny is exiled out of his realme and his yerely reuenewes taken away which thinge in very dede he taketh in most euill part and so much the worse for that he feareth lest other kinges warned throughe his example will hereafter do the like And nowe also is the counsell proroged vntyll the kalendes of NoueÌ„bre And yet not the place appointed where it should be holdeÌ„ and the faulte is imputed to the Duke of Mantua Is not this to delude the whole worlde The Duke of Mantua is surely blameles which wyll not receiue so great a multitude into his citie being vnfurnyshed of a garrison but all the blame is to be ascribed to him alone who doeth nothing syncerely but worketh al thinges by craft and collusion And now in case he shall assigne an other place for the purpose he wyll eyther appointe it in some citie of his
owne or of some Prince that is bound to him For he hath him self ryght ample and large dominions and in the same many goodly cities which his predecessours haue gotten by force and subtiltie he with as small fidelitie kepeth But seing there is no hope to haue a true couÌ„sel as men of witte and iudgemeÌ„t do suppose he thinketh it best that euery Magistrate in his own dominions seke the reformation of Religion And if perchaunce the Bishop should obiecte vnto them custome the same taketh no place For euen by the testimonie of Cypriane custome that is grounded vpon no counsell as he hath sayde before but if any man haue an other way that is better he wil not refuse it The Emperour remained al this yere in Spaine but his armie in Flaunders by the conduict of Counte de Bure wan by assaulte the towne and castel of Sanpulle in Artois in the moneth of Ianuary and put al to the sworde and from thence went and beseged the citie of Terowen but yet in vayne There at the length was a truce taken for ten monethes in those parties only For in PiedmoÌ„te was hote warre neuerthelesse and the town of Cherie was taken by assaulte of the imperialles who made a wonderfull slaughter both of souldiours and citezens And whan after the garrison of Turrin suffered great penury being on euery syde beseged and stopped from virtualles the Frenche kyng in haruest tyme leuied a power and sente thether his eldest sonne Henry the Daulphin and MommoraÌ„cie who making waye and entring perforce releued their present famine In the moneth of October the armie of kyng Ferdinando wherin were the horsemen of Saxony and Meissen of Franckonie and Austriche the Carinthians Bohemers and Hongarians whome the Germaines cal Hussares beseged the towne Exechium vpon the Ryuer of Draue whiche was kept with a strong garryson of the Turkes And where they tracted the tyme and were constrayned for wante of victualles to leuie the siege in the retire they fel into the lappes of their ennemies which had layd for them ambusches in the woodes and kept all the straytes that they could no way escape In this distresse firste certen Centurions and captaynes of souldiours and the Hongarians fled after also went Cacianer the kinges Lieutenaunt But the reste who detested the shame of running away exhorting them selues vnto manhode especially the horsemen of Almaigne aboade the charge and violent force of their ennemies but in fine being vaÌ„quished of the greater numbre were all for the moste parte slayne and manye of the captaynes taken prisoners and led to Constantinople in to moste miserable captiuitie The fourth Ides of Octobre the kyng of Englande had a sonne borne at Hamptoncourt Prince Edwarde by Quene Iane Semer whome he maried after the death of Quene Anne In the meane whyle the byshop of Rome for so muche as truce was taken be twyxt Fraunce and Flaunders went about to procure the like also in al other places to the entent that through this occasioÌ„ he might worke his purpose and ceased not tyll he had brought it to passe The bishops deuise was as it is reported that setting them at peace he myght stire them vp against the kyng of England whom he hated vnto the death and against the Lutherians About this tyme also Christina the Emperours nece by his syster Quene of Denmarke Duchesse of Millan leauing Italy retourneth into Flaunders through Germanye and there was a treaty of a mariage betwene her and William Duke of Cleaue but it toke not effect Than also the men of Gelderland began to rebelle against their Prince Charles Egmonde whiche was al his lyfe tyme of the Frenche parte and therfore sore hated of the Burgundians and than as it was sayd went about to make his country FreÌ„che He was so chased out by his owne people euery where in this outragious tumulte that he had scarsly a towne or two lefte hym to flye into He was alwayes a great mainteiner of the bishop of Romes doctrine and abstained not from sore punishment Paule the third in the first beginning of his byshoprike made his two yonge nephewes Cardinalles as before is wrytten For the whiche thing being euyll reported of he vouched saufe to call other worthy men also both in nobilitie and learning to the same degre of honour partly to asswage the enuie and displeasure partely to haue mete champions whiche were able to defende hym by their learnyng and eloquence amonges whome was Caspar Contarene Reginalde Poole Iohn Bellie Frederick Fregose vnto whom within a shorte space after he added moreouer Sadolete Alexander and Bembus And purposed also Erasinus as in a certen Epistle to a frend of his Erasinus himselfe reporteth There remayne also certen Epistles written of Sadolet to Erasinus wherin after he hath spoken muche of the great good wyl of the byshop towardes hym he sayth that within shorte tyme he wyl auaunce him to hyghe dignitie Contarenus was a noble man a Senatour of Uenise for his learnyng ryght famous and beyonde all expectation whan he had craued nothynge was sodaynly promoted to this dignitie ✚ The twelfth Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne in the Empyre of Charles the fyste ⧠The argument of the twelfth Booke POpe Paule by his deputes ordeyned a reformation touching the abuses of the Churche as permutations voisomes benefices incompatibles Cardinalles courtiers Chaplelaynes Courtisanes Pardoners and the Colloquies of Erasmus prohibited The Protestauntes mete at Brunswycke whether came the king of Denmarke Persecution aryseth at Pans The Pope the Emperour and the Frenche kyng mete at Nice there the kynge kissed his foote A Colledge and a Frenche churche are erected at Strasborough The kyng of Englande burneth the bones of Thomas Becket The Prince Efectour of Brandenburgh aduertiseth the Duke of Saxon of the preparation of the great Turke A secte of Antmomians aryseth The conspiratie of Heldus and the Duke of Brunswycke are discouered by the takyng of his Secretary An assembly is holden at Franckeforte decrees are there made and appointment mode for a conference to be had for the peace of the Protestauntes whiche to let Duke Henry of Brunswicke leuiâ—th an armie George Duke of Saxon ennemy of the veritie dieth Henry his brother succedeth hym The kyng of Englande hauyng set forth a booke against the counsell of Uicence callseth certen articles to be made concerning Religion They of Gaunt rebell The Emperour hauing saufeconduicte passeth through Fraunce The Uenetians make peace with the Turke but certen Senatours had disclosed their secretes I Haue shewed you before how the Counsels wer deferred til the kalendes of NoueÌ„b but the same also was made frustrate Notwithstandyng the Bishoppe to the intent he myght feed men with hope and seme to do some thinge had longe before chosen out certen of his owne sect amoÌ„ges the whole numbre and had streightly
he also but performe this dewtie to the common wealth and is not a litle moued at these newes for the chaunce and calamitie of his natife countrey For this therfore and for other causes he went to kyng Ferdinando into Lusatia But he had both before his comming and when he was there also receiued letters and messagers touching the same thinges Wherfore in case he should not be resisted there is no doubt but they which lie nexte him should se shortly in theyr countrey that most cruell enemie For all the way from Buda vntill theyr frontiers is there nother Castell nor Towne fortified able to hold out such a power no mountaines nor streight passages to stoppe his carriage sauing onely the citie of Uratislauie and the towne of Lignice For as for of the situation of Morauie and Silesie and howe champion and fruietfull a countrey it is he knoweth well enough and nedeth no rehearsall And albeit he hath promysed ayde to kynge Ferdinando for the common daunger yet he seeth howe lytle suche maner of ayde is able to helpe for the greatnes of the case requyreth al the ayde and power of the whole Empyre But for as muche as the same haplye can not be obtayned without a generall assemblye and vnlesse ail Germany be quieted And agayne the present daunger wyll permitte no long delaye therfore hath he in talke moued the kyng that he woulde wholy dispose him selfe vnto this thynge onlye that a fyrme and sure peace myght be concluded Wherunto kyng Ferdinando had answered ryght honorably and promysed his endeuour and to further the cause to the Emperour so that he might vnderstande what he and his league frendes furthermore demaunded And seing it standeth thus he desyreth hym to geue his mynde hereunto and open vnto hym vnfaynedly suche conditions of peace as he thynketh mete to be intreated of And he hym selfe wyll deuyse and that in his owne name that Ferdinando shall preferre them to the Emperour in suche sorte as he trusteth that the treatie shal be commodious to the vniuersall worlde And nowe also maye the Turkes violence more easelye be resisted for as muche as Iohn Uayuode is reconcyled to kynge Ferdinando as the kynge hym selfe tolde hym in counsel for he would not haue it bruted abroad leste it should come to the Turkes care Certen yeares past and hetherto hath a great part of Hongary bene plucked awaye from Christendome through ciuile warres but nowe their myndes are appeased and all displeasure paste there is a goodlye occasion offered of well doynge Wherfore eftsones he besecheth hym that he would help the cause of the common wealth This Marques had maried the daughter of Sigismunde kyng of Poole whiche was nece to Iohn Uayuode by his systers syde and hereof came that frendshyp and familiaritie betwyxt them He had also than receyued the Religion of Saxony and set forth a booke of the same but kepte hym out of the league and was otherwyse wholy addicted to the Emperour and kynge Ferdinando and reteyned certen ceremonies and sought to quiet offences The Duke of Saxony signifieth the whole matter by his letters to the Lantgraue And the twelfth daye of Iune after they wryte bothe to this Marques of Brandenburg on this wyse Albeit the matter is of muche importaunce and altogether suche as they oughte to make their fellowes priuie to yet doe they see what discommoditie myghte come thorowe delaye especially consideryng how the Turke flacketh nothyng of his fiersenes and they haue also consulted ouerlonge how to quiet Germany and to withstande hym with all their powers for where he aduertised them by his Ambassadours that it were nedefull to resiste that moste cruell ennemie truthe it is and they confesse that the common wealth requyred no lesse But they stād in that case that they had chiefly nede of suche a peace as were honourable trewe syrme and nothyng doubtfull For in case they should spende theyr treasure on the Turkyshe warre the meane whyle haue vnquiet neighbours at home he seeth him selfe howe vnmete and hurtefull the same would be vnto them They for their parte are verye desyrous of peace whiche if they can not obtayne and therfore in doubtfull matters diminishe no parte of their power and in the meane time the cōmon wealth sustayne any damage there may no blame therof be imputed to them but all together vnto those that refuse the conditions of peace Moreouer they suppose that it should concerne the kinge Ferdinādo and others that border on the Turkes that relatiō were made of these thinges vnto all the states Where also hetherto there is no counsel imperiall called it is not for the profite of the commō wealth For though perchaunce the time wil not permitte that publique ayde should be decreed sodaynly and nede requyreth to craue ayde of some men Yet is the Turke of suche power that he is able to continew in warres many yeares And wil not cease tyl eyther he hath obteyned his pourpose or hauing an ouerthrow be cōstrayned to breake vp warres for a time Wherfore they thinke an assemblie of the Empyre to be very expediēt that both the peace of Germany therein myght be established and cōsultation had conserning the Turkishe warre And this later to be of so great force that albeit al thinges were quiet in Germany yet neuer thelesse a common assembly to be nedefull Nor it skileth not greatly if perchaunce kyng Ferdinādo can not well be there in the Emperours name so that Ambassadours be sent with full commission and authoritie Whiche thing if he can bring to passe the same shal be cōmodious for the Emperour and for all Germany Howe be it leste they shoulde in any point fayle the common wealth or hinder the cōmoditie there of they woulde haue in a readynes suche ayde as they for their partes are acustomed and oughte to finde to be alwayes readye to serue whan nede shall require Neyther doubte they but theyr fellowes wil do the same but vnder this condition that kyng Ferdinando immediatly obtayne for them of the Emperour a sure and vndoubted peace And the whiche all other Princes of the Empyre that be of the Bysshoppes Religion shall ratifie That done and the suites and actions of the chamber set apart their ayde shal be streight wayes ready But in case the Emperour by reason of his absence can not brynge all the Prynces heeeunto in time at the leste he perswade these to be of his opinion William Lewis Dukes of Bauier George Duke of Saxony the Archebyshop of Mentz Collon and Treuers also the Bishops of Salisburge Maydenburge Breme Bamberge Wyrtenburge Munster Auspurge and Aeslet But in case they can not be perswaded that then the Emperour and kyng Ferdinando doe confirme the same peace for them selues and for all their subiectes and make promyse do their endeuours that other Prynces also maye geue theyr assente to the same whiche in case they shall refuse to doe yet shall they neuer swarue
of their wonted rygour had lately outlawed the citie of Myndin for a sute betwyxte them and the clergie of their citie whiche thynge ones knowen the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgraue in their own names and their league frendes publyshe a wrytynge at the Ides of Nouembre wher in they recite in ordre what trouble they haue had with the chamber these certen yeares paste And because they can neuer be quiet and vpon moste iuste causes haue bene refused And yet neuerthelesse procedyng obstinatlye haue nowe prescrybed theyr fellowes the citezens of Myndyn they doe admonyshe and praye all Prynces and states that they would repute the sentence geuen as vniuste and not suffer them selues to be styred vp to any violence For if it were other wyse and that the sentence were put in execution they would not sure neglecte the iniuries of their confederatours In the meane tyme the Emperour beyng moued by kyng Ferdinando as before is sayde sent his letters in to Germany declarynge his good wyll towardes the common wealth And howe muche he desyred to appease thys controuersie in Religion And because a fewe dayes paste he receyued aduertysement that the Protestauntes also dyd not refuse the concondicions of Peace and required a treatie so that his consente were therto therfore he vnto whome nothynge is lieuer than the publique tranquilitie doeth both allowe this waye and maketh his deputes the Archebyshop of Londe and Matthie Helde or one of them and geueth them ful aucthoritie by these presentes that they together with the counsellers of his brother kyng Ferdinando and the other Prynces that be intercessours may treate and determyne the matter what soeuer they shall doe he wyll ratifie These letters were dated at Toledo the .xxv. daye of Nouembre And whan they were afterwardes brought into Germany the twelfth daye of February was assigned at the whiche daye all shoulde mete at Franckefurte I tolde you a litle before of a league made at Norinberge The chief ryngeleaders hereof were Lewis Duke of Bauier and Henry Duke of Brunswycke whiche was wholy addicted to disturbe the common quiet And did his endeuour to styre vp warre agaynste the Protestauntes And where he had about the same tyme receyued letters from the Archebyshop of Mentz on the morowe after Christmas day he aunswereth at fewe wordes committing the reste in credite to hys Secretary Stephen Faber whome he sente withall And the last daye saue one of December it chaunced not farre from the towne of Cassel that the Lantgraue going a hunting mette with him and an other yonge man of the Archebyshop of Mentz that had brought the letters There the Lantgraue after the Almaigne facion demaunded of the younge man which firste mette hym what he was I am sayeth he seruaunt to the Prynce Electour of Brandenburge what is the other And he lykewyse whan Stephen nowe came nere hym he asketh of hym selfe what he was He aunswered as the other had done he enquireth whether he was goyng He sayde to Spyres howe doeth the Prynce in health After beyng demaunded whether he woulde iustifie these thynges to be trewe He sayde yea that he woulde and so was dimissed Afterwarde whan he was gone a little waye one of the Lantgraues seruauntes tolde howe that it was the Duke of Brunswickes Secretary whiche after that an other had also affirmed that knewe hym the Lantgraue sent to fetche them back to Casselle tyll he came from huntynge hym selfe In the meane tyme Stephen Faber whylest he was in the Stowffe plucketh out of his bosome a lether bagge and takynge out of it certen letters hasteth out of the doers one of the houshold seruauntes perceiued it and gaue notice to the Stewarde who as it chaunced was there present lookynge downe out of the stowffe wyndowe into the courte vnderneth wherfore being asked for his letters he draweth thē out of his bosom The Steward receiueth thē into his custody and delyuered them to the Lātgraue whan he came from hunting Those were two letters wherof the one was directed to the Archebyshop of Mentz the other to Matthie Helde And with al were certen tables of remembraunce or instructions of thinges he had incredite And seing the matter was of it selfe very suspicious and the notes within the table increased the suspition more the Lantgraue openeth them both The somme of the Archebyshoppes letters was this That he had receyued his letters and reioseth muche that he hath hym in contynuall remembraunce and that he is all his to commaunde and howe he hath sent vnto him Stephen his Secretary a trustye man by whome he maye vnderstande the whole matter and what newes was brought hym out of Bauier Unto whome he desyreth hym to geue credit After he wysheth well to hym and theyr adherentes but his aduersaries he commendeth to Sathan of the same effecte he had wrytten also to Heldus howe he had sent agayne Stephen with instructions he desyreth to heare hym gently and gyue no lesse credite to hym than if he spake presently to hym in persone so longe as he lyueth he wyll take the Emperours parte howe so euer the matter falleth out Neyther doubteth he but the Emperour wyll deuyse for all thynges well enough In the remembraunce of the Archebyshop was this How the Lantgraue was vnquiet and could take no slepe nor reste and was so geuen to huntynge that he was almoste madde Wherby the thing myght the better be done And some parte of it was already brought to passe And what the Lantgraue goeth aboute is not vnknowen to to the Dukes of Bauier and is moste certen that he wil make warre againste the one of them two Wherfore he muste perswade the fellowes of his college to come into the league He shall doe very well also to addicte him selfe wholy vnto this league and haue respect to them of whome beynge ones forsaken he receyued muche displeasure Howe the Duke of Bauier and he intende to talke together and by conferryng their counselles to determine some thyng Moreouer how the state of Sweuia are moued vnto this league and the matter brought almoste to an ende The instructions to Heldus were these How his truste is that the Emperour wyl come shortly out of Spayne and that if he perseuer cōstante in his purpose all thynges shall procede well For than he trusteth that other kynges also whiche as yet haue not vttered them selues wyll fauour the same waye And if all the confederatours be of the same mynde and wylle that he is of there shall wante nothynge But howe soeuer others vse them selues he wyll euer remayne constant and obedient to the Emperour Howe he thynketh it good that the chamber cōmaunde the Lantgraue to laye aparte his weapōs in the meane whyle wyll he and the Duke of Bauier be in a readines And if he do not obeye that than the chamber may cōmaunde the Duke of Bauier and him to forsee that the cōmon wealth susteine no dāmage inioyne other
the king of Romains but stode to the conuenaūtes of Cadame Uienne that same Archebyshop of Londe was a Germayne borne and counsellour to Christierne kyng of Denmarke who beyng expulsed was also exiled and lost his byshopryke than came he agayne into Germany attended vpon the Emperour and afterwardes was made byshop of Constaunce Whylest this treaty was at Frankefurte certen bandes of Souldiours were assembled in Saxony and were commaunded by their gouernours to go lye in the countreis of the citie of Breme of the Duke of Lunenburge and others of the same Religion and there to remayne tyll the campe remoued It was kept very secrete at the first by whose conduicte or aucthoritie they were leuied but at length it was certenly knowen that they were mustred by Henry Duke of Brunswycke and his brother Christopher Archebyshop of Bremen They that were i 〈…〉 ried by them complayned in dede to the imperial chāber but it was in vayne The Protestaūtes afterwardes through their industrie lest they should do any more harme procured the same men to serue them whome notwithstanding they vsed to the iniurie of no man At the request of the Princes that wer intercessours Stephen Faber was set at libertie by the Lantgraue who gaue him passeporte He had sayde of his owne accorde that he woulde not retourne to his Prince for that he trusted hym no more But whan he was released he went streight way to him In this assemblie William Duke of Cleue by his Ambassadour did exhibite a wrytinge to the Protestauntes wherin he declared by what ryght tytle he possessed Gelderlande And prayed them that they would be meanes for him to the Emperour and to commende his cause also to the Emperours Ambassadours there The Frenche kyng had aduertised Ulrich Duke of Wirtenberge by his Ambassadour that he heard saye howe he through the motion of his confederatours was determined to make warre vppon certen Byshoppes in Germany But this pourpose did not he alowe and for his good wyll he beareth hym doth admonyshe hym that he do it not For if he did he should offende the Emperour and kyng Ferdinando vnto whome he was lately reconciled and bryng him selfe and al that euer he had into great Daunger The Duke geuyng him thankes for the good admonishement sayth he is sclaundered and howe he supposeth the same to be reysed vp by the Dukes of Bauier who hathe fasly sowen a lyke bruite of hym in Germany he desyreth hym to geue no credit to it For it is neither his entent nor yet his fellowes to styre vp any trouble or to attēpte any thyng by force of armes vnlesse they be constrayned And doubteth not also but when they shal heare therof they wyl pourge them selues herein Wherfore whan he had declared this to his fellowes at Franckefurte the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue the .xix. daye of Aprill addresse their letters to the kynge And saye howe they vnderstande by Duke Ulriche what reporte of them was made vnto hym but to be a sclaunder forged by their ennemies and euill wyllers For they entende to make no warre and how muche they desyre peace that can the Princes tell that were intercessours For albeit they are more wayes than one prouoked albeit theyr fellowes citie is outlawed and a league made of dyuerse for the defence of vniusle decrees though bandes of Souldiours by them hired for great and vnaccustomed wages are nowe spoyling the countreys of their league frendes yet are they quiet and styre not one whytte for they loue their natiue countrey and remitte all iniuries for the cōmon wealthes sake But their aduersaries are lead with a certen impudent hatred and followe no temperate wayes nor wyll admitte no lawefull reasonyng but seke only that Germany maye swymme with ciuile bloud And seyng it is thus they desyre hym not to credit these false reportes but to geue his ayde that the churche maye be quieted by godly meanes For this is properly the dutie of kynges to maynteine truthe and innocencie And where as they defende the cause of Religion it is done of none euyll pourpose but of a certen Godly dutie for they doubte not but that the doctrine whiche they doe professe is agreable vnto Gods worde whiche they maye in no wyse forsake About the ende of this assemblie the .xxiiij. daye of Apryll died George Duke of Saxony without chyldren For his two sonnes were departed before without issewe whereof the one had maried Elizabeth the Lantgraues syster and the other one of the house of Mandesfielde Wherfore Duke George by legacie maketh his heyres his brother Henry and his sonnes Maurice and Auguste vnder this condition that they alter not the state of Religion Whiche vnlesse they shall perfourme he geueth his whole landes to the Emperour and to kyng Ferdinando vntyll suche tyme as eyther he or his sonnes or the nexte kynsman of that familie doe accomplyshe this condition This wyl of his so made he sheweth first to the Nobilitie and cōmons of his countrie beinge nowe olde sickly and wylleth them to confirme the same by an othe neuer to alter this his last wyll But they fearyng leste it should be the occasion of warre betwene the kinsmē intreate him that he would be content to sende to his brother Henry For they truste that he wyll consente to alter nothing in Religion Whereupon Ambassadours were sent to perswade with him and whan they had alledged sondry reasons and especially sayd how there was muche ready Money and a great quantitie of Plate and goodly stuffe whiche should come wholy to his handes in case he would obeye his brothers wyll He aunswered them by and by thus Certenly your message semeth vnto me to resemble the same that is writtē in the Gospel what tyme Sathan promysed Christe the kyngdomes of the whole worlde so that he would falle downe and worshyp hym Doe youthynke that I sette so muche by any ryches that I would therfore forsake the truthe and pure religion Assuredly you are farre abused if you so thinke Wherfore whan they had this answere and were departed without their purpose before they came at home Duke George had lefte hys lyfe His brother Henry going immediatly to Dresda and other townes bindeth the people to hym by an othe which was the more easely done by reason he was in league with the Protestauntes Moreouer the Prince Electour of Saxony hearyng of his death hasteth home with all expedition that if nede were he myght ayde Henry The Princes of the Popysh parte for the losse of so sure a pyllour and so lucky successe of the Protestauntes were sore agreued especially the Archebyshop of Mentz and the Duke of Brunswycke as hereafter you shal heare Thus had Duke George a successour and heire cleane contrary to his wylle And he whome he hated moste of all men duryng his lyfe tyme namely Luther was sent for by the new Prince to Lipsia to preache and to alter the
Religion About this tyme in the moneth of May appered a blasyng starre and shortly after departed Isabel wyfe to Charles the Emperour for whome the Frenche kyng so sone as he heard therof kepte a solempne funerall at Paris as the maner of kynges is I shewed you before of the counsell of Uicence whiche the byshop of Rome had proroged tyll Easter of this yeare But seyng than that none would come he publisheth his letters the tenth of Iune wherin he prorogeth the counsell no more but suspendeth it at his owne pleasure and senate of his Cardinalles The kyng of Englande had certen monethes before set forth another wryttyng touching this Synode of Uicence and declareth howe the Byshop deludeth the whole worlde For where he excused hym selfe by the Duke of Mantua it was a playne mockery For seing he taketh vppon hym so great anothoritie why did he not compelle hym If he coulde not wherfore shoulde he commaunde men to come to a place vncerten and the whiche is not in his power Nowe albeit he hathe chosen Uicence for the same pourpose yet is there no doubt but the 〈…〉 enetians men of so great wysdome wyll no more suffer their citie to be pestred with suche a multitude without garmsons of Souldiours than woulde the Duke of Mantua and that in fyne there wylbe as small resorte thether as was to Mantua There fore it is but delusion what so euer he doeth neyther oughte he to be permitted in this dissolute lybertie any longer There is nothynge in dede better nor more commodious than a lawfull counsell But whan they are applied vnto priuate lucre and commoditie and to the establyshynge of certen mens aucthoritie they brynge a wonderfull destruction to the common wealth Whan the name of the counsell and of the churche was nowe common in euery mans mouthe Luther setteth forth a booke of either of them in the vulgare speache And fyrst he treatefh of the assemblie of the Apostles at Hierusalem whiche is mentioned in the .xv. of the actes After he reciteth the contrary opinions of the Doctours especially Austen and Ciprian concernyng baptisme by the same occasion he maketh mention of those lawes that are called the Canons of the Apostles and proueth by manifest reasons that thei be false and countrefeated and those that geue them that tytle to deserue death Than doeth he recite in ordre those foure counselles which were of chiefe authoritie the counsell of Nyce Constantinople Ephesus and Calcedonie And declareth for what causes they assēbled ther and what they decreed in euery of them After he commeth to the principall question and sheweth what is the aucthoritie of a. counsell Wherfore he sayeth howe a counsel maye not confirme any newe doctryne nor commaunde any newe worke neyther bynde mens myndes with newe ceremonies not to intermedle with ciuile gouernementes nor to make any decrees to establysh the authoritie of a few But the dutie therof to be to abolyshe and condemne newe opinions contrary to holy Scripture and newe ceremonies whether they be superstitious or vnprofitable for the churche And suche thynges as are brought in controuersie to examine and determine after the written text of Gods worde After this he diffineth the churche sheweth by what tokens it ought to be knowen and by a comparyson made declaring what Christe and his Apostles taught he sayeth howe the Byshop of Rome whiche hath brought into the churche a farre cōtrary doctrine and by wicked meanes hath pylled the whole world with intollerable exactions ought to be condempned and dryuen to make restitution Amonges diuerse other thynges wherby in the same boke he declareth what blyndenes men were led into vnder the Byshop of Rome and howe shameful and vyle was the Religion he sayeth how it was come thus farre that a monke or a freers wede was thought to be sufficient to bryng a man to eternall lyfe And manye not onlye meane folkes but also great Prynces would be buried in a freers garment Those that shall come after peraduenture wyl not beleue it but yet is it true and wont to be commonly done in Italy And in our me mory Fraunces Marques of Mantua the seconde of that name put into his last wylle that he myght be buried in a gray freers cote The same did Albertus Pius Prynce of Carpes in Paris And Christopher Longelie a Bourgonnion buried at Padwey a man excellently learned and a great Ciceronian who also wrote an Oration against the Lutherians in lyke case as Alberte did diuers against Erasmus of Roterdame Immediatly after the death of Duke George Henry the Duke of Brunswycke rydeth to the Emperour into Spayne thorowe Fraunce About the same tyme Henry the eyght kyng of Englande calleth a Parliament wherein amōges other thinges were enacted certen decrees for Religiō called the syxe Articles as followeth that vnder the four me of bread and wyne was the true and natural body and bloud of Christe and that after the wordes of consecration there remayned no more substaunce of bread and wyne that the receiuing of the whole supper of the Lorde was not necessary to saluation and that Christ is wholy cōteyned vnder both kyndes How it is not lawful for priestes to marry That the vowes of chastitie ought to be perfourmed That priuate masses were to be reteyned That auricular confession is good and necessary To suche as thought and did otherwyse was appoynted punyshement dewe for heretikes And the same tyme the kynge stoode in termes to marry the Lady Anne of Cleue a mayde of an excellent beautie which after she was affianced within a few monthes was sent to Caleis whether the kyng had sent the Lorde Admirall others with his shyppes to receyue her and transporte her into Englande But he hymselfe accompanied with all the Nobles and Gentlemen of the Realme receiued her vpō blacke Heath and brought her to Grenewitche where shortly after they were married by the Archebyshop of Canturbury Some saye howe the Bishoppes had perswaded the kyng to cōsent to the syxe Articles to the intent they myght bring the Archebyshop of Cantorburye and the Lorde Crumwell whiche were great fauourers of Religion out of aucthoritie creditie This yeare in the mōth of August Barbarousse the Turkes Lieutenaunt taketh by assiege Castelneufe a towne in Slauonie borderinge vpon the Goulfe of Uenise and sleying all the Souldiours leadeth awaye many captiue A yere before in the moneth of October the Emperour and the Uenetians beyng of one confederacie had wonne it And the Emperour in dede put in a garrison of foure thousand Spanyardes and made captayne Fraunces Sarmiento Whiche chaunced to the Uenetians contrary to their expectation for that they sayde the town standing in that coaste ought rather to be theirs Therfore not longe after when they more more mislyked this societie and sawe it wold be very daungerours for them aske truce of the Turke and obteyne it In maner at the same tyme arose
a sedition at Gaunte Whiche citie is of great force and aucthoritie in those parties and hath oftentymes made many sore bickeringes for their lybertie with the Gouernours of Flaunders in whose dominion it standeth The Emperour hauing intelligence hereof where he firste had thought to haue gone through Italy into Germany he altered his purpose and determined to passe through Fraunce seyng the kyng required hym instantly so to doe and promysed hym all thynges franckely In the meane tyme the Palsgraue and the Marques of Brandenburge intercessours addressyng their letters to the Emperour of the pacification at Franckfurte had requyred hym to permitte a conference of learned men to be had at Norinberge But he sayde that the death of his wyfe and certen other affaires would not suffer hym to entende suche matters Whan the intercessours had sent a copie of these to the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue and yet had not signified whether the Emperour had confirmed that truce of .xv. monethes The .xix. daye of Nouember an assemblie was appoynted at Arustet a towne of Turingia Here they consulted to augmente their confederacie for their nedefull defence in case the Emperour wyll not allowe the peace makyng at Franckefurte for well disposyng the churche goodes to sende Ambassadours into Englande touching the syxe Articles and to mitigate the kinges mynde to moue the Frenche kynge that innocente persones be not tormented for ReligioÌ„ Moreouer to sende Ambassadours to the Emperour so sone as they shall vnderstande of his commyng into Flaunders And for because certen of the confederatours were absent and other some had not commission to determine of certeÌ„ matters an other daye was assigned at Smalcalde at the kalendes of Marche wherin to treate of the reste Here were receiued into the League the men of Rigen a citie in Linonia whiche were at coÌ„tencion with their Archebyshop lyke as many others were in Germany Neyther wer they receyued vpon other condicion than to be defended in the counsel chaÌ„ber by the commoÌ„ procurers therfore payed to the confederatours a thousande and fyue hundreth crownes Henry Duke of Saxon was taken into the league two yeares before without any charge because he was but poore but yet vpon condition that if he were at any tyme enriched he should beare like charge with the reste Nowe therfore that he was auaunced to this goodly inheritaunce in this Assemblie they treated with hym touching the same whiche assemblie ended the tenthe of Decembre The Prynces were not there present but had sent their deputes And the Duke of Saxon had sent Iohn Dulcie and Fraunces Burcarte vicechauncelour into Englande in the moneth of Nouembre to be is his name present at the marriage betwene the kynge and the Lady Anne of Cleane for he had married her syster Sibille as is mentioned in the syâ—â— booke Wherfore vpon this occasion they were enioyned at Arnstade to treate with the kyng in the name of the ProtestauÌ„tes for these matters before sayd The Emperour receyuing a saufe conduictetoke his iourney with a small company in the moneth of Nouembre Whan he came to the frontiers of Fraunce borderynge vpon Spayne he met the kynges two sonnes Henry and charles which were come thether in poste and the Constable which was gone thether long before with a great parte of the nobilitie of Fraunce of whom being receyued and conduicted through the myddes of Fraunce the greatest cities whaÌ„ he came to Loche in Burges he mette with the kynge hym selfe who was than scarcely ameÌ„ded of a late disease After passyng through Or leaunce on Newe yeares daye rydynge in the myddes betwene the kynges two sonnes he entred into the citie of Paris and the Constable bare the sworde before him For no kinde of ioyful myrth and gladnes no honour or solemnitie that the mynde of man coulde delight in was left vndone Thether came the Byshoppes Legate Alexander Farnesius Cardinall who together with Cardinall Bellaye the Byshop of the citie Receiued the Emperour into the Cathedrall churche at Paris Where the Emperour remaining seuen dayes afterwardes departeth the kynge hym selfe accompanying hym into Uermandois and his sonnes brought hym as farre as Ualencenes a towne in Henaulte The kynge was brought into a great and almoste a sure hope to recouer Millan but it chaunced farre otherwyse as hereafter I purpose to declare What tyme the Emperour was with the Frenche kynge in Fraunce they sent both their Ambassadours to the Uenetians moste nobly accoÌ„panied The Emperour sent Alphonse Daualle gouernour of Millan and the king Claudie Hannebalde Lieutenant of Piedmonte These exhorted the Senatours with a longe discours to ioyne them selues in amitie with these two most myghty Princes and to put to theyr good willes and power to ouerthrow the Turke But they whan they had most honorably dimissed the Ambassadors considering the thing more diligently thought mete to reconcile them selues to the Turke with whom they had trewce already Wherfore concluding at the last to rendre vnto him Nanplia and Epidaurum they obteyned at his hande peace Some saye that the Frenchemen albeit exhorted them openly as did themperours Ambassadour yet secretly whispered in their eares that they should prouide for themselues not enter into such a daunger for the which they were fyrst like to smarte the king him selfe in an Apologie against themperour reporteth that the common wealth of the Uenetians of him destroyed was through his meanes releued and recouered Aloisius Bardnarius the Ambassadoure of the Uenetians sente to the Turke for peace 〈◊〉 as commaunded fyrst to offer al other conditions and reserue those two cities for extreme necessitie But the Turke which by priuie espiall knewe the determination of the Senate longe before did expostulate with him that he did not declare his commission plainely and directly And without those two places deliuered would not conclude Who beyng amased seyng the priuities of the common wealth were bewrayed full sore againste his will permitteth him to haue them at laste But whan he was retourned to Uenise and had declared the whole matter the Senatours greatly astonied after moste diligente inquisition apprehende certen and fyndynge them giltie cut of theyr heades One of them was fledde into the Frenche Ambassadours lodgyng the Bishoppe of Mompelier as into a Saintuary wherefore officers were sent to haue searched all the house But whaÌ„ they might not be suffered to enter the Senate commaundeth certeine great pieces to be fetched out of theyr ordenaunce house to ouerthrow the lodging Wherupon the Frenchmen consyderinge theyr owne daunger bring him forth vnto them The Senate afterwarde wrote vnto the kinge the cause why they so dyd lest he shoulde thynke his Ambassadour had susteined wrong When themperour came into Flaunders kyng Ferdinando comming out of Austriche met there also After the Protestantes Ambassadors as it was condescended at Arnstad who the xxiiii daye of February beyng admitted to the Emperours speach at Gaunt
welcome him into the low countrey pourge them selues of the euill reportes of theyr aduersaryes and complayne of the Duke of Brunswike and the Iudges of the Chaumber declare how desirous they be of peace and by howe many waies they haue sought it which they nowe desyre him to graunt and establishe for euer The Emperour telleth them before Granuella that after he hath consulted of the matter he wyll make them an aunswere And in maner about the same tyme that they sent this Ambassade to the Emperour they wrote also to the Frenche kynge reioysinge muche at the great good wyll and amitie betwene the Emperour and hym And with a long proces intreate hym in this cōsent of mindes to further the cause of Religion and publique quiet to the Emperour At the kalendes of Marche the Ambassadours of the Princes cities of Protestauntes met at Smalcald as was appointed with whom also came these diuines Ionas Pomerane Melancthon Cruciger Bucer And they were inioyned to deuise a fourme in wryting wherwith they shoulde thinke mete to treate with their aduersaries for the cōciliation of religion In this assemblie they cōsulted of such matters as were left vndiscussed at Arnstad as before is said In the meane time Dulcie and Burcarte were returned out of Englande the seuenth day of Marche they make reporte at Smalcalde of the state of Religion in England that for the decrees made the yere before there is no great punishement notwithstanding Hugh Latimer byshop of Woorcester and Shaxton byshop of Salisbury are deteined in prison for Religiō and as yet not released The Lorde Cromwell whiche is in moste authoritie doth appease and mitigate the kynges mynde and that also the kyng him selfe in familiar talke opened vnto them his mynde supposeth thus that the diuines of the Protestauntes thinke not rightly cōcerning the mariage of priestes the lordes supper vnder both kyndes and of the priuate masse requireth them to write vnto him of these other necessary questions at large alledging the causes and reasons of their opinions And he wyll see agayne that the learned men of his Realme shall wryte an aunswere that thus a waye may be made to come to the knowledge of the truthe Moreouer Cromwel and certen others thinke it mete and expedient to sende a great Ambassade to the kinge and Melancthon with them For if any meane agrement in religion might be had the kynge woulde bestowe a great somme of money vpon a league that he purposeth to make with them not onlye in the cause of Religion but in generall for the kyng marueleth greatly why they are confederated for Religion only for the tyme wyll come that they shal be attempted with warre vnder a contrary title And a fewe dayes after the diuines exhibite their wryting the some wherof was this Not to swarue from the steppes of the confession at Auspurge and the Apologie afterwardes annexed to the same Which sentence afterwardes all the diuines that were absent did approue by their letters sent thether This tyme came Henry the Duke of brunswick to Gaūt The day before the Ides of March thēperour answereth the protestātes Ambassadours by Cornelles Scepp gētly so so but yet in suche sorte as it coulde not be wel perceiued whether he would graunte them peace or not Wherfore the Ambassadours by the Emperours leaue going a litle asyde by and by retourne and desire hym to inhibite the processe of the Imperiall chamber and graunte them peace whereunto the Emperour sayde he had no more to aunswere them at this tyme he woulde take further delyberation This aunswere was recited at Smalcalde the tenth daye after And on Easter munday which was than the .xxix. of Marche came thether the Princes them selues That tyme was a certen contention and hatred betwyxte Granuella and Heldus which in fine came to this ende that Heldus being displaced departed from the courte and lyued a priuate lyfe For the other was aboue hym in authoritie and brought Heldus into hatred and obloquie for that he was ouer vehement in counsell matters and other affaires and had constreyned the Emperour thinkyng nothyng lesse to haue warres in maner against his wyll And whan Granuella had geuen certen manifeste instructions of his wyll and mynde to be inclyned to peace and concorde beynge requested of the Protestauntes he perswaded the Emperour also to the conditiōs of peace And he hymselfe at the begynning as though it had bene in his owne name sent to Smalcalde intercessours and Ambassadours Theodoricke Manderschitte and William Nuenarie Erles men of great wysdome and dignitie notwithstanding the first taried by the waye sore sycke Their demaundes were reasonable enough neuerthelesse they signified this that the Emperour was almost perswaded as though they cared not for Religion neyther desyred peace in theyr hartes but altogether sought to conuerte the churche goodes to theyr priuate vses delyghted in discorde bare him no good wyll but were more addicte to take their partes that were his open ennemies And these things were reported to the Emperour partly by their aduersaries partly by the Frenchemen as it is sayde for a certentie For what tyme the Emperour went through Fraunce and all thinges were lyke to growe to a perfite frendshyp then were certen thinges disclosed and the Protestauntes letters vnto the kyng shewed vnto the Emperour some do impute this to the kyng him selfe and other some to the Constable who was than of chief authoritie sought al meanes possible to quiet and agree the Princes and dyd beare the Protestantes no good wyl because of Religion ✚ The thirtene Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the thirtene Booke THe Protestauutes make aunswere to the Emperour demaundes shewyng how they haue more regarde to Religion than to churche goodes They confute also the argumentes of the kyng of Englande touchyng the syxe Articles The Emperour hauing punyshed them at Gaunt sendeth letters to assigne a metyng for the protestauntes against whome speaketh Alexander Farnese the Popes Legate who had followed the Emperour out of Fraunce In the meane tyme the Frenche kyng made a league with the Duke of Cleane whose syster the kyng of Englande than refused At the assemble of Hagenawe certen poinctes of Religion were agreed vpon the resydewe were referred to the conuention that kyng Ferdinando assigned at Woruies Whether Granuellan sendyng first Naues came afterwarde also hym selfe and made an Oration And after hym Campeigius the Popes Legate The conference brake offe and all was differed to that Iourney of Regenspurg In this meane whyle Luther answereth a booke set forth by the Duke of Brunswycke where is spoken of the dere mantell of the Archebyshoppes The counsell beyng begonne at Regenspurge Granuellan presenteth the booke of the Interim The Duke of Cleaue commynge into Fraunce marrieth the
daughter of Nauarre VNto the Whiche thinges the Protestauntes the eleuenth daye of Apryl make a long aunswere declaryng their innocencie in suche thinges as they were of the Emperour suspected And the chief only cause why they to their great charges peryll do professe this doctrine to be done neither for any priuate cōmoditie or for pleasur or displeasure of any persone or other respect at all saue only that God requyreth this dutye of them that they should professe the name of his sonne and the Gospell For he commaundeth vs to flye from Idolatrie and warneth vs most straightly that we do not allowe their crueltie whiche persecute the true doctrine And as touchynge the churche goodes they shewe vnto what good vses they imploye them And of all the dissention that is others to be authors thereof and not they Than they discourse the cause of Religion at large and confute that sclaunder that they should be more inclyned to the Emperours ennemies than to hym by the goodly and large offers whiche for his cause they refused and by the ayde and assistaunce whiche they haue geuen hym in his warres Finally they requyre that Monser Granuellan who to his great cōmendation hath euermore hytherto perswaded the Emperour frō the bloudy coūsels of their aduersaries to peaceable wayes wold preferre to the Emperour the complainte of the chamber and intreate hym to graunte them peace so often sought and desyred What tyme they had made this answer at the Ides of Apryl they ende theyr intreaty And appointe the diuines to make a confutation of the syxe Articles enacted by the kyng of Englande and the booke afterwarde to be sent thether to the entent that in case the diuines of Englande wyll aunswer it and that there be any hope of agrement a further communication may be had but to make any league with him otherwyse than for Relion only no man there thought expedient It was also there decreed to intreate the kyng for suche as were persecuted in Fraunce for Religion but first to learne the state of Fraunce and howe the kynge is affected and whether it maye be thought that the mediation wyll take place There were dyuerse other decrees touchynge the churche goodes and seueral complayntes and that they of Haylbrune should abolyshe the Popyshe Masse which remayned as yet in certen churches Fynally they determine what is nedefuull to be done in case the Emperour eyther refuse peace or aunswere doubtfully or the Chamber procede after their olde maner or if there be a power reised vp against them pryuelye Whilest these thynges were a workyng the Emperour doth great execution of Gaunt making the chiefest Rebelles to hoppe headles he taketh away all their armure and weapons all their priuileges and commodities he buyldeth a Castell and placeth there a Garnison in the neckes of them That citie was euer wonte to rebell against theyr Princes as I haue also declared before This parte played they with Charles of Burgundy the Emperours great graundfather and with Phylip his father before that with Lewys Erle of Flaunders great grandfather to the same Philippe by his mothersyde All the whiche this Emperour semeth to haue reuenged For they were neuer so subdued as thys tyme. The eyghtenthe daye of Apryll the Emperoure addressed hys letters to the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgraue Howe he hathe talked wyth hys brother Ferdinando Kynge of Romaynes amonges other thynges of the State of Germanye but especiallye of the dissention in Religion whiche he woulde fayne were appeased For lyke as here tofore he hathe omytted nothynge herein so is he nowe also of the same mynde styll So that they wyll acknoweledge this zeale of his and not abuse the same And that desyre of peace whiche they haue longe synce pretended in wordes and promyses they wyll nowe perfourme in deed He hath vsed many yeares nowe sondrye and gētle meanes of treaty but with them it hathe not priuayled hetherto And nowe is the matter come to that poynte that vnlesse it be shortlye remedied there wil followe a great dissolutiō of the cōmon welth and a maruelous sturre of all states And although it be so yet of his benigne gentlenes he appointeth them againe an other assemblie at Spyres the syxte daye of Iune or if perchaunce plage or infection of sickenes wyll not permitte them then suche place as his brother Ferdinando shal appointe to deuise by what meanes this great daunger that hanged ouer Germany may be auoyded Willing them to be ther present them selues at the daye assigned all lettes set aparte vnlesse it be syckenes and than to sende their chief counsellours suche as be louers of peace mete for the treatie and priuie to their doings And that they signifie the same to their fellowes to the entent they be there at the daye And thether shall come his brother Ferdinādo who can further declare of his mynde and wyll and of theyr Ambassade sent vnto hym And that they so frame them selues for the preseruation of them selues and the countrey that all dissention beyng taken awaye they may so muche the better consult of the other affayres of the Empyre And there is no cause to feare any daunger for he wylassure thē vpon his fidelitie and graunteth them the benefite of the peace of Norrinberge and wyll suffer no man to doe against it yet so as they agayne doe offende no man Unto whiche letters they aunswered the .xv. day of may For that he followeth the counselles of peace they geue hym most harty thankes And where he admonyshed them that they shuld acknowledge his studious desyre and not abuse the same there is no cause they saye why he should thinke otherwyse of thē and their cōfederates and league frendes For there is nothing more derely beloued of them than peace And that the matter hath not ben agreed vpō hetherto it ought not to be imputed vnto thē but to the greatnes of the cause and to their aduersaries whiche coulde abyde no declaration of their doctrine Nowe where he would haue them to be there presente at the daye appointed they wyl gladly obeye Howe beit because they woulde not that the kynge shoulde trauell in vayne they wyll shewe their fantasye for it is not vnknowen to his hyghnes that euersynce the fyrste beginning of this controuersie after muche delyberation in the assemblies of the Empire this waye only semed beste vnto al men that eyther a lawefull counsell myght be had or els a prouinciall Synode of Germany but sythe that for the shortnes of tyme that semed litle to purpose it was deuysed at Franckefurte to haue a communication of the matter and a decree was made of the same And seynge the matter is weightie wherein the saluation of man cōsisteth it can not be shortly determined if it should be purposely done and therfore should be troublesome and paynfull both to kyng Ferdinando and to them also and others to traue in suche matters to
confirmyng of the lordes supper of penaunce absolution matrimony vnction of the bond of charitie of the dignitie of the churche and of the authoritie to establishe the weale publicke of images masse and ministration of the sacramentes of the discipline of the churche bothe for the ministers and the people In the moneth of May the Protestantes wryting their letters frō Regenspurg to the Frenche kynge entreate for such as at the same tyme in Fraunce for the profession of the gospell wer partly in prison partly in exile partly hyd in corners and led a miserable lyfe And because many were receyued into fauour incase they woulde abiure they require that he woulde release them from that condicyon declarynge howe heynous a matrer it is to wounde the conscience The cause of thys persecution was by a sentence geuen agaynst the Merindolans in the prouince by the president Bartholomew Chassanie a lawyer which beyng terrible and cruell beyonde measure put the poore men in a wonderful feare not withstanding the full execution therof was differred tyll an other tyme and the persecution of thys yere was but a balle playe in comparison of that whiche followed foure yeares after as shal be recited in hys place Whylest these thynges were done at Regenspurge the Duke of Cleaue hauing themperour hys heuye Lorde for the possession of Gelderlande goeth priuely into Fraunce appoynting such as he would haue with hym a day and a place wher they going an other way should mete hym what tyme therfore he arryued at Paris aboute th ende of Aprill being receiued of the kynges officers and conducted throughe Orleans the sixte daye of Maye he came to the kyng at Ambose a towne in Turin by the Riuer of Loire who imbracing him none otherwise than the father would his owne sonne sent word immediatly to the kyng of Nauarre and hys syster that they shoulde repayre vnto hym with all expedition and brynge theyr Daughter with them for they wer the same time in Gascoigne And after they wer coommen the kyng by and by began to entreate of the maryage And albeit the parentes than did not greatly lyke it and the yonge mayde also was somewhat vnwyllyng not somoch of her owne iudgement or contempte of hym as by the whispering and perswasyon of sertayne whych dispysed Germanye as rude and barren in comparison of the delycacye and pleasauntenes of Fraunce yet vanquished by the kynges authoritye whiche iudged the same affinitie very fit for hys pourpose at the last they gaue place Wherfore at the Ides of Iune the maryage was solemnised the kynge hymselfe leadyng the bryde hys nece to the churche and the Cardinall of Turnon played the prest The kynge gaue them a goodly dyner And ther were thambassadours of Roome Englande Portugall Uenise and Saxonye For themperours had made an excuse After a fewe dayes the Duke retourned homewarde leauing his yong spouse in Fraunce whom her mother woulde haue to remayne with her tyll she wer of rype yeares for a man Before the Dukeof of Cleaue came into Fraunce the kyng had enlarged the Admirall that we spake of before and sent hym home to hys owne house and after in the moneth of May commaunded hym to come vnto hym whom receiued most gently he restored to hys former dignitie and called as it wer out of hel into light agayne and after a straung example and seldome heard of made the sentence geuen agaynst hym by all the princypal iudges of hys realm cleane frustrate partlye for hatred of the constable as it is thoughte and partly at the requeste of madame Destamps whych was allyed to the Admirall by a new affinitie Therfore Memorancie the Counstable which loued not thadmirall his egall and was oute of the kynges fauoure for themperours passage as before is sayed beyng had in contempt gotte hym home and led a priuate lyfe where before he had ruled the Kynge wholye hymselfe alone ✚ The fourtenth Boke of Sleidanes Commentaryes concernyng the state of relygion and the common Weale duryng the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the fourtenth Booke IN the processe of the communication they treated of an order to be establyshed in the churche sondry aduyses and aunswers bee there gathered Eckius dispray syng the booke there presented accuseth hys fellow collocutours Themperoure hauing intellygence of the Turkes commyng remitreth thys colloquie to the counsel Fregose Rincon thambassadours of the French kynge to the greate Turke at taken and slayne Wherupon the Bastarde of Maximilyan is arested The Turke taketh possession in the cytie of Buda Thēperoure arryueth at Argiers The plage is in Germany and great calamities in Austriche A supplication of the princes of Austriche to kynge Ferdinando that they myght haue the Gospell Wherunto he aunswereth After the ouerthrowe in Hongary an assemblye was holden at Spires where Oliuier beeing for the French kynge made a longe Oration Cardinall Maron the Popes Ambassadour offereth a counsell at Trcent Luther Wryteth a booke intitled the sermon of Soldiours comparyng papistry with the Turkes Alcorane The warre beyng proclaymed betwene the Frenche kyng and the Emperour Marten van Rossem inuadeth Brabante decrces are made in Fraunce agaynste the Lutheranes Farell preacheth at Mentz ABoute the ende of Aprill the disputation began as I shewed yon before but Eckius was vnpatient and froward for both he abhorred the booke and mislyked hys fellowes and a lyttell after fell into an agewe so that he coulde not bee there yet went his fellowes to him and conferred with hym of al thynges And certen places of the boke exhibited were throughe conference amended by common assent but of some other they coulde not agree of the churche and authoritie therof of the sacrament of the body and bloud of Chryst of the recytall of synnes of satisfaction of the vnitie order of thecclesiastical ministers of sainctes of masse of the vse of the whole sacramente of the single lyfe So was the booke deliuered vp to themperoure as it was corrected and the Diuines of the Protestantes had written theyr mindes vpon these forsayd opinions which were leafte in controuersy this was the last of Maye Themperoure commendeth theyr good endeuour and lyketh it well And incase the matter herafter do so require he exhorteth thē to shew the like good-will and dilygence Than in the eyght day of Iune in the consistorie before the Princes and other states he maketh relation what hathe ben done and howe farre they haue proceded howe the collocutours haue handled the matter dilygentely and haue reconcyled dyuerse weyghty articles of doctryne And touching the rest that are not yet agreed vpon the diuines of the Protestantes haue opened they re myndes After he exibiteth vnto ether of them boothe the wrytinges requiring them that so shortly as may bee they woulde consulte thervpon and vtter theyr mindes in either of them And moreouer would consyder howe the state of the weale publike
Religion they do alter nothing tyll suche tyme as the matter be fully determined by a generall or a prouinciall counsell of Germany or els by some conuocation of the Empyre And not to thynke that the decree of Regenspurge concerned them any thynge at all wherof the meaning is that the catholickes should remayne in the olde and the Protestauntes in the same Religion whiche they followed at the tyme of this reconcilement tyll some one of these counselles were appointed within eightene monethes and seing it is so he may not permitte his subiectes to do any thyng to the contrary They desyre him againe at fewe wordes that the true Religion of Christe maye be auaunced and that the good preachers be not brought in daunger for otherwyse let hym neuer loke to haue any victory or lucky successe as the Turkes hande A litle after this dyed the Bysshop of Numburge in whose steade the College chose Iulius Pffugius before mentioned but the Prince Electonr of Saxon contended that they myght not doe it withoute his consente and reiectyng the Flugins substituted in his roume Nicolas Amstorfe of a noble house a doctour of diuinitie of Wittemberg whome Luther stalled in the moneth of Ianuary and after set forthe a booke of the same in dutche wherin he declareth howe the flocke of Christe ought not to be cōmitted to Pffugius as ennemie to the pure doctrine Pffugius being thus repulsed complayneth to the states of the Empyre howe wrongfully he is put from his ryght The Prynce agayne aunswereth howe the gyfte belongeth properlye to the house of Saxon and reciting many olde presidentes of great antiquitie alledgeth amonges other causes wherfore he can not suffer him to bee Byshop this also for one that he is openlye againste the confession of Auspurge After the ouerthrowe in Hongary as is said before the Emperour calleth an assemblie of the states at Spiers by his brother Ferdinando to begynne in the moneth of Ianuary and appointeth ioyneth to him for assistaunce Hughe Monforte and Iohn Nauie The Princes that were there presente were the Marques of Brandenburge Electour Fredericke the Palsgraue Albert Duke of Megelburge Ernest Marques of Baden the Byshoppes of Mentz Wormes Spier Constance Hildessem the residue sent Ambassadours What tyme they were assembled the nynth daye of February kynge Ferdinando in the Emperours absence propoundeth as the maner is the cause of that assemblie whiche was in brief to consulte howe the Turke myght be kept out of Hungary for ayde touchyng the same After the assemblie of Regenspurge whan Iohn Gropper ambassadour to the Archebyshop of Collon was retourned home he cōmended Bucer exceadingly and sayde he was metest of all others to take in hande the reformation of Religion for he was bothe well learned a louer of peace and of a pure lyfe The Byshop therfore whiche knewe Bucer well enough before and thought to vse his helpe sendeth for hym in February to come to hym to Bonna where he was verey gentlye receyued namely of Gropper who intreated hym to goe with hym to Collon And so for that tyme was lycenced of the Bishop to departe and to come agayn whan he should be sent for as I wyll declare hereafter Moreouer about this time also was beheaded Catharine Haward in Englād and for that where the king had maried her for a mayde he founde that she had troden her showe a wrye He that had defloured her was gone into Irelande and had an office there but beynge called home againe by her whan she was Quene and taken into her seruice he was beheaded after her as were also certein others partly for concealement partly for lyke offence After her deathe the kynge marieth the syxte wyfe Catherine Parre that had bene wyfe to the Lorde Latimer and syster to the Marques of Northhamton To the assemblye at Spiers the Frenche kyng sent an Ambassade the chiefe wherof was Fraunces Oliuer Chauncelour of Alenson Who in the presence of all the states whan they consulted of the Turkyshe warre the fourtene daye of Februarye made a longe Oration in the begynnyng whereof he sekynge to wynne theyr fauour reciteth howe the yeare before the kynge vnderstandynge that the Turke woulde inuade Hongarye for the loue he bare vnto Germanye sent Ambassadours immediatly to him to perswade him if he myght to the cōtrary but the Emperours men toke them in Italy as yet it is not certeinlye knowen whether theibe dead oraliue wherby not only the truces is broken but also the lawe of armes And where as certein do encourage the Germaines to warre against the Turke in the defence of Hōgary and al Christientie alledgyng that albeit he be of great power yet maye he ryght well be vanquyshed by the example of Iohn Hunniades Matthie kyng of Hongary Scanderbeg lorde of Epirus and Tamberlane Emperour of the Srythiās al the whiche haue wonne honour at his haude as also they themselues did at Uienne a fewe yeares past and vse diuerse other perswasions to pricke thē forward he contrary wyse affirmeth that those whiche geue this counsell doe not well consyder the state of Germany howe full it is of dissention nor the daunger that of this warre myght ensue For a myghtyer or crueller ennemye is not in the whole worlde nor one that is better furnyshed of all thynges belongynge to the warres Neither can this warre be finyshed with one battell or two but euer requyreth newe and freshe men continuall and marneylous greate charges The force power of Germany is in dede exceading great but yet is the Turkes ten tymes greater whiche passeth litle of the losse of two or thre hondreth thousand men where if they should lose but one battell in what daunger should the whole countrey be in before they should leuie an other in this grudge dissention of mindes therfore his aduise is that they attēpte not warre against the Turke neyther seke to recouer that he hath already gotten in Hongarye for feare of a further mischief But in case he should at any tyme inuade Germany that it should stande vpon their honours to bende all their force against him stoutely to giue him the repulse otherwyse not to medle vntill suche time as they shal be fully throughly accorded in matters of religiō in like case as they be partly already namely in the chiefest articles of iustificatiō of faith workes for certenly without a perfit cōcorde the state of Thempire can not long endure especially the Turke stil inuading The Romains became lordes of al the world not so much by power force of armes as by a certē craft policie for loke what natiō thei purposed to subdue vnto their empire thei wold euer practise to weaken by ciuile discorde for a time wold maintein th one parte of the faction till at last thei had vanquished thē both By this meane were the people of Carthage of all Asia the French men and
manifestly mayneteyne the cause of Pflugius through the suite of hys frēdes the matter was vtterly lyke to brede ciuile warre For eyther of them had their mē vp in armure but through that mediation of the Lautzgraue it was appeased This was the beginning of the displeasure betwyxt them whiche after increased in tyme wrought a deadlye wounde to Germanye as shal be recited in place And certenly many men marueiled at Maurice that he would be so earnest and bitter agaynst him that brought hym vp and whome both he and his father may thanke for all theyr good fortune But certen of the coūsellers that were with Duke George were thought to haue set forwarde this matter whiche neyther loued Religion nor yet the Prince Electour Whan the decree was made and all men prepared thē selues to the warre Luther set for the a booke in the vulgare tongue an exhortation to the warre whiche he dedicated vnto Philip the Lantgraue And after hathe declared the cause why he wrote of the contrary argument in his yong days the to warre against the Turkes were nothing elles but to resiste God whiche vseth hym for a scourge to afflicte vs whiche sentence Leo the tenth had amonges other thynges condempned for the Byshop of Rome so ofte as he mynded to procure a masse of monie out of Germany vsed euer this collour to gather it for the Turkishe warre and had shewed all the reasons that moued hym than and amonges others that a Christen man ought not to reuenge nor resiste euil but to suffer all thynges according to that saying of Christe of leauinge thy rote and agayne that the Emperour is not to be excited vnto warre as the head of Christendome Protectour of the churche and defendour of the faithe For the tytles are false and vayne glorious and iniurious to Christe who allone can defende his churche and the iniurie is the more for that certen kynges and Prynces are moste bytter ennemies to his true doctrine and therfore concludeth that the Turke is not to be warred vpon or resisted for the diuersitie of his religion but because he robbeth and spoyleth and maketh vniust warr and bringeth in with him most shameful examples of lyfe By a cōparison made he proueth that the byshop of Rome is nothing better thā the Turke for as he by his Alcorane so hath the Byshop by his decreetales quenched the doctrine of the Gospell That whiche he doeth by force the same doth the byshop by his curse but thei both worke reproche vnto matrimony abide punishment for the contempte of Gods lawe which ordeined holy matrimony what time god geueth thē ouer to their filthy lustes that they burne in most detestable desires worke most wickedly against the order of nature Finally speakig of the turkish power he admonisheth thē not to be carelesse in warfare but to knowe how thei haue to do with a moste fierse ennemy These and diuerse other suche lyke thinges he treateth of in that first boke but now what time the state of thēpire had at the request of thempe king Ferdinādo decreed war he cōpiled an other worke as I said a warlike exhortation or sermon to th entēt that such ministers of the churche as followed the warres myght haue some forme and order howe to teache and exhorte First therfore sayth he that men may vnderstande what is to be thought of the Turke the Scripture speaketh of two houge and cruell Tyrantes which shall destroy Christendome before the laste daye of iudgement one through false doctrine of whome prophecied Daniel and after him Paule this is verely the Byshop of Rome And an other by power and force of armes that is to saye the Turke of whome Daniel in the seuenth chapter speaketh Those therfore that wylbe christians let them plucke vp their hartes and loke for no peace and quietnes nor pleasaūter life frō henceforth For that miserable tyme which he prophecied of before is now come but let vs comforte our selues with the comming of Christe and with our finall deliueraunce whiche immediatly after those afflictiōs shal appeare and let vs knowe for certentie that al the woodnes and malice of the deuyll is powred wholy vpon vs by the Turke for neuer did Tyrante practyse suche crueltie as he doeth After he expoundeth the seuenth chapter of Daniel whiche is of the foure beastes cōming out of the Sea declaring that the Turkishe Empire is there described For this is that same litle horne whiche sprang vp betwene those ten hornes of the fourth beast And albeit it is wonderfully increased yet can it not be that it should be in power like to the Romaine Empyre for the Prophet doeth there describe foure Empyres only which should succeade in order and the last to be the Empyre of Rome therfore shall there be none other that may be cōpared in greatnes to the Romayne And for asmuche as Daniel did attribute vnto him three hornes only whiche he should plucke of from those ten his violence from henceforth shall not proceade muche further for those three are plucked of long synce Asia Grece and Egipt whiche beinge three of the greatest prouinces in the Empire the Turke now possesseth with in the whiche limites the Prophet hath included him wherfore there is good hope that from henceforth he shall possesse no prouince of the Empyre And where he is nowe so busy in Hongary and also readye to inuade Germany this is the last acte of the tragedy for it may bee that he shall inuade those countries but he can not thynke that euer he shall haue them in quiet possession as he hathe Asia Grece and Egipt for the prophecie is playne and manifest After this he treateth of all the other partes prouokyng them chiefly to repentaunce and exhorteth them all to be ready and wylling to obeye the Magistrate commaunding vnto this warre and not only to employe their goodes herein but also to serue with their bodies The prisoners also whiche eyther be nowe in the Turkes handes or hereafter shal come into the same captiuitie he comforteth with many perswasions and admonisheth them to be well ware of that fayned and pretensed Religion of the Turkes for he heareth saye howe many that haue professed Christ doe of their owne accorde falle into their Religion for that it hath a certen shewe of vertue and holines and that they suffer this bondage patiently and serue their maisters faithfully though thei be prophane and wicked neyther that they runne away from them or fordo them selues for vnpatientnes and lothsomenes of that estate but to beare alwayes in memory that same which Peter and Paule wryte of the dutie of bounde seruauntes but what tyme they shal attempte warre against the christians to hasarde their lyues rather than to serue vnder thē for they be murtherers and make warre against the sainctes as Daniell sayeth and shead innocent bloude therefore muste they chiefly beware that they be not partakers
citie The kinge hym selfe maketh warre on an other syde and marchinge foreward with a strong Armie besegeth Parpignan a Towne of Ruscinon in the mountaynes of Pyrene Moreouer he moueth warre in Piedmount by the conduicte of William Langey and also in the borders of Flaunders by the gouernment of the Duke of Uandome So that he assayled his enemies in fyue sondry places wherby the iudgement of many it had ben better for him to haue set vpon some one prouince with his whole power as th ende also declared for both he attempted Parpignan in vayne and also whan the Duke of Orleans was retourned home the Imperialles recouered all agayne except it were Iuey By this occasion they began to fortifie Andwarpe where before it was easy to bee wonne When the kinge pourposed to haue warres he sente agayne Poline to the Turke to entreate hym that he wolde sende him a uanie into Fraunce but where it was longe or Poline came there Solyman differred the thyng vntil the next yere Duryng this warre the king setteth forth proclamations against the Lutherians Moreouer the parlament of Paris chargeth the Printers vnder a great penaltie that they shoulde neyther prynte nor sell any bookes condempned or suspected namely the booke of Caluine whiche is intituled the Institution of Christiane Religion Further more at the request of the Inquilitour as they terme hym the seuenth daye of Iuly he maketh a decree that the preachers shall admonyshe the people to doe their duty to the churche and if they know any Lutheriane or one that thinketh amisse in Religion to present hym for this is a worke to God moste acceptable And the Ministers of the churche had an order prescribed whiche they should followe in that inquirie For they were coÌ„maunded to inquyre of the promoters whether they knewe any man that would saye how there was no purgatory whan a man is dead to be eyther saued or dampned or that a maÌ„ is not iustified by obseruing of Gods commaundementes that God only must be called vpon not Sainctes that the worshipping of images is idolatry that sainctes worke not miracles that the ceremonies of the churche profite nothing that the lawes of the churche doe bynde no man that the knowledge of the Gospell is necessarye for all men without exception or that it is a fonde parte of the common people to pray to God in Latin how the priest caÌ„ not forgeue sinnes through the Sacrament of penauuce but to be only a minister to pronounce the benefite of God whiche forgeueth our synnes that the church can bynde no man to mortall synne or that it is lawfull to eate fleshe at al tymes This fourme of inquisition was geuen priuately to priestes but openly was set forth a proclamation wherin they were coÌ„maunded to be presented and accused whiche doe neglecte the Rites and lawes of the churche or suche as haue bookes contrary to the christiaÌ„ fayth and eyther geue them others to reade or purposely let them fall in the wayes as they goe that thei may be founde those that assemble in priuate houses and gardens and forge diuises against the lawes of the chruche and they that receyue suche kynde of men into their houses or gardens They that are priuie to any suche thyng are commauÌ„ded to presente them within syxe dayes to the doctours of Diuinitie chosen by the Inquisitour or els to stande accursed The Stacioners were also charged that if they had any thyng eyther prynted or wrytten that were in any point suspected or that swarued froÌ„ the custome of the churche that within syxe dayes they should bryng it before theÌ„ after none excuse to be taken The same daye that this acte was proclaymed they had a generall procession for the preseruation of the realme and of Religion And saynt Genefeua their trusty Goddes was borne about with suche solemnitie as I haue before declared in the nynth booke And in these dayes were certen brent in place Moberte for Religion At the same tyme Fraunces Landrâ—e Uicar of S. Crois in Paris taught the people syncerely and sayde no Masse for that he branke no wyne whether he did it of nature or of purpose I knowe not Against whome the Diuines had conceaued a great hatred And after thei had noted certe in thinges in his preaching they propounde vnto hym these articles The sacrifice of the Masse to be instituted of Christe and is vayleable for the quicke and dead that we must praye to sainctes that they maye be mediatours and aduocates for vs vnto Christe howe the substaunce of bread and wyne is chaunged in the consecration that only preastes may consecrate bread and wyne and that the whole supper of the Lorde apperteineth to them only Monasticall vowes must be kept that by the Sacramentes of confirmation and vnction is receiued the holy ghost by prayer fasting good workes soules are delyuered out of purgatory that the lawes of the churche concerning fastyng and choyse of meates doe bynde the conscience that there is one hygh Prelate and Byshop of the Churche whome al are bounde to obeye by the lawe of God how many thinges must be beleued and of necessitie receyued that are not expressed in the scriptures that the Byshop of Romes pardons doe release the paynes of purgatory that priestes beyng neuer so synfull and vicious doe consecrate the Lordes body that all deadly synne must be confessed to the priest and than to receyue of hym the sacramentall absolution howe man hath free wyll wherby he may doe good or euyll and ryse from synne through repentaunce howe not by fayth only but by charitie and true penaunce is obteyned the remission of synnes how the churche and counsell beyng lawfully assembled can not erre and therfore must be obeyed howe the iudgement and interpretation of Scripture apperteyneth to the churche if any thyng be in controuersye These thynges would they haue him to subscribe to and confirme with his Seale He a fewe dayes after aunswereth generally that it is good and Godly what so euer the holy catholyque churche hathe taught in these matters but they not content with this aunswere attempted greater thinges against him as afterwarde you shall heare In this tyme also one or two Freers of saint Dominickes order preached the Gospell at Metz. But whan the priestes shewed them selues sore offended diuerse citezens made petition to the Senate that they would not forbidde theÌ„ promysing al dewe obedience The ther came also William Farell who taught first priuatly in the citie and afterwardes in a certein Castell without But what tyme the Emperours letters were brought wherin he commaunded that they should alter nothyng in Religion but punyshe the offendours the people were forbodeÌ„ to heare any more sermons vnles the preacher werlicenced by the Byshop and the Senate This sommer an infinite nombre of grassehoppers came flieng into Germany and the hither parte of Italy They were of a wonderfull bignes and where
in Brabant by Martyn Rossenn and in the lande of Luke by the Duke of Orleans beefore the same was proclaymed The reste of hys force hee bent wholy agaynst the Frontiers of Spaine And thys is the fruict that he gathereth of hys dylygence whyche hath geuē hym so moch of his wil exhorted him so oft vnto peace Furthermore where he hath suffered him to deteine the arche bisshop of Ualencene prisoner and certen noble men of Spayne to be outrageously iniuried by Frēche men at Auignion hath in dede bene ouermuche sufferaunce Nowe therfore is he compelled of necessitie to make resistaunce what tyme he had lefte feare of hym by reason of his moste large and ample promyses and also what tyme he had prepared hym selfe for the Turkyshe warre and therfore was resolued to retourne into Germanye The iniurie sure is great and the dammage not smalle that he hathe done vpon his Frontiers but yet is he not moued so muche with all these thynges as for the calamitie of the common wealth For concernyng his owne affayres for as muche as he doeth so ofte breake conuenauntes it is muche better for hym to haue open warre than to truste to any truce or condicions whiche at the fyrst light occasion he wyl abholyshe and make frustrate for peace is oftentimes disceiptful for in the meane season doeth he practyse newe deuyses hurtfull to the common wealthe mayteyne factions and is wholy occupied that when he is wery hym selfe of losse and charges he maye dryue hym than to resiste the Turke And beyng of this disposition hym self he bryngeth vp his chyldren in the same disciplyne Nowe is his ambition and vnmeasurable couetousnes so increased that it can not be hydde His Auncestours dyd vsurpe the Frenche prouince whyche was of the dominion of the Empyre So nowe doeth he possesse Sauoye and a parte of Piedmont and so fortifieth the same that it is verye apparente he entendeth not to restore them And his pourpose was not only to inuade Lumbardy but also Parma and Placence and than Luke and Seine after that also the dominion of the church of Rome to the entent he myght thus haue the waye open to Naples and Sicilie It is no doubt but this is his entente and it maye be easely perceyued by suche thynges as he attempteth and practiseth in Italye To be brief his couetous desyre is conteyned within no certeyn limites but is great and infinite neyther is it to be thought that euer he wyll obserue conuenauntes so longe as any thyng remayneth that he may take a way frō others to conuert to his owne vse For with this disease vice of mind is he caried about as with a Raging tempeste that forgettyng all vertue and Religion he hathe lyncked hym selfe in league with the Turke and doeth participate not onlye his counselles but also his goodes and fortune with the ennemye of our common wealth and nowe also maketh his boaste full stoutelye that Barbarossa shall come into our Seas with a nauie Whether these thynges doe make for the reformation of the common wealth begynning of a counsell he ought of his wysdome to cōsyder his study hath bene euer that there shoulde bee no counsell had for that he iudged it to bee moste profitable so for his owne priuate commoditie Therfore did he this thing wayed and cōsidered deuise an other way to reconcile and appease the controuersie of Religion in Germanye herein had only a respecte vnto Gods glorye and the dignitie of the churche therfore let it be imputed to the kynge that there is no counsell who hath euer impeched the same and not to hym whiche hathe taken in this behalfe so much trauayle and payne Wherfore if his holynes be nowe disposed to helpe the common wealth thus afflicted he ought of dutie to professe him selfe his ennemie who is the authour of all trouble and calamitie who moueth and allureth the Turke to inuade the Christen cōmon wealth who leaueth no waye vnassayed to accomplyshe his ambition and mynde moste desyrous to reuenge For sythe the chief care of Christianitie apperteyneth vnto hym by reason of his office pastorall the thynge it selfe doeth surely requyre that he should no longer suffer hym to cause this vexation and trouble but declare hym selfe to be his vtter ennemye Whiche thyng if he would doe accordyngly it should both be moste accepted of al good men and and also be very profitable to reteyne other kynges in their dutie For to haue a counsell to recouer peace and establyshe the common wealth this is the only remedy wherin if he wyll doe his owne dutie vnfaynedly he wyll not bee behynde with his parte ✚ The fiftene Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the fyftene Booke THe Pope could not accorde the Emperour and the kyng Warre waxed hote betwyxt Englande and Scotlande The Frenche kyng appeaseth the rebellion of Rochelle In the assemblie of Norinberge Granuellane demaūded for the Emperour ayde against the frēch kyng who in a certen answere obiecteth to the Emperour many thinges Fraunces Landry is examined Bucer is sent for to Collon to make a reformatiō The Pope would buye Millan he incenseth the Clergie of Collon agaynst the Archebyshop Laundersey is taken and Dure is sacked An assemblie is holden at Spyers and greuouse complayntes made againste the Frenche kyng in so muche that his Herauld was sent backe with threatninges There the Protestantes accused the Duke of Brunswycke and recite an Acte of his doyng with a young damsell The Duke of Sauoye accuseth the kyng The Frenche Ambassadours set forth there an Oration whiche they should haue made in case they had bene admitted to speake in the counsell At this assemblie an accorde was made betwyxt the kyng of Romains and the Duke of Saxon. The The Prynces graunt ayde against the Frenche kyng After the Emperour besiegeth saynt Desier The kyng of Englande with great force taketh Boloigne The Emperour concludeth a peace with the Frenche kynge contrary to mens expectation WHan the warre waxed hote on euerye syde the Byshop at the xxvi daye of Auguste sent Ambassadours two Cardinalles to treate of peace Michaell Uisense a Portugall to the Emperour Iames Sadolete to the king of Fraūce praying them to remitte their priuate miuries for the commō wealthes sake and frame them selues vnto peace He sendeth also three Cardinalles as Legates to the Synode at Trente Paris Poole and Morone The Emperour both answereth the Legate Uisense and also wryteth to the Byshop almoste the same in effecte that he dyd in his former letters How it is vayne to make peace with hym that wyll kepe no conuenauntes Therfore he aduertyseth hym agayne that he would professe hym selfe to be his ennemye For he hath often sayd that he would before auenged on him that should breake the tcuce or make league with the
our own accustomed gentlenes vpon this trnste and confidence that you wyl committe no suche lyke facte hereafter For els in a steade of a gentle and mercifull Prince you shall haue a seuere executour of iustice and that through your owne faulte whiche doubtles ought to be accoūpted no lesse than that for the which in these laste yeares past the Gantois were handled extremely whan they were not only executed and punished but also lost their liberties for euer Whiche example in dede though we myght followe without reprehension because we haue neyther susteyned lesse iniurie neyther are inferiour vnto hym in any thynge whiche hath thus reuenged his griefe Yet for as much as we loke to encrease rather through the loue fidelitie beneuolence of our subiectes thā to be enriched by their goodes substaūce we do clerely forgeue you this act restore you to your former estate Notwithstanding suche thinges as you haue frely and lyberally geuen vs we doe accepte and reteyne What so euer also hath bene taken from you in this tumulte we wyll that it be restored you agayne Whan after this Oration of the kyng there ensued a reioysing a confused noyse of the audience by and by was heard a moste swete and plesaunt melodie in the steple of the head churche of saynct Bartholomewe testifying the publique ioye and gladnes After that the Senate made the kyng a moste costly supper The next daye the kyng beyng ready to departe sayde to the chief of the people we goe nowe into an other parte of our Realme to defende the same from the ennemy defende you this as we truste assuredly you wyll doe Moreouer if there be any thyng that apperteineth to the bettering of the cōmoditie of your citie we wyll not denye your requeste The seuentene day of Ianuary kyng Ferdinando and his two sonnes came to Nurrenberge to the assemblie And the eyght daye after came thether also Granuellan out of Spayne who comming by Trente with his sonne the byshop of Arras had exhorted there the byshoppes legates In this conuention the Emperour had substituted for his deputies Fridericke Palatine the Bishop of Auspurge Iohn Nauie The seconde kalend of February king Fernando maketh hys proposition And forasmuch as in certen assemblies before continual ayde agaynst the Turk hath been decreed he admonissheth and requireth them that they wyll all condescend vpon this nowe that nothing nedefull be wantyng for it is reported of all men that he wyll retourne thys yere into Hongarye with an exceadynge greate power and that he is prouoked so to doe by certen christian Princes And albeit his countries be sore impouerished with almoste continuall warres yet will he not faile them for his part And how great a matter it is to defend Hongary Austrich Morauia and other countries adioining to the same there is no man in maner but knoweth And for the better perswasion were red diuerse letters sente vnto king Fernando others from sondry places all the which in a maner pourported thys that the Turke prepared a new armie and a Nauie to warre bothe by sea and land There wer also the Ambassadours of quene Marie who gouerned the lowe coūtrye for themperour Wiricke Criechinge and Uiglie Zwichem a Lawyer They in a longe oration accused sore the Duke of Cleaue that through hys ayde and counsell the French kyng by the conduict of Martyn Rossenn had made warre in those parties wherfore they requested them to reduce and frame him to his dewtie that he myght leaue the possession of Gelderland recompence the dommage don After the fifte daye of Februarie Granuellan shewed his commission And what the good will of themperour was towardes the publicke weale he sayd it was no nede to recite but he reioysed not a lyttle the last yere whan it was she wed hym how they made oute theyr powers together ioyntely agaynst the Turke and wolde in dede haue ben therepresent hym selfe and had prepared all thynges for the same iorney but then did the French king and the Duke of Cleaue moue war agaynst hym vnloked for which thing certēly disapoynted his former pourpos for the force which he had intended to haue sent agaynst the perpetuall enemie of Christianitie he was constrayned to reteyne aboute him for his owne defence especially seynge his enemyes bragged also verey moche of the Turkisshe Nauie wherin they sayd came great soccour for them But all thys notwithstandyng he perseuereth styll in the same mynd that he hath euer ben of and also declared and is determined to spende not only hys Treasure but also hys lyfe and bloude in the Turkisshe warre so that they will agayne ayde hym agaynst the French king and the Duke of Cleaue Wherunto both his will and zeale towardes the common welth and also the state of this dangerous tyme onght to perswade thē How the French king hath expulsed his vncle the Duke of Sauoie oute of his inheritaunce it is not vnknowen the same he intendeth to doe also vnto others astune and occasyon will serue And for because themperoure dooeth let his violent enterprises therfore doeth he beare hym all thys hatred and mallice They heard ryght nowe by the letters that wer redde what he worketh with the Turke and what he practiseth in Germany and how he seketh to hynder the Turkisshe warre And forasmuch as the Duke of Cleaue is ioyned in league with hym and also distourbeth themperours moste worthye exploictes and is a let to the saufgarde of Germany it is requisite that ayde be decried agaynste them bothe that theyr insolente Rasshenes may be repressed In the meane tyme the Protestantes deliuer a supplycation to king Fernando and themperours deputies wherin they make a longe rehersal what hath ben don in Religion these many yeres how the peace was geuen at Norinberge and how the iudges of the chamber haue infringed it howe themperour made them a prouiso two yeres past at Regenspurg and declared playnely hys mynde and howe a decree was made there for the reformation of the chamber and vpryght ministration of Iustice what they also did protest than openly vnlesse the decree were obserued And seing there is nothing redressed hitherto And that the iudges of the chamber do stil molest them after theyr wonted maner first for theyr defence agaynste the Duke of Brunswicke secondly for not paying the stipendes of the chamber therfore haue they refused their whole iurisdiction which thing in dede they protested longe before in the open assemblie that they wolde doe Now therfore yf the matter be otherwise reported vnto them they desyre them to geue no credit for they were constrayned of necessitie thus to doe and vsed lawefull remedy whych both the law and equitie it selfe doeth permitte For if they should on this wyse procede and vsurpe the authoritie of iudgement and pronounce publycations other penalties the same wolde not be to them only but also to the publicke weale hurtfull For what time
the reformation of the chamber shal now be shortely he exhorteth them they would not refuse to contribute theyr ayde agaynst the Turk of whose not only preparation that is exceading greate but also of hys commyng he is credebly certifyed both by letters messaugers He was infourmed of all that was dooue in the conuention by Nauius that wente vnto hym At the same tyme also he calleth a counsell of thempire at Spier agaynst the laste daye of Nouembre Departyng than frō Genes he spake with the Bisshop of Rome at Busset which is a Towne by the Riuer of Tare betwixte Placence and Cremone There agayne in lyke case as he did before by letters he required him to proclayme hymself enemie to the French Kynge but he sayde howe that was not expedient for the common welth and herin perseuered The Bisshop had geuen to hys sonne Peter Aloise Parma and Placence whiche he had obteyned latelye of the College of Cardinalles by an exchaunge made and because these Cities were sometyme the Dukes of Millan he required that the Emperour by hys authorytie would for a pece of monye confirme hys sonne in the possession of thē and create hym Duke of the same But that did themperoure which helde Millan and wolde deminishe no part of hys ryght refuse They saye moreouer howe the Bysshōppes intente was to haue perswaded themperour for a somme vfmony to haue made his Nephew Octauian Duke of Millan The Emperour breaking of this talke that he might be no longer letted whan he had deliuered vnto Cosmus Medices Duke of Florence the Casteles of Florence and Liburne which he had vntill that time in his owne custodye receyuing of hym therfore two hondreth thousand ducates he procedeth on hys iorney Before he came out of Spayne he had created hys sonne Philip kynge and gaue vnto hym in marriage the Ladye Marye Daughter vnto Iohn kynge of Portugall This yere also did Sigismunde the sonne of Sigismund kyng of Polle mary the Lady Elyzabeth the daughter of Fernando kyng of Romanes Henry the Duke of Brunsewicke going to mete Themperour in Italy heynouslye accuseth the Protestantes at Cremoise Whan Themperour was now comming out of Italy with hys armie the Protestantes whiche had lately receyued hys letters dated at Gene mete together at sinalcalde the .xxiiii. daye of Iune to consulte of sending to hym Ambassadours of matters apperteyning to the defence and kepyng of the Dutchie of Brunswicke and to theyr league to sollicite Duke Maurice of the king of Swecia of Otto Henry Palatine Wuolfange Prince of Bipounte of the Bisshop of Munster whiche than desyred all to be receyued into their league This assemblie ended the .xxi. of Iuly And moche aboute thys same tyme the Emperoure and the Kyng of England make a league agaynste the Frenche Kynge whiche ayded the Scottes as before is sayde But this confederacie the Bisshop of Rome toke in maruelous euill part and therfore thoughte the French frendeship to be nedefull for hym Whan themperour was commen to Spier about th ende of Iuly the Protestantes sende thither Ambassadours Fraunces Burcart George Bemelberg Christopher Ueninger and Iames Sturmius Being admitted the second of Auguste they speake in a maner the same in effecte that they did before to king Fernando the conclusion of theyr tale was that in case they might be sufficiently warraūted to haue peace yf the Iudgement of the chamber myght be refourmed as it was lately decreed at Regenspurg yf the inequalitie of cōtributyng may be takē away they wil not fayle to beare theyr partes in publicke necessities As touchinge the Duke of Brunswicke they re desyre is that the matter maye come to hearyng and they saye howe they will proue manifestly that he whiche firste had done open iniurye to the cities of Goslarie and Brunswicke to haue benryghtlye expulsed and dryuen oute of hys countrey Hereunto Themperoure by Nauius in the presence of Granuellane two dayes after that there was no more to bee required For they were well enouge assured of peace by the fourmer decrees the iudges of the chamber can not bee remoued before theyr cause be heard In the moneth now of October inquisitiō shal be made of them and if any fault may be found in them they shall not escape vnpunnished the moderation of contributinge can not be made without the comon assent of all states let them consider the present state of the publicke weale and because it is a matter of moste daunger vnlesse it be holpen in time let them geue theyr ayd agaynste the Turke lyke as other states doe He muste hym selfe goe now with hys whole force agaynst the Frenche Kyng and the Duke of Cleaue to thentente he maye defende hys subiectes from Iniurye The Duke of Brunswick vrgeth sore to be restored therfore let them saye theyr fantasye in that matter They desire to haue this aunswere deliuered them in wryting that they may the better consyder it Thēperour was content and the nexte day he went frō Spier to Mentz so farre the ambassadours followed hym and whan they had receyued the wryting they shewe Granuellan and Nauius wherfore they are not satisfyed touchinge the peace and because theyr desyre is that the cause of Brunswick might be hearde they haue no further comission in that matter The archebisshop of Collon came to themperoure at Spiers to intreate for the Duke of Cleaue but that was in vaine For excepthe wolde fyrst departe from the posession of Gelderlande Themperour wold heare no mention of peace And where the ambassadoure of Saxonye by hys Princes commaundemente made suite for the Duke of Cleaue to Granuellan at Mentz and to perswade dyd saye howe a priuate iniurye muste bee forgeuen for the common welthes sake especially now that the Turk inuadeth The other maketh aunswer that Themperour wil not goe frō hys pourpos what inuasyon soeuer the Turkes shall make I tolde you before how they of Heldesseme had forsaken the popisshe Religion entred into league with the Protestantes Whom Ualentyne the Bisshop of that Cytye had accused heynousely before to the chamber and to kynge Fernando and nowe also to Themperoure that they had chaunged the religion and Ceremonyes of the churche howe they had appoynted new preachers to teache the people put downe the Masse punnisshed the followers of the olde relygyon howe they haue broken and beaten downe not only aultars and fontstones but also the churches howe they haue taken into theyr handes custody all the mouables goods and Iuelles of the clergie and that of late also they haue setfoorthe gameplayes to mocke and deryde openly the Uirgin Marye and other sainctes that they pourposynge to forsake hys Iurisdiction had lynked themselues in confederacie with the Protestantes and constreyned Monkes and such others to obserue theyr religyon through violence and those that wold not obey them haue put to open shame and also bannished When Themperour had heard thys complaynte the syxte daye of
ouerthrowe at Argiers suffered Shipwreake was drowned And this opinion was so setrled in the myndes of the Cleauois that they would neyther credite them whiche sayed they had sene hym nor scarsely those that had spoken with hym The Prynce hym selfe also was lykewyse perswaded by acerten fatall credulitie The Frenche men were thought to be authors and forgers of this vanitie lest the Cleauois should releÌ„t and for feare of Themperours power fall to some coÌ„position Themperour receyuing this aunswer whan he had fortyfyed his camp and furnished it with all thinges the .xxiiii. day of August before the soÌ„ne rysyng he beginneth to make his battery and after geueth thassault especyally by the Spanyardes whyche were exceadyng preste and wyllyng They beyng often repulsed and hauyng loste many of their men neuer ceased before they had taken it by force The fortune of the Townes men was suche as is wonte to bee whan the waye and entrie is made by the sword Howbeit here was wont to be shewed the head of Saint Anne our Ladyes mother and thither came yearelye a greate multitude of people at the. xxvi daie of Iuly whyche is dedicated to that sainct But the Spaniardes being victours caried that head inclosed in golde with a greate pompe deuoutely into the graie Freres Churche lest it shoulde bee lost in that Ruine and burnyng of the Churche After the Towne was spoyled and distroyed by fyre Themperour Marchinge forewarde had rendred vnto hym Gulick and than Ruremunde a stronge Towne of Gelderlande situated where the Ryuer of Rure and the Mase mete For the sodein distructyon of Dure broughte all men into a wonderfull feare and perplexitie From Ruremunde he goeth to Uenlon Thither at the laste came the Duke of Cleaue to hym into his Campe accompanyed with Henry Duke of Brunsewicke and the Ambassadours of the Archebishop of Collon And what time he humbly besought Themperoure to perdon hym the Duke of Brunswicke also and the Ambassadours ernestly intreated for hym Themperoure at the last ryseth vp and appoynteth the Prynce of Orenge and Granuellane to prescribe lawes vnto hym Therefore vpon these conditions he was receyued againe into fauoure the seuenth daye of September He shall not departe from the relygyon of the Catholycke Churche yf he haue altered any thynge let it be restored that he promyse hys fydelytie allegeaunce to themperour to king Fernando to thempire that he doe renounce the league of Fraunce and of Denmarke He shall make no confederacie wherin he shall not excepte Themperoure Fernando and their heires He shall leaue the possession of all Gelderlande and release the people of they re othe And in case any place or places shall refuse to render that he shall than ayde the Emperoure to recouer the same The Emperoure agayne restoreth vnto hym the Lande of Gulycke latelye Conquered excepte two Townes Henseberge and Syttarde whyche hee wyll kepe for a tyme tyll he haue somme experience of hys fydelytie and Loyaltye Whylest the Emperoure wente agaynste the Duke of Cleaue the Frenche Kynge Marcheth throughe Champagne towardes the lande of Luke And sendeth for the Lady Iane hys Systers Daughter whyche was despoused and solemnelye Maryed two yeares before to the Duke of Cleaue to carye her to her Husbande She wente full sore agaynste her wyll as I shewed you beefore Howbeit she obeyed the Kynge her Uncle The Kynge appoynted vnto her Cardynall Bellaye Bysshop of Parys as a man mooste meete to perswade with her and kepe her companye all that Iorneye When she was commen nowe to the Soyssons to goe from thence to the Kynge woorde was broughte that the Duke of Cleaue was subdewed Wherwith beeyng greatlye reioyced she sawe then that shee nede to feare the thinge no longer and knewe what wolde bee the ende thereof Neyther was she deceaued at all For the Kynge at these newes was sore astonyed And so she retourneth home but he neuerthelesse procedynge taketh the Cytyo of Lucemburge aboute th ende of September and after delyberatyon had fortyfyeth it Aboute thys tyme also Henry the eyghte Kynge of Englande confederated latelye with the Emperoure sendeth hym a power of men by the conducts of Syr Iohn wallop Capytayne of Guisnes whyche Ioynynge with Themperoures Armye beesege the Towne of Landersey In the Moneth of October Charles Rosset a Lawyer was sente by the Emperoure to Mentz who there tooke order with the Senate Monkes and Clergie for the obseruing of the olde relygion bannysshynge the Preachers and others that were inclyned to the Protestantes vnles they shoulde reconcile them selues within a certeine tyme. Whan Barbarousse had beeseaged the Castell of Nice in vayne and that Themperoures power out of LuÌ„bardye also approched whyche was led by the Marques of Piscare he leuyed the sege and somewhat sooner than the tyme of the yeare requyred he leadeth backe hys Armie to wynter at Tollon for that Towne had the Kynge assigned hym commaundyng all the CitezeÌ„s and inhabiters to auoyde thence This yeare was moche dissention and trouble in Scotlande the mindes of the nobles beyng deuyded For those Lordes whyche we sayed were prisoners in Englande being libâ—â—ally dismissed of the kynge furthered hys cause as moche as they myght But the Cardinall of Scotlande who had great yerely reuenewes by benefyces in Fraunce and the Quene beynge Daughter to the Duke of Guyse tooke the Frenche Kynges parte After the death of the Scottish king Henry the eyght was wholy in this that the yonge Quene of Scottes might be affianced to Prince Edward his soÌ„ In the which thing those nobles that I spake of did him good seruyce And when they had perswaded HameltoÌ„ the gouernour they toke the Cardinall and besege the Quene in a certen castell and makyng the wrytynges confyrme the marriage But where the French kynge disturbed this deuyse And the Nobilitie also pitied moche the Quenes chaunce and the gouernoure reuolted to thother syde they brake theyr conuenauntes And the warres beganne agayne afresihe betwixt them and England as shal be declared herafter The kyng of Denmarke had also warre with Themperialles of the low countrye for Kyng Christierne that was captiue And he axed ayde of the Protestantes but they saye how thys quarel concerneth not theyr league for it was prouyded that in case he shoulde haue warre for hys religion that then he shoulde by their coÌ„mon ayde be defended When the Duke of Cleaue had made hys peace with TheÌ„perour he sendeth his Ambassadoure to the Kynge of Fraunce and renounceth hys league and requyreth that his wyfe maye bee sente hym for whose passage he hathe obteyned a saufe conduite of Themperoure The kynge aunswereth the Ambassadour howe there hath ben no let in hym that he hath not bothe had his wyfe delyuered and an Armye also sente but that it hath ben hys owne faulte which certifyed that ther was neyther open way for them to passe in those parties nor vitaile to be had What
soeuer he hath promised he hath lyberally perfourmed and sōwhat more also than he was bounden But he hath not donne well who forgettyng his noble lynage and estate hathe brought hym selfe into suche bondage As concernynge hys Nece he maie knowe what her mynde and her parentes is he is in nothyng further bounden to hym Whan Themperoure had establysshed thynges in Gelderlande in the moneth of October he came to Landresey with an exceadynge greate armye Thyther came also the French kynge with hys whole force and the thynge was none other lyke but to haue commen to a battell But when the Frenche men had vytayled the Towne they went awaye by nyght so pryuely that the enemy perceiued it not before it was day light Than at the length pursuing after them they ouer tooke the rerewarde slew many And because winter came on Themperour thinking good to attempt no further whan he had sēt a certen power to the sege of Lucēburg he dischargeth the rest of hys army Duke Maurice serued themperour at Landresey of hys owne voluntarye mynde wherby he gote moche good wyll and made the way to obteyne hys frendship In the winter season the Duke of Lorayne and certen others intreate for peace but that was in vayne Themperoure retournynge home from Landersey sent Fardinando Gonzage Uiceroy of Sicilie to the Kyng of England that he might incense hym more agaynste the Frenche kynge I haue oftentymes mentioned of William Countie Furstēberge he beyng made a straūger with the Frenche kinge made suite by Granuellan to come in to Themperours fauour And to declare hys fydelytie he leuyed a certen power of foote men in hys owne Iurisdictyon and wente in the myddes of wynter to Lucemburge and ioyned hym selfe with Thēperours Armie But when the Frenche men by the conduite of the Duke of Longouile had vitayled them within he departeth without any thynge doon after that many were dead for colde and honger I shewed you before howe the counsell of th empyre was appoynted at the last of Nouember Wherfore the Protestantes assemble together at Franckfourd to consulte before what thynges they shoulde treate of in the whole assemblye And where the matter was delayd by reason of the Frenche warres the Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue in the moneth of Nouember addressyng their letters to themperoure do aduertise hym howe they wyll come to the counsell yf he hymselfe wyll bee there and graunte them saufecounduite for them and theyr league frēdes Wherunto Themperour aunswered frō Brusseles the x. day of Decembre that he would come doubtles and that in the moneth of Ianuarye and sendeth withall a saufconduite Howebeithe excludeth suche as are addicte to hys enemyes by promesse faythe or conuenaunte signifyinge the priuie espialles of the Frenche kynge Than in the begynnyng of Ianuary takyng hys iorney he commeth to Spire The .xxiiii. day of thys moneth was a great Eclipse of the Sonne in the daye tyme so that all men beheld it not without great wonder This yeare also were thre ful eclipses of the Moone A matter in dede to bee wondred at and the whyche as the astronomiers saye hathe not chaunced synce the tyme of great Charles Alexander Farnese Cardinall passyng throughe Fraunce spoke with Themperoure goynge towardes thassemblye and tooke hys leaue of hym at Wormes The cause of his ambassade was thought to be a treaty of peace This assemblie of Spier was exceading great For booth king Farnando and all the Prynces Electours which is seldome seene in maner all other Princes were there and amonges them also the Duke of Cleaue As the Duke of Saxony was comyng whych was the .xviii. day of February the Lantzgraue the Archebisshop of Colō Friderick the Paulsgraue and the Uiceroye of Sicilye went foorth and met hym Two dayes after the counsel began And Themperour propoundeth for what causes leauynge Spayne he is nowe retourned into Germany and hath called this conuention he hath sufficiētly declared by hys letters dated at Gene neyther is it nede to recyte howe moche he hathe euermore loued the Publyke weale that all thynges put in order at home he myghte warre agaynst the common enemye of Christendome but howe he hath ben impeached hytherto and by whom it is not vnknowen For thys last yere by the procurement of the French kyng the Turkisshe nauie is comen into the Sea of Ligurie and hath inuaded the countrey of the Duke of Sauoye a Prince of Thempire taken the Citie and hauen of Nice and with greate force beseged the Castell and vattered it ryght sore And albeit they were constrayned throughe hys Armye approchynge to leuye theyr siege yet haue they syns attempted other places of Th empyre and of Spayne also and are nowe wholy aboute to distroie all together Therfore is the matter nowe brought into an extreme daunger and vnlesse they ioyne theyr mindes and powers to helpe it it is to be feared lest Germanye shall acknoweledge and bewayle hys miserye al to late He hath often wisshed to redresse these euilles but the Frēch Kynge mouing warre agaynst hym insondry places he could neither retourne into Germanye nor Ioyne his power with theyres And that the Turke doeth so boldly inuade Germany that the warres also attempted agaynste hym haue had so euell successe hytherto the cause hathe ben fyrst that he hath ben aduertysed from tyme to tyme by the Frenche kyng of the dissention in relygion of the publycke and priuate dyspleasure of al degrees of the state of Th empyre and what thynges are donne therein Secondlye for that he seeth howe at the Frenche Kynges hand he fyndeth fauour and socour ready as it hath not been only declared by witnesse and letters but nowe also proued in dede For asmoche therfore as he styreth vp and armeth the comon and moste cruell enemye of all others agaynste the Christen publyke weale he supposeth that they shoulde esteme thys warre whyche he is constreyned to maynteyne agayste hym non otherwyse than if it were attempted agaynste the Turke trustynge moreouer that they wyll not onlye condemne hys practyse and enterpryses but also wyll assiste hym to thentente that beyng delyuered from the domestycall enemye he maye dysplaye hys whole force agaynste the Turke After thys expostulatyng that the ayd decreed for the Turkish warre was not sente accordyngly for the wante wherof the Turke hathe agayne thys laste yere preuayled and taken certen Townes and Castels in Hongarye he requyreth them that seeyng the Turke goeth about to wynne Hongarye that he maye after inuade Germanye they wolde consyder depelye so weyghtye a matter that they may haue ayde not oulye to defend but to inuade also to th ende thys moste noysō plage may ones be driuen away from theyr wyues children and natif contrie declaring moreouer how willing he is the thinges amisse shoulde be refourmed and emongs other the iudgement of the chamber The same day king Fernādo by hys ambassadours speakīg
yeres before as is declared And Sygismunde Kynge of Poole defended hym as hys Cliente And nowe what tyme an other was inuested as I haue sayed the kynges Ambassadoure proteâ—ted openlye that thys creation was vnlawfull neyther that it oughte to bee any derogation to the Kynge hys Master vnder whose defence and protection is the Lande of Prusse Whan the Ambassadours of Hongary had recited theyr misfortune and losse of the yeare paste they requyred ayde of Th empyre For nowe is the matter broughte to the verey extremitie and yf they bee nowe leafte destitute they must nedes doe as men are wont in matters desperat and for the which no man can blame theÌ„ they wil accept right harde conditions yea boÌ„dage it selfe rather that whilest other men sit still loke on they should fal into present destructioÌ„ How the FreÌ„ch kings Heraulte was sent away from Spier with his letters it is before declared whan the ambassadours therfore wer retourned home the oratioÌ„ which they should haue had before the states of germany they set forth in print In the beginning to get good will they say how bothe nations haue one the same originall neither can any thing chaunce vnto germany which apperteineth not as wel vnto Fraunce ThaÌ„ do they coÌ„fute the reportes of their aduersaries as though the king with an other warre should disturbe the coÌ„mon welth haue made league with the Turke vsing a certeÌ„ preface to appeace themperour And affirme how the former warre was begon for that the king could not obteine of the duke of Sauoie his mothers inheritauÌ„ce And this later for the kinges ambassadours which wer slain against the law of all nations And that the king hathe no league nor societie with the Turke but for marchandise coÌ„mon quiet such as the Uenetians PoloniaÌ„s others haue And albeit ther wer any league betwixt theÌ„ it wer not to be reprehended for asmoch as in times past both AbrahaÌ„ Dauid SalomoÌ„ Phineas the children of Tobie captaines of the Machabeis haue done the like After also themperours Honorius CoÌ„staÌ„tine Theodostus the yonger Iustinian the secoÌ„d Palaologus Leo Frederick the first second haue vsed the aide succour of nations of a contrary religioÌ„ And doubtles Fredericke the second was euen vpon the shoulders of the saracens caried again into Italy froÌ„ whence the bisshopes of Rome had expulsed him They know how great powers aide the king hath oftener than once promised to the Turkish warre Hereof also the Bishop and Senate of Cardinalles are good wytnesses The cause whye the Turke inuaded Hongarye was for the contentyon aboute the gouernemente And after was moore provoked by the war in Affricke for the taking of Townes And where of late the Turkisshe nauie came into the Ligurian Sea it is not to be imputed to the kynge neyther maketh it to the pourpose that Poline the kinges seruaunt was in the same For thinteÌ„t of Barbarousse was to searche and take Androwe de Aurie his enemie And when he could not fynde hym he beseged the castell of Nice and that of hys owne determination The kyng in dede hath taken trewes with the Turke lyke as he hath at other tymes shewed them which is honest hurtfull to no man for the which he ought not to be blamed consydering that the greatest men that be haue also lately muche desyred the same The state of the publyke weale is sore afflicted and for that is the kynge right sory And by this meane maie peace be recouered if Themperoure will restore to the Kinge that thinge that is his owne ryghte and in heritaunce Yf they can brynge thys to passe the kinge wyll spare neyther trauell cost nor perill to defende Germanye from all foreine violence In the fourmer bookes you haue hearde how the Duke of Saxon wolde not acknoweledge Fernando to be kynge of Romanes but in thys conuention that matter wente through in the moneth of Maye and the Duke promised to honour hym accordingly Themperour agayne ratifyeth the Marriage conuenauntes betwixte hym and the house of Cleaue whiche euer before he refused permitteth that in case the Duke of Cleaue fortune to dye withoute heyres malles that the Duke of Saxon whiche had maryed hys syster and his heires males should succede him yet vpon thys condicioÌ„ if before that chaunce they shal agree vpoÌ„ religion And for a further bande of amitye Fernando by Themperours consente promiseth to geue his daughter Elenore in marriage to the Duke of SaxoÌ„s eldest sonne yf a reconcilemente in religion may be had before she be marying able This latter thyng was kepte verey secret and closely couered on eyther syde so that neyther the Lantzgraue and hys fellowes knewe anye thynge thereof For the matter was done by a fewe counsellours and Themperoure vsed Granuellane Feruando Hoffeman the Duke of Saxon Pontane and Burcarte The King of DeÌ„marke also sendynge hys Ambassadours fell to a composytion with Themperoure where before he had kepte hys power all the wynter longe for the chaunce that myghte haue happened he semed to forsake the Frenche Kynges frendeshyp for the Turkyshe confederacye for somuch the Ambassadours dyd sygnyfye in famylyar talke with their fellowes Nowe wyll we retourne to the demaundes of Themperoure and Kynge Fernando The matter beyng longe and muche debated the tenth daye of Iune the conuention ended The States of Th empyre albeit they thoughte it muche to bee charged with double ayde yet supposynge that they shoulde the better warre agaynste the Turke yf the domesticall enemie were fyrste broughte vnto hys bewtye graunted to Themperoure monye to fynde foure thousande Horsemen and .xxiiii. thousande footemen for halfe a yere agaynst the Frenche kynge And with parte of that monye Themperouce departeth to hys brother Fernando to thentente he shoulde fortifye suche places as are nere the Turkes And for the Turkishe warre to come they agreed that moneye shouldbe gathered of euerye man throughe oute Germany all men to be seased after theyr landes and goodes and no man to bee exempted and enacted that no man shoulde serue any foreine Prynces especyally the Frenche Kynge and the Magistrate permitted to execut those that were taken with the maner Because the controuersy of relygyon could not in these warlycke affaires bee treated on it is differred tyll the nexte assemblye to bee holden in the moneth of December In the meane season wyll Themperoure appoynte certen good and well learned men to compile some godlye fourme of reformation and also exhorteth the Princes to do the lyke to the ende that throughe a Conference made in the next assemblye somethyng by common assent may be establysshed to be obserued vntyll a generall counsel to be holden in Germany or a prouincial Sinode of the same In the meane tyme let all men be quyet and styre vp no trouble for the dyuersitie of Relygion and that the Churches also of what relygion so euer they bee maye
the nexte daye after whan he had made his Cosyn the Erle of Nassow hys sonne his heire he ended his lyfe not without a great grief to Themperoure That tyme were the Protestantes Ambassadours in Lorayne that they myght confyrme the couenauntes of Sequestration latelye propounded by Themperour And fyrst they rested at Metz and after at Tullie and sendynge dyuerse letters to Themperour and to Granuellan they declared the rause of theyr commyng But Themperoure at the last excusyng hym selfe by hys warlyke affayres bad them go home agayne and differreth the whole matter to the next conuention of th empyre or to some other tyme more conuenient Whan Sandesyre was taken themperour the .xxv. day of August marcheth on styll and leauing Catalāne a Towne of Champagnie pitcheth his Tentes by the Riuer of Marne on the other syde wherof laye certen bandes of Frenche horsemen in an Ambusshe There Counte Willyam of Furstemberge whyche knewe the sytuation of Fraunce and euery passage goeth foorthe in the nighte and but one man with him to searche in what place of the ryuer they myght wade ouer at a foorde and passe with theyr Armie And hauing a pesaunt of the Contrie to bee hys guyde whan he had founde a forde and was gone ouer on the other syde he was intercepted by Frenche horsemen and caryed in to theyr Campe in greate derysyon and not withoute reproches for that he seruinge there before had caryed a greate deale of Golde oute of Fraunce and from thence was sente to Parys This thyng chaunced to Themperonre contrary to hys expectation and helde hym long in suspence The French king because the Swysses were not commen eschewed the battell And Themperoure procedynge foorth by the Ryuer syde dayly auaunced hys campe In those partyes is the Towne of Eperney There was moche store of victualles Munition and other warlycke furniture whiche thynges leste they shoulde come into the enemyes handes were conueyed in greate haste downe the Riuer All that coulde not bee caryed awaye was consumed with fyre the Frenche men themselues settyng the Towne a fyre Wherfore Themperoure withoute resistance marched to Castell Theodoricke a Towne by the same Ryuer not two dayes Iorneye from Paris And albeit the Frenche kynges Ambassadours sente to entreate for peace were in Themperours Campe yet marched he forewarde neuer the lesse and whan he was commen thus farre there arose a wonderfull feare amonges them at Parys All men that were of any welthe fled thence neyther coulde they be kepte backe by the kynges proclamation forbiddynge that any man should flee and the vilest sorte remayned styll And therfore was there some daunger leste the greatest Citie in all Europe and exceadyng ryche also shoulde euen through those same haue been spoyled In the same Uninersitie is a wonderfull nombre of Studentes out of al countries in christendom they fled also and the king had in dede proclamed that all alienes shoulde departe immediatlye vnder payne of deathe thys was in the begynnynge of September A fewe dayes after the kynge of Englande hauynge sore shaken and battered Bollen with hys myghtye ordenaunce had it rendred vnto hym whiche neyther hys father nor the kynges of former tyme could euer wynne For he dyd not batter the walles only with canon shot and shake a sondre the Castell and Bulwarkes with vndermynyng whyche in wynnynge of stronge places is the common practise of other Princes but also had greate and heuge Morter peces whyche were shotte of suche a compasse that they fell ryght downe and looke where they lyghted brake downe all beefore them to the grounde so that many wer oppressed with the ruine that they made and the rest that loued theyr lyues were driuen to kepe in caues and sellars vnder the earth At the last the .xxiiij. day of September Thēperour maketh peace with the Frenche kynge whan he was commen to Castell Theodoricke a towne of the Soissons the peace makers of Themperours parte were Gonzage the Uiceroye of Sicilie and Granuellan And for the Frenche kynge was Claudie Annebalde the Admirall Charles Nulley and Gilbart Baiarde And the condicions wer these What soeuer hathe ben taken on eyther syde syns the trewes of Nice is restored agayne The French kyng shall render to the Duke of Lorayne the Towne of Asteney for because it is vnder the protection of Lucemburg They shall aydeone an other and Ioyne al their forces together that the olde relygion concorde of the churche maie be restored The Frenche king promiseth to ayde Themperour in the Turkissh warre with sixe hondreth men of Armes and ten thousand footemen He renounceth the title and clayme of Arragonie Naples Flaunders Artois and Gelderlande Themperour agayne renounceth hys ryght to the Countie of Bollonois Perone other townes standyng vpon the water of Some Moreouer to lowe Burgundye and the contrie of Macon Than promiseth he to geue in Maryage to the kynges sonne the Duke of Orieans the Lady Mary hys eldest doughter or els the daughter of hys brother Fernando whether of them he wyll geue he shall declare with in foure moneches yf he geue his daughter he promiseth for her dowary Brabant Gelderlande Lucemburge Limburge Flaunders Holland Henaulte Artois Namures Friseland Utrecht and all hys dominions there and also hyghe Burgundie that after hys deathe they maye inioye possesse the same Yf he thus doe than the kyng for hymselfe hys Chyldren renounceth hys ryght to Millan And if it fortune themperours daughter to dye hauinge no Children than the Duke of Orleans departeth from all that possession and the ryghte in Millan remayneth wholy to the Frenche kynge and to Themperoure the ryghte of the House of Burgundie Yf he geue the daughter of Fernando he graūteth for her dowarie the Dukedome of Millan howe so euer the mariage be it shal be accomplisshed within a yeres space And the Kynge shall wholy restore the Duke of Sauoie The Kynge also is permytted to kepe Hesdin Themperour promiseth his whole endeuour that peace maye bee made also betwixte Fraunce and Englande As concernynge the Duke of Cleaue beecause the kynge and Quene of Nauarre did affirme that theyr Daughter neuer consented to that Marriage but also witnessed the contrarye after the solemne and accustomed maner the Frenche Kynge shall sende that protestation to Thēperoure within syxe weekes that some thynge maye bee determyned In thys peace are comprised the Bisshop of Roome Kynge Fernando Portugall Polle Denmarke the Uenetians Swyses the dukes of Sauoye Lorayne Florence Farrane Mantua Urbine the Cytyes of Gene Luke Senes the Prynces Electours and al the states of Th empyre that are obedyente to Themperoure Thys peace concluded Themperoure dyschargynge hys Armye retourneth home to Brusselles All men woondred at thys peace makynge For euen those whyche were Themperours frendes and famylyare with hym loked most certenly for a Conquest before they went in to the Fielde and made theyr boast that with in a fewe monethes
Fraunce shoulde bee theyres or the kynge shoulde be at commaundemente who had three moste myghty enemyes Themperoure the Germannes and the Kyng of Englande ✚ The sixtenth Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyste ⧠The argument of the sixtenth Booke ¶ The Pope by letters admonisheth taunteth threateneth Themperoure hys sonne and maketh new Cardinalles The clergie of Colon resisteth the Archebishop Master Peter Bruly for preachynge at Tournay was brent quicke Whilest the assemble was at Woormes they of Merindolle and Cabriere named Uandois be sacked and burnt The Pope notwithstandyng the counsell by hym called burned with desyre to make warre agaynst the Protestātes Luther wryteth against hym and paynteth hym in hys collours Grignian is sente to the Protestantes to cause them to approue the counsell The Archbisshop of Colon is cited to Roome Open warre betwixte the Duke of Brunswicke and the Lantzgraue wherin the Lantzgraue had the victory the Palsgraue prince Electour receyueth the Gospell Bruites of warre are sowen agaynst the Protestantes a Colloquie was ordeyned at Regenspurge to dispute of Relygion which broken the Counsell of Trente is publysshed and the sessions beginne in the meane tyme Luther departeth oute of this presente lyfe WHan the warres were hotest the Bysshop of Roome at the eyghte kalendes of Septembre wryteth hys letters to Themperoure wherin he rebuketh hym sharpelye for vsurpinge as he sayeth hys authorytie and intermedlinge with the reformation of Relygion whiche neuerthelesse he dooeth not ascribe to hys owne nature but to the malycyous perswations of such euell men as he hathe lately made league and frendship with he threateneth him with thexamples of Dathan Abiron and Core whiche wolde haue taken vpon them the authorytye of Moyses Aaron And also of Kyng Ozias whom God strake with Leprosie for that he wolde attempte to burne incēse vpon the Aultar he telleth hym playnely that he hath nothing to doe with the reformation of Churches but the same to be longe vnto hys office chyefly whom God hath geuen authorytie to bynde and loose Than proueth he by ensamples that suche Emperours as haue aided the See of Roome and the Bisshoppes therof God hath euer rewarded with great gyftes and benefytes as greate Constantyne Theodose and Charlemaygne Agayne such as haue resisted them to haue ben punnyshed with greate misfortunes as Morys Constans Phylyp Leo Henry the fourthe and Fridericke the seconde whyche came vnto shamefull endes and were some taken some also slayne of their owne chyldren And that for suche disobedience not only kynges and Emperours but also whole nations haue ben plaged as namelye the Iewes and Grekes the one for crucifying of Chryst the sonne of God the others for contemnyng of hys vicar Moreouer he wylleth him to imitate the example of greate Constantyne who refused to be iudg in the Bisshops causes Notwithstandynge he coulde be contente to vse hym as a coadiutour in matters of relygion but herin to be head and gouernour he can not abyde hym Fynally he warneth him frō hence foorthe to treate no more of relygion in the assemblies of Th empyre but referre that vnto hys indgement and that he disanulle and abrogate all suche thynges as he hath through ouer moche fufferaunce already graunted to those rebelles and aduersaryes of the Churche of Rome or els must he be constrained to deale more roughly with him than either hys custome nature or will also can beare Yet wil he not neglect hys dewtie for the example of gods plage vpon Helithe prest is euer before his eyes Hitherto he hath vsed the clementie of a father but if thys will not serue he must feele another waye therfore let him consider whether it shal be more for hys honour to assist his olde age in recouerynge the tranqullytie of the Churche or els to fauour those that seke the desolation of the same It is thought that the Frēch king set hym on to wryte thus extremely who made the matter odious by reason of the Englysh league to incense the bysshop the more for herof cometh it that he wryteth of the Societie of euel mē For they both are wont to swe and craue hys frendship right busyly bothe by letters and ambassadours especyallye in tyme of warre and eche laboureth for hym selfe that they may bee to hym most acceptable Aboute thys tyme Stephen Bisshop of Winchester set foorth a boke agaynst Bucer verey opprobrious and bitter Wherin emonges other thinges he defendeth the sengle lyfe This yere the Bisshop created Cardinalles Christopher Madruce of the Trente and Otto Truckesse Bishop of Auspurge Germanes George Arminiack Iames Anuebald Frēchmen Fraunces Mendoza Bartholomewe Cueua Spaniardes to gratifye the Emperoure Fernando and the Frenche Kynge At the same tyme also he calleth a counsell whyche had ben hindered heretofore by reason of the warres agaynst the Ides of Marche in the yere following And because Themperour and the French king wer now at peace he vttereth greate gladnes and the writte wherewith he reneweth the connsel beginneth of that place of Scripture Letare Ierusalem-In these dayes also cometh foorthe a booke of Luthers touchyng the Lordes supper wherin he reneweth the olde controuersie and speaketh many thynges agaynste Zwinglius and the fellowes of the same doctryne Which was aunswered by them of Zuricke that ryght sharpelye I tolde you before of Clergie and Uniuersitie of Collon howe they with theyr whole force resisteth the Archebisshop in the reformation of religion But where as he procedeth they sendyng agayne Ambassadours letters requyre hym to leaue and attende the decree of the counsell yf not they must cōplayne to the higher magistrate and fynde remedy to quyet theyr conscyence and pacifye Gods wrath They are lothe to take that waye but yf he goo forewarde they muste nedes do it Whan they coulde not thus preuayle the .ix. daye of October they assemble in the head Churche of Collon and there recyte by wrytyng amonges other thynges what hath ben done at Wormes .xxiij. yeres past what Luther by the common assēt of all Princes was condemned of Themperoure what was decreed at Auspurge what at Regenspurge and what latelye at Spyer All these thynges neglected they saye how theyr Archebysshop Herman hathe gon a new waye to worke and hath sent for Bucer an Apostata and twyse polluted with incestuous mariage a sacramentary and a defendour of that opinion and to hym hath committed thecclesiasticall function and hath appointed euery where new preachers lewde and euill persons by them also was a fourme of a refourmation diuised set forth by the princes commaundement All the which thinges they haue euer to theyr powers resisted and ofte desired the Archebisshop that he woulde staye vntyll the counsell or at the leste vntill the conuention of thempire but all was in vayne And nowe forasmuche as the state of the prouince is lamentable
bounden ar not to be receyued To haue Images in the churches is a thing full of daunger for Idolatrie Baptisme is a signe of the league that god hath made with vs wherby he testifieth that he forgeueth our sīnes It is a signe also of cōtinuall mortifying and of a new lyfe which ought to folow Baptisme That thys Sacrament ought to be receiued of al men and not somuche as little chyldren to be kept frō the same which are also partakers of the godly promission There ought no vow to be made that is eyther besides Goddes worde or els cannot bee perfourmed by man Howe euerye man ought daily to confesse hys sinnes vnto God and craue his mercy moreouer yf any scrupulositie trouble hys conscience to axe counsell of the minister of the church for hys comfort and consolation But that Auricular confessinge of Synnes hathe neyther testimonye of Scripture nor yet can bee perfourmed but is a tormentynge of the mynde ryghte peryllous Of the perpetuall virgynitye of our Ladie he nothynge doubteth Concernynge all these thynges a fewe dayes before he stode foorthe he wrote vnto hys wyfe and to others of hys frendes that requyred thys of him vsing the seruyce of hys syster And whan he was condemned to dye he aduertiseth hys wyfe in an other letter with what kynd of punnishmenthe should end his life the next daye and also comforteth her shewyng her that the condicyō of a disciple ought not to be better than hys masters and geueth her certen instructions preceptes of lyuing The diuines of Paris had made decrees of relygion two yeares past as before is recyted And now by the kinges cōmaundement they mete at Mellon which is a Towne in an Iland of Seine ten myles aboue Paris The kyng was therby in the Castell of Fountayne blewe and had commaunded them to assemble that forasmoche as peace was concluded and the counsell shoulde shortely ensewe they myghte after consultatyon had resolue vpon suche artycles for the Churche expediente as myght be thought mete to bee defended in the counsel and publycke Showe place of al Chrystendome The ende of whyche consultatyon was thys that allbeit the altercation amonges them was greate yet wolde they alter no iote of those thynges whyche they had before setfoorth at Parys After the example of the Parisiās the Diuines of Louaine also draw out articles and after by Themperoures permission set them foorth to the nomber of .xxxii. of the same secte for all the worlde as bee the Parysyans before rehearsed Those doeth the Emperour by hys proclamatyon confyrme and ratyfye publyshynge hys letters therof the day beefore the Ides of Marche The Diuines wrytte howe they tooke thys payne the more wyllyngly for that they knewe the same shoulde be well accepted of Themperour who had hertofore requyred of thē a moche lyke thynge In the composytion of the pease it was agreed that Themperour and the Frenche Kynge shoulde to the vttermoste of theyr power restore the olde Relygyon as they terme it And those thynges that wee haue nowe recyted seme to tende to the same ende And the Cardinall of Tournon which went with the Duke of Orleans into Flaūders is thought to haue furthered much that matter But Luther aunswereth them of Louain with cōtrary theames and calleth them heretickes and bludsuckers who teaching wicked thynges that can neyther be defended by reason nor scripture doe ad to vyolence and persecute with fyre and sworde For bothe they and also the Parysians propounde onlye bare propositions and prescribe what they wyll haue followed but alledge no place of Scripture to proue it and incense the magistrate to persecution The assemblie of Thempire was than at Woormes Themperoure beynge diseased of the goute was longe or euer he came He had they re hys deputes the Cardinall of Auspurge and Fridericke Countē of Furstemberg The xxiiii day of Marche kyng Fernando in Themperours absence propoundeth Wherfore thys conuention is called verely for the establyshyng of relygion the lawe and peace and for the Turkisshe warre He sheweth howe Themperoure wysshed to haue ben here in person but hathe ben letted hitherto by reason of syckenes and yet intendeth to come so soone as he hathe recouered healthe And because he wyll not longer hynder the common consultation therfore hathe he requyred hym to commence the thynge chieflye concernynge the Turkishe warre for the which cause Themperoure made peace with the Frēch kynge to thentente that all thynges beyng pacyfyed relygyon maye be quyeted and refourmed and after all force and power bee prepared agaynste the Turke And after he hathe declared what trauell Themperour hathe euer taken to procure a counsell fyrste wyth Clement the .vii. at Bononie after with Paule the. iii at Roome Genes Nice Luke and now lately at Busset And because it is now brought to passe and already in hande at Trente Themperours aduise is not to treate of Relygyon in thys Conuention but to attende vpon the procedynge of the counsell or yf there shal be none than before th ende of thys assemblye to appoynt an other conuocatyon of Th empyre for the same pourpos But now requyreth them especially to cōsult of the Turkishe warre For he is aduertysed by sondry letters messengers that the Turke is comming into Hongary with a greater power thā euer he did to thentente he may after inuade Germany Let them cōsulte therfore whether they thynke it mete to mooue warre agaynste hym or defende onlye and what they shall determyne to signifye the same to themperoure who hath perswaded the bisshop of Rome the French king to the Societie of this war trusteth also the others will not be behynd Wherunto the protestantes with them also the archbishop of Collon the Palsgraue electour the third day of April make this aunswer How this cōuentiō was appoynted chiefly for religiō and how that in fourmer conuētions an entrie accesse hath bē made to come vnto an agrement And therfore is there more hope now that they should wholy accord Wherfore they wolde right gladly begin first with that matter the state of Germany doeth require it should be so who yf the feare of God be before theyr eies they doubte not to haue good successe Howbeit if either the weightines of the thing or the shortnes of tyme or els the presēt daunger of the Turke wil not permit it yet shall it be nedefull that the decree concerning peace be further declared For peace is in dede graunted to religion vntill the counsell but they do not acknowledg this counsell of Trent for a lawful counsell such as hath ben promised in the coūselles of thempire And why they doe not accept it they haue oft times heretofore declared Therefore haue they nede of peace who doe not depende of the popishe counsell which may take place til the matter be godly christiāly determined And because a firme peace can not bee had except the execution of
the ministers of the churche whom they wolde should be remoued vnlesse they doe theyr dewty of the magistrate whom they graunte to be ordeyned of God to defende the good and to punnysh the transgressours And how they owe hym not loue only but also tribute and custome no man herein to be excepted euen by the example of christ who payed tribute hym selfe of baptisme which they saye is a visible and an outward sygne that represēteth vnto vs the renewyng of the spirite and the mortifycation of the members of the Lordes supper whych they saye is a thankes geuing and a memory all of the benefit receyued throughe Chryste of matrimony which beyng holy and instituted of god ough to be inhibited to no mā of good workes which they saye we must obserue and exercise as holy scripture teacheth of false doctryne whiche because it leadeth vs a waye from trewe worshippyng they saye it ought to be eschewed to be brief the order and rule of theyr faythe they affirme to be the olde and new Testamente and doe protest that they beleue all those thynges that are conteyned in the crede of the Apostles Finally they desyre the kyng to geue credyt to thys declaration for incase he be otherwyse informed it is not trew and that they say they wyll proue yf they maye be heard That tyme was the king occupyed with affaires of warre and therfore the matter slept but whē peace was made it was renewed and through the prouocatiō of many brought to thys wonderful crueltie I shewed before of the Spaniardes whom Themperour had placed in Lorayne for the wynter season They after they had wrought moche euyll in those parties by Themperours cōmaundement depart thence in the moneth of Aprill and trauelyng by Strasburge whē they had there passed ouer the Rhm they goe through Sweuia into Austriche about three thousande footemen At thys tyme ended hys lyfe Lewis the Duke of Bauier the brother of Wyllyam hauynge no chyldren For so it was accorded that he should not marie for the kepyng together of thinheritaunce The Duke of Brunswicke and he were exceadyng great frendes For they were the chiefe captaynes of the league that was deuised against the protestātes And whan Henry of Brūswicke was dryuen oute of hys countrey he fled fyrst vnto hym After thys the .xvi. daye of Maye came Themperour to Wormes And the next daye after Cardinal Farnesius What was the cause of his commyng I am not able to saye but it was thought for certentie that he came to styre vp warre agaynst the Lutheranes He did nothinge openly and comynge from Roome he passed not throughe the lande of Wirtemberge but whan he had stayed a tyme at Dilling a Towne of the Cardinalles of Auspurge vpon the Riuer of Danubius he torned an other way Kyng Fernando had written to the Duke of Wirtemberge that for his sake he wold let hym passe sassye and shewe all the fauour that myghte bee he made aunswer that he had rather he wolde take some other waye neuerthelesse to doe hym pleasure yf he were disposed to passe that waye he wolde not let hym But he as I sayd tooke an other waye and came to Wormes one daye after thēperour Themperoure so soone as peace was made with the French kyng sollicited other prynces also to further and helpe forewarde the Counsell And for thys cause only sente ambassadours to the kynge of Polle requyring hym to sende hys deputes to the counsell of Trente who amonges other thinges sayed that for asmoche as Themperour supposed howe the Protestantes whyche had ben euen stubburne wold not forsake the cōfession of theyr doctryne exibited at Auspurge nor also obey the publycke decrees of the counsell the thinge it selfe requyred that kynges and princes should take the matter in hande and yf they doe not obey to bee auenged on them as the disturbers of the publycke weale and all godlye relygion And where as he amonges others hath the comendation of a godly and a christian kyng Themperoure prayeth hym to thynke vpon the Turkisshe warre subcribe to the counsell of Trente and yf the Protestantes will not beframed to amendement to assiste hym with hys ayde and counsell as also other kynges haue promised The king of Polle agayne made aūswer how he desyred that he myghte see that day whan chrystian kynges Prynces all ciuille warre and discorde layde a parte shoulde bende theyr whole power at ones agaynste the Turke For then wold he be none of the last And as concernyng the counsell and the Protestātes he wil doe all thynges that maye profite the publycke weale and trāquillitie of the churche neyther yf nede repuyre wyll in greate daunger fayle Themperoure hys Frende and alie The same tyme it was wrytten from Rome how the Bisshop notwithstandyng that he had called a Counsell and sente hys Legates thyther was so desyrous of warre agaynst the Lutheranes that hereunto he promised aide of xii thousande footemen and fyue hondreth horsemen And that priuelye also he hyred Centurions and Captaynes And whan it was shewed hym agayne howe the time was farre spent and no great good could be donne that yere and how they must tary for some better occasyon he declared the same immediately to hys captaynes and put them in hope of the next yere following On the morrow after the feast of Pētecost a Frere obseruaunt an Italian made a sermon before Themperour kyng Fernando Cardinal Farnesius the Bisshop of Auspurg and Granuellan and in hys sermon makinge a digression to the Lutherans when he had inueyhed moche and spoken dispitefully against thē it is tyme no we sayeth he most victorious Emperour that at the laste you doe your offyce certenly it hathe ben delayed ouer longe for the thyng shoulde haue ben don long since God hath blessed you with many great gyftes and ordeyned you defendour of his church Wherfore extende youre power and dispatche out of the waye that pestiferous sorte of men For it is not lawefull for them any longer to behold the sonne whiche doe thus pollute and confounde althynge Neyther say that you will doe it For it shoulde haue ben done already already I saye and long syns therfore may ther be no longer delay For how many thousand people do you thinke to be in daunger of euerlasting saluation through theyr madnes All the whych God shall requyre at your handes vnlesse you fynd the remedye It is sayde how Granuellan was moche offended with thys Trompete eyther for that he fayned so or els for that he sawe howe it was a warnynge to the Protestantes Not many daies after this sermō Farnesius departeth secretly by nyght and retourneth to Rome with great expedition In these dayes Luther setforth a boke in the vulgare toungue intitled against the Bisshoprycke of Roome ordeyned by Sathan in the which booke he aunswereth fyrst to the Bysshoppes letters wherby with so vehement wordes he diswadeth Themperoure from the reformatiō of
touchyng the rest he will conferre with the Duke of Saxon and hys fellowes The Ambassadours whyche I tolde you before were sente by the Protestantes into Fraunce and Englande doe as they had in cōmission but at the same tyme also Thēperoure sought to make a peace appoynted a daye at Bruges for the Ambassadours of both kinges to mete And the Frenche kynge sente Mounser Annebalde the Amirall and the kyng of England Stephen Bisshop of Winchester But they could not accorde In the meane season the Ambassadours of the Protestantes wrought so moch that bothe the kynges were content to haue a further treaty Therfore they send ambassadours the Frēch kyng to Arde the kyng of Englād to Cales and Guysnes They mete in the mydde waye betwixt Arde and Guysnes the .xxvi. daye of Nouember in tentes pitched in the playne felde And whan the Ambassadors of the Protestants had propounded certen cōdicions of peace the matter was longe and moche debated betwyxt them The Frēch mē wolde haue Bologne restored especially vrged that the Scotes myght be comprised in the peace But both these did the Englishmen vtterlye refuse Than was the matter reported by letters and messagers to eyther kynge but after moche intreaty ther was nothyng fynisshed Wherfore the syxte day of Ianuary the Ambossadours of the kynges and Protestantes depart and retourne home The next daye after the Frenchemen vitayled theyr forte that the kyng had builded nere vnto Bologne When the Englisshemen would haue letted that they fought together and many were slayne on bothe parties and after was the fort vitailed What tyme these āmbassadours of the Protestantes were in Englande the kynge by waye of communication tolde them howe they were lyke to haue a fore and a mortall warre therof was he moste certen He warned thē also to wryte of the same to theyr confederates And after one of hys counsellours whych was than in hygh fauour declared as moche to one of the Ambassadours naming also certē practicioners messagers by whose meanes chiefly the thing was wrought Moreouer the king semed to take in maruelous euill parte that Themperour had the yere before made peace with the French king and was so moch the more offēded for that as he sayd he made warre with the Frenche king throughe his procurement by reason of the Turkisshe league In the moneth of Ianuarye the Protestantes conuented at Frankeforthe there they consulted of the counsell of Trente of augementyng theyr league for the charges of the warre of Brunswicke howe they will not forfake the Archebisshop of Collon howe to solicite Themperour in the assemblie of thēpire that he wyll graunte peace for relygion and refourme the iudgment of the chāber In thys cōuention the Ambassadours of the archbisshop of Collon complayne of the iniuryes of the Clergye and of the commaundementes and citations bothe of Themperour and also of the Bisshop of Roome In the meane season the Paulsegraue prynce electour ordeyned euery where ministers of the church and preachers of the Gospell he permitteth also the whole supper of the Lorde and the Mariage of pristes And the tenth daye of Ianuary in stead of the Popissshe Masse was seruice sayde in the head church of Nedelberg in the Duche tongue Wherfore the Protestantes sending an Ambassade reioyse therat and geuinge him thankes that he aunswered the Archebisshop of Collon his Ambassadours so frankelye they exhorte hym also to procede to professe the doctryne confessed at Anspurge and to doe hys endeuour that in the nexte assemblye at Regenspurge the peace and lawe maye be establysshed Wherunto he aunswereth that he hath bē euer desyrous of peace and wil be so long as he liueth for the Archebisshop of Collō he is right sory that he is thus molested especyally in hys olde dayes Therfore what tyme they shal send their Ambassadours to Themperoure and to the Clergie and Senate of Collon to intreate for hym he wyll also sende hys with them he had trusted these many yeres to haue had some agrement in religion but in as moch as he seeth how the matter is daungerously differred neither is theire any greate hope he coulde no longer delaye the wisshe expectation of hys subiectes Therfore hathe he begonne a reformatyon of relygion whych he pourposeth to anaunce furthermore and to professe it openly At the seuententh daye of Ianuarye at Wesell mete the Ambassadours of the Prynces electours which are named of the Rhine those be Mentz Collon Treuers the Paulsegraue or Coūte Palatyne for the dominions of all these stretche vnto the Rhine The Paulsegraue vrged the Archebishopes of Mentz and Treuers that they wolde sende theyr Ambassadoures with hys and with the Marques of Brandenburges to intreate for the Archebisshop of Collon but they fearynge to get displeasure refused it At thys tyme a rumour was noysed abrode that Themperour shoulde secretly mynde warre Wherfore the Lantzgraue wrytyng hys letters to Granuellā the .xxiiij. of Ianuarie sayeth howe it is reported not onlie in Germany but also sygnyfyed oute of Italye and otherplaces that Themperoure and the Bisshop of Roome make preparation to warre vpon the Lutheranes and wyll maynteyne the counsell and beegynne the warres in the sprynge of the yere and howe they intende to set vpon the Archebysshop of Collon with the force of the lowe contrie of Germany vpon the Saxons out of Boheme to inuade high Almaigne with the power of Italie How Themperour wil also haue ten thousande foote men and certen trouppes of horsemen to garde hym and conduicte him to Regenspurge This brute is not only spread abrode commonlye but is also reported of head Captaynes and Centurions wherof some make theyr boast that they haue receyued money of thēperoure already And seyng Themperoure hathe peace with Fraūce and hath also taken trewes with the Turke as some do affyrme many men doe maruell to what vse and pourpose he shoulde wage men to warre Neyther he nor hys consortes whylest they consyder the peace makyng of Norinberge confyrmed after at Regenspurge Spier and other places can be easelye perswaded to beleue it shoulde bee trew especially synce they haue done ryght good seruice bothe to thēperour and to kynge Ferdinando agaynst the Turke and other enemyes also Howbeit he thought good to declare these thynges frendly vnto hym whych are sygnyfyed to hym and hys fellowes by many letters and messagers For it maye be that the like thinges are reported to Themperoure by malycious persons of hym and hys confederatours whyche maye rayse a suspicion cause trouble and put them bothe to charges he doubteth not but that he wyll make hym an aūwer And in asmuche as he hathe ben euer hitherto a counselloure of peace he desyreth him that from henceforthe also he wolde perswade Themperoure to the same Granuellan wrote an aunswer to thys the seuenth day of February How Themperoure hathe neyther made any compacte with the Bisshop leuyed soldiours nor geuen
man be admitted to the office of reading but of whose learning maners and lyfe the Bishop or Abbot be certayne of And because the preachyng of the Gospel is nothyng lesse necessarye than the readyng it selfe the Bisshops and al other prelates of the churche are commaunded to instructe the people or yf they haue any lawful impedimēt to substitute others that shall Moreouer the headpristes pastoures of the people are charged at the lest euery sondaye to declare vnto men those thinges that are necessary for saluation and that they exhort them vnto vertu and feare them from vice and syn And a penaltie appoynted for such as neglect their dutye The Bisshops also are admonished to note dilligentlye what thinges are taught and incase heresies or absurde opinions be sowen abrode to vse the remedie by the lawes prescribed After are decrees made of originall synne and saye that the whole spot thereof is taken awaye through baptisme And that there remayueth in dede in them that be baptised a motion to synne or concupiscence And albeit Paul sometyme calleth it synne yet is it not done because it is synne in dede and properly so but because it inclineth to sinne But the Uirgin Marye is not comprysed in thys decree and that is to be obserued which in tyme paste was ordeyned by Bysshop Sirtus the fourthe of that name Than is the nexte daie limited to sit in the .xxix. of Iune Now did this Sixtus the fourth make a decre wherin he did excommunicate them as heretickes whyche teache that the Uirgyn Mary was conceaued in oryginall synne and that the daye consecrated by the churche of Roome in the memoryall of her conceptyon oughte not to be kept holy Thys decre is written in that part of the Byshops law that is called extrauagātes In this foresayd counsell sitting Peter Danese ambassadour to the French king made an oration and speakynge many thynges of the desertes and godly zeale of the kinges of Fraunce towardes the Churche of Roome begynnynge from kynge Clodowey declareth howe kinge Fraunces descendinge of the same progenitours is in no kynde of dewtye inferyour to them who was lynked with Leo the tenth in a continuall bonde of amytie and likewyse with Adrian Clement and now with Paull the third whyche in all this tempestuous storme of Religion hathe ben well ware that no alteration hath ben within hys dominions for that he wold haue the whole iudgement of the matter to be referred to the church for albeit he be of hys owne nature moste mercifull yet hathe he put them to most greuous tormentes which by a certen priuate rashenes haue assayed to diminyshe the state of the church through the which dillygence and seueritie he hath this obteined that he deliuereth now vnto them all Fraunce in peasable wyse For in it is no new nor straūge doctryne which is not of auncient custome and olde discipline confyrmed And where he hathe alwayes thought it profytable for the publycke weale that in the church there shuld be one namely the bisshop of Roome as the successour of Peter vnto whom all others as to the head myght referre all theyr doynges he hath ben euermore carefull that thys magistrate myghte styll kepe the supremacye and albeit he hath often times with large offers ben moued to the contrary and to followe thexample that an other hathe shewed before hys eyes yet coulde he neuer bee remoued from hys pourpos and of late whan the counsell was called that he hearde howe certen fathers were there assembled forthewhich he commaunded certen of hys cheife Bisshops to repayre thyther whan after a few decrees were made brought into Fraunce he appointed hym and his fellowes to come and declare hys lykyng opinion touchyng the same Therfore his fyrst request is that they wold ones establishe in generall what thyng in relygion is to be followed and beleued And agayne that for thecclesiasticall persons they wolde prescribe a moste sharpe disciplyne of lyfe maners What so euer they shal decree let thē put no doubte but that through hys commaundement it shall be obserued in all Fraunce Moreouer for as muche as the kynges of Fraunce haue done very muche for the churche of Roome that they wolde not suffer any thyng to be dimisshed or altered the possession wherof the kynges of Fraunce haue had euer synce Lewis surnamed Pius the sonne of great Charles Finally that of all the Frenche Churches whereof he hathe the patronage left hym of hys elders they wolde confyrme all ryghtes priueleges and lybertyes With the letters before mentioned and with further credite also came Lazarus Schuendius to Strasburge the .xxiiii. daie of Iune when he had by the waye spoken with the rest of the cytyes But the Senate sendyng hym awaye not long after wrote vnto thēperoure and for that they made no directe aunswer to Lazarus they saye it was for the straungenes and difficultie of the thing which did not concerne thē only but others in lyke case Nowe where he saieth that he beareth such a loue to Germany they geue hym great thākes and besecheth hym to perseuer in the same and suffer not hym selfe to be styrred vp to ciuyll warre where he complayneth moreouer of certen that doe not theyr de wtie neither shew theyr dew obedience they were sory to heare it yet they trust that there be none of theyr Religion culpable in so greate a crime For the fault hath not ben in vs saye they that relygion hath not ben accorded For you knowe ryght wel noble Emperoure howe willinge and confyrmable we haue been to haue a recontilemente bothe fyue yeres paste at Regenspurge and also synce and before at all tymes where certen others through thaduise and perswasion of the Bishop haue refused the same and referred althinges to Roome But the Bisshop intendeth through violēce and power to reteyne styll those greate errours for the whyche arrose all thys dissentiō in the church doeth so handle the matter in al thinges that we maye not cōmit the cause vnto his iudgment wherby it may wel be perceyued that we susteyne wrong yf any man shulde lay the blame in vs that thys controuersye is not appeased And where it is obiected vnto them that they shulde seke to plucke the church goodes in to theyr owne handes vnder the pretence of relygion it is vnfrendly sayde For you haue heard and knowen Cesar why oure fellowes coulde suffer no longer that monkishe lyfe in theyr dominions which was growen so farre out of order and howe they haue conuerted the same to better vses as fyndyng of Scooles and releuing of the poore Where agayne it is well knowne howe men of the contrary relygiō heape vp the churche goodes and abuse them to all voluptuousnes yet nothyng spokē of furthermore you your selfe haue made decrees bothe at Regenspurg and lately at Spier how for a common quiet those goodes oughte to be vsed Nowe incase there
of this warre but yet vpon condicion that he laie to thē againe in mortgage so mutch of hys owne landes And because the thing is straūge he shal make them sufficient warrantise at the arbitrement of the bisshop If any man wyll impeche or let thys theyr enterprise hym shall they ioyntly resyst with bothe theyr forces and the one help theother and they bothe to be bounden thus to doe so longe as the warre shall indure syxe monethes besydes after that the warre shal be finished it shall be free for euery man to ioyne hym selfe vnto thys league and to be both partaker of the charges the gaine This composition also shall the Senate of Cardinalles confyrme and that which is spoken of Iune to be vnderstande of the moneth of Iune thys present yere wherin they bothe haue subscribed now to the leage before cōceaued The copie of thys confederacie the Bishoppes legate Hierome Frāch shewed after to the Swisses as shal be declared in his place Aboute thys tyme was a peace concluded betwene Fraunce and Englande and the French king permitteth the kyng of Englande to enioye Bologne vntill suche tyme as he hath payed hym hys money dewe And where at the same tyme Hēry the Dolphin had a daughter borne called after Isabell for the better confyrmation of that frendeshyp the kyng of England was desyred to be godfather at the fountstone who sent hys deputie into Fraunce Sir Thomas Cheynie knight Lorde Warden of Cinke portes Then also was the Cardinal of Saint Andrewes in Scotlande in hys owne Castell aboute diner tyme slayne by a certen gentleman whose brother he had euyll intreated for Lutheranisme And he that did the murther fled into Englād The third daie of Iuly the byshop of Rome sendeth his letters to the Swisses threatning vpō them kindnes for the frenship that had ben betwene thē his predecessours he bewayleth that som of thē are through the disceipt of the deuil law breakers plucked from the apostolicall relygion frō him as the most deare children out of the bosom armes of a most louing father Notwithstanding it is the great gift of God that many of them haue perseuered cōstant in the faith towards god the church to thintēt verely that others which through the talke of wicked men haue ben disceaued should haue an exāple set before their eyes at the length conuert vnto the religion of their forefathers for it is a great token of gods goodnes that in this discention of religiō they be at peace with in themselues wherin other places for this occasion hath ben great sedition tumultes The whiche to appease he hath euer since he was first bishop vsed al the gentle remedies he could deuise and now also is fled to the last refuge calling a generall counsel at Trent a Towne of Germany within the limites wherof this euil sede of heretikes hath chiefly increased vnto the whiche Towne they might safly com and there defend their matters yf they wold for he trusted that inso sacred a senate to the which alwaies all christen kinges and nations haue attributed very much in the assemble of so many bishoppes which through the instinctiō of the holy ghost shuld treate of religiō no man wold be so wicked that he wold not submit him selfe to so great an authoritie and which shuld not incontinently casting awaie his wicked opinions imbrace the iudgement of the catholicke church And that he hath now also the same opinion of them and by reason of theyr concord at home hath good hope that so many of them as haue continewed faithful and constant will obey the coūsell and that the rest which of no set purpos but through a certen credulytie haue ben broughte into errour will not dispyse the authoritye of the counsel which thing that they wold doe come vnto the counsell as vnto a certen heauenly Senate ouer the which God himselfe is presydent he exhorteth them moste ernestly as he hathe donne also before And sayeth howe it hathe ben a greate grief to hym that dyuerse in Germany yea of the same number that are called Prynces whyche not only doe proudely and insolently contemne the counsell but also bayte it with cursed and raylyng wordes and saye how they wil not obey the decrees therof But he was chiefly sory for this cause that through the contumacie disobedience of these obstinate persōs he is dryuen to attempt the matter by warre For he coulde no longer suffer the losse of so many soules whych through theyr heresies perished dayly nor yet the oppression of christians wherof that other belōgeth to his office pastorall and this to the dignitie of the degre wherin he is placed And whyleste he was thynkynge vppon a remedye and prayed God to shew hym the waye it chaunced luckely that Themperour a prynce of most godly zeale offended with the like faultes in a maner that he was thought good to auenge the cause of religiō against those wicked heretikes by force of armes For where as by his intercession and meanes a counsell was graunted vnto Germany it semed vnto him that such as refused and contemned that dispised also his doing authoritye wherfore this occasion offered euen of god he tooke holde of it right gladly prefixed him self to further this noble myde of Themperoure as wel with his owne treasure as also of the church of Rome for if he shuld otherwise do handel the thing negligently slackly ther is no doubt but god wold require at his hādes as of their father the soules of somany children as wer lost throughe the falsehead of heretickes and for this cause doeth he open his mind counsell vnto them that they maye see with what carefulnes he is vered and may ioyne theyr prayers with his that is with God religion They haue don verely many godly actes but neuer non more noble then this if they wil kepe the olde amitie with god as their elders haue don if they shew to the churche of Rome which hathe euer don for them their olde loue fidelitie yf in this now so godly a cause they wil geue theyr ayde assistaunce Which thing he desireth them grealy they wold doe The ambassadours of the Protestantes in the vpper part of Germany come from Ulme to Baden to the conuentiō of the Swisses declaring their message were delaied to the moneth of August Their requestes were that they wold suffer no foreine soldiours to passe through their countrey that they wold permit their men to serue them in their war if the thing so required At this time also they of Brunswicke Goslarie Hildessem Hanobrie at the commaundement of the Duke of Saxon the Lantzgraue Rase Wuolbutel the chief castel of the Dukes of Brunswicke which they had hitherto kept with a garnisō The Paulsegraue prince electour in this hurly burly maketh suite to themperoure at Regenspurge
restrayned wold take them cleane a waye I am constrayned to attempte war that I may reduce them to theyr dewtie And for as muche as I heare saye how they goe aboute all that euer they can to allure you others to their fellowship I commaund you fyrst that throughout your whole prouince you let proclame and doe foresee that no man serue in this war vnlesse he serue me and my captaynes suche as shall haue commission to shewe secondly yf any be gonne foorthe already to serue that you call them againe immediately and commaund them to tary at home and attende vpon our commaundement And suche as will not obey that you punnish them extremelye so demeane youre selfes that I maye perceyue that you loue the quyet of Germany except you thus doe know for certentie that it shal be to your great daunger losse of all that you haue These letters whan the Archebishop had receiued he published in all places and commaunded they shuld be obeied Besydes he gaue commaundement that they shulde praye in Churches that God of hys mercy wolde tourne awaye the greate daunger that nowe hanged ouer Germany At the same tyme the Protestantes sēd their ambassadours to the kinges of Fraunce and England newely reconciled making suite to them for ayde After the Duke the Lātzgraue had wrytten thus to Themperoure priuately as before is sayd at that Ides of Iuly they set forth a publicke writing also wherin they declare howe thys warre is made againste Religion and this to bee Themperours intent that vnder a serten pretence of rebellyō and as though he wolde punnysh but a fewe he myght plucke awaye the fellowes of the league one from an other and so muche the more easelie at the length subuert them all And hereof they bryng manye proues and reporte what kynge Fernando what Granuellan what Nauius and others spake priuately at Regenspurge verelye that the contempt of the counsell was cause of thys warre Moreouer they saye howe Themperoure sent commaundement to them of Rauensburge whyche had lately receyued the doctryne of the Gospell that within a few dayes they shuld for sake theyr enterpryse or els wolde he geue theyr Citie and Landes to be deuyded amonges the Soldiours but the Messager was called backe with the letters by the waye leste it shuld come forthe a brode that the war were agaynst relygion Forasmuch also as the byshop of Rome hath geuē sentēce against I the Archbishop of Collon for the reformatyō of doctrine hath depriued him of hys dignitie for that Thēperoure in a maner doeth threatneth the same doeth not that sufficiētly declare the cause of the war For it is a cōmon brure how theyr drift is that the Cardinal of Auspurg who hath set this matter a fyre shall throughe violence be substituted in hys place It is reported moreouer that when they bee vanquished bandes of Soldiours shal be placed in all partes of Germany whych in Themperours name shall see the decrees of the counsell concernyng relygion maynteyned and put in execution Furthermore it is wrytten by dyuers men howe the Archebysshop of Toledo chiefly and such other prelates in Spayne do geue a great summe of monye to thys warre which they wold not haue donne if it had not ben for religion It is wel knowen also what maner of decree was made at Auspurge .xvi. yeres synce what tyme Themperoure protested that he could not abyde thys secte and doctryne of Luther but that to distroye the same vtterly he wold bestowe all hys force treasure lyfe and blud also For yf they were once oppressed as God forbid than shuld it quickely appere whether they wolde spare thys religion and wolde not rather slaye the ministere of the churche inforce theyr wyues and their children and restore Monkes and Freers and all that relygious rabbell But Themperoure may not lawfully worke force agaynst any state nor bannish any man before his cause behearde nor bryng foreyn soldiours within the bondes of Germany or chaleng to hym self any inherytance or succession belonginge to thempire For he is bounden to these condicions and hath confyrmed them by an othe For yf it were lawful for him to doe otherwise the state of the publycke weale could not long endure And what cause of displeasure shulde haue agaynste them they cannot in the worlde perceiue For touching me saieth the Duke of Saxon what so euer dissention was betwene him his brother Fernando and me it was wholy quenched two yeares paste at Spier and for a nerer frendship the lady Elenore daughter to kynge Ferdinando was promised freely to my eldest sonne so that we could agree in religion The same did Themperoure than cōfyrme what tyme I shoulde retourne home from that assemblie he sent to me into my owne lodging Granuellan Nauius with moste large wordes offered all good wil and frendship to me and my children my whole countrey And what great cryme haue I commytted synce that time that he should intēd this crueltie against me But doubteles the matter is euē so as we haue shewed you before because we refuse the bisshoppes counsell we incurred displeasure But reason wolde that he shulde not imagine these thinges againste the house of Saxon For he knoweth how after the death of Maximilian mine vncle Duke Fridericke hauing the crowne imperiall offered hym through hys voyce and meanes gaue it vnto hym to omitte in the meane tyme many other benefites which the house of Saxon hathe imploied on the house of Austriche And in case he were offended for putting Iulius Pūugius from the Bishopricke of Nunburge I haue in bookes setfoorthe declared my ryght and tytle of Patronage and if Themperour wold appoynte indifferent iudges offered to abyde theyr iudgment Nowe concerning my owne parte sayeth the Lantzgraue I was throughly reconciled to hym fyue yeres synce at Regenspurge And for that I intended a fewe yeares past to haue warred on certen Bisshops and for that afterwardes I did helpe my cosyn the Duke of Wirtemberg to recouer hys owne all thys and what so euer I had haply don besydes agaynste the lawe wrytten or decrees of Thempire eyther priuely or apartely it was for geuen me and wrytinges made therof cōfirmed with handes and seales Therfore can not I deuise or imagin what should be the cause of thys grudge Againe whan I spake with him nowe lately at Spyre he shewed hym selfe so frendelye bothe in wordes and countenaunce that I could perceyue no sparke of displasure And it was couenaunted fyue yere synce at Regenspurge that if he shuld attēpt any thyng herafter agaynst the Duke of Cleaue that I shuld not meddle in the matter After he moued war agaynst him and I kept touche and promise And than what time he receyued the same Duke agayne to hys fauoure whiche was before Uerlone he perdoned all that had serued or assisted hym with ayde But yf he should take in euill parte our absence that we
deserued to thintente we maye haue libertie by them afterwarde to establish the common wealth and doe suche thynges as properly concern our office therfore we straytly charge and commaunde that no man ayde thē in any case neither take theyr parte they that shall doe other wyse shall in curre the daunger both of lyfe and goodes And let such as are happely gon already to serue them retourne as soone as they possible can But let all men geue theyr ayde vnto vs and fynde no let or cauillation throughe any league or priuate conuenauntes For we make all these thinges frustrate Moreour we release all the Nobilitie and commons of theyr dominions of theyr allegeaunce othe wherby they are bounden to them and assure them to be in saftye yf they doe obeye But suche as shall refuse to be punnyshed in lyke sort as they The .xxii. daye of Iuly Gerarde Uelduuiche is sente agayne from Regenspurg to Cōstantinople frō whence he was but lately retourned Thēperour whan nothing could here be determined prorogeth the conuentiō of thēpire vntil the kalends of February in the next yere following of the bishop of Romes letters sent to the Heluetiās I haue shewed you before whiche after the Bishops legate Hierome Franch had receiued he sent them from Lucers and writeth to them also hym selfe the .xxv. daye of Iuly That thre dayes synce were deliuered vnto hym the letters of the Bishop Senate of Cardinalles And albeit they are in a maner of the same effecte as wer hys former letters yet for that they conteyne somewhat more he sendeth them nowe a copie of the same with spede and at the nexte conuention he will shew them the principal And forasmuche as in the same league whyche lately nowe at the ende of Iune the Bishop and Themperoure made there is leafte also aspace for others that will come into the same confederacye moreouer because it was couuenaunted that Themperoure shoulde trye whether that hys aduersaryes and enemyes to the Churche of Roome myghte haply with out warre be reduced to theyr dewetye and amendement the Bishop doeth ernestlye require of them that they wolde pronounce with expresse wordes whether they wil be of thys league and whether they wyll obey the decrees of the Counsell of Trente And where they haue appoynted hym a daye at the nexte assemblie at Baden wherein they will make hym an aunswer to hys former demaundes therefore he hathe nowe wrytten to them also to the entente they maye consulte in the meane season Therefore he dooeth beseche them in the blud of our sauioure Chryste that they wolde dilygently consyder with themselues what a noble and famous acte thys wylbe and howe profytable for them and theyr ofsprynge yf they wolde bothe helpe to quenche this fyre in Germany and approue also the decrees of the Generall counsell Where the bishop vttered the cause of the league summe men suppose it to bee donne of hym for a craftie polycie that he myghte by thys meanes put Themperoure to his narrowe shyftes For it is most certen that he tooke it verey displeasauntely that Themperoure pretended an other cause of warre as shal be declared herafter At thys time Alberte sonne to the Duke of Bauer maryeth the Ladie Anne the daughter of Kyng Fernando and the Duke of Cleaue the lady Marye and other of hys Daughters For when the Duke of Cleaue had longe looked for the Daughter of Nauaire out of Fraunce in vayne as before is sayde the Byshop of Roome graunted hym a lycence to marye an other Wherefore he maryeth these same and bothe mariages were solemnised at Regenspurge in the myddes of the vprores tumultes of warre eyther Maryage did concerne a newe bonde of amitie A daye of syttyng was appoynted for the fathers at Trent as before you haue hearde at the end of Iuly but the matter was defferred till the begynnynge of the nexte yere as in hys place shal be declared There were at Trent besides the Cardinalles the Bisshoppes legate and the Cardinalles of Trent and Pacher a Spaniard foure Archebishops .xxxiii. bishops of them two Frenche fyue Spanishe and one Slauonishe the residew were all Italyans Doctours of diuinitie relygious .xxxv. of others that had not professed religion twelue for the most parte all Spaniardes But amonges those foure Archebishops two of thē bare but the name only Olans Magnus of Upsalya and Robert Uenaut a Scotte And that chaunced thus Whā Gustaue kynge of Swecia nere vnto Denmarke altered relygion which was in the yere of our lord about a M.D.xxxvii Iohn Magnus Archebishop of Upsalya who mislyked that alteration forsaking the countrey fled vnto Roome and came thyther with a meane company Afterward going to Uenyse he became Suffragan to the Patriarche of that Citie But in fyne waxing werye of that state he retourneth to Roome and beyng broughte to an exigente and a verey lowe ebbe what tyme he had solde hys horses and in a maner putte awaye all hys seruauntes the Bishop of Roome placed hym in the Hospytall of the holy ghoste wherin he ended hys lyfe full poorelye there was with hym hys brother Olans Unto whom the Bysshop gaue that Archebishopricke of Gothlande thoughe it were out of the precincte of the Church of Roome and commaunded hym to be at the counsell and geueth hym .xv. crownes a moneth to paye for hys bord the other a Scotte whan he had infourmed the Bishop of the Archbishopricke of Armacane in Irelande he obtayned of hym the name and title therof This Scotte was blynde and yet did not only saye masse but also wold ryde in Post Wherfore the Bishop wolde haue these two in the counsel for ostentation only as though those two nations so farre of the Gothes and Iryshemen did acknowledge hys Authorytie where they in verey dede had nothyng but the Shadow and bare name of the thing It is mentioned before how Duke Moris after priuate talke had with Themperour departed from Regēspurge whan he was cōmen home king Fernando followyng shortly after he goeth vnto hym to Prage After the fyrst daye of Auguste Themperour sendeth to Duke of Moris From Regenspurge a copie of the proscription before rehearsed and writing his letters commen to him to his people he reporteth in a maner the same thynges that are comprised in the table of on Lawerie And because he is allied vnto the outlawes by kinred affinitie so nere that he may haply claime som ryght in theyr landes possessions he chargeth him most ernestly that he assist hym with all his force to wynne theyr countries yea that he get all him self so soone as he can and holde it for his owneryght for els wil it come to passe that all shal be his that can catche it who so euer he be neyther shall the ryght of consinage or compactes profet hym any thynge And agayne for contemnynge hys Emperours commaundemente he shall incurre the same penaltie that the others doe
dominiōs extremely and therby haue purchased no small hatred to our selues But lately that innocent man Iohn Diazius was so cruelly and detestably murthered as neuer man was from the beginning of the worlde vntyll this day That Fratricide his brother apprehēded and accused Certen Princes made request that so horrible a fact myght be punyshed but what insued therof the matter it selfe declareth He imputeth the cause of all displeasure and trouble vnto vs But his decree of Wormes was cause of all together wherunto our aduersaries cleaued as to a moste sure foundation especially the Duke of Brunswick whiche made a confederacie with diuerse before the conuentiō of Auspurg where as what maner of decree was made it is openly knowen Certenly those cruell and fierce wordes ther pronounced caused vs to make the league and cōfederacie that we are in at this daye The Byshops adherētes haue bene euermore busy with vs in al assemblies and would haue compelled vs to the choise of meates and holy dayes of their owne makyng Moreouer we permitted the Emperour at Auspurg whan he promysed vs faire and largely that he should appoint preachers But it is knowen wel enough how wicked and how ignoraunt men he assigned to that office It is an auncient custome of thempire that whā any Prince is minded to retourne home from thassemblie he may do it by the Emperours leaue How be it my father sayth the Duke of Saxon what tyme he was at Auspurg could not obtaine licence of him to departe and heard it also reported that in case he prepared to goe he should yet be stayed against his wyll And albeit my vncle Friderick had done muche for hym yet would he neuer as long as my father liued confirme hym in his own Dukedome only because of the decree of Wormes and Religion Seing therfore that the cause of this warre is manifestly knowen we desyre all men to geue no credit to the contrary and defende with vs their common and natife countrey As for our own subiectes and clientes whom he hath released of their allegeaūce which they owe vnto vs we doubt not but they wyl do their duty vnto vs as they are bunden The protestaūtes letting slippe that occasiō of fight at Ingolstad as before is sayd and remayning there thre dayes after whan the Emperour in the meane season had fortified his Campe strongly the fourth day of Septēber they remoued thence that they might encountre with the Erle of Bure or stop his passage Notwithstanding that some were against it and said how they nede to go no further to seke the enemy which was in sight and before their eies They pitched the next tyme at Neuburg which they had fortified with a garnison before two days after they marched to Donauerd The tenth day of September they encāped besydes Uending a towne of the Erles of Oeting sending from thence espialles to bring them some intelligence of the Erle of Bure That perceiuing the Emperour sent aduertisement to the Erle who turning out of his way and marching from Norinberg to Regenspurg came to the Emperour at Ingolstad in safitie Wherfore the Protestauntes being frustrated of their hope the third day after returne vnto Donauerde Hether came vnto them Christopher Counte Oldenburg and Friderick Rifeberg with two legions and the Erle of Bichling with fiue enseignes of fotemē In the meane tyme the Emperour remoued his campe to Nuburg And whan no aide came the souldiours of the garnyson rendred the towne The Emperour pardoned them al taking stipulation of them that they shoulde no more weare armure against him Than the report went how the Emperour would to Auspurg Wherfore the Germaines passe ouer Thonawe to let him of his iourney But whan he leauing a garnison at Nuburg marched toward Marxeme they returne back into their former campe I tolde you before how they had sent Ambassadours for ayde both into Fraunce and Englande but that was in vaine And the king of Fraunce in dede excused the matter for that hauing made peace with the Emperour he sayd he could not How beit for that he would not haue the Emperours power increased he desyred Peter Strosse a Florētine a man of war and exceading riche to lende them thre hondreth thousand crownes and to the intent he might the easelier doe it he payeth a great somme of money that he ought him He was content for asmuche as they of Strasburg Auspurg and Ulmes became suerties goeth forth with Iohn Sturmius that was sent Ambassadour into Fraunce to the Princes in their campe at Donauerde Whan he came thither he was honorably receiued and departed in suche sorte as he would assuredly defray the money but when the tyme came that he shuld disburse it he could no where be found in all Fraunce Many men suppose that this was wrought by the policie of the Cardinall of Tournon Who for the hatred he bare to Religiō wyshed all aduersitie to the protestauntes and was than chief in authoritie with the king About th ende of September the protestauntes write again to them of zurick Bernes Basill to the Schafusians and shew them what themperour intēdeth what daunger they shal stand in also in case he get the victory and will them to consider whether it be not wisdome for thē to declare them selues ennemies to the Emperour and byshop of Rome after to inuade the Emperours countrie next thē If they wyll so doe they promyse them all ayde and fidelitie Wherunto they make aunswere Howe not they only but all the rest of the Swysses in lyke case haue a league by inheritaūce with the house of Austriche and Burgundy out of the whiche countreis they haue all their wyne and bread corne Whiche league if they should them selues infringe the Swisses their fellowes whiche be of a contrary Religion should haue iuste cause to assiste the Emperour and kyng Ferdinando and to opē the strayte passages in the Alpes whiche they haue through their great labour shut vp and closed and so ioyne with their ennemies Moreouer wynter is now at hande so that albeit they would neuer so fayne yet can they do no great thing this yeare and if they should leaue their owne countrey naked it is to be feared leste others would take possession in the meane season Therfore it is muche better that they tary styl at home For so shall not their fellowes styre as they haue already declared It is not vnknowen that they beare them ryght good wil and wyshe them to prosper after their owne hartes desyre howebeit they thinke it not mete for thē to enter into so great daunger And therfore desyre them to take it in good parte The Emperour remoueth from Marxeme to Donauerde but fyndyng no place conuenient to encampe in he tourneth on the left hand and the thyrde daye of October marcheth to Monheyme It fortuned than to be a great myste and the escoutes that were sent
case foreine soldiours should inuade his Cosyns prouince it were a daunger lest his countrey shuld also sustain great hurt therby They se also how it is not good that forein nations should remaine in these parties And seing the matter is thus he desyreth them both in his own and also in his brother Augustus name that they would way the whole case diligently help him with their ayde counsell And he eftsones wyl omitte nothing that shal be his duty ta do agayne for thē The matter being debated they condescended immediatly to aduertyse the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue of the Emperours commaundement of the preparation of kyng Ferdinando and to desyre them both that for auoyding of destruction they would permitte that Duke Moris myght enter into the possessions of their countrey For so shuld they both eschew forein warre and kepe safe their Religion after whan matters appeased a great deale more easely obtayne the same agayne at his handes thā of others Therfore writing their letters to this effect the eleuenth day of October thei desire them to way with them selues the whole matter be cōformable to this counsell which is doubtles the best that may in this troublesome tyme be geuē They requyred also the Lātgraue in his letters that he would perswade the Prince Electour to take the same way Duke Moris wrote also his letters to the Lantgraue his father in lawe of much like inportaunce And because the foreine soldiour was now at hande he sayeth howe he must of necessite prouide that Saxony be not ouerrunne After that he promyseth hym muche good wyll and amitie and sheweth that he desyreth nothyng that is his He sayeth moreouer how the kyng of Polle wyl be a petitioner to the Emperour which thyng he is glad to heare of wherfore let hym so be content and not be exasperated with any wordes and lykewyse to perswade the Electour neyther that he refuse to submit him self to the Emperour For this is in maner the only waye to come to a reconcilement and that he wil also helpe to make a peace To the conuention at Fridberg Iohn William the Electour sonne of Saxonie whan he heard of the preparation of kyng Ferdinando sending Ambassadours requyreth Duke Moris that according to the league of inheritaūce he wold ioyne his force with his to saue the common countrey from daunger Duke Moris sayth again how he hath spared no payne that the matter might haue bene appeased And seing he hath takē that labour in vaine and that they be now in armure he may do nothing against the supreme Magistrate whome also that aunciēt league doth except It was song or euer the protestaūtes heard of the Emperours going to Donauerd The nex day ther purpose to go to Lawging a towne vpō the Riuer of Thonaw thre miles aboue Donauerde that by night but whan they were vncerten whether the Emperour were gone forward if they should leaue him at their back many said it was daunger lest he should take Norling and after by the vale of Remsie inuade the lande of Wirtemberg altering their purpose they remayned there one day This toke Scherteline displeasauntly as likewise other thinges going to Auspurg from the which citie he was sent forth into the warres he leadeth away the garnison that was at Lawging returneth no more to the field In the meane season themperour marching forward frō Dona uerde taketh by cōposition Dilling Hochstet shortly after Lawging Gundelfing by the riuer of Brent Wherfore hauing gotten the possession of the water of Thonawe he had great cōmodities to serue his purpose leauing algarnisō at Lawging whan he had passed ouer Brent he pitcheth his Tentes at the village at Sontheyn in the way to Ulmes which was thre myles from the same place The .xiii. day of October the protestātes at the length remouing their campe whan they heard that the Emperour kept on his iourney towardes Ulmes the nex daye came to Sieng a town by the same Riuer a litle aboue Sontheim so as the water was in the mids betwixt both armies As they staied here and had not yet pitched their Tentes they espie certen horsemen on the top of the next hyll Amongs the whiche was thēperour him self who rode forth with the Duke of Alba to escoute abroad the same day the Duke of Saxon had the forewarde and hasteth spedely toward the enemy and sendeth also worde to the Lantgraue to make haste after hym But what time the enemies fled he slacketh the matter and tarieth for the Lantgraue on the hyll There as it is thought was lost agayne a moste goodly oportunititie of well doing For there was no foorde to ryde ouer the Ryuer and but one brydge in al those parties and though the Emperour peraduenture had escaped by the same yet had his chief Captaines bene in great distresse as thei them selues afterward ar reported not to haue hid The Emperour omitting his iourney to Ulme lest that leuing his enemies behinde his back he should lose the vitall of Thonawe he goeth another way to worke and at the Ides of October in the next wood he laieth an Ambusche of thre thousand Arcubusiers And whan the Prince of Eulmone had offered them the skermysche with his light horsemē the charge being geuen infayning that he fled had allured them to the wood side thei by by breake out of thēbuschemēt discharge at them That seing the Lantgraue came streight wayes to rescue his company that were in daūger which were fowre bandes of horsemen Wherfore there was a sore conflicte all day till it was night and the field pieces were brought to the bickering This whyle the Duke of Saxon abode with the armie that in case the Emperour should in this tumulte haue assaulted their Campe he might be ready to gyue him the repulse Whan this wold take no place the Emperour attempteth the matter by a Camisade in the night and chouseth out of the whole nombre the fotemen of Almaignes and Spanyardes cōmaundeth them to put on whyte shirtes ouer their harnesse he appointeth them also horsemen and the Duke of Alba to be their Captain and sendeth them forth at night as sone as the watche was set that they myght go styll and closely to their enemies campe And he him selfe immediatly after followeth with the rest of his power Whan they came thither they perceiued that the nomber of the watchemen were increased and that they were vp in armure Wherfore this enterpryse was in vayne for as muche as they vnderstode the matter by espiall a fewe howres before For the wante of forage and vytayle the tyme of the yeare and continual rayne they died sore in themperours Campe and about this tyme also Cardinall Farnese departeth out of the Campe homeward with certen bandes of Italian horsemen The Emperour also for the same cause was compelled to chaunge his
vnto the Emperour the men at Armes of Naples to the numbre of fiue hundreth at the leading of Iohn Baptiste Spinello After this the Emperour goeth marching to Hale a towne of Sweuia vnto him lately reconciled Thether came vnto hym Fridericke the Paulsgraue Prince Electour he had ayded the Protestaūtes with foure hondreth horsemen whiche came vnto them at Ingolstad Wherfore he goeth vnto the Emperour and sheweth hym that this was not done to resist him but to fulfyll a league wherby he was bounde to the Duke of Wyrtemberge Themperour taketh him vp sharply accompting how much he had done for him blameth him sore Neuerthelesse he remitteth the offence and warneth him that hereafter he do recompence this fault and errour with a more trusty fidelitie Alitle before the warres whan the Paulsgraue intended to haue set an ordre in his churches he had sent for Paulus Fagius a mā learned and eloquent to come to him from Strasburg to Hedelberg that he might be a guide in the doctrine of the Gospel and shew the way vnto others But in this successe of the Emperour all that was there begonne was quite dasshed A fewe daies after came to him Ambassadours from Ulme who after they had made their submission and craued pardon were reconciled This citie was of chiefest force and authoritie in al Sueuia Wherfore their breaking of frō their felowes was a great matter but they writing their letters to their frēdes at th ende of December signifie how the cause why they so did was that the Emperour was prest to haue beseged their city roūd about and they were vtterly forsaken of their fellowes and sawe no mans helpe that was able to defende them against so great a power Moreouer for that certen of the chiefest of the confederates sued vnto the Emperour priuatly to be reconciled The Emperour condempneth thē in a hondreth thousand crownes and twelue pieces of ordenaunce and put into their citie ten enseignes of fotemen In this meane whyle the Erle of Bure inuadeth the Lantgraues dominion liyng aboue Franckfurt and the towne and castell of Darmestat he wynneth partly by force partly by surendrie he fireth the castell and spareth the people For none defended it but the inhabitauntes and a company taken out of the coūtrey After he passeth by Franckfurt And where as he was out of hope to wynne the same by violence especially that tyme of the yeare and his soldiours in so euyl plyght he sendeth away parte of his army before to passe ouer the Rhyne and willeth them to tary him at Mentz And whan he thought nothing lesse and was now returning home behold they of Franckfurt sending Ambassadours offer to render and say they wil be at commaundement He without any tariyng turneth backward with them and entryng the town with his armie bringeth them in subiectiō to the Emperour And as he was a Gentleman of a plain nature whan the Senate gaue him a supper he iested with them as it is reported for rendryng so lightly and timourously saiyng howe they of Darmstat are worthy to inhabite Franckfurt and they to be remoued and dwell at Darmstat Which towne in comparison of Franckefurte is but a village Howbeit the cause why they did so amonges others was for that they sawe howe Ulme and the Duke of Wirtemberg should be reconciled And again fearing lest the marte should be taken from them for all their welth standeth by the same Neither were thei ignoraunt that they of Mentz and wormes laboured for it to the Emperour either citie for them selues to haue it frō them After sending Ambassadours they are receiued againe into the Emperours fauour paying him foure score thousand crownes Whan the Duke of Saxon was come with his armie to his own frōtiers the .xxii. day of December sending his letters to the states of Duke Maurice where as I made no aunswere sayeth he to your letters bearing date the .xi. daye of October I did it purposely and would tary to se the ende but what hath ben done in the meane tyme it is openly knowen Howbeit by reason of the Cosynage league and amitie that is amonges vs and for my benefites toward your Prince certenly I loked for no suche thing either of him or yet of you Nor I woulde neuer haue thought that euer he would haue vsed me and my people in suche sorte as hs hath done Much lesse that you wold geue him suche counsell as shoulde tende to the destruction of the whole countrey and your owne dommage also But I thinke this tyme semeth vnto you conuenient wherin should be vttered the craftie deuises and counselles of certen of you contriued many yeares since but of God alwayes repressed For consider with your selues what an acte of yours was this whan you counselled Duke George to disherite his brother and hys brothers chyldren because of their contrary Religion and to make the Emperour king Ferdinando his heires vnles they would professe and restore the byshops Religion And where as the wyl and legacie toke no place but the whole inheritaunce was reduced to his brother Henry and the doctrine of the Gospell reteyned that was chiefly wrought through the meanes and industrie of me and my league frendes And albeit that he professing our Religion entred into our league also and wrytynges made of the same and sygned aswell in his owne as also in his sonnes name yet did you for as muche as your fyrste hope was frustrate moue him as much as you might to swarue from this his couenaunt And whan he was departed hys sonnes also followed the steppes of their father vndoubtedly through your counsell And like as that inheritaunce against your willes descended vnto Henry and his sonnes so did also the frendshyp that I had with Henry not a litle greue you full ofte haue assayed that the same might be vntwyned Neyther was your enterpryse altogether frustrate and that which you could not bryng to passe whylest he liued you haue now at the last obteined of his sonnes especially of Maurice of whom I had conceiued in my mynde moste hope of vertue and frendshyp For fiue yeares synce not long after he was made a Magistrate you styred him vp against me whiche had not deserued that at his handes and that in suche wyse as the matter wanted not great daunger And albeit that the tempest was blowē ouer through the mediation of the Lantgraue and a bonde made that no suche thyng should be attempted hereafter but that the matter should be ordered on both parties according to thaunciēt league yet haue you in my absēce perswaded hym his brother Augustus to sease vpō my prouince Which thing assuredly greueth me so muche the more for that he both wryting and receiuing again ryght frendly letters did signifie no suche thinge Againe that he would do nothyng herein at the request of the Lantgraue and his fellowes The calamitie of the innocent people and of my subiectes
people and pardon his offence so that he obserue conuenauntes and from henceforth omitte not to do his dutie After them came the Ambassadours of Memming Bibrach Rauensburg Kempten Isnen and making their humble supplication desyre pardon of their fault and that they haue offended him they saye it is to be imputed partly to their owne errour partly to the occasion of others And that they flie now vnto him for refuge as vnto the welspring of mercy and beseche him that he woulde forgeue them and restore them to their olde estate and to deminishe nothing of their priuileges and fredome The Emperour than byndeth them by an othe that they be faithful vnto him from henceforth that they obeye the same lawes that other states doe that they forsake the league of the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue and ayde them with no kynde of thinge nor make no league against him from henceforth This done he taketh them to mercy and condēpneth the citie of Meming in fifty thousand crownes Before they came into the Emperours presence they desired to be assured not to haue their Religion chasiged But Nauius whom the Emperour vsed chiefly for interpretour in suche matters warned them in any wise to make no mention therof For incase they did the Emperour would surely ascribe it to a certen distruste they had in hym For at the beginning of the warre he declared his mynde here in sufficiently Therfore let them holde them content and requyre no further assuraunce And this was thought to be done for this intent lest if they should haue had a nay it might appere that an other thing were intended than the Emperour had published in his letters before But and if it shold be graūted them by expresse wordes the same shold offende the Byshop of Rome whose purpose was that by this warre the doctrine of the Protestauntes might vtterly be extinguished In these daies arose a rebellion at Gene against the house of Aurie the Prince wherof at the same tyme was Androwe the most expert man on the Sea that than liued and through the Emperours auauncemēt the chiefest of that cōmon welth The chief captaine and ringleader of this vprore was Counte Fliscane and in the same amonges others was murthered the Cosin of Androwe Iohannine Aurie a mā of a great courage And if the Erle of Flisca had not chaunced to slippe into the Sea and drowned it is thought that there would haue bene a blacke daye and muche euyll done But whan he was gone the fellowes of that conspiracie shranke away immediatly streightwayes after that Tempest followed a great Caulme The Emperour affirmeth the Farnesians to be the authours of this enterprise especially the Byshops sonne Peter Aloisse Duke of Placence as shal be declared in his place The sitting of the fathers at Trent whiche shuld haue ben at the ende of Iuly was adiourned vntill this tyme and the xiii day of Ianuary what tyme the fathers were assembled in the Cathedrall churche as their maner is they make a decree of the iustification of man and there are they condēned which affirme that since the fall of Adam man hath not had fre wyl that man is iustified by fayth only in that Christe imputeth rightuousnes and say that iustification is nothing els but a confidence in Gods mercie who forgiueth sinnes for Christes sake or saye it is necessary that a man beleue assuredly and doubte not but his synnes are forgeuen and that he is of the nombre of Gods elect and suche agayne as saye that a man is not able to kepe the commaundementes of God no though he be iustified whiche saye that iustification receiued is not kept and increased thorowe good workes whiche after baptisme affirme that iustifications lost is recouered by fayth only with out the sacrament of penaunce and saye that a penitent synner hath his offence wholy forgeuē and that there remayneth no punishement for the same neyther in this worlde nor in the lyfe to come through purgatory finally whiche affirme that these decrees are a derogation to Gods glory to the merites of Christe Whan the Duke of Saxō was coming with his Armie Duke Maurice fortifieth Lipsia with a garnison burneth the suburbes The same tyme came the ther aboue a thousand horsemen of the Hongarians The .xiii. daye of Ianuary began the siege but the townes men defending them selues moste valiauntly about the ende of the same moneth the enemy departeth without his purpose Howbeit the towne with the nomber of shot that went of as thicke as hayle was wonderfully rent and torne vtterly defaced The Duke of Saxon departing from thēce did not only recouer shortly after al that he had lost in the countreys of Thuring and Meyssen but also wan all Duke Maurice townes sauing only Lipsia Dresda He bringeth also into his possession the Byshoprike of Magdeburg and Halberstat making a composition with the Byshop Iohn Albert. The daye before he assayled Lipsia kyng Ferdinando commaunded the Bohemers that they shoulde take armure and goe ayde Duke Maurice They obeyed him in dede but after they retourned home without cōmaundement Wherfore the king at the ende of Ianuary cōmaundeth them again likewyse There did the commons of Prage whiche citie is of moste authoritie in those parties desire the Senate to sue to the king that he wold stay that cōmaundement which is both against their libertie suche as they can not honestly obey For there is no cause why they shuld haue warre with the Prince Electour of Saxon. And in moste thinges their religion is all one with his Moreouer he hath always shewed him selfe lyke a noble Prince and aided them against the Turkes Wherunto Ferdinando made aunswer amonges other thinges howe the warre was attempted against him not for religion but for rebellion And where they say howe he hath geuen great aide against the Turke the matter is far otherwyse For he sent messengers to the Turke a few monethes past which might procure him to moue war to Hongary and Boheme and that he shuld take no longer truce that he should infringe the same which he had graūted And to the intēt the thing might haue the better successe he would not fayle to inuade on the contrary syde Whan themperour vnderstode how the matter went in Saxony and was aduertised by sondry letters of Duke Maurice he sendeth certen bandes of horsmen and fotemen to ayde him at the leading of Marques Albert than cōmaundeth the forces of Spaniardes Italiās to follow wherof Sandey Marignane wer captains Marques Albert departeth frō Hailbrune with his cōpany the .ix. day of Ianuary Themperour also remoueth frō thēce to Ulmes by the way they of Liudaue Esling were recōciled to him Of the byshop of Rome it is told before how he gaue sentēce depriued tharchbishop of Collō of his ecclesiastical fūction Whā he thus did he gaue away al his right
authoritie at the self same tyme vnto Adolphe Erle of Schauenburg whome a fewe yeares before that the Archbishop had amōges all others chosen vnto him for his Coadiutour Wherfore the Byshop sending his bulles warneth all the states of the countrey to accept and acknowledge him for their Archbishop Moreouer he vrgeth themperour that he shuld execute his sentence And where as the Archbyshop beyng at sondry times admonished to leaue of his enterprise sayde euer he could not do it with a safe conscience The Emperour hauing almost nowe gotten the victory sendeth to Collō Ambassadours Philip Lalenge gouernour of Gelderlād Uiglie Zwicheme a Lawyer By them he calleth an Assemblie of the States of the whole prouince that cōmyng at a certen daye they shuld forsake their Archebyshop Herman and goe to him that before was his Coadiutour vnto whome they should shewe al fidelitie and obseruance as to their high prelate The Clergie in dede was ready to graunt vnto it for they were the very occasion hereof But the Nobilitie and many of the Clergie also that were of noble houses and againe the Ambassadours of cities declare that it is not lawful for them to forsake him whom thei haue so long tyme obeyed and so many yeares founde a good and a Godlye Prynce vnto whome they owe their fayth and allegeaunce by an othe The matter stickyng at this harde poynte the Duke of Cleaue his next neighbour for the auoyding of further trouble sendeth his Coūsellours thither to make intreatie Whiche after long and much decision obteyne of the Clergie that they wyll be quiet tyll suche tyme as the other States may declare the whole matter to the Archebyshop Wherfore Theodoricke Manderschitte and William Nuenarie Erles the chiefest of all the nobilitie were sent vnto hym Who through their singular wisdome and eloquence do perswade hym that for the compassion of the people leste the whole countrey should be distroyed with warre he would be content to geue place What tyme therfore he had released all men of their othe and allegeaunce His forsayd Coadiutour whome he had loued as his owne brother doeth succede hym This was the .xxv. daye of Ianuary The Archebyshop had a brother named Fridericke who I tolde you in the tenth booke had bene Byshop of Munster and was nowe prouoste of Bonna He was also depriued of his office and that had Gropper for his Share The lyke chaunced to Counte Stolberge Dean of Collon who had defended the Archebyshop ryght constantly By and by through out the whole Prouince by the commaundement of the newe Byshop the Religion agayne was altered and what so euer Bucer had set forth quite abolyshed Whan the Ambassadours of the Protestauntes had bene with the Frenche kyng they went into Englande that they myght bring the same to passe with them both But nowe was king Henry sore sicke and his disease increasing he departeth out of this life about th end of Ianuary in the .xxxviii. yere of his reigne whā he had by legacie made his son Edward of .ix. yeres his heire after him had substituted his daughter Mary by his first wife Elizabeth by his secōd wife Howbeit before he died he condēneth Thomas the duke of Norfolke whose authoritie was always gret vnto per And beheaded the Erle of Surrey his sonne for speaking certē wordes ouer muche suspected of the king liyng sicke After his death insued the alteration of Religion as hereafter you shall heare For albeit he had expulsed out of all his dominions the Bishop of Romes authoritie albeit it was death if any mā did acknowledge him for the chief head of the churche albeit that in the cōmon prayers of the churche he detested him as a Tiraūt very Antichrist yet kept he still the popish religion as hereto fore hath ben declared He had caused his sonne to be well instructed from his childhode and whan he should depart he appointed him counseilours to the nombre of .xvi. and amonges them Edwarde Erle of Herford the yong Princes vncle Unto whome afterward because it was supposed that he would be moste faithfull to him was cōmitted chefest part of his protection by the rest of the counsailours and an honorable style geuen him that he should be called the Protectour of the kyng his Realme He was also created Duke whan the king had geuen him the Dutchie of Somerset He both loued the Gospel did his indeuour also that the same might be receiued moued the king his nephew to imbrace it in like case and herein had a companion and helper Thomas Cranmer Archebyshop of Canturbury a man of notable learning and primate of England About this time also dieth the wyfe of king Ferdinando Quene Anne the mother of many children For whom the Emperour maketh a funerall at Ulme In the meane season they of Auspurg moued by the example of their fellowes by their owne daunger together hauing intercessours fit for the purpose amongest others Anthony Fugger are receiued into the Emperours fauour being condemned in a hōdred fifty thousand crownes xii great pieces of ordenaunce furnyshed and to fynde a garryson within theyr Cytie of ten enseignes of footemen In the Citie was Captaine Scherteline and had serued them many yeares for their wages Whome the Emperour and kyng Ferdinando hated chiefly for takyng the Castell of Erenberg vpon the Alpes Wherfore albeit the Senate intreated muche for him yet seing the Emperour did stifly refuse other wyse wold not accorde he was constrayned to flie the countrey so went with his hole family to Constaunce a citie in the borders of Swisserlād During the siege at Lipsia the Electour of Brandenburg intreateth a peace and sending Ambassadours to thē both requyreth thē that he myght be permitted to take vp the matter The Electour was content but Duke Maurice blaming him sore the he made so sharp war the sixt day at the length he answereth somwhat straūgly whan he saw that the towne was able to hold out thennemy Wherfore the Marques immediatly doth signifie the same to the Lātgraue praiyng hym to perswade Duke Maurice And for so muche as this ciuile war in Saxony can not well be appeased vnles that publique war of themperour shuld cease also he desireth him that he would geue his minde here unto and the rather perswade him he sheweth him in how great daunger he standeth How that all his fellowes for the most part are already recōciled to themperour And how the Duke of Wirtemburg hath accorded vpon moste straite conditions How thēperour prepareth a new army And in as much as he alone is not able long to resiste so great a power he admonisheth him that he wold not refuse to submit him self and condescende vnto these conditions which he him selfe hath cōceaued and sent him now by his Ambassadours For in as much as for many causes themperours minde is sore
wherfore the fotemen which already possessed the suburbes go to the assault of the towne with a lusty courage wynne it spoyle it and taketh the ordenaunce from the ennemy Whylest these things were thus a working Marques Albert seketh whiche way he might escape and taketh the Ryner but he was intercepted by the Duke of Luneburg brought to the prince Electour The garrison within the town was six enseignes of fotemen They putting them selues into a ringe by the helpe of the other horsmen stand to their defence but vanquished with a multitude they were taken all and striped out of their armure And whaÌ„ they had made promyse not to serue against the Duke of Saxon and his fellowes of six monethes after they were so let go without rauÌ„som The horsemen poursuing after those .iiii. enseignes of footemen that escaped ouer the bridge did slea a great numbre of them which were all for the most part Italians and Spaniards Marques Albert had what of Kyng Ferdinando what of the Emperour as good as a thousand and fiue hundred horsemeÌ„ ten enseignes of foot men and .xiiii. field pieces Thei fought from the breake of the day tyll none The Duke of Saxon lost not many of his men amonges them Wuolfie Theodorick a man of a noble courage who beyng stryken with a gunne lefte his lyfe a fewe dayes after The nombre of them that were slaine within the town was accompted a thousand without the town and in the Ryuer thre hondreth After the conflict the Electour with Albert his prisoner retourneth to Aldenburg and after signifieth the whole matter into Boheme sheweth that he wil do nothing against the league and desireth to haue those punished which had attempted against his subiectes with sword and fyre The Duke of Wirtemberg had condicioned so sone as he might for his sickenes to come make his submission to the Emperour he commeth therfore to Ulme in the moneth of Marche â—han he was not yet recouered and sitting in his saddel by the Emperours permission in asmuche as he could not remoue nor bowe him self by his couÌ„sellors kneling for him he desireth to be pardoned of his fault promising from henceforth aldew obedieÌ„ce Whan themperour hereunto had made a gentle aunswere he departeth immediatly for the war of SaxoÌ„ he goeth to Norling Whilest the Duke of Wirtemberg on this wise made his submission there was a great resort and concourse of people which hauing therof knowledge before came thither flocking thicke and threfolde In those thre forsaid places of the land of Wirtemberg the Emperour had placed garrisons a good while before for the most part all Spaniardes ✚ The nyntenth Booke of Sleidanes Commentaryes concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the nyntenth Booke THe fathers of Trent make their seuenth sessions The Emperour hauing accorded with them of Strasburg marcheth forth with his armie Fraunces the Frenche kyng dyeth shortly after the kyng of England The counsell of Trent is diuided The Duke of SaxoÌ„ taken in battell notwithstanding his condemnation to death remayneth constant in Religion Wittemberge being rendred the vniuersitie is destroyed Suite is made for the agrement of the Lantgraue who coming to the Emperour is stayed prysoner Kyng Ferdinando appeaseth them of Prage A commotion at Naples by reason of the Spanish inquisition The coronation of the Frenche kyng is described The citie of Maidenburg is outlawed An assemblee is holden at Auspurg Peter Aloesse the Popes sonne is murthered The Duke of Somerset wynneth a great battell of the Scottes Whan the Princes of the Protestauntes were vanquyshed the cities were made afrayd Stryfe aryseth for the imprysonyng of the Lantgraue Request is made that the Fathers should retourne to Trent but the Pope and suche as were gone to Boloigne le grasse stode styf in their opinions in so muche that there is great disordre in the counsell of Trent THe third day of Marche was the seuenth Session of the fathers at Trent In this are condeÌ„pned al suche as either say there are fewer Sacramentes of the church thaÌ„ seuen or that al were not of Christes institution who deny that one is of more dignitie than an other who say they be only externall signes of grace or that rightuousnes is receiued through Christe faith who deny that grace is geuen through the receiuinge of the same who say that through Baptisme Confirmation and orders is not imprinted in the soule a spirituall token or marke that can neuer be scraped out or the al men haue lyke authoritie to minister the same or that the accustomed ceremonies of the churche in the administration of the same may be omitted or altered whiche say that the doctrine of the churche of Rome mother and maistres of al others concerning Baptisme is not sincere whiche saye that Uowes made after Baptisme are of no importauÌ„ce and are rather a derogation of the faith which they haue professed And say that Confirmation is an Idle Ceremony and was in tymes past nothing els but an instruction of youth and deny that the vertue and instinction of the holye Ghost is not present at Confirmation which ascribe the coÌ„firmyng of children not to byshops only but take it to be the fuÌ„ction of any other priest After this decrees are made of ecclesiasticall benefices That Byshops other Prelates of the church be lawfully begotten that they be of yeares maners and learning sufficient That no man of what estate or degree soeuer he be of do enioy do Byshoprickes than one and they that possesse many may kepe styll whiche of them they liste and within one yeares space shall put away the rest That suche as haue cure and charge of soules be them selues resident neyther let them substitute others in their place vnlesse it be for a tyme so as if they haue declared a cause of their absence to the Byshop and he hath allowed the same whose part it shal be to forsee that the people be not neglected and that priestes offences be punished and such vices as reigne amonges them be straitly corrected After was the .xxi. day of Aprill assigned for the next assemblie Whan king Ferdinando was come to Duke Maurice at Dresda the eight day of Marche he writeth to the Bohemers howe Iohn Friderick is prefixed to inuade them Therfore let them take hede to their matters and obeye Weittemulle whome he hath appointed his deputie in his absence The Ambassadours of Strasburg whiche as I sayde went to Ulme returning home where the Senate did not mislyke the conditions prescribed of the Emperour they are sent agayn to coÌ„clude throughly As they were traueling they fynde the Emperour at Norlyng there liyng sicke of the Gowte and the .xxi. day of Marche making their submission thei were reconciled The conditions were very tollerable For neyther the Emperour charged them with any garrison and was
committed in charge the tuition of all counselles But you went so hastely away that you reiected suche as sayd how you ought first to aske aduise of the Emperour and Byshop And if you must nedes haue remoued at the lest you should haue obserued the decrees of holy counselles and haue remayned within the borders of Germany to the intent the Germaines whose cause was chiefly in hande myght come to the counsell safely But nowe haue ye chosen Bononie a citie in the middes of Italy and subiect to the churche of Rome whether you are assured that the Germaines will not come And therfore haue you chosen the same that to the decaye and reproche of the vniuersall weale the counsel myght either be dossolued or handled and vsed at your pleasure The Emperour therfore requireth that moste earnestly that you wold retourne to the same place whiche before contented all men especially synce all thinges are safe and quiet neither remaineth there any further cause of feare Whiche thyng if you shall refuse I doe here in the name and by the commaundemēt of the Emperour proteste this remouing of the counsell to be vayne vnlawful and the whole doyng to be voyde of none effect And do also testifie the answer of yours to be fond full of lies and the the cōmodities that hereafter shal insue to the cōmon wealth ar not to be ascribed to thēbut vnto you and affirme moreouer that you haue no authoritie to remoue the counsell And in asmuch as you haue neglected the publique health of men the Emperour as Protectour of the churche wyll take charge therof so far forth as he may by the lawes and and decrees of holy fathers Whan he had red these thinges he deliuereth the copie of the Protestation written and requireth that it maye be recorded for matter of recorde There Cardinall Mountane by the consent of the Fathers speakyng grauely declareth that they are not well vsed and taketh God to witnesse and saieth howe they are ready to dye rather than to suffer suche an example to be brought into the churche that euer the ciuile Magistrate should at his wyll and pleasure comptrolle the counsell The Emperour in dede is the eldest sonne of the church but neyther Lord nor Maister But he and his colleges are Legates of the See Apostolicke refuse not presently to rēder an accompt both first vnto God after also to the Byshop of their Ambassade And that more within a fewe dayes their Protestation shal be aunswered In maner to the same effect and about the same tyme Mendoza whan letters were come from the Emperour wherby he was commaūded to procede did proteste at Rome before the Byshop and Cardinalles callyng therunto as he was cemmaunded the Ambassadours of foreine kynges and Princes ✚ The twenty Booke of Sleidanes Commentaryes concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the twenty Booke THe treaty is of a controuersie whether the lande of Prusse belong to the kyng of Poole or to the Empyre The Pope maketh an ample aunswere to the protestation before made by Mendoza Wherof the Emperour being aduertised leauing all hope of a counsell begynneth to set forth his Interim The Protectour of Englande wryting to the Scottes in ample wyse demaundeth their Quene Uogelsberge is beheaded The Emperour in his campe before Wittemberge gaue to Duke Maurice the ryght of Electourshyp and nowe createth him with all solemnities Bucer refuseth to subscribe to the Interim The Pope himselfe cōdemneth the Interim Lykewyse do some of the Electours and Prynces Certen also refuse it al though that the Emperour had caused it to be proclaimed The Duke of Saxon prysoner with great magnanimitie refuseth it The Lantgraue by letters set forth in his name maketh semblant to consent therunto to be deliuered Whilest the Masseis abolished in England the cities and townes of Germany are sollicited to accept the Interim and aboue all others Strasborough yea with threatchynges IN the fourmer bokes is declared howe Albert of the house of Brandenburge did homage to the kynge of Polle howe he altered the state of the cōmon welth in Prusse and was therfore outlawed of the chāber Againe howe the kyng of Polle in commō assemblies of the Empyre had oftentymes sued to the Emperour and other States that in as muche as he was his Cliente they would reuerse his outlawerie But where as nothynge was obtayned vnto this daye and in this great victory of the Emperour it was to be feared lest the matter should haue come to further daunger the kynge of Polle vnto this assemblie sendeth an Ambassade the chief wherof was Stanislaus Lascus He in the moneth of Ianuary deliuereth to the Emperour and Senate of Princes an Oration wrytten the effect wherof was this Howe the cause of Prusse had bene oftentymes debated But for as muche as it hath bene alwayes differred vntyll other assemblies he is nowe cōmaunded agayne to declare the same And the kinges truste is that inasmuch as they haue at al times made him gētle answers the cause it self being rightful they will haue some consideration and mynde of hym yet not not as Iudges but as Prynces worthy all honour and reuerence And first of all sayeth he I wyll speake diuerse thynges of the order of Prusse to the intent the thyng may be manifest In times pait the kynges of Polle gaue a great part of Prusseland to the order of knighthode in Dutche land vpon cōdicion that they might haue their seruice against the enemies of christendome But they very vnthankefull breakyng conuenauntes tourned their force against ther owne Lordes So had they oftentymes warre and oftentymes their conuenauntes were renewed Which by reasō of antiquitie it is not requisite to rehearse But that whiche in maner chaunced in our memory I shall recite Kyng Casimire father vnto Sigismunde subde wyng them in a great battell brought them to conditions of peace Than amonges other thinges it was accorded that from henceforth they should acknowledge the kynges of Polle for their Magistrate geuyng thē their fidelitie by an othe But afterwardes certen Maisters of that order brake conuenauntes geuynge them selues in to the tuition of others Of the whiche Albert of Brandenburge was one who being bounde by conuenaunt to doe homage vnto the kyng his Uncle within the half yeare wold not Wherfore the kyng albeit he loued peace yet was of necessitie constrayned to attempte warre And albeit they neuer ioyned in battell with their whole forces yet by Roades made fyryng spoyling and escharmoushing was much harme done in so muche that Alberte being to weake came vnto the kyng to take truce But at the selfe same tyme came a force of Germaines to ayde hym For the whiche cause he departed without concludyng the same and began to renewe warre But not long after beyng of them forsaken where he dyd but dissemble before than
was he constrayned in sadues to intreat for peace Whiche being ones concluded by the mediation of certen it was conditioned that he should geue his fayth to the kyng by an othe and doe all thynges as becommeth a faythful and trusty Cliente It is certen therfore that the lande of Prusse hath euer synce the memory of mā and from the tyme they fyrst receiued the Christen Religion both by the lawe of armes and also by sondry conuenauntes aparteyned to the Realme of Polle For if any others haue made any title or claime to it the same hath ben through the arrogancie wrong of the maisters of thorder who being through y◠kinges permissiō Germains borne haue about oftentimes to intitle others in the ryght of Prusse Whiche thing assuredly hath bred muche distention betwixte the Germaines and Polonians and caused also this same decree wherin Duke Albert was outlawed But what ryght haue they to outlaw an other mans cliente For in that he came not to iudgemēt when he was sited not of his iudges that ded he by the kynges commaundement vnto whome all the faulte is to be imputed in case there be any at all But if he should be outlawed for this cause that he acknowlegeth the king for his Magistrat that were very vnreasonable that any man should suffer punishemēt for doing his duty Wherfore most triumphāt Emperour and states most noble the king doeth hartly requyre you that this vniust and vnlawfull decree of outlawery prescription may be repressed Neither is there any cause why any man should thynke that the kyng would for any ambition or desyre to enlarge his kyngdome bryng Prusse vnder his subiection For he that hath refused most Goodly prouinces that haue bene frely offred him how should he come then into the suspicion of this matter Certenly that coūtrey is not so much worth vnto hym but that if he myght with his honour he coulde be content to forgoe it But sith it doth properly belong vnto his dominion he can not other wyse doe For the cause why oftentimes trouble cōtētion hath risē about it was euer through the faulte of the Maisters of the order as I shewed you before And God in dede hath often plaged their bolde enterpryses And these thinges knew ryght well most noble Emperour and king Ferdinādo your grandfather Maximilian who remembring the iniuries which he and his father Friderick receiued of them made a faithfull promyse to kyng Sigismunde what tyme they met at Uienne promised as well in his owne as in your names also that he woulde geue no maner of ayde vnto this order And this dyd Maximilian after no newe example but followyng the trade of his auncestours For both the Emperour Sigismunde metyng with kyng Ladislaus grādfather to the king my Maister did not this much only but also promised aide against them And the Emperour Friderick your great grādfather ioyned his force and power with Casimire the father of king Sigismund against Matthie kyng of Hongary and this foresayd order of one cōfederacie And although that kyng Casimire being let impeched with the warres of this ordre could sende themperour Fridericke that time no ayde of men yet did he ayde him with monie so much as his couenāt was Wherby it is euident how this order hath always ben enemies to the hous whiche hath euer bene linked to Polle with bondes of leagues and affinities Wherof king Sigismūde requireth you to haue some consideration For in case there be any of the same order that thinke them selues bounde to fight for the christian faith and Religion there is nothing for them to do in Prusse For all that be round about it doe professe the christiane religiō Therfore must they seke vnto other places where they may exercise them selues For now of many yeares Hierusalem is possessed of a barbarous ennemy for the defence of the whiche place it is said how this order was in times past instituted Constantinople also is kept of the same nation Here lieth their worke busines Or if this be thought ouer olde or to far of there are many strong cities of Christendome wonne lately Why do not these worthy knyghtes go thether that thei might either recouer that is loste or defende the rest frō the ennemy But if they delight more in ciuile warre than euery man may iudge howe vnworthy they are of that name But thus the case standeth this order hath bene alwayes without order For the whiche cause also they were expulsed not out of Prussie only but out of Boheme lyke wyse well nexe an hondreth and fiftie yeares past And yet hath no man hetherto desyred the same places out of the whiche they were expulsed as common and vacant to be geuen them But only Polle sement fit to be molested herein whiche ought moste of all to be fauoured For albeit that order hath offended many yet hath it done moste hurt of all to the Realme of Polle For sauing a few of the first scarsly were there any maisters of that order that did their duty but contrariwyse for the moste part leauing the Barbarous ennemies haue tourned their weapons against their Magistrate kynges of Poolle And not that only but haue brought into their confederacie also the Tartarians a cruell kynde of people and mortall ennemies to all Christians as is wrytten of Michell Cochmester Wherfore if any man would make the rekening cōsider the paines perilles charges warres tumultes battails slaughters desolations wherof this order hath chiefly bene cause of he shal find that it is hardly so much worth And the kinges desire is that there myght ones be an ende of these euils For if any man should attempte warre against Albert Duke of Prusse the kyng wyll not altogether sit styll and see hym take wrong for as muche as he is both Uncle to hym and Patrone There are threateninges and menaces brought to the kynges eares whiche doubtles he is sory to heare For he loueth peace and quietnes but chiefly the concorde of Christendome Howe be it in case any man shall attempte violence he wyll in dede vnwillyngly put on Armure yet for all that wyll he doe it to defende him and his He desyreth the frendshyp of all Prynces but chiefly yours moste mighty Emperour and kyng Ferdinādo and wysheth the same to continue for euer He hath often times heretofore intreated you by letters and messengers that the prescription decreed against Duke Albert might be abolyshed But where the same is not done hetherto he doeth not so muche impute it vnto you as to the aduersitie of tyme. But nowe that alwayes are made playne and lettes taken awaye he supposeth you haue occasion now to perfourme the thyng whiche you haue right franckely promysed whan not by one lettre or two you haue signified how that you were more ready in wyll than in power to gratifie hym But in case this order wyll not cease but steare vp warre and
trouble he trusteth that after the example of your progenitours you will kepe assuredly the conuenauntes of Maximilian and Fridericke Empeperours An other thing that I haue in commission apperteineth to the cities Danske and Elunige For these albeit they be vnder the dominion of Polle yet are they called to the assemblies of the Empyre Wherfore the kyng requireth that they be not so vsed hereafter but synce that no man besydes him hath to doe with them they may from henceforth be suffered to vse his owne lawes Whan the Emperour had heard his demaundes he made relation therof to the states of the Empire and geueth a copie of the Oration to Wuolfange Marques of Prusse Who the .xxiii. daye of Ianuary maketh aunswere in the vulgar tongue and after a certen preface In this saith he resteth the whole controuersie of the matter whether Prusse be vnder the dominion of Polle or of the Empire If I shall proue the later to be true the matter shal be easy to determine And thus standeth the case moste triumphant Emperour moste mighty kyng and moste noble Princes and states as I shall declare About foure hondreth yeares past whan a publique war was attempted against the Barbarians whiche vexed sore the men of our religion throughout al Asie Affricke this order wherof we speake was instituted whiche both Emperours haue liberally auaūced and the high Byshops also confirmed After the knyghtes of this same ordre for the space of certen yeares kept great warres in those parties for the vniuersall Christen weale but in fine hauing a great ouerthrowe they were discomfited and dispersed into sondry places At the same time it fortuned that Conrade Duke of Moscouia was greuously assayled by the Prussians being than the ennemies of Christen Religion And whan he was no longer hable to mainteine warres and defende him selfe against them he sued first to the Byshop of Rome that he setting forth a celestiall and immortall rewarde as the maner was would incourage men to this warre After he adioyned to him this order of ours and gaue them all the countrey of Culmen borderyng vpon Prusse and the rather to encourage them gaue them al the land of Prusse to holde for euer This dede of gift the Emperour Friderick the second confirmed permitted Herman Salcie that than was Maister of the order to moue warre against the Prussians and if he did subdue them to inioye their lande for euer This was in the yeare of our Lorde M CC. xxvi Thus verely did my order through the ayde of the Emperour Byshoppes of Rome Princes of the Empyre continewing the warre by the space of liii yeares at the last conquer the lande of Prusse and bring it to the christian Religion beautified it with certen Colleges Byshoprikes and builded therin also both Castels and Cities that there might be in those parties as a walle and fortresse of the Empire and a refuge for the Nobilitie of Germany And so hath parte of the same Region remained in our gouernement vnto the yeare of saluation M CCCC l. and an other parte therof tyll Albert of Brandenburg After what tyme the Lituanes and Tartarians together made warre against the Polonians and Moscouites our knightes remembring their profession and order toke armure and cleane disconfited the Lituanians inuading far within their limites For the which cause we had long time peace and amitie with the Polonians vntill suche time as a certen Prince of Lituania was created king of Polle Who to auenge the losse and shame of his nation moued warre against vs sodenly and ayded of the Barbarians did very muche hurte But being of our men repulsed and put besides and a great part of his Realme had no ioyfull ende of that warre in so muche as he made his complaint to the counsel of Constance After came forth a decree that suche part of Polle as our men helde by the lawe of armes should be restored Thus beyng againe reuiued he forgot the benefit receiued and renewed warre and contended that certen prouinces of our order belonged to the dominiō of Polle And albeit that through the intercession of the two kynges of Hongary and Boheme the matter was taken vp yet the sore brake out agayne and at last the case was referred to the Emperour Sigismunde who approued the fourmer composition that the kynges had made Howebeit the king of Polle could not reste thus but attempted warre agayne whiche the .xxiiii. yeare after was accorded at Tournie whan Ladistaus was king In the whiche composition of peace he forsaketh all suite and strife neither calleth he him selfe Lord or inheritour of Prussie and byndeth all his successours that within one yeres space after they come to the Crowne they shall sweare to accepte ratifie the same peace and compelle the byshoppes and other states of the Realme to take the same othe and that euery tenth yeare this othe should be renewed This was also cōdicioned at the same tyme if any king of Polle shall hereafter moue warre vpon the Maister of Prussie that the people be not bounde to obeye or assiste hym but that peace be continually kept on either partie And this composition was confirmed with two hondreth Seales as it is to be shewed Yet did not the peace indure aboue .xiiii. yeares For in the yeare of our Lorde M. CCCC.I the people making a rebellion conspired against the maister And albeit that the Byshop of Rome and the Emperour Fridericke the thirde did outlawe them Albeit the maister desired that the matter might be heard yet did they so litle regarde all this that about .lxx. townes and castels revelled in one daye Unto this conspiracie of theirs ioyned him selfe the kyng of Polle Casinure father to Sigismunde and brought vs vnto suche a perplexitie that Lewys Erlinsusie who than was maister of the order constrayned through feare of the present daunger as a moste constant man might doe in such a case to the intent he might both hepe still his prouince and also saue him selfe in the same accorded with him vpon conditions moste vnreasonable without the authoritie either of the Byshop or the Emperour or yet the states of the Empyre The cōditions of this peace amonges other thinges are these That the Maisters of Prussie frō hence forth shal within sixe monethes after he be chosen Magistrate come vnto the king of Polle and by an othe acknowledge hym for their Souraigne and shall ayde hym against all men they shal also receaue into the order aswell Polonians as Germaines shall admitte them to beare office and for suche landes as they shall wynne hereafter to do homage to the kynges of Polle Whiche conditions verely do not only cōcerne the priuate losse and rebuke of my order but also the publique domage and reproche of the Empire Nobilitie of Germany Wherefore since that time haue there bene maisters Which considering the vnreasonablenes of the thing haue made greuous
complaintes hereof to the Byshops of Rome and Emperours yet haue they bene constrained to sweare And certenly Prussie remained in the tuition of the Empyre till Friderich of Saxon and Albert of Brandenburg were Maisters of the order For they would do no homage to the kynges of Polle for that neither the Byshop nor the Emperour had confirmed that cōposition of king Casimire And that in the yeare M. CCCCC the Emperout Maximilian in the assemble at Auspurge made a decree wherin he commaunded them to geue their fayth to the Empyre only And where after to appease the controuersie Maximilian had appointed a daye at Passawe in the yeare a M D. x. sending thether Ambassadours there could be nothing at all concluded Wherupō ensued that last warre Moreouer Albert him selfe .xxiiii. yeares past in the conuention at Norinberge as a Prince of the Empyre had his place amonges others and signed the decree there made Wherfore it is euident that the king of Polle hath no right to Prusse and that it was not lawfull for Albert to withdrawe him self vnto his tuition and protection Nowe where the Ambassadour reproueth my ordre of vnthankefulnes and breakyng of conuenauntes herein he doeth vs wrong and it is to be proued by olde wrytinges that scarsely haue any kinges of Polle kepte touche and promesse with vs. Was there euer wryting sene confirmed with mo Seales than the same wherby we accorded with king Ladislaus might there any more assuraunce be made And yet breaking the seales and wryting the warre was renewed against vs. This recompence had we of them for restoryng vnto them Sarmatie a great part of Lituania He named certen Emperours of fourmer tyme and sayeth how they were offended with our order But the truthe is farre otherwyse For Sigismunde did not only sequestre strife and geue sentence with vs as before is mētioned but also gaue vs ayde against the enemie Againe the Emperour Fridericke what tyme the people rebelled as I said before shewed vs all the fauour that might be and banyshed the cōspiratours and for the same cause helde an assemble of the Empyre at Norinberge in the which conuention a decree was made to ayde vs. The lyke good wyll and fauour did Maximilian she we vs. For he neither would that we should sweare to the kyng of Polle and therfore both in his owne name and also of the whole Empyre he wrote sondry letters to kyng Sigismunde and made than a decree for vs right honorable This oratour procedeth and in the waye of mockery demaundeth of vs why we do not recouer Hierusalem and such other like places surely I am not so cleane without experience but I could taunte againe neuerthelesse by reason of this honorable audience I wyll refrayne wil aske him but this question only First why the kyng of Polle doth not recouer those places which the Prince of Moscouia hath taken frō him within these fewe yeares Whiche are in comparison as muche as all Prussie Againe why in so great fortune he doeth not defende his owne limites from the dayly inuasions of the Tartarians Uerely these are plages for breaking his fidelitie He sayeth our order in tymes past was expulsed out of all Boheme Why he should thus saye I knowe not vnlesse that by this example he would shewe that they myght also lawfully spoyle vs of our goodes and tourne vs out of landes and possessions For the distruction of the tyme touched not only our order but pearsed also through out all the lande of Boheme and was extended vpon thē chiefly which followed the olde Religion what tyme great tumultes were reysed there for the doctrine of John Husse Dur order hath warred with kinges of Polle I confesse it but that euer they gaue the occasiō of warre I denie vtterly For they neuer attempted warre but either to defende their right or els to recouer their owne He sayeth we haue made leagues with the Cartarians This may well be verefied of them For it is manifest that they haue vsed their ayde against men that professe the Christen religion Againe the situation of the countrey declareth easely whether the Tartarians lie more commodious and nerer vs or them And that whiche he spake laste of the cities Danske and Eluinge is grounded vpon no reason For eyther citie is of our dominion belongeth to the Germane Empyre neither hath the kyng of Polle any other title there than that whiche he hath obtayned through the rebellion and treason of the citezens as it may be proued by sondry reasons And seyng these matters are thus moste redoubted Emperour most mighty kyng and States most honorable I besech you that the sentēce already geuē may be put in executiō For this to obtein at your handes ought both the equitie of the cause and dignitie of the Empyre and State of Religion and the honour all so cōmoditie of the Nobilitie of Germany The Ambassadour of Polle had prepared a contrary wryting but did not exhibit the same For whan the reasons were heard on both partes certen were chosen out of the whole nōbre to examine the matter whose determination was that the sentence pronounced against Albert should be maynteined But yet consideryng the great difficultie that would be in the execution of the same they referre all to the Emperour And shortly after kyng Sigil munde departed for pure age whan he had reigned .xlii. yeres He was sonne vnto king Casimire as before is sayde He had thre brethren Wherof Ladislaus was kyng of Hōgary and Boheme the father of kyng Lewys and Anne Iohn Albert and Alexander whan they had reigned in order after their father Casimire leauing behinde them no children passed ouer the gouernment to their yongest brother Sigismunde Unto whome nowe succeded his sonne of the same name who had maried the daughter of Ferdinando kyng of Romaynes I shewed you of Mendoza in the fourmer boke how he protested at Rome concerning the counsell Wherunto at the halendes of February followyng the Byshop calling a Senate of Cardinalles made this aunswere What tyme Mendoza thou saidest how the Emperour had commaunded thee to make protestation against the counsell thou madest vs right sorowfull But after we had more diligently wayed the letters of thy commission we were comforted agayne And first I wyll speake of the cause of our grief heuines For that maner of protesting is after an euill example and chiefly vsed of suche as are either reuolted wholy from dewe obedience or haue begon to wauer therin Therfore did it greue me exceadingly whiche haue alwayes borne a fatherly loue to the Emperour and as becommeth the pastour of the church haue euer desyred concord And it greued me and the Senate of Cardinalles so much the more for as muche as at this time we loked for nothing lesse For the Emperour hath made warre with his aduersaries and the ennemies of the churche and hath done it through the ayde of myne armie And
any time anye commotion to arrise within the Empire or without the same may be alwaies in a readinesse And when a fewe daies had passed betwene kynge Ferdinando raccompteth how he for waightie causes whiche they them selues vnderstand wel inough and nede not to be recited sendinge an Ambassade made truse with the Turke for fiue yeares wherof one is past And albeit he hath commaunded his men to do nothing to the contrary yet he requireth them neuerthelesse to geue him that aid which they haue already promised to the intent that if he breake couenauntes he may be easely resisted Again inasmuch as he doth fortifye his frontier Townes with stronge garrisons that he also be negligent in this behalf Therfore is he purposed to fortifye in all places and to kepe garrisons but for the intollerable charges of the warres in these former yeares he is not hable to sustaine so greate a burthen Wherfore he requireth them that whilest this truse shal indure they would pay the mony yerely to be imploid vnto these vses For this concerneth the quiet and preseruation of them all In the meane time Maximilian the eldest sonne of king Ferdinando departinge from Auspurge goeth into Spaine to take in Mariage the Lady Mary the Emperours eldest daughter his cosin Germane The Cardinall of Trent was sente wyth him and a fewe monethes before the Duke of Alba. At the ende of Maye the horsmen of Nalpes that before were in Norgouia come into the contrie neare vnto Strausburge and there remaine by the space of three Monethes and hardly can it be expressed how arrogantly they vsed them selues Many times woulde they come into the Citie neither wanted that thinge great suspicion Duke Moris not long after the Emperours decree was setforth departeth thēce But Marques Ihon of Brandenburge the brother of Ioachim the electoure goeth to the Emperour and kinge Ferdinando standinge by besecheth him to fauor him in this matter and speakinge somewhat of his seruice towardes him saieth that he vppon this affiaunce chiefly serued him in this last warre for that he had assured him touchinge Religion The Emperoure sheweth him howe this is the consente of the states imperiall and saieth that no man oughte to swarue from the same he replied againe that all had not assented and aunswered him plainly that he could not with a good conscience praise the same decree and still vrged his promesse and couenaunt Whan the Emperour might not preuaile he commaundeth him to departe whiche men suppose to be done for this cause least he should through his example and talke cōfirme the mindes of others Wherfore the same day towardes euening he taketh his iourney homewardes and in all his dominion altered nothing The Prince Electoure his brother who indeuoured alwaies to please themperoure made no assistaunce Nor yet the Paulsgraue hauing the Emperoure at the same time not his very good Lorde The Ambassadoures of the Cities suche as were of the confession of Auspurge when they were vrged did intreate that they mighte firste aduertise their Senates to the intent they might answer according vnto their mindes which thing was permitted them to do The Emperoure commaunded Wuolfgange Prince of Bipount of the house of Palatine which had his Ambassadours there to come him selfe And whan he came he doth instaunt him to confirme the decre He saieth he knoweth none other Religion saue that in the which he was borne and brought vp in vnto this day Wherfore he requireth him to haue some consideration of him and saieth he wil do herein whatsoeuer he maye with a safe conscience The Emperoure for that time letteth him so departe but afterwarde he vrged him sharply by letters and by messagers as shall be rerited in his place Whilest the Senate of Auspurge consulted the Emperoure placeth souldiours throughe out the Citie There was a righte famous Minister of the Church Wuolfgange Musculus he seinge Godlinesse go to wracke and the Senate tunorouse and could not approue the booke departeth from thence to Bernes in Swisserland At Hale in Sweuia was Ihon Brentius He was in greate daunger two yeres past what time as the protestantes retourned home the Emperour came vnto Hale and now was in much more daunger For then a little before the Emperour came thither which was in the beginning of Decembre certain Spanish souldioures comming into the Towne went straightwaies vnto his house and require to be let in or els threaten much cruelty Which beinge receiued did many thinges fierselye and arrogantlye Wherefore he biddeth his wife and his family hauing none other place to repare to to get them into the hospitall house of the City and a little after followeth he him selfe leauinge one at home to geue them vitailes and thinges necessary But the next daye commeth a noble man of Spaine which was of the Cleargy and thrusting them oute at the dores kepeth the whole house to him self and going into his studie searcheth all thinges There whan he had founde certaine letters wrytten to Brentius from his frendes concerninge the trouble of this time he seketh to procure him much displeasure whan he had vttred the same to his Countrye men Wherefore he followinge the aduise of his frendes in a cold and sharpe winter nighte conueieth him self into the country least by his presence he should hinder his Citezens But when the Emperoure was come thither and shewed clemency and semed to be nothing offended for anye kinde of Doctrine taught there Brentius at the last retourned thither and executed his srunction vnto this time that the Emperoure woulde haue all men to receiue the decree made concerning Religion For beyng commaunded as many other learned men were thorowout Germany to declare what he thought of that boke Albeit he vnderstode his owne daunger yet to thintent he might perfourme hys duetie to the cōgregation he pronoūceth the same to be contrary to the Scriptures and so declareth it by writing Which after that it came into the Bishops handes Granuellan in themperours name cōmāded thambassadours of Hale that they should finde the meanes that he might be brought bounden to Auspurge But beinge admonished by his freindes he steppeth a side into the countrey by And not longe after commeth to Hale a bande of Spanierdes the Captaine wherof goeth immediatly to the house of Brentius and seketh euery where diligently if he might find any pray to cary away but the most part of his stuffe was conueied by his frendes alies vnto another place Thus therfore he whiche had taught there xxvi yeares was exiled And his wife also thoughe she had a greuous sicknes whereof she died shortly after was banished withall his family Wherefore she pore wretch wandred vp and downe with .vi. children and knewe not where to become or to haue any refuge all men were so sore afraid of the Spaniardes And this thing augmented her disease sorow that she knewe not in the meane while what was become
him heretofore but whan inquisition was made there coulde nothinge in a manner be founde Neuerthelesse he will do what he can to knowe the certaintye For no man shall escape vnpunished that hathe oughte offended At this time also the states do graunte that the Emperor maye at his pleasure constitute the iudgemente of the Chamber and ioyne vnto them other iudges for assistaunce And they them selues promise to beare the charges of the same Of the treatye begonne concerninge a league before saide the winedinge vp was this that the Emperoures prouinces whiche he hathe in Germanye and lowe Dutchlande and all that belonge to the house of Burgundy should be vnder the tuition and defence of the Empire and be contributaries vnto publicke affaires yet so as they maye vse their owne lawes and iurisdiction And that Germanye shall againe looke for the like aide and defence of the Emperoures Prouinces ✚ The .xxi. Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the syfte ⧠The Argument of the .xxi. Booke THe authoures of the Interim are rewarded which neuerthelesse many impugned whereof the Duke of Saxon is accused They of Constance were so vrged to admit the Interim that ambushes of fotemen were laied to surprise the Citie whiche at the laste receweth the Interim They of Strausboroughe make theyr purgation to the Emperoure A commotion chaunseth at Bourdeux The dispaire of Spiera is recited and the conuersion of Uergerius The Scottishe Quene transported into Fraunce Maydenbourge is setforth for a praye The Admirall of Englande is beheaded they at Strausboroughe are at contention with their Byshop They of Wittemberge are accused to be Adiphoristes to wit indifferent or newters A disputation in Englande touchinge the Lordes Supper Ueruine is beheaded in Fraunce Pursute against them of Maidenburge the death of Pope Paule and the horrible actes of the same The description of the place of election at Rome and the maner of chusinge the Pope Masse againe at Strausborough a proclamation in in Fraunce against Lutheranes Pope Iulius and his little Cardinall THe last day of Iune the conuention was dissolued In the. xix boke I shewed you howe the Emperor perswaded all men to submit them selues to the Counsell and that on his warrantise who wold se that thaction shuld be lawfull Nowe therefore a decre is made that the counsel shuld be continued at Trēt and the Emperour saith he will deuise that it be there recommēced so shortly as may be Which thing whā it shal be brought to passe he requireth that they all especially of the clergy of the religion of Protestants which come thither vnder his saufeconduit for he wil take order than the whole matter shal be godly and christenly decided and determined according to the holy scriptures and doctrine of the fathers all affections laid apart and that they thē selues also shal be hard speak so much as shal be thoughte requisite After are other decrees red as is accustomed especially that of religion a strait charge geuē that al men obey the same as was also before declared at the Ides of May the .iii. authors of the boke are before named of whō Ihō Islebie receiued for his paines taken a liberal reward bothe of the Emperour and also of king Ferdinando And Michel Sidonie afterward was made bishop of Merseburge in Saxony Wherof arose a iest how they defended the bishop of Romes oyle chresme as an holy thing and necessary to saluation to the intent they them selues might therby be the better gresed auoynted Not long after the Emperour sent his letters to the princes that were absent especially vnto those where he thought most nede was commandeth them immediatly to obey this decre And the tēth day of Iuly he wryteth to Erasmus bishop of Strausburge to see the thinge which he had brought to passe through his great trauel put in execution if he wanted conueniēt ministers to take them els wher The report of this decree was incontinentlye spread abrode farre and wide And the Uenetians make proclamation the .xix. daye of Iuly that whosoeuer haue any bokes wherin is any thing wrytten against the catholicke faith they bringe them vnto certen men within .viii. daies for after shall inquisition be made and suche as haue deserued shal be punished to the promotours they promise a reward and to kepe their counsel The Bishop of Rome hath his ambassadours there continually as in kinges courtes also They with the eies and eares of many do se and heare muche and oftentimes are causes that such decrees be made but yet the Senate of Uenise vseth this prouision that they suffer not the Bishops or inquisitors of Rome to geue sentence of iudgemente but ioyne with them alwaies their officers and lawyers which shall heare the examination and se that nothing be done malitiouslye or cruellye against any man within their iurisdiction This law made they in the yere of our Lord M.D.xxi. what time those inquisitours vsed great cruelty against pore men in the countrye aboute Brixia as though they had bene inchauntors and had medled with the deuil and now sence Luthers doctrine was depely roted spred abrode the same law is of force stil though the bishops gnashe their tethe at it and wold neuer so fain haue it abolished About this time did the French King send aid into Scotland against the English men and amonges others the Ringraue with a force of Germaines But the Emperoure banisheth the Earle of Bichlinge Huberte and Sebastiane Scherteline al in one wryting and shortly after the Ringraue counte Hedecke Recrode and Riseberge and also desireth all foreine Princes that they would not maintaine them but gratify him herein and biddeth them whan occasion shal serue to loke for the like at his hand The Ladye Iane daughter to the King of Nauerre which was affianced and Maried .vii. yeres before to the Duke of Cleaue as we haue specified is now ioyned in Mariage with the Duke of Uandome a Prince of the bloud royal Elenor the French Quene sister to the Emperor leauing Fraūce goeth into Flaunders Duke de Ammalle sonne to the Duke of Guyse whan he had bene a longe suter to the Emperoures Nece the Duchesse of Lorayne he marieth the Daughter of Hercules Duke of Farrare About this time Lewes Auila a Spaniard setforth in print the history of the Germane warre done by the Emperoure wrytten in the vulgare tonge where he speaketh of the takyng of Marques Alberte at Rochlice he sayeth how he was so intangled with the wantounesse of women that he coulde not prosper The same booke came forthe afterwardes in Italian Latin and Frenche Althoughe the Emperoure had moste straightlye commaunded that no man should in any wise impugne the boke set forth concerning Religion yet were diuers wrytinges published whiche did condempne the whole Doctrine thereof and
Sueuia whā his wife had eftsones ben an hūble suter for hym and put them in suerall boates There is by the Ryuer of Rhine a towne of the Lantgraues called Sanguner and a Castell set vpon the toppe of a stepe hyl Whan the Emperour came hither he was benighted and rode at Ancker and setting a lande the watchemen only commaundeth al the reste to remaine within borde The Senathe of Strasburge was commaunded as is sayd before to aunswere within a moneth Whan themperour therfore was come to Spire Ambassadours were sent vnto him the second day of September Iames Sturmius Matthew Giger Lewys Grempe Finding him not at Spire followed after vnto Mentz And what time thei had geuē knowledge to thēperour of their cōming the Germain coūsellours were out of the way which serued Thēpe in those affaires thei were byd follow to Collō In that mean time that bishop of Strasburg sēding letters to that clergie wtin the citie that of September willeth them to obey the decree of th empyre ordeyne the thyng after the fourme prescribed And with al sendeth themperours letters touching the same matter which I sayde were writtē the tenth day of Iuly Moreouer he writeth to the Senate also that they would not impeche them Thambassadours of Strasburg after thei were come to Collon ye. viii day of September exhibite to themperour from the Senate an other epistle wrytten in Frenche of this importaunce Al be it moste triumphant Emperour what time we were recōciled vnto you We made no promise to obserue such things as shuld be decreed Albeit we neuer assented that the cause of Religion should be handled on this wyse yet in al thinges that we possible may we are ready to gratifie your Maiestie not only in ciuile but also in diuine matters We perceiue wel enough that your highnes the rest of the Princes will haue no consideration of our doinges that it is reason that we shuld folow your fotesteppes Yet this notwithstanding we beseche you eftsones to consider that for so muche as euery mā must render vnto God an accōpt of his own doing we haue iust cause to be careful for our saluation to forsee that we do nothing at any tyme against our conscience for which cause also we were in very good hope that after you had heard our diuines you would haue mitigated the decree But considering that you referre vs to the counsel say how the matter shall there be debated according vnto holy scripture we are thus contented And least we shuld seme contentious or obstinate do not refuse but that the Byshop of our citie may set forth that order of yours in certen churches with vs by men of his facultie And we shal deuise with hym for the churches neither wil we disturbe him in any thing neither for bid the citezens to repare thither but that it may be fre for euery man to followe suche religion as he shal thinke good hym self yet vnder this condicion that we may haue again a few churches in the which Gods worde may be purely taught the sacramēts ministred as it is decēt that in the vulgare tongue We wil prouide also that the people shal be kept in order that nothing be otherwise done than is semely Againe we shal cōmaund that holy daies fasting daies be kept wil suffer nothing to be done either in sermōs or other places that may be any offēce vnto others And for so much as this doctrine hath now these many yeares ben so depely roted in mens mindes that it can not without that hurt of cōscience be taken away so sodenly And againe for so much as by this meane which we haue shewed you your highnes decre may take place amōgst vs we besech you in the hartiest maner that we can to graunt our requestes to suffer vs in this religiō vntil the tyme of the counsel Which shal be both a most thākeful duty vnto God make chiefly for that peace of our citie and whole Prouince After themperour had heard this letters And besides such thinges as Iames Sturmius with his great eloquence declared at large he made answer by Seldie speaking many thinges of his zeale towards Germany after long debating at that length he sendeth thē away after this sorte that they should go through with their bishop yet vpon this condition that if they can not agre they should stande to his arbitrement Whan themperour was come into Brabant it was his pleasure to haue the Duke of Saxon with him but the Lantgraue he sent to Audenarde a towne in Flaūders On the borders of Brabāt he dischargeth all those forces that he brought with him from Auspurg I haue spoken before of the iudgemēt of the chāber imperial how the states permitted themperour that he shuld establish the same The first day therfore of October as before was enacted it is renewed thre Aduocates are displaced for suspicion of Lutheranisme al the rest amongest other thinges were cōmaūded that they shuld perseuer in the doctrine of the catholike church or els to be remoued frō that place There began Henry the Duke of Brūswicke to cōmence suite against the Protestātes for the former war what time he was expulsed He had in dede conditioned whā he was deliuered out of prison and that by an othe also that he would attempt nothing But he went from that conuenaunt not he only but also tharchbyshop of Mentz the maister of Prussia the Erle of Nassow Reuart counte of Solmen with others moued suit against that Lātgraue The mē of Cōstānce lately outlawed wher as they were in great perplexitie sawe no way how to saue thē selues flee vnto that last refuge and geue thē selues to the house of Austriche for euer Wherupon kyng Ferdinando receiueth them into his tuition sendeth thither immediatly a noble man to be their gouernour Who about the middes of October propoūdeth vnto them these conditions That they shall acknowledge Ferdinando and his children and heyres for their Lordes from hence forth and shewe vnto them al faith and dew obedience shall not reuolte from them at any tyme neyther make any league or confederacie Suche lawes and statutes as Ferdinando and his deputes shall make concerning Religion and other matters they shal throwly obeye In warre and other affaires thei shall be ready at all tymes to ayde and serue kyng Ferdinando his children and heyres obediently as the rest of his subiectes The same conditions afterwarde they receiue by an othe two daies after the gouernour calleth the Senate and demaūdeth of them what is the somme of their cōmon treasure that their gunnes with al their fourniture be brought into an accompt He cōmaundeth also that no townes man do weare any longe sworde that no man presume to come to the fortifications nor where the watche is That their names whiche during the war admonyshed the citie of daunger
the Lutherians by conuenasit promesse or othe from all those bondes to absolue monkes that be fallē into heresie and haue forsaken their houses and to permitte them chaunging their coates to serue in an other vocation of the churche Moreouer to geue pardon to eate milke butter chese egges and fleshe hauing a respect to the place and persone Finally to permit thē to receiue the whole Supper of the Lorde who laying asyde all other errours shall allowe the decree of the counsel of Constance whiche will openly confesse that there is as muche receiued vnder one kynde as vnder both and that the churche erred not for making that decre of one kynde only And that this may be graunted them for a certen tyme as shal be thought mete yet so as they them selues doe this seuerally at an other tyme and place and not at the same tyme whan others doe receiue vnder one kynde only Lastly they haue authoritie to compounde with the possessioners of churche landes for the fruictes receiued and spent so as they wyll departe from the possession from hencesorth Furthermore to punishe obstinate persones by the censure of the churche and herein to craue assistaunce of the Magistrates And lykewyse to chouse and substitute Byshoppes throughout Germany whiche shall put the thing in execution These Ambassadours of Rome followynge this commission in such places as they thought moste nedefull did substitute Byshops wherof the Byshop of Strasburg was one whome they commaunded to execute thinges before rehersed And so finally to receiue into fauour ecclesiastical persons if they first would forsake and put away their wyues And mē saye howe they went to the Emperour to haue cōference with hym touchyng the measure and maner of execution And after they vnderstode that it was not possible for them to go vnto al places whiche had nede of remedy of necessitie they suborned others This graunte or indulgence as they terme it of the byshoppe of Rome the Emperour sendeth immediatly to the byshoppes of Germany and warneth thē all seuerally to handle the matter gently and peaseably and that they first trye and and assay al wayes by fayre speach exhortations and praiers before they come to excommunication and cursyng Wherfore the Archebyshop of Mētz addressing his letters both to diuerse others also to the gouernours counsellours of that Lātgraue And speakyng many thynges of his cure and charge pastorall and of the Emperours fayth and dilygence requyreth them to exhibite this order sent from the Byshop of Rome to the ministers of the churche commaunding them to obeye the same The preachers being moued herein saye how their doctrine is consonant to the doctrine of the Prophetes and Apostles the lyfe it selfe in dede doeth not aunwere to the profession but yet do thei acknowledge no errour in their doctrine Wherfore thei haue no nede of the Byshops indulgence They haue preferred mariage before the filthie sengle lyfe accordinge vnto Gods worde neither can they forsake their children wyues whome Christ him self commaundeth to embrace with all loue fidelitie and beneuolence Where ther churches do receyue the Lordes supper wholy the same is done by the commaundement of Christe and after the custome of the primatiue churche And they wyll admit no alteration herein In the moneth of May was an open disputatiō at Oxforde betwene Peter Martyr the Diuines of the same vniuersitie cōcerning the Lordes supper and the presence of Christ his body These conclusions dyd Martyr set vp and defende That the substaunce of bread and wyne is not chaunged That the body and bloud of Christe is not carnally or corporally in the bread and wyne but to be vnited to them sacramentally Afterwarde there was set forthe a boke of the same wherin the presidentes of the disputation appointed by the kynges commaundemēt do sufficiently declare that Martyr had the maistrie in that contention The tenth day of the moneth of Iune the Quene of Fraūce was crowned at Sainct Denis as is accustomed by the Cardinalles of Bolon Gwise Chattilion Uandome and Bourbon for al the rest were at Rome The .vi. daye after the kyng with a maruelous goodly trayne and richely apparrelled entreth into Paris the head citie of his Realme where he had not bene yet sene opēly synce the death of his father two days after him the Quene Whyles he soiourned there diuers were put to executiō for Lutheranisme whiche as it is sayde he behelde him selfe After that the fourth day of Iuly he cōmaundeth to go on procession in euery church The next day after he publisheth a wryting in prynte declaring this to be the cause therof that he might geue God thankes for his manifold benefites imployed vpō him And that he might praye to God for the preseruation of hym selfe his wyfe and his children and of the whole Realme and commō wealth and cōmende vnto him the soules of godly mē but chiefly the kinges of Fraūce his progenitours his father lately departed after whose example he was fully prefixed to vndertake the defence and tuition of the catholique fayth Religion the authoritie and liberties of the See Apostolique ministers of the churche amōgest the causes this also to be one principall that it mygh be openly knowen howe muche he abhorreth them whiche contrary to Christes commaundement contrary to the traditions of the Apostles and consent of al antiquitie denie the presence of the body and bloude of Christe whiche take away all vertue and strength from Baptisme penaunce good workes and Sacramentes whiche do vtterly cōtemne the authoritie of the churche and order archepreistship whiche reiecte the praying adoration and reliques of saintes Moreouer that by that deuoute supplication he might testifie what his opinion and mynde is verely that after the example of his progenitours and by a certen imitation of inheritaūce he doeth so thinke and beleue of all opinions as doeth the Catholique churche the Crede of the Apostles the first counsell of Nice and many other counselles of the holy fathers Further more that he is fully determined to bannish out of his realme and dominions the heresies long since condemned but in this tyme partely reuined and partly inuented by Luther Carolostadius Zwinglius Oecolampadius Melanchthon Bucer Caluine and suche other Archeheretikes monstrouse and pestiferous persones and to punishe moste extremely suche as shall offende herein This wryting setforth in the vulgare tōgue he sendeth abroade into all partes of Fraunce commaunding thē to go a procession in all places and declare the same vnto the people Not long after he beheaded Monsour Ueruine for rendring the towne and castel of Boloigne to the king of Englād as is spoken in the .xv. boke And his father in lawe Mouns Dubees an aged mā which was gouernour of al Boloignois and one of the foure Mreschalles of Fraunce he cōdemneth to perpetuall prison He had diuerse monethes past sollicited the Swisses to renewe the league whiche they had
limites which they shall not passe Wherfore we desire all men that they wold ioyne their praiers with ours attempt no warre against vs. For if we be once oppressed the selfesame calamitie shall redounde vnto al Germany without any respect And seing the case standeth thus certenly the very zeale loue and preseruation of our natiue countrey require this of you that you should with your ayde assiste vs whiche for the doctrine of the Gospel are afflicted After they of Maydenburg had this ouerthrowe incontinently very many prepare them selues vnto warre And amōges others Duke Maurice the Electour of Brandenburg with his cosyn Marques Albert and Henry Duke of Brunswicke Moreouer the whole Nobilitie were also called vpon to bring horsemen Many supposed these forces to be leuied for this intent that the Duke of Megelburge myght be expulsed out of the contrey And at the first in deede certen would seme to haue taken armure for this cause that he should not straie to farre But whā they were all assembled the eight daye of October marchyng forewarde they incamped not farre from the citie and the syxt daye after at nyght they runne forth with a great clamoure euen to the ditches and gates of the citie to proue what the townes men coulde or durst doe But they beyng repulsed with great shotte loste many of theyr men And as they retyred them selues to their Campe in hyghe displeasure by the waye they set on fyre the poore Lazarus house cleane contrary to the lawe of armes The next daye they bickered agayne whan the Townes men had made saley out For they were full of courage and where as dyuerse others very many also of the Nobilitie repaired thither for the hatred of the Duke of Brunswick expert men of warre worthy captaines The .xii. day of October was truce taken certen Ambassadours came into that citie to treate a peace But that was in vayne Whylest these thinges were in working that states of tharchbishoprike of Maydenburg amongst whom the clergie is principal mete at Hale the .xv. day of October sende Ambassadours to themperour Princes of thempire Whā they came to Auspurg the .x. day after thei accuse moste heinously the senate people of Maydenburg And for somuch as Duke Maurice had taken vnto him the power of that Duke of Megelburg they had also thē selues sent him ayde neither lyeth it in their abilitie to susteyne so great charges long They require that the Princes woulde finde some meane to quenche this common flame that so shortly as may be how both the soldiours may be paide also those naughtie outlawes punished tofore they recouer againe their strength courage after their late ouerthrow For els wil the souldiours reuolte to thennemy Which thing wil be a moste present daunger not only to thē that ar next thē but to al other states also For they intende nothing els but the destruction of that high Magistrate are wholy addicted to steire vp the people to rebelliō throughout the whole Empire And they demaunded ayde of viii M. fotemē a M. CC. horsemē The same day were red the aunswers of the Bremers senate of Maydenburg which they made to that Princes letters as befor is said And that Bremers first declare how greatly thei alwaies haue desired peace the Emperours frendship how ofte they haue sued vnto him for peace not only by their own Ambassadours but also by that king of Denmarke the cities the border on the sea shew what strayte condicions were offered And yet to th ende it may appere how much they esteme themperours authoritie they saye that they wil not refuse to sende Ambassadours promyse that if they may haue their Religion libertie permitted thē they can be contente to do any thing And they of Maydēburg how in the fourmer assemblie of the Empire they made great sute to the Emperour for peace but the condicions imposed were intollerable and saye that synce that tyme they haue susteined great dammage where there was no ende nor measure of wrōges they repulsed from them violēce yet moderatly And the cause of all the hatred to be that they couet to retayne the trew doctrine and to flee Idolatrie As concernynge the daye prescribed because they are commaunded to sende Ambassadours with full authoritie they can fynde none that wyll go in that sorte Moreouer how George Duke of Megelburg hath lately moued warre against them and confesseth openly that he doth this by the commaundement of the Emperour and th empyre And nowe also the ennemies armie lieth before their citie If they may be remoued and their Ambassadours well assured shall and may reporte the demaūde vnto them they refuse not that some be sent About the beginning of Nouēber dieth Ulriche Duke of Wirtemberge the suite hanging stil that he had with kyng Ferdinādo as before is sayd His sonne Christopher succeded him After the Emperour had receiued the aunswers of the two cities concerning the Bremers he thinketh good to tary for thē in asmuch as they say they wil come But as touching them of Maydenburge for so much as the thing is farre otherwyse than they say and because they aunswer frowardly and in a maner contemptuously he requireth them to procede in consulting what is to be determided against them chiefly that they wold waie diligētly the requestes of the states of the Byshoprike herein do that thing whiche may both be for the commoditie dignitie of th empyre The Princes states perceiued right well that there would neuer be pacificatiō made vpon these conditions Wherfore thei require that more gentle thinges might be propounded But the Emperour perseuereth in his purpose So they at the length albeit against many of their willes namely of the cities assente vnto him promyse their ayde But againe they desire the Emperour first that he him self would be cōtributory herunto Secondly that in case he can not be at this warre him selfe he would appoint a generall That charge they cōmit to Duke Maurice if it seme so good vnto him say that the charges of this war must be borne of that same mony that is now already leuied for the vses affayres of the cōmō weale Themperour again replieth what charges he had ben at in the fourmer war the he might restore peace vnto Germany requireth thē to haue cōsideration therof Touching Duke Maurice he is wel pleased saieth that he knoweth no man at this present time that is more fit for that charge than he that for diuerse causes And that the mony shuld be taken out of the cōmon treasury he doth allow permit so that so muche as is takē frō thēce be within a certē time restored For that mony was not gathered for this vse And he exhorteth thē to followe this thing with their whole indeuour that they may be punished according to their
church should be refourmed that al superfluous excesse ambition and dishonest examples of liuing shuld be taken away that euery man be resident in his own church and that eche man shuld haue one benefice and no man be permitted to haue mo Furthermore they purposed also to include within certain limites the power of the bishop of Rome not to attribute vnto his court so great authority ouer all realmes These and such other like thinges they comprise by this word of reformation and those thinges they acknowledge to belong proprely vnto them but touching religion doctrin they will be acknowne of none error yea they decreed that counsels could not erre and thought verely that their aduersaries would in fine reuolt and obey the counsel as it apeareth manifestly by an Epistle written to the French king and by the form of the the safeconduit And this thing also increased their hope and opinion for that they iudged few professors of that doctrine least being so many of them dead banished as before is spoken of Sweuia This was also common there amonges them that whatsoeuer concerned religion should within a fewe monethes be determined For of the chief articles ther remained two only the Lordes supper and Matrimony All other articles of doctrine were all ready discussed The fathers that were at Basill did attribute the whole iudgement to holy scripture and to other wrytinges agreable to the same but these men would be iudges them selues in expoundinge the scripture neither woulde they admit that place of the decree of Basill by thambassadors restored but chaunginge the wordes of the decre determined also to follow the traditions of thapostles in euerye doubtfull matter And whansoeuer they were destitute of scripture they bosted that it was so lefte by thapostles and deliuered them as it were from hande to hande as in the disputations of the deuines was oft times noted Which caused also the ambassadors whan they receiued the safeconduit of themperors oratoures at th end of Ianuary to protest that by the traditions of thapostles they vnderstode those wrytinges which were annexed to the newe Testament or story of the foure Euangelistes I shewed you before how the first of Maye was appoynted the daye of session But now the fathers that remained being in dispair of the thing assemble together and for the discord of kinges and princes proroge the counsell for the space of two yeares or longer in case the dissention be not appeased This was the xxix day of Aprill and nowe was the bishop of Rome agreed with the French king A few daies after themperors ambassadors depart thence also But the Legate of Rome Crescētius deteined by sicknesse abode still who being feared by a vision in the night as it is said fel sicke and began to dispair also of his life notwithstanding that both his frends and also the Phisitians did comforte him Neither was he disceiued in his iudgement For the disease increasing he died at Uerona And this was th end of the coūsel which being right stoutly renued thought verely to restore the Romish doctrine and shortly to establishe the same Besides the Legates of Rome and the Cardinall of Trent ther wer presēt lxii bishops wherof viii wer Germanes fiue and twenty Spaniardes two of Sardinia four of Sicilie one of Hōgary the bishop of Agria all the reast were of Italy and diuines there were xlii and of them xix Spaniards of Germany Flaunders xii By what occasion the Legate Crescentius fel sicke I had purposed not to haue spoken for that there was some suspicion it might be deuised of mallice but in as much as his frendes those of his own family which went to comfort him whan he laye sicke do thus report it I thought mete to adde to the same The xxv day of March he had ben very much occupied in wryting letters to the bishop of Rome and continued this trauel til night At the whiche time arising that he might refresh him self behold he saw a greate blacke dogge going with glistring eies and eares hanging down almost to the ground and went straightway to him and after slipt vnder the table He being astonied and amased whan at the lēgth he was cummen againe to him self he calleth vpon his seruaunts that were in the vtter chamber commaunding them to bringe in a light and to beate out this dogge but whan he coulde no where be found neither there nor yet in the next chamber he toke a great thought and fel sicke as I shewed you before When he lay on his death bed also he is reported to haue cried oute manye times to his seruantes that they should driue out the dogge that came vppon his bed The xxiiij Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charies the fyfte The Argument of the xxiiij Booke DUke Moris publisheth his letters to all the states of thempire not to hinder his enterprises the same doth Marques Albert. The French kinge also publisheth his and nammge him self Protector of Germany taketh Metz in Lorayne and marcheth vp to Strasborough and from thence retireth to Hagenaw Whither came vnto him sondry ambassadors beseching him to stay his army The king retireth his armye oute of Germany Duke Moris and his company hauing won the straites of thalpes putteth themperor to flighte who a little before had enlarged the Duke of Saxon. After they publishe their letters at Auspurge whereb that they restore the ministers of the Churche that preached the Gospell Whilest Duke Moris wente to Passaw for the treaty of peace Marques Albert practiseth great cruelty againste them of Nurinberge and constraineth them to make theyr peace vnto meaner Princes of the peace sondrys thinges were declared aswell by letters as by ambassadoures and they be pleased with certaine conditions They of Seine do reuolt from themperor who cometh to Strasborough goinge to besiege Metz. HOw in the laste assemble of thempire the gouernment of the warre of Maidenburge was by common assente of the Emperoure and other states committed to Duke Moris I haue before declared during the which warre continuinge the space of one yeare he hauinge the armye at hys commaundemente began to seke meanes howe to deliuer the Lantzgraue his father in lawe seinge he had so longe time sued to themperor for the same matter in vaine Wherefore compelling the Chattes by an othe to be true to him and makinge peace with them of Maidenburge and sendinge his ambassadoures to Insprucke as in the former boke is mentioned he entreth into league with the Frenche kinge and assuraunce made on either side by pledges geuen they thoughte good by wrytinges setforthe to declare the cause of the warre to th entent they might win therby the good wils of many Moreouer the Marques Albert of Brandenburge going priuely into Fraunce to the king withdrewe him self wholy to the same businesse In
the meane season the souldiours aswell those that defended Maidenburge as they that beseged the same wintered at Mullusie and the places there aboutes and did muche hurte to the Northusians and them of Herfurd And whan themperor demaunded the cause therof of Duke Moris which had of the whole war bene generall he was answered that this tumult was for want of paiment of their wages For this he prâ—â—â—â—ded the cause wher in dede they serued him and secreatly were bounden to him by an oth And that he might the better perswade the self same time he sente ambassadoures throughe Insprucke to Trent whiche might obtaine a safeconduit for the diuines that should come and propound certaine other thinges in the counsel Afterward he commaunded the diuines to follow whiche goinge as farre as Norinberge taried there loking for letters from the foresaid ambassadours as before is mentioned he sent also other ambassadors to the Emperoure Christopher Carlebice and Ulrich Mortise which should tary for his comming in the borders of Bauier whose aduise and counsell he might vse in the treaty Furthermore he commanded a lodging to be prepared for him at Inspruck and he him self toke his iourney and whan he had gone two or thre daies iourny on his waye sending from thence to Insprucke moste gentle letters and alledging a certain cause for an excuse returneth home again and thus tracting the time whan he had driuen it of from day to day In the beginning of the spring time hauing called backe his men in due season he began to take musters of his soldiors which in the winter time he had gathered very secreatly and addressing his letters vnto all the states of thempire saieth Ther is nothing in this world to him so deare as concord but he wisheth chiefly for an agrement in religion according to the doctrin of the Prophets and Apostles wherof our aduersaries haue many times put vs in hope both priuately and also by publike decrees but nothing is performed and they do not only constre a misse those promises and decrees but also do abrogate the same and take them cleane awaye This also haue they spoken vnto certen that vnlesse they followe their procedings let them not trust greatly or leane to former promises For at what time those promises wer made the state of time was other wise but now they must obey or els such as refuse muste be punished and not contented with these wordes they haue stirred vp also forein kings against him and other princes of his state and profession and haue inuented sondry causes to bring them in hatred whilest they blame vs for religion or certen other things wheras the thing it self declareth that they care for no religion but haue alwaies had an eie how throughe thoccasion of dissention in Religion they might aspire to the gouernment For now is theyr craft sene of all men whiche they vsed that they mighte wholly rote oute and abolishe the true Religion in former yeares setforth and expounded at Auspurge For this is the matter wherfore they haue in all places exiled the preachers and ministers of the Church oute of the limites of thempire and tarye neither for the decree of a lawfull Counsell nor yet of the Bishoppes of Romes neither and begin the thing by and by with execution Wherfore althoughe he with force of armes shoulde repulse 〈◊〉 him and his this seruitude of minde and conscience there oughte no man to blame him How be it for so much as this thing apperteineth to Gods glorye who alone can both auaunce and defende his worde he committeth the whole matter vnto him and prâ—yeth God to graunt him constancy in the true knowledge of him vntill his liues end An other thing wherof he intendeth to speake is coÌ„cerning the Lantzgraue his father in law For certainly v. yeares since was he and Ioachim the Elector of Brandenburge put in hope in themperors name that if the Lantzgraue mighte be perswaded to come to submission and humbly to craue pardone of the Emperor that themperor shoulde than require no more of him besides that which was conteined in the pacification than conceiued but would frendly let him depart wheruppon they sent for him by theyr letters geuing their faith vnto his sonnes that if any thing chaunced to theyr father otherwise than well they would abide the same fortune So therefore came he vppon this faithe vnto Hale and asked the Emperor pardon And afterwardes supped with the Duke of Alba til it was far in the night very pleasantly and what time he would haue returned to his lodging beyond al mens expectation he was deteined and caried to prison wherin he hath nowe remained in a manner fiue whole yeres not without exceding great misery and although both his sonnes his nobilitye and subiectes haue confirmed the pacification Albeit that he him self the Marques of Brandenburge and Wuolfgange the Paulsgraue became sureties for him that vnles he perfourmed couenaunts they wold deliuer him into his custody albeit that according to the forme of couenaunts the mony he was condemned in is paid his artilerye and munition deliuered his Castels and fortes rased Henrye the Duke of Brunswicke and his sonne sette at libertye the letters of confederacye exhibited in so muche that nothinge more can be required yet coulde neither the suite of him and the Marques of Brandenburge nor the lamentable teares of his wife whiche pined to deathe for sorowe nor the Prayers of the people or intercession of other princes preuaile any thinge vnto this daye For he hathe ofttimes spoken to themperor and because diuers men haue had a sinistrall opinion of him he hath intreated him most earnestly to haue some respect to his honoure and estimation and that he would graunt him this for the benefits which his elders had done vnto his Progenitors and for his deserts also towardes him and king Fardinando and that he woulde sette him at libertye but all these things could moue him nothinge yea he constrained the captife to answer to matters in the lawe out of prison and to plead his cause lying in fatters which can be done by no lawe especiallye in matters so waighty to speake nothing in the meane time how suspiciously and howe rashly he handled the matter after a straunge example such as neuer was hard of in Germany that verely vnder this pretence of the law he might by little and little tourn both him and his children out of all theyr landes and possessions and bring them in suche distres that they shoulde be no more hable to maintaine theyr state and dignity which thinge that it come not to passe toucheth him very much by reason of the alliaunce and hope of succession that he hath with the house of Hesse This thing in dede might be thought a wonder were it not that these craftes and pollicies are manifest in the sight of al men whiche doubtles tende vnto this ende that the same Monarchye that hath ben now
than shall the state and condition of all Germaines be common but in case anye manne beare armure againste him and his felowes him wil he persecute with sword and fire There goeth a brute he saieth of him and his fellowes as thoughe they wold bring into Germany forein nations and euen the Turk him selfe but this is a false and an absurd sclaunder For what a madnesse were it to procure so greate a daunger to them selues theyr countrye It is vaine also that diuers report of him as though he shoulde attempte this warre to enriche him selfe he hathe serued nowe manye yeares the Emperoure and kinge Ferdinando and hereby hathe soughte no gaine but rather praise and honor Not without the great losse of his substaunce he hath had also large offers made and not to be contemned but all those refused he hathe fixed his minde on this warre wherin the liberty and former dignity may be restored to the common country In the which warre if it fortune that the same ouermuch authority of the Clergy and prohibited by holy Scripture be infringed and weakned no man ought to blame him therfore For certainly the chiefe bishoppes of the Empire haue bene the occasion of al these euils yet is it not his intent that those Colleges which were founded chiefly for the nobility shoulde be distroyed but that the vices beinge taken awaye and those thinges amended that can not be borne with they maye remaine in their vocation and be auaunced also wherunto he will be a furtherer to them so that they will be contente and not suffer them selues to be perswaded otherwise by his enemies The king of Fraunce also in his letters setforth saithe he hathe this respecte chiefly that Religion being established he may profite the publike weale and chiefly his frendes And therfore immediately after the death of his father he had restored Scotlande to their former dignity renued the league with Swisses recouered Boloigne and broughte againe the old inhabiters and Citezens dispersed hither and thither into theyr landes and possessions he hathe made peace also with the king of England and entred with him into perfite amity and whilest he was occupied with these matters the Emperoure by secreat deuises hath Imagined many thinges for his distruction and oftner than once hath geuen occasion of warre how beit both for the common wealthes sake and priuatelye also to relieue his people he would attempt nothing but winckinge at the iniuries he gaue his minde whollye to the establishmente of his realme but this his quietnesse afterward by his aduersaries was ascribed to a certaine timerousnesse and cowardlinesse but in the meane season were broughte vnto him greuous complaints of the Princes and states of Germany whiche saide that occasion was sought partly for Religion partlye for the Turkishe warre and to punish rebellion to bringe them in to bondage and that by craftye counsels dissention and faction are mainetained and Germanye impouerished so that it can no longer be doubted but that he goeth about to make a monarchy for him selfe and the house of Austrich of the which thing verelye he conceiued an inwarde sorowe both for the common originall of either nation and also for the old amity and frendship which euer continued ferme and inuiolated so long as it might by themperoures crafte and policye For if that state should haue an alteration and Germanye lose her liberty he perceiueth well what damage and daunger the same will be for him and all his realme For Germany is not only the fortresse and strength of Fraunce but also of the whole christian commō welth And therfore hath he desired oft with earnest prayer and wishing that either nation with their forces ioyned together might so stay them selues that they should nead to be afraid of no man where no hope of this thing appeared and yet many craued his healpe he coulde not see by what meanes he mighte succoure the Empyre so rente and torne a sondre but in this consultation so waighey God which is a righteous iudge hath shewed a goodly way For Octauian Frenese Duke of Placence and Parma whome themperour and the Bishop of Rome Iuly laide in waite for required aide of him and declaringe al their iniuries hathe perswaded him to take vppon him the defence of him and the countye of Mirandula After this came also those complaintes of the Princes and states of Germany which required they might enter into league with him for that they said howe by that meanes onlye the common wealth mighte be restored but howe iuste and waighty causes they be for the whiche the Princes attempte warre he will not recite for that the same may be vnderstande by theyr owne wrytinges Notwithstanding let euery man way with him selfe whether this vnsatiable couetousnesse of oure aduersaries dothe not geue a moste iuste occasion of griefe whiche destroyinge the wealthe of the Empire swepe all into theyr owne coffers and treasury The Burgonians do nowe inuade them of Treuers Gelderland and Wirtemberge and make inuasion into their countries and destroyeth the Lātzgraues dominion diuers waies of lyke sorte is it that themperor excludeth his ambassadors from thassemblies of the Empire that he prohibiteth that no manne may serue in foreine warres that he putteth to death noble capitains and worthy seruiceable men and amonges others Uogelsperge whose execution he him self beheld at Auspurge to thintent he mighte satisfye his bloudye minde Is if not a mooste euill an example that he shoulde prouoke and hyre men with greate rewards to slay such as serue him in the warres Assuredlye it can not with fewe wordes be expressed what craftes oure ennemies vse For into the same iudgemente of the Chamber and consistorye of the Empire are admitted and placed such as by their meanes they may bring to passe and obtaine what they liste For doubtles the blame of all these euils is to be imputed to thys kinde of menne Especiallye to the iudges of the Chamber For the which causes verely he could not deny the Germains requiring his aid Therfore hath he made league with them and not only that but also is determined to imploy vpon this warre all his force and his royall parson Neither yet doth he looke for anye priuate profite or gain therby but minedeth this thinge only that Germany beinge restored and Ihon Fridericke the Duke of Saxon and the Lantz graue deliuered whome he hathe detained prisoners in longe and vnworthy captiuity he maye win praise and renowne immortall as did in times past Flamminius for deliuering Grece from bondage neither is there cause that any man shoulde feare anye force or violence For in as much as he attempteth this warre for liberty he will wholly endeuoure that no man be hurt vndeseruedly let them truste therefore to this promesse whiche he confirmeth vnto them faithfully and geue no creadit to aduersaries which say his purpose is to afflicte and plage the Cleargy For he not only intendeth no such
vnto their glorie whiche thing in dede the prisoner also hym selfe woulde not Whā he was at libertie he followed the Emperour neuerthelesse whyther soeuer he went In the selfe same tyme quene Marie the Emperours syster helde an assemblee at Achen in lowe ducheland to make a league with the princes about her And the Duke of Cleaue in dede excuseth the matter by Ambassadours But Adolphe Archebishop of Collon comming thither entreth into league with the house of Burgsidy Likewise doth the Byshop of Luke George of Austriche Whan Duke Maurice came to Insprucke what thinge soeuer was founde there of the Emperours and of the Spaiardes and the Cardinalles of Auspurge it was spoyled But to kyng Ferdinandos and the citezens goodes there was no harme done And for so muche as there remayned but thre daies only vnto the truce whiche for the treatie of peace was taken as before is mentioned Duke Maurice went from thence to Passawe And the other Princes Marching the same way they came the .xxviii. day of May retourne to Fiessa and afterwarde by menssengers as well in their own as in the name also of Duke Maurice they publyshe letters at Auspurge of this effect In what sorte saye they the ennemies of truthe haue alwayes done their indeuour that all Godly Preachers oppressed the Romishe idolle might be restored and that the yought being brought vp in those errours and false opiniōs might by litle and litle increase in the same that thing is so manifest that it nedeth no further demōstration For euen at the same time whan they did not sticke to proteste that they sought not Religion they wrought with all their force that the pure doctrine might be cleane roted out For they did not only caste the Godly preachers in pryson but in this citie also compelled them by an othe with great vngentlenes that they should departe out of the limites of the Empire And albeit that same othe was very wicked and therfore is grounded vpon no lawe nor reason yet least any sclaunder might aryse we haue called home agayne those selfe same preachers and scholemaisters whiche our aduersaries had exiled thinking it our dutie so to doe Wherfore all suche as after this sorte were bannished as before is sayd we do clerely release from that bonde of othe wherunto through force violence contrary to the lawes thei were bounde and restore them vnto libertie in ioyning them that not only in this citie but also in other places according to their vocation they teache Gods worde syncerely according to the confession here in tymes past exhibited and rightly and godly bring vp yougth in learning trusting vnto our defence and tuition We cōmaunde also that no man moleste them with wordes or iniuries as though they should do contrary to their faith geuen For inasmuche as not through their deserte but only for the profession of the truthe they haue liued many monethes in exile we doubte not but all good men wyll lamente their chaunce and accompte them worthy of all good wyll and fauour And for as much as those which in their absence haue preached in this citie be men suspected and vnconstant insomuch that they may not conueniently be with these that we haue called agayne by reason of their contrarietie in teachinge we require the Senate to put them to silence and so to demeane them selues that this decree of ours may stande in ful strēgthe and authoritie Whan the Princes had thus proclaimed the seuenth day of Iune the fift day after they restore the ministers of the churche to their places and geue them agayne authoritie to preache to the great reioysing contentation of the people Before Duke Maurice retourned from Lintz Marques Albert going a parte with his armie doeth much harme with spoyling and burning to Wuolfgang maister of the Almaigne order as they call hym and whan he had exacted mony of him inuadeth the countrie of Norinberge and the fift day of May taketh by composition Lightnaw a castell of theirs standyng fiue myles from the citie with the towne ioyning to the same His armie was of two thousand horsemen and .xix. enseignes of fotemen The nexte daie sending his letters to them of Norinberge albeit the Frenche king saieth he and the Princes cōfederated haue declared by wrytinge sufficiently and at large what they thought of the common wealth and how thei were bent to recouer the libertie of Germany and Religiō also vpō hope and confidence that all good men with wylling myndes woulde not only imbrace this their enterpryse but would also with all their force and indeuour further thesame whiche many haue done in dede yet haue you neyther declared what your mynde and pourpose is nor as I heare haue sent no Ambassadours to the assemblee appointed at Auspurge but prepare all thinges for defence plantyng your ordenaunce here there on your walles and Bulwarkes and hiring force of soldiours make auaunt that you wyll perseuer to the vttermoste extremitie as I am credible informed and it maketh me to beleue it the more for that hetherto you haue sent no Ambassadours to me for peace Whiche some notwithstandinge haue done bothe Princes and Cities further of Where therfore the same wryting of the kyng and Princes confederated doth manifestly declare that suche as either shall resiste this enterpryse of theirs or not further thesame shall be taken as ennemies And againe for so muche as I am adioyned to the same warre to the ende to bryng all those in whose limites I come to do their dutie and to leaue behynde my backe no fortified place out of the whiche any force or saleinge out is to be feared therfore haue I taken from you whiche as yet haue not satisfied my expectation the castell of Lightnaw whiche was a great annoyaunce to my campe preseruing the souldiours of the garrison whome neuerthelesse I might haue otherwyse vsed But bycause the chief thing yet remaineth I require you both in the Frenche kinges name and my fellowes that you wyll make a direct aunswer what you are purposed to doe for the defence of the libertie of Germany and for the stablishyng of Religion and let me vnderstande it tomorrowe that I may knowe what thyng is to be loked for of you and in what sorte I ought to accept you Howbeit what tyme Duke Maurice and his fellowes were at Schwinfurte whiche was the .xxvi. daye of Marche as before is sayde they demaunded of them of Norinberge faith societie munition vitayle a great somme of monie But after muche debating all other conditions omitted what tyme they had paied them an hondreth thousand crownes they promysed them peace as well for them selues as their fellowes by letters deuised in moste ample wyse Nowe therfore what tyme Marques Albert assayled them they make complainte to them And bycause Duke Maurice was not yet retourned from Lintz the Lantgraues Sonne wrytynge to them agayne the thyrde daye of May from Gundelfynge byddeth
And the kinges of Fraūce for the maintenaunce of religion haue warred many times against thennemies of Christendom The Saracenes Turkes both in Asia Affricke Europe and haue had moste noble victories But after chaunced a time more vnfortunate whan certen Emperours as newly entred and not very Germaines nor worthy of the dignitie haue forsaken that amitie with the kinges of Fraunce and haue induced great calamitie to the common wealth But this sore plage through Gods benefite was healed by the noble house of the Dukes of Lutcemburg out of the whiche haue issued certen Emperours men of great vertue linked moste assuredly to the kinges of Fraunce For the father of themperour Charles the fourth died in battell for the kyng of Fraunce The like good will beare also the Princes of Austriche amongest others Albert the firste who neither for promesse nor threatening of the hyghe Byshops could be brought to warre against Fraunce These thynges he reciteth for this intent that they may see howe euell certen councellours and ministers of the moste puissaunt Emperour Charles the fyfte prouyde for the common wealth whylest they worke not thys thinge only that they plucke a sonder the one from the other these two moste excellent nations but also through their craft and subtiltie haue brought this to passe longe synce that the moste noble Prince kyng Fraunces was iudged an ennemie his cause not harde This do they to their owne priuate gaine but to the exceading great hinderasice of the cōmmon wealth For how harde it were for them during the amitie of the two nations to infringe the libertie of Germany and to buylde vp that their kyngdome it doeth hereof sufficiently appeare for that they being nowe affrayde of the force of Fraunce be not so importune as they were nor doe not so muche vrge that Spanyshe yoke and bondage These be verely they whiche by intreatie and tributes obteyning peace of the Turke vnder the colour of Religion and obedience haue brought in dissentions and factions into Germany who ayded with the power of Germaynes haue warred against Germany whiche haue exacted money of all men and made the State of the Empyre miserable by placing here and there garrisons of Spanyardes by vnarmyng the armaries and openyng the waye to confiscation For the matter is brought to that passe that bothe the seale of the Empyre and the iudgement of the chamber and also the ryght and libertie of assemblies depende only vpon the pleasure of the Byshop of Arras For what example is this or what equitie is it that suche as to get their liuing serue in foreine warres should be therfore executed outlawed and with great rewardes set forth be in daūger of murtheryng to omit in the meane season so many murthers lecherous actes spoylynges and robbinges of townes and especially the handlyng of Religion whiche hath not bene after one maner but diuers according to the tyme. Certenly what so euer hath bene done these many yeares nowe tendeth all to this ende that contrary to the lawes of the Empyre kyng Ferdinando being herunto eyther compelled or els by fayre promesses allured the Prynces also by a certen feare and terrour subdued the Prince of Spayne might be made Emperour And shuld not noble courages wyshe for death rather than to beholde the lyght of the Sun in suche distresse and miseries Assuredly there can no man be imagined so very a coward or so barbarouse whō these thyngs would not moue Wherfore no man ought to maruell that in the ende ther should arrise some Princes and amongest them Duke Maurice thelectour of Saxony which thought it their parts euen with the hazarde of their liues to recouer the libertie of their natife coūtrie And they being of thē selues not able nor of power sufficiēt to sustein such a charge alone haue desired the ayde of the king of Fraūce And he doubtles setting a part the displeasure of former yeares hath not only made thē partakers of al his fortunes but hath also imploied him selfe wholy to the same busines making a league with them wherein amongest other thinges it is prouided that thei may not cōpounde with the ennemie but by the kinges consent Howbeit Duke Maurice although he be tied with that same bonde yet for the weale of his countrie and to followe the mynde of kyng Ferdinando requiring him hereunto hath lately demaunded of the moste christian king how he could be content to haue peace Whiche thing chaunced vnto him in dede som what contrary to his expectation for that considering his benefite is so great he supposed that in matters touching him he shuld not haue sent to him a far of but to haue deuised with him presently Neuerthe lesse because he setteth much more by publique thā by his own priuate profites he would deny nothing to a Prince of his confederacie Wherfore if the woundes of the cōmon wealth may be healed as they ought from henceforth assuraunce made that they breake not out again if the captine Princes may be released vpon suche conditions as be in the league expressed Moreouer in case the olde leagues of Fraunce with the Empire and this new confederacie also made of late with the Princes may so be confirmed that they may take place for euer if these thines I saye may be brought to passe he is so well affected towardes the common wealth that not only he wyll assent gladly to the treatie of peace but also wyl giue God hartie thākes that his aduise and helpe hereunto hath not wanted As touching his priuate matters for so much as the Emperour deteineth many thinges by force and hath made warre vpon no iust cause the king thinketh it reason that he the hath first done wrong should first seke also to make satisfactiō He verely althoug he neither distruste his force nor yet his cause will so demeane him selfe that it may be well perceyued both how desirous of peace he is and how willing also to gratifie Duke Maurice them all Hereunto the Princes aunswere Howe that recitall of antiquitie repeted of fourmer memory cōcerning the coniūctiō of Fraūce and Germany was to them right ioyfull and no lesse pleasaūt to heare that the kyng preferreth the common wealth aboue his priuate cōmodities and is not against but that the Princes confederate may conclude a peace with the Emperour For that it should so be it is for the profite not only of one nation but also of all Europe whiche afflicted with ciuil discorde ten deth to distruction And suche conditions of peace as the kyng requyreth they doubte not but that they may be obteyned For the Emperour both before this tyme and also in this trouble thinketh well of the common wealth and wyll not haue the libertie of Germany deminished There is good hope moreouer that he wyll shortly delyuer the captiue Princes But that both the olde leagues should be renewed and the newe confirmed the king of his wysdome vnderstandeth that
chayne of Golde as a token of honour Fiue of them studied at Losanna Frenchemen in dede borne but founde at the charges and liberalitie of the Lords of Bernes Whan therfore they had heard that they were taken and vnderstode their daūger they made diligent sute to the king desiring him thei might be geuen to them But it was in vayne where the kyng alledged that he might not doe it by the lawes The Cardinall of Tournon was thought to haue bene the occasion hereof I spake a litle before of the death of the moste noble Prince Edwarde the sixte kyng of England He was in a consumptiō and in the moneth of Ianuary he fell sicke And where as his sicknes increased being carefull for his Realme and Religion he conferreth with his counsell of the matter and inquireth of them vnto whome chiefly he should committe the gouernmēt For albeit that king Henry his father whā he died had appointed next in succession vnto him Mary and Elizabeth as before is sayd yet for so muche as he him selfe was of lawefull yeres he accoumpted it to lie in his power to make his heire especially seing that moste men doubted of the lawful birth of his syster and Mary was also of the Byshop of Romes Religion which if she should haue the gouernment he sawe howe there was great daunger least both this present Religion should be subuerted and the Realme also be gouerned by a straunger Wherfore after deliberatiō had it was agreed to chose the lady Iane of Suffolke daughter to the Lady Fraūces nece to kinge Henry the eight Whan the rest of the Counsell and the Maior of London and the Lordes of the Realme had this allowed The Archebyshop of Cantorbury primate of Englande was sent for to the court that he myght subscribe whiche he refuseth to doe vnlesse he maye first heare the kyng speake Wherfore being admitted to his speache whan he had reasoned the matter with him familiarly as he laye he assēted being of him earnestly required hereunto Whan the kyng was departed whiche was the syxt daye of Iuly as before is sayd the fourth daye after the Lady Iane is proclaimed Quene and a proclamation openly set forth howe kyng Edwarde by the consent of his Nobles for moste weighty causes had disherited the Lady Mary and the Lady Elizabeth his systers and lefte the succession of the Realme to the Lady Iane. The Nobilitie and commons toke this moste displeasauntly not so muche for the loue of the Lady Mary as for the hatred of the Duke of Northumberlande where no man in a maner doubted but that he was the authour of this counsell to the intent that by this meane he myght as it were conuey the kingdome into his own house Whylest these thinges were a workyng the Lady Mary fleeth into Norfolke and from thence to the castell of Framingham in Suffolke and wryting abroade for ayde taketh vpon her as Quene That knowen the Duke of Northumberlande assembleth a power and setting forth of Londō marcheth towardes her by the consent of the reste to apprehende her But in the meane season the counsellours that remayned in the citie perceiuing the hartes of the people that the forces of Norfolke and Suffolke resorted to Quene Mary chaunging their myndes and pourpose proclaimed Quene Mary and kepe the lady Iane in pryson After these newes came into the Campe al mē for the moste parte bycause they serued against their wylles hated the Duke do reuolte And whan letters and commission came from Frammingham thei take the Duke at Cambridge and the .xxv. daye of Iuly bryng him agayne into the citie It is vncredible with what rebukes railinges the people receiued hym whylest some cal him traytour some parracide others the murtherer of the moste innocent kyng For in as much as he was thought to haue brought his sonnes wyfe to the Roial crowne there arose a suspicion that he had imagined these thynges longe before and layde in wayte for the kynges lyfe After were apprehended his sonnes and his brother and certē other Nobles and the kynges scholemaister Sir Iohn Cheke knight a mā of great vertu and learning Yet was he discharged afterwardes but put in a maner from all his lsuing After came Quene Mary to London entring into the holde which they call the Towre deliuereth out of prison the Duke of Norfolke who had bene almoste seuen yeares in captiuitie Gardiner Byshop of Winchester and Tunstall Bishop of Duresme and certen other Byshops of the popyshe Religion whiche had bene put from their Byshoprikes and restoreth them to their fourmer places And certenly that byshop of Winchester although in bookes set forth he had defended the doing of king Henry what tyme he diuorsed him selfe from the Lady Katherine the mother of Quene Mary as in the .ix. booke is mentioned yet nowe he obteined the place of the chauncelour whiche is there the highest degree of dignitie For where the lady Katherine alledged the Byshop of Romes licence Iuly the second who had confirmed that matrimony and the kyng againe sayde it was naught and therfore sent the Byshop of Winchester before he was Byshop to Rome that Clement might pronoūce thesame frustrate Who comming thither in the moneth of February in the .xxix. yeare was an importune suter The Bishop of Rome who as the prouerbe is helde the woulfe by both eares where as both he coueted to gratifie the kyng and also feared themperours displeasure aunswereth that he wyll wryte to themperour that the true licence vnder seale might be shewed He assenteth in dede but he requireth to haue two monethes only appointed for the same matter Whan that tyme shal be runne out Gardener requireth the the licence might be compted vnlawfull But that thought the Byshop of Rome both straunge and also vnreasonable and seketh with gentle wordes to satisfie the kyng But the Ambassadour tolde hym playnly that vnles he might obteyne the kynges request it would be to the great hinderaunce of the See of Rome Agayne the Emperour and kyng Ferdinando the .xxvii. daye of Aprill by Ambassadours declare their grief and expostulate with byshop Clement that he fauoured the kyng onermuche and would haue the matter iudged in Englande and also appointed their procurers with large and ample commission whiche should treate and followe the cause in their names at Rome Wherfore the Byshop commaunding at the last Campegius to retourne home reuoketh the suite to him selfe so much the rather for that he vnderstode by the Cardinall of Yorke of the kynges new loue as I said in the .ix. booke The .xxii. daye of August the Duke of Northumberland cōdemned of treasō was beheaded and whan he was brought to the Scaffolde made an oration and amonges other thinges he exhorteth the people to perseuer in the same religion whiche they had receiued of their forefathers as it wer from hand to hande For he iudgeth this to be the only cause of
all the calamitie that hath come into Englande of longe tyme nowe but chiefly since the death of King Henry that they are seperated from the reste of the body of christianitie Of many yeares nowe he had bene of a contrary opinion as he pretended at the leaste and had vtterly forsaken the Popish doctrine And the cause why he nowe spake thus as they saye was for that he was put in hope to be pardoned And albeit that the reste of his talke being finished he sayd he spake as he thought yet be ther some that affirme he was sory for so saiyng what time he loking round about him perceiued no succour sawe that he was begiled And other that suffered at the same time one sir Thomas Palmer knight professed the doctrine of the Gospell with moste constancie And the Duke was condēned as I said of rebellion treason And albeit there were great suspiciōs the he had geuen the king poison yet was he nothing at al examined for that matter Nor in the sentēce pronoūced against hym any mētion made therof Of Peter Martyr the Florentine we haue spoken before whiche going into England six yeres past by the kinges sending for was reader of the diuinitie lecture at Oxforde Whome many made muche of for his excellent learning and vertue but he wanted not also euil willers Wherfor when the king was dead he was commaunded not to styre one fote thence without the pleasure of the Quene firste knowen nor cary away any thyng that he had vnder a great penaltie in case he should doe otherwyse He was content to obeye but whan he sawe he was longe delayed he wryteth to the counselours of the Realme concerning his state and if he had ought offended he requireth that his accuser might be brought forth and the matter examined Wherupon through their permission he came to London There he fyndeth the Archebyshop of Cantorbury his Patrone and frend of whome the Popysh preachers had reysed a brute as though he should be vnconstant wauering as though by his commaundement the Masse were restored at Cantorbury as though he had promysed the selfe same thing to the Quene And bragged with al of a disputatiō that should be After he knewe of this immediatly he set forth a writynge to pourge him selfe and sayth how a terten priest vnknowyng to hym had sayde Masse at Cantorbury he denieth the other thing also yea he protesteth if the Quene wyll geue him leaue to proue that the actes of kyng Edwarde concernyng the Lordes supper and other articles of doctrine be consonaunt to the holy Scriptures and that the Romyshe Masse is cleane repugnant from the institution of Christe for the declaration wherof he desyreth no great nomber but euen a very fewe and amonges them Peter Martyr to ayde and assiste hym And for so muche as the contrary parte adourned their Religion by the commendatiō of antiquitie saiyng that it hath continued aboue a thousand and fiue hondreth yeares he affirmeth that thei be not able to proue the same but he wil proue that the doctrine whiche in kyng Edwardes daies was set forth and is as yet obserued in England is the very natiue and auncient Religion instituted and left vs of Christ and his Apostles Whan he had publyshed this wryting at London about the fift daye of September Peter Martyr the same tyme came thither from Oxforde as I sayd aduertysed by hym of the whole matter commendeth his doing and sheweth him the he wyll refuse neyther paynes nor peryll herein But beholde whylest they are in this expectation the Archebyshop of Cantorbury was committed to pryson and also the Archebishop of Yorke and Rydley Byshop of London H. Byshop of Worcester and certen other Byshops for the profession of the Gospell and for sermons made against Quene Mary by the counselles commaundemēt before she atcheued the crowne Moreouer Hughe Latimer is than also apprehended whome kyng Edward deliuered out of the tower layd in there by his father for doctrine In the meane tyme Peter Martyr albeit he perceiued his daūger yet for that he had nothing offended against the lawes of the Realme trusting to his innocencie thought not good to departe before he had obteyned leaue Wherfore whan he had brought that to passe and receiued his passeporte signed with the Quenes hande he came to And werpe from thence to Collon and after to Strasburge from whence he went firste into Englande and a litle before hym Bernardine Ochine both in health It was once written and signified into Germany that the Emperour should haue geuen coūcell to his auntes daughter Quene Mary that she should gouerne with mercy and not alter Religion nor marie without the Realme For what daūger were in that in case she should chaunge the Religion he knewe best of all men Whether this were so in dede I can not affirme The ende it selfe declareth it to be farre otherwyse For euen for the doctrine of the Gospel straungers being cōmaunded to departe and the natiue countrie men there caste in pryson the Romyshe Religion was wholye restored as shal be declared hereafter The first daye of October after Quene Mary was crowned And not longe after began the Parliament at London But the conuention of the Empyre which the Emperour called against the .xiii. day of Auguste as I shewed in the beginning of this boke was proroged to the first of October than to the moneth of Ianuary After that same battel wherin Duke Maurice was slayne Henry the Duke of Brunswick and the Marques Albert euery of them for them selfe make them selues strong and gather their power about them The Byshoppes and States of Norinberge fed Duke Henry wyth monie But all men for the moste parte marueled at Marques Albert from whence he had al that store Wherfore it was spoken commonly that Quene Mary the Emperours sistes supported him with mony But the Emperours folkes denie that vtterly and maruell that there are any so fonde so to thinke But what tyme the mony was brought to the Duke of Brunswicke somewhat to late he was in very great daunger For whan the Marques had intelligence therof he practised with the soldiours to forsake hym who abode this delaye moste impatiently But very luckely in the selfe same momente whan that heate and mutine began to ryse the .x. day of September was brought a remedy and all the tempeste appeased Duke Henry for his better assuraunce fel at a cōposition with Duke Ericke his cosin whiche was his ennemy before The kyng of Denmarke had long since sent his Ambassadour into Saxon to further the matters of Duke Augustus his sonne in lawe They at the length through the helpe of the Electour of Brandenburges Ambassadours reconcile hym to Marques Albert. The conditiōs were these that Duke Augustus should neither prosecute his brothers warre nor ayde the ennemies of Marques Albert. The same shall the Marques doe and if he
thys wyse pacified them she appointed certen to defende the citie and assigneth the Erle of Penbroke to haue the charge abroade Nowe was Wiat proclaimed before by an Heraulte of Armes Rebell and Traytour to the Realme and to bryng hym in greater hatred there were read his requestes sent vnto the Quene wherof the fyrste as they saye was that he would haue the Quene in his custody that it should be lawfull for him to determine concerning her mariage and either to reteine or displace her counsellours at his pleasure The third daye after was proclaimed a pardon to all the cōmon people so that they would forsake the captaines and authours of rebellion and to him that would bring Wiat prysoner was appointed a great rewarde The Duke of Suffolke was also accompted in the nūber of traitours And wheras the same daye the conspiratours came nere vnto the citie the Quene cutteth in two London bridge ouer the Ryuer of Temse least any should go out to them The next day thei come into Southwarke supposing that the citezēs would haue ioyned with them But they were holden in with a garrison In the meane season the Duke of Suffolke is taken in an other parte of the Realme by the Erle of Huntington whome the Quene sent after him with horsemen Whan the confederates had spent two daies at the citie and traueled on that syde in vayne taking an other way they passe ouer the Temse at King stone ten miles aboue London and so marche towardes the citie There at the laste was Wiat and his felowes intercepted of that power whiche the Quene had sent out with the Erle of Penbroke and committed to pryson The next daye whiche was the seuenth daye of the same moneth proclamation was made vnder payne of death that who so euer had receiued any of these rebelles into his house should brynge them forthe and present them immediatly A fewe dayes after the Duke of Suffolke is brought prysoner to London And the .xii. daye of February the Duke of Northumberlandes sonne Guilford Dudley and the lady Iane his wyfe the Duke of Suffolkes daughter which after kyng Edwarde I sayde was admitted Quene were both beheaded for that contrary to the lawfull succession they had aspired to the crowne And the Lady Ianes mishappe in a maner all men lamented that so vertuouse a Lady so wel brought vp and so learned should chaunce into so great a calamitie for none other cause verely thā that she had not refused the kingdome offered She made an oration to the people very Godly and modeste and calling to God for mercy through Iesus Christe toke a clothe of one of her gentilwomen and couered her own face and bound it about her eies and than offered to the hangeman her necke to be striken of The self same daye was Corteney Erle of Deuonshire whome the Quene a fewe monethes before had deliuered from long captiuitie agayn taken vpon suspicion of a conspiracie made After this in Londō and Westminster where the Quene than was many were caried to execution and that of the Nobilitie not a fewe Some of them also escaping and amongest them a worthie Knight syr Peter Carrew fled into Fraunce The Duke of Suffolke also the .xxi. daye of February was beheaded whan he had bene condemned foure dayes before Whylest these thynges are done in Englande Sibille of Cleaue the wyfe of Iohn Fridericke Duke of Saxon the foresaed .xxi. daye of February departeth at Weymer and the .xi. daye after her the Prynce hym selfe whan he had layen a whyle sicke They died bothe in the true knowledge of God And suerly he whan his wyues tombe was a making in the churche had commaunded a certen place to be reserued for hym by the syde therof for that he should shortely followe after Neyther was he disceaued in his opinion For the thyrd daye of Marche about ten of the clocke before noone whan he had heard a Sermon liyng in his bed callyng vppon Gods mercy and commending his spirite vnto God he flitted out of this myserable life into the heauenly countrie And nowe was the composition made betwene hym and Duke Augustus For where the kyng of Denmarke sendynge Ambassadours as I sayd before made great intercession after much and diuerse and almost an half yeares disceptation now at this tyme was the matter appeased vpon these condicions Iohn Fridericke departeth from the Electourshyp from Meissen and from the Townes of mettell mines Duke Augustus disceasing without Heires males all these thinges retourne to the Duke of Saxon his heires males In the meane tyme the Duke of Saxon may vse the name and the armes of Electourship as well in sealing of letters as in coyninge of monie Duke Augustus also graunteth to hym and to his sonnes certen townes and gouernementes and for the debtes that were behynde of certen fourmer yeares whiche Duke Maurice had not payed to his sonnes he payeth downe to the summe of an hondreth thousand crownes He redemeth also the Castell and towne of Conigsperge standing in Franconie and layed to morgage to the Bishop of Wirtemburge for .xl. thousande crownes and restoreth it to the Duke of Saxon his sonnes Finally the league of inheritaunce of the house of Saxon in these fourmer yeares infringed is renewed and established agayne The same composition Iohn Fridericke lying on his deth bed not long before he ended his lyfe confirmed with his wryting and seale and commaūded that his sonnes should doe likewyse Wherfore with a noble courage vanquishyng all euilles and miseries wherinto he chaunced he died not in prison nor in the custody of foreine soldiours wherūto he was appointed but through the notable benefit of God set at libertie and retourning home to his wyfe his children and his owne religion ended his lyfe moste peaceably leauing to his sonnes and subiectes peace and quietnes His wyfe also the Duchesse hauing her owne wyshe left this earthly mansion For often tymes she had saied that she coulde be content to dye with all her harte so that she might first se her husband safe at libertie And the same many times did she pray to the liuing God for with many teares and sighinges The same daye that she ended her lyfe had Duke August a sonne borne named Alexander In these same dayes the rest of the straungers that were in Englande yea and many of the same natiō forsakyng their countrie for the alteration of Religion and the Quenes proclamatiōs conueye them selues into Germany wherof some tary at Wesell some at Franckefurte and many also at Strasburg Iohn Alascus a Polonian a noble man borne brother to Hierome a man of excellent learning went thence before wynter with diuerse others into Dēmarke But where as he was ther not very frendly receiued by reason of his contrary opinion touching the Lordes supper and for thesame cause was denied to dwell in the lower partes of Saxony he came at the
length to Emden a towne in east Friseland and there remayned The fourth day of Marche the Quene of England set forth ecclesiasticall lawes wherin she cōmaundeth bishops their officers that they receiue no man that is suspected of heresie into holy orders that they rote by cleane all heresies that they abolyshe al naughtie and pestiferous bokes that they prescribe an order to Scholemaisters and preachers that they take awaye from maried priestes their wyues and benefices and inioyne them punishement condigne for their misdoing yet so that suche as by the cōsent of their wiues wil proteste to make a diuorsemēt they do handle more gently and suche as amende to be also restored Moreouer that all prayers at common supplications be sayde in the latin tongue after the olde custome that all holy daies be obserued and the Ceremonies of fourmer tyme be restored that bigge children before christened be confirmed of the Byshops and that they be taught in Scholes howe to helpe a priest to saye Masse and serue him at the aultar What tyme the kyng of Englande Henry the eight banished the Byshop of Rome as I sayd in the .ix. boke he made this lawe amongest others that no man should be admitted to any office or ecclesiastical dignitie except he would first proteste by a solemne othe both him and his successours also to be supreme head of the Englishe churche ouer the whiche the Byshop of Rome hathe no authoritie neither to be any other thinge than Byshop of the citie of Rome with whome they wyll haue nothinge to doe Whiche othe the Quene whan she published these thinges did nowe release also and chargeth the Byshoppes that from henceforth it be required of no man secretly after a sorte restoryng the supremacie of the bishop of Rome Where she speaketh of cōmon prayer thus it is By the kyng her fathers commaundement procession was sayde in the vulgare tongue Wherin God was prayed to amonges other thinges that he would deliuer them from the sedition conspiracie and Tyranny of the Byshop of Rome This fourme therfore set forth in print the Quene nowe commaundeth to be abolished Not long after the Lady Elizabeth the Quenes sister a Lady very well learned was cōmitted to the Tower for that she was thought priuie to the fourmer conspiracie At the ende of Marche the ennemies of Marques Albert retourne to the siege of Schninfurt In the moneth of Aprill came into Germany out of England men of great learning sir Richarde Morisine Knight of whose Ambassade I haue spoken in the fourmer boke sir Anthony Coke and sir Iohn Cheke Knightes both the kinges scholemaisters and they went after into Italy Thither came also Iohn Pomet Byshop of Winchester whiche by reason of this alteratiō of Religion was displaced as likewyse were diuerse others About this time where as the forces of the Duke of Florence and the Byshop of Rome besieged Senes Peter Strosse who in the Frenche kinges name defended the citie vnderstanding certen thinges by espiall set vpon them sodenly and slew of them a great nomber They notwithstanding restoring their strength continued the siege Wherfore the Frenche kyng hyreth about thre thousand Swisses to ayde those that were besieged The Duke of Florence had fiaunced his daughter to Ascanio the Byshop of Romes nephewe and meanes were deuised to auaunce hym by this mariage In these daies the gouernour of Millan Ferdinando Gonzago being sent for came to the Emperour in Brabant Thither came also Babtista Castaldus whome the Emperour as I sayde in fourmer yeares sent Ambassadour into Hongarie About the middes of Aprill Sir Thomas Wiat was executed at London Before he suffered excusinge the Lady Elizabeth and the Erle of Deuonshyre diligently he affirmed that they were not priuie to this conspiracie Than also the Archbishop of Cantorburye the Bishop of London and Hugh Latimer were caried first to Windsore and after to Oxford and after they had disputed with the diuines of that vniuersity and also of Cambridge perseueringe in theyr opinion they are committed to prisone At the same time againe the Quene helde a Parliament Wherin she propounded two thinges chieflye concerning her owne mariage and restoring the supremacy to the bishop of Rome wherof she obteined the first vpon certain conditions but this other the Nobility being chiefly againste it she coulde not perswade Cardinal Poole after he had bene a certen time with themperor wente to the French kinge and was a counsellor of peace to them both but he preuailed nothing At th end of Aprill Marques Albert receiuing lx thousand crownes sendeth away Duke D'anmalle his prisoner wher a little before he had lost Holansperge an other fortresse of his dominion Not long after themperor sending his letters from Bruissels where he was in the winter before outlawed by the chamber he outlaweth him again and complaininge that he should worke so much mischief vnpunished commaundeth with wordes most waighty that all Princes and states but chiefly those that are nexte him do put the Proclamation of outlawrye in execution They had met twise before this at Roteburge to treate a peace but wheras nothinge was concluded themperoure decreed this againste him and for the same the states assembled after at Wuormes al such as belonge to the prouince of the Rhine Of the cōmon assemble of thempire that shuld be holden at Auspurge I haue spoken oftner then once because themperor being impeched both with sicknes and also with warres could not be ther king Fernando at his request taketh this charge vppon him and the Princes being of him desired to come excused them selues by reason of the troublesome state of Germany Themperor had all ready sent thither certen of his counsell and had also chosen out the Cardinall of Auspurge for the same purpose but what time for the cause aboue named no man came the matter was differred til a time more conueniēt Marques Albert had written certen thinges spitefully and bitterly against the Norinbergians as though in the former war they had priuely aided the French king and his fellowes and had paid mony as though they shuld haue had a great suspitiō of themperor both they also the bishops theyr fellowes had spoken contumelious words that they shuld fauor the french king more then themperor that they them selues had attēpted this war against him that they do what they are able that the bishops shuld not kepe couenants as though they shuld seke to destroy al the nobility as though they shoulde haue broken theyr promise expressed and signed in wryting as though they should haue made a wicked and a cruel warre against the people of his dominion as thoughe they had corrupted the iudgemente of the Chamber with bribes He called them also traitors to theyr country dispersing abrode libels therof throughe out Germany This knowen the Norinbergians whan after the taking of Holansperge they had found certaine thinges of the lyke sort the .xviii. day
him most humblye by theyr letters and alledginge manye teasons that they might he permitted to receiue the whole Supper of the Lorde according to the commaundement and institution of Christe and custome of the primatiue Churche Unto these letters of theyrs the xxiii of Iune the king ausweringe from Uienne I had full little thought saith he that you would haue called in question that proclamation of mine and haue found cauillations therin For I mēt only that my subiectes should perseuer in thauncient and true Religion and obedience of the Catholicke church without the which no man can obtain saluation and that they should receiue this sacrament the chiefest of all others after the law and custome of the church and neither through the corrupt opinions of certain or for curiosity and pride also should swarue from that duty which they both owe to the church and also to the Magistrate This is verely the mind and effect of the same proclamation nether is it any new thing that I commaunded but an old ordinaunce which hath ben brought as it wer by hād vnto my progenitors Emperors kings and Dukes of Austrich and to me also whan I began to gouerne the common wealth was deduced and vnto this time by me diligently as becommeth a Christen Prince obserued and at sondrye times to my people also inioyned that they shoulde remayne in the same Wherfore I supposed that you would not haue attempted any thyng against this my proclamacion which in all other thinges do contende that there should be no alteraciō and that your lawes and liberties myght remaine vnto you whole For certenly that you do is a new deuise and lately of you conceaued by a certayne opinion and now also reasoned at large as though it were lawful for you to iudge of my commaundementes whiche am your chiefe and supreme magistrate or as though the same ought of ryght to be permitted you which certen yeres now diuers of you of your own accord contrary to the lawes of the church and my will haue taken vpon you priuately to vsurpe But because the question is harde ful of difficulty as you also affirme I will doubtles thincke more therupon and whan time is make such answer that it may be well perceiued that I do not tender a little the saluation of my people but in the meane time I loke for al obediēce of you and trust that you wil do nothing against my proclamation Unto this the states afterward answer again by wryting And the same say they that we haue oft times spoken before of our sauiour Christes commaūdement most puissant king we now repete again For he did institute his supper with plain and manifest words that after the same sort that he him self prescribeth it might be receiued of al men nether is it lawfull for any man mortall to alter hys institution It may be proued also that this was the manner of thauncient Churche and the same that is vsed now a daies to haue crept in by little and little For euen the counsel of Constance graunteth that the same was so instituted of Christ Wher therfore thys cōcerneth our saluation certainly neither curiosity nor pride hath moued vs here vnto Wherby we truste the rather that you will refer your consultation to the commaundement of Christ and his Apostles and consent of the primatiue Church and will not that our consciēce shuld be burthened which thing that it might please you to do we besech you for the honor of God and the glorye of his name and for oure own saluation We do acknowledge you and that moste gladlye to be our high Magistrate geuen vs of God and there is nothing in this world but that you both may ought to loke for at our hāds if it lie in vs to do But in this one matter we desire you to be fauorable to vs. In the byshop of Wirciburges dominion ther is an Abbay of Mōkes called Newstat The Abbot therof Ihon Frise after he came in suspition of Lutheranisme the fift day of May he is cited to come the vi day to Wirciburge and to answer vnto certain interrogatories And the questions were these Whether it be lawful to sweare whether anye man be bounden by his othe whether it be lawful to make a vow of Chastity pouerty and obediēce whether such manner of vowes do binde whether becometh better the ministers of the church mariage or singlenesse whether ther be one true and Apostolical church whether the same as the spouse of Christ be continually gouerned by the holy ghost whether she can alwaies discern true and holsom thyngs whether the same by reason of her head Christes vicar be called rightly the church of Rome whether all the bokes of both Testaments that be in the Cannon be lawful and true whether the holy scripture ought to be expounded after the mind of the holy fathers the doctors of the Church counsels and not after thopinion of Luther and others of the lyke sort whether that besides the Scriptures ther is nede also of other traditions as be those of the Apostles and such other like whether the same faith aucthority and obedience oughte to be geuen to the same traditiōs as to the holy scripture whether we ought to obay the ciuill magistrate in politick matters in holy things thecclesiasticall ordinary whether ther be vii sacraments of the Churche whether children oughte to be Christened whether they oughte to Christen in the Latin tounge with Salt Oile Water Charactes and exorcismes whether that by baptisme be cleane putte awaye Originall sinne in such sort that concupiscence which remaineth loseth the name of the same sinne whether the breade be chaunged and consecrated into the body and the wine into the blud of Christ by the vertue of the wordes which the Priest pronounceth whether it do so remaine althoughe it be not by and by receiued whether the Sacrament being after this sort consecrated is to be worshipped whan either it is borne aboute for the honor of Christe or caried vnto sickfolkes or also be reserued in the pix whether Christ is to be worshipped vnder the forme of bread and wine whether Christ be wholly vnderneath either kinde whether the confession of sinnes do prepare a man to the worthy receiuing of the Sacrament whether Masse be a true and continuall sacrifice whether that the Cannon of the masse is to be reteined whether the Sacramēt of confirming is to be vsed whether ther be iii. parts of penaunce contrition confession and satisfaction whether the priest may forgeue his sinnes which hath not before confessed the same whether Priestes onlye haue authoritye of the keyes whether the soules of good men do loue vs whether they pray to God for vs whether we ought to pray vnto Sainctes whether sainets Holy daies oughte to be obserued whether the relikes of Sainctes oughte to be worshipped whether the soules of the godly not yet repurged be relieued
cōmon countries sake to renue the former decrees Especially since I beleue there is none of you but both he loueth his countrye and wold prouide for the safegard of him self his lands subiects also wold haue thenterprises of him and his adherents impeched letted Wherfore I charge commaūd vnder the same penalties before expressed that no man aid him or his felowes with any thing nether with help nor counsel relief mony vitails nor artillery And also that nether he nor his fellowes be permitted to make any power or leuy soldiors in any of theyr dominiōs if he attempt any such thing that euerye man let him by alwaies possible and kepe in theyr people and subiectes that they run not oute to him and such as be offēders and will not obey this commaundemente to punishe extremely These letters were set vp in all places in Print At the .xxix. of Decembre king Ferdinando for because of the coūsel wherof I haue spoken before that it shuld be holden at Auspurge came thither and fineding no man there two daies after sendinge both letters and messagers he exhorteth the princes that for so much as they should treat of most waightye affaires of the Empire they would repare thither with spede he him self although to his great losse and hindraunce leauing his own country is commen thither that he might consult with them of the common weale and deuise suche meanes as be profitable necessary for thafflicted state of Germany wherfore let them come thē selues not do the thinge by theyr deputies for so the waightines of the cause requireth and themperor his brother hath geuē him ful authority to treat neither wil he tary them any longer than he neades must Aboute the middes of Ianuary breaketh vp the Parliament at London Amonges many other thinges the restoring of Cardinall Poole was enacted Thactes also of kings of former time concerning the punishing of heretickes and authority of bishops were renued but chieflye the supremacy of the bishop of Rome was wholye restored and all the lawes and statutes that had ben made against the sea of Rome by the space of xx yeares were condempned and abolished Uery many supposed that at the same Parliament king Phillip shuld haue ben crowned but herein was nothing done In the beginninge of February fiue were condemned at London to suffer because they would not returne to the Romish Religion men of excellent learning Ihon Hoper Bishop of Glocester Ihon Bradford Laurēce Saunders Rolland Tailler Doctoure of the ciuil law and Ihon Rogers And he was burned at London where he had taught but the reast were caried euery man home to Glocester Manchester Couentry and Hadley and ended their liues with the like punishment all right constantly A little after also the Bishoppe of Saint Dauid was condemned and sent home to suffer It was wrytten than out of Englād that ambassadoures woulde go to Rome in the name of the whole Realme which shuld both geue the bishop thankes for hys greate clemēcy which he hathe shewed towardes them and promise him also from henceforth al obedience and fidelitye The v. daye of February king Ferdinando though verye fewe Princes were there beginneth the treaty at Auspurge How they them selues knowe for howe waightye and neadefull causes the Emperoure had appoynted this conuention first at Wuolmes after in this Citye to begin at the middes of Nouember And he in dede at the request aduise of his brother wished that the matter might haue ben cōmenced at the same time Howe be it in puttinge his thinges in ordre at home that in his absence all thinges mighte be well gouerned and the neare ennemye be resisted in case he made anye enterprise he was impeched and letted Notwithstandinge at the xxix of Nouember he came hither at the laste to consulte for the common wealth Which thinge also the Emperoure desireth chiefly that is to wit that what so euer cōcerneth Goddes glorye and the tranquillitye of the Empire the same might by the common consente of them all be here determined For how much hath bene alwais themperors dilligence studye paine and care for the zeale he hath to the common country that both the publicke quiet and offences being taken away Religion might be established that is so wel tried and knowen both by all others and also by the decrees that were made in the two laste assembles that it nedeth no further declaration What so euer also he promised at the same time to do he perfourmed in dede but how pernitious cōmotions as well ciuill as foreine haue beyond al expectation chaūced sence by the which all those so holsome decrees were not onlye letted and disturbed but also taken away to the greate damage of the common weale that is so manifest to all men that it nedeth no further rehersall but herein was not the Emperour to be blamed who gaue none occasion of offence vnto any man and hath alwais dealt vprightlye and constantlye and whatsoeuer the sclaunder of his aduersaries be hath chiefly had respecte to the common profit neither doubteth he but they also beleue the same and hold him clearged in this behalf Wher therfore to remeadye these euils themperor hath called this counsell he was certenly purposed to haue ben present him self at the whole treatye but deteined by sicknesse and other affaires he could not yet neuerthelesse he would not that the thing should be longer delaied to thintent verely that bothe this euill increasing might be restrained and he mighte do his duetye to his country which he loueth aboue all other thinges Wherfore he hath made him his Uicegerent and geuen him ful authoritye that together with them he maye deuise meanes bothe honourable and also profitable for the common weale and for the same purpose hathe sente certen men and ioyned them with him in commission to treat of the same and the chief and principal matter shal be concerning Religion For this so long a dissention hath ben the head and welspringe of all these tumultes and miseries that these many yeares now so manye thousandes haue loste not oulye their liues but also their souls and eternal saluation is altogether long of this and that same is so manifestly known that it neadeth no further declaration For doubtles it is a lamentable and an heauy sight that those which are al of one baptime name Empire and lāguage shuld be thus torn a sōdre in the professiō of the same faith which so many hundreth yeares they haue receiued of their elders as it were deliuered from hand to hand but the case is much more greuous for that there ariseth daily not one sect or two but diuers whilest euery man wil maintain his own opinion Whiche thinge doubtlesse is bothe to the reproche of God and breaketh the bonde of charity and disturbeth mennes mindes in such sort that the vulgare people knoweth not what in the world to beleue but the greatest mischief of
Turke seke the destruction of thempire let them ponder therfore what commodities they receiue of these discordes and domesticall euils which they vndoutedly haue craftelye raised and supported that in this dissention of the states they might accomplish theyr gready lust and by a soden inuasion might bring al men into their subiection and bondage for other nations which haue bene so vanquished by them and supplaÌ„ted ought to be a warninge for them to take hede to theÌ„ selues and to take such counsel wherby both the present tempest and ruine of the country may be blowen ouer and the Empire consiste and perseuer in full strengthe and authoritye and all foraine violence as in times paste so nowe also maye be manfullye and valeauntly repulsed And what so euer the Emperoure and he are able to do here in bothe with theyr aide and counsell they will do it right gladlye and that in suche sorte as all men maye vnderstande what intier loue they beare to the common Countrye And let them perswade them selues of this to be moste assured What time this Oration of kinge Fardinando was published throughoute Germanye it was wrytten at the self time out of sondry places that he had exiled out of Boheme about two hundreth ministers of the churche It was signified also bi letters how cardinal Morone shuld com froÌ„ Rome to the counsell of thempire which would assay to do the like in Germany that Cardinall Poole had already brought to passe in England For it is thought assuredly that for the recoueringe of England the bishop of Rome and all his clients conceiued a wonderful hope in their mindes For in as much as the thing had so lucky successe therfore thought they now or els neuer that God was on theyr side and that they maintained a most iuste cause neither that theyr church could be conuict of any error thus they now chiefly beleued or at the least so pretended And whan they send ambassadours into Germany they do it for this intent not to acknowledge any faut of theyrs but that they may helpe and succor as they saye mennes infirmity About the end of February Ihon Albert Duke of Megelburge who I said was in league with Duke Moris and whoÌ„ Henry the duke of Brunswicke afflicted sore the yere before what time he kept war in Saxonie marieth the daughter of Albert duke Pruisse Whan I had proceded thus farre I was aduertised oute of England that of those fiue of whome I spake a little before Bradford althoughe he were condempned was reserued in prison and that the mindes of manye through the constancy of the reaste that suffered wer wonderfully astonied and amased The xxvi Booke of Sledaines Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte The Argument of the xxvj Booke ENgland brought againe in subiection to the Bishop of Rome a wrytinge is seâ—te for the with Indulgences The Duke of Saxon by his ambassadoures maketh his purgation to Ferdinando and excuseth him selfe that he can not be at thassemble The ministers of the Churche expulsed oute of Boheme are comforted by the wrytinges of godly learned men Townes taken by the French men The Princes of Germany mete and enter also into league Pope Iuly being dead immedidiatly after that Mercellus was chosen in his stead he dieth And Paul the fourth of that name founder of the sectes of the Iesuites succedeth whilest they of Sene do yelde them to the Emperoure Cardinall Poole solliciteth themperor and the French kinge vnto peace in vaine The Quene of England being therin a meane and persecuting cruelly the true Christians At which time a rose tumultes at Geneua and Lucerues The Senate of Paris indeuoureth to mitigate and call in the Proclamation setforth by the French king against the true Christians Thinges done at Rome by the Bishop and by the Normens against the Spaniardos Uulpian taken by the French men dissention amonges the Ministers of the Churche concerning the Lordes supper Whilest the compact was made for the Lordship of Chattes themperor going into Spain committeth the gouernment to his sonne Thinges doue in thassemble of thempire concerninge Religion And extraordinary wryting of the Papistes in the same thanswer also of Ferdinando and of the Protestantes to them bothe and what decrec insued vpon the same The Parlament and state of England They of Austriche by their ambassadoures requiringe that they mighte be permitted to haue the true Religion are denied it by the diuers answers of Fardinando and sue in baine In manner at the same time the Bauarians sollicite theyr Duke about the like matter in vaine At the lengthe was truce taken betwixte the Emperoure and the Frenche kinge The Duke of Prusse imbrasing the confession of Auspurge therror of Dsiander is quenched About this time appeared a blasinge starre The matter of Marques Albert is heard Tharchbishop of Cantorbury openly and constantly professyng the true Religion is burnt The Pope seketh priuelye to infringe and disseuer the confession of Auspurge The Cardinall of Auspurge accused of treason purgeth him self declaring plainly of what nature and faction he is of A suspition of a conspiracye in Englande brodeth trouble and increaseth crueltye againste the faithfull that xiij were burnte together at a stake Fardinando alledgeth the reuoltinge of Transtiuania and diuers Townes from him And also the Turke now ready to inuade as causes and lettes why he can not come to thassemble which hitherto he had so oft differred Themperor now at length taketh shipping into Spaine leauing his soone gouernor of the lowe countries Sleidan departeth out of thys life HOw England submitted it self againe to the Bishop of Rome it hathe bene shewed in the former boke When these newes with a wonderfull expedition were broughte to Rome greate ioye a rose in the Citye and Te Deum was song in euery Church After on Christmasse euen The Bishoppe sendeth forth this wryting Since I lately heard saith he that England which of many yeares nowe was separated and plucked from the body of the Church is through the vnmeasurable mercye of God broughte againe to the Communion of the same Church and to the obedience of the sea of Rome by the singuler dilligence fidelitye trauell and industrye of kinge Phillip and Mary his wife and Cardinall Poole I toke greate pleasure in my minde And also as reason was gaue thankes vnto God as hartely as I could and omitted nothing but that the frute and profit of this my gladnesse might redound to the whole City But like as that father of whom the Gospel mentioneth hauing recouered his sonne lost not only reioyseth exceadingly and is priuately glad in his minde but also inuiteth others to feasting and making good cheare together with him Euen so I verely to thintent that al the world may vnderstand how great is my ioy and gladnes will that common thanckes and praiers be made Therfore by the power that I haue I
to the states in suche sorte as I shewed you in the last boke The ministers of the churche driuen out of the lande of Boheme the learned men that were in Meissen and in Wittemberge and amongest others Melāchthon comfort them with an epistle and shew the craft of the cōtrary part who affirmed that they kept a necessary order in the churche that those whiche either had not receiued orders at the Byshops hande or had wynes could not minister the Sacramentes For this cause of expulsion they fayned that they should not seme to haue a desire to oppresse the true doctrine but these men shewe how it is a starke tyrāny that maried priestes should be put from the holy ministery For Sathā was the authour of prohiting matrimony as it is euidēt by the scriptures And that we ought not to seke to be ordeined of the byshops that are the open ennemies of the Gospell and defende idols but of that fellowship which hath pure doctrine therfore hath the keyes of the kingdome of heauen For it were to absurde daūgerouse if Shepeheardes should be ordeined of wolues The churche to haue had alwayes right to chouse mete ministers and that so was the decree of the counsell of Nice And they that were so chosen and tried to haue bene confirmed of them that gouerned Godly congregations The same maner to bee nowe also obserued and therfore that it is a sclaunder to saye that they disturbe or breake order Since therfore the matter is so and that for the true professing of the Gospell they be expulsed they ought to take this calamitie so muche more moderatly For God wyll not fayle them in his tyme And that they be ready with theyr next churches to shewe them all loue and hospitalitie Where the Frenche men at the Ides of Decēber of the yeare before had by the conduit of Brissake taken Eporedia a towne in the Alpes by the water of Durie This yeare the third daye of Marche they intercept the town of Casale nere vnto the Poo wherin was a garrison of Spaniardes and Almaynes vpon the sodayne and with in a fewe dayes after the Castell also Afterwarde bringe many other thinges into their subiection And amongest others thei rase and make euen with the groūd Ualence and Saluadore The sixt day of Marche August Duke of Saxony Ioachim Marques of Brandēburg Princes Electours The sonnes also of Duke Iohn Fridericke the Lantgraue certen other Princes of thesame countrie assemble at Numburg vpon the Riuer of Sale there renew the league of inheritaūce whiche is betwixt the houses of Saxon Brandēburg Hessia as I shewed in the .xxiiii. boke also determine that they would sticke constantly to the cōfession of Auspurg And least there should any suspicion arise of any new or secret coūsell the fift day after that they came thether they signifie the cause of their assemble to the Emperour in wryting In the former yeare what time a compact was made betwene Augustus Iohn Fridericke Duke of Saxonie this was also agreed vpon y◠the old familiar leage should be renewed To witte that league whiche was made an hondreth yeres since more after established by a lawe And therfore that they haue now met for the same cause as that league was profitable to their elders all the people so likewyse thei trusted that it shuld com thē luckely to passe since thei sought for nothing els but peace trāquillitie did it to the displeasure of no man Moreouer that after the maner of their aūcesters they haue excepted his highnes his brother king of Romains and as they intende priuatly to kepe mutual amitie amongest thē selues so wil they also openly doe that their dutie requireth which may become obedient Princes of thempire And that in Religion they wil not procede any further than is limited in the confession of Auspurg but for as much as in the same are cōteined the chief articles of the Christian doctrine no wicked sedicious opinion can be found therin thei wil through Gods grace perseuer in thesame doctrine neither wil they fayle also the cōmon welth of Germany so far forth as thei are able with their trauel counsel treasures And for as much as at this time being not moste quiet for the auoiding of a further discōmoditie they abide at home they haue sent Ambassadours to thassēblee of thempire who haue in cōmaundemēt to refer al their counsels doings vnto peace so that neither for religiō nor any ciuile cause any force or violēce should be feared For the peace once established it shal be an occasion that other cōtrouersies may be the better appeased That the state doubtles of the cōmon welth now is such that it is great nede to ioine together all their forces mindes that a wyder entrie be not set open to the Turkes to inuade vs How they know wel enough howe greatly he desireth that so sone as may be a sufficiēt army might be prepared to repres thennemies violence Wherfore now in case such a peace might be established ther is no doubt but the states of thempire wold gladly imploy their substaunce vpon the same war which verely hitherto by reason of sondry tumultes ciuile discordeshath bene omitted That they wil be alwaies ready haue cōmaunded their ambassadours to offer these thinges in their name at the counsel thesame day they write to king Ferdinādo in a maner to the same effect as before I said the Duke August did by his Ambassadours For both they vrge y◠same cōpact of Passawe shew how desirous they are of peace Thei cōmend the doctrine cōfessed at Ausperge and exhort him to confirme the peace and also pray him that he wold geue no credit to such as haply seke to disturbe the quiet of Germany At the Ides of March the Archbishop of Mentz departed out of this life whom we saied to haue bene at the counsel of Trent after was put to flight by Marques Albert Whom Daniel Brēdel succedeth The. viii day after that byshop of Mentz which was the .xxiii. day of March dieth Pope Iuly the third Who for bicause he had so easely beyond al expectatiō recouered England was thought to haue cōceaued also a wōderful hope of Germany And had therfor sent thither Cardinal Morone who the next day after that he was dead came to the coūsell of thempire at Auspurg But with in eight daies after hearing newes therof the last day of March he departeth thence againe and with Truckesse Cardinal of Auspurg spedeth him to the Electiō at Rome The Cardinals that wer at Rome not tarieng for the rest made hast the .ix. day of April proclaime Pope Marcellus the secōd of that name The same that was sent Ambassadour with Cardinal Farnese to the Emperour of Paul the third as I shewed you in the .xiii. boke The Cardinal of Auspurg a fewe
howe those whiche take vpon them the title of olde and Catholique Religion not without the great dishonour of God handle Religion and abuse the churche goodes Neuerthelesse to establishe a peace they do permitte that they may kepe styll their lawes Rites and ceremonies and inioye all their goodes landes and possessions customes rightes and priuileges tyll suche tyme as the dissention in Religion be accorded Wherfore they can not allowe that they shoulde prescribe that condition to the Byshoppes For so should it come to passe that they them selues shoulde be bounde to impugne the approuers and felowes of their owne Religion And to theyr great dishonour they shoulde condemne their owne cause For this were saye they to graunte our Religion and doctryne not to be worthy of the Churche goodes and that the same goodes haue bene hetherto applied amisse to our Churches and Ministeries We should also confesse theyr wicked doctrine and ministerie to be grounded vpon Goddes worde and that the Churche goodes are consecrated to this fylthie lyfe of theyrs Lawes and Ceremonies But howe greate an assence woulde this thynge ingender yf we shoulde maynteyne the cause and lyuynges of them whyche doe perfourme no profitable nor necessary dutie to the Churche And shoulde betraye them who for the same Religion oughte of vs to bee moste set by The aduersaryes amonges other thinges saide this if the Clergie should be permitted to alter their Religion it would come to passe that Byshoprikes and suche other like colleges should be made prophane and by litle and litle being plucked away from the churche should come into the handes of Princes and be made their inheritaunce But they affirme that this was neuer their intēt But to haue had a respect to this only that being called again to their olde foundation they might be imployed to the true vses and that the same goodes might be annexed to the same churches for euer And to take awaye all doubtes they promise to put in good assuraunce that in what Byshoprikes or Colleges soeuer Religion shall be altered no part of their goodes to be alienated and that after the death or resignation of the byshop free election and administration should be permitted to the College But where after muche reasoning they could not agree they exhibite on both partes to kyng Ferdinando their reasons comprised in wrytinge and requeste hym that he wold fynde some waye This was after the Ides of Iune For they proceded very slowly The cause wherof many thought to be that the conclusion of peace betwene the Emperour and the Frenche kyng was loked for For that the same was thought to make not a litle for either parte But the Papistes made as it were an extraordinary wryting vehement and byting to the intent they myght the more set forth their matter And firste saye they the protestauntes haue propounded fiue conditions First that the catholiques should allowe that doctrine which many yeares past in this our time also by by so sone as it sprāg vp of the ordinary magistrate hath bene alwayes condēned Secondly that the sacrileges which they by the space of these .xxx. whole yeres haue cōmitted should be ratified allowed that neither by law nor by other godly lawful meanes the church may recouer that same goodes But they wold also haue peace to be made with them where notwithstāding it is forboden to haue any cōpany with them Moreouer that thei might place in the colleges churches of archbishops of other prelates wicked ministers to set forth dotestable condēned doctrine to abolish the true seruice ceremonies of the church to bring in new wicked in their place that they may norish those false preachers of the churche goodes directly against tholde lawes custome of the churche Further more that it should be lawefull for all persones as well ecclesiastical as ciuile which as yet followe the catholique religiō to reuolt frō their true religion to come and followe their lore Finally when any of the Princes or Byshops do reuolt to their syde that it shall not concerne the same persone only but must apperteine to the people also that are subiecte to his gouernement and to the goodes and the whole ecclesiasticall iurisdiction Nowe although these thinges do striue with the lawes of God and man albeit thei be contrary to the othe both of themperour and of the king and of al the Prelates in so muche that the catholiques may not conueniently receiue them vnlesse they would breake both their fayeth and promesse yet for as much as they sticke obstinatly to their pourpose and threaten force also the catholiques at the length are contented so farre forth as they ought to do by the pacification of Passawe and haue declared the same sufficiently in the Senate of the Empire shewyng how they can not graunt that libertie of chaunging religion indifferently to all men For so should it come to passe that the Empire shoulde be broughte to desolation and that hyghe top of dignitie taken away from Germany For it is the dutie of Archebyshops and other Prelates that not only they do not permitte any Religion condemned but also that they should admonishe and put in feare Byshoppes and suche others yea the vnlearned that are ready to reuolte and suche as continue in their errour to present to the Catholique and Romishe churche For this maner hath euer since the tyme of the Apostels bene obserued as it is to be proued by sondry testimonies of counselles but chiefly by that of Calcedonie Neyther ought any man to thinke that suche as do reuolte should be left to their owne conscience For in thinges that concerne our fayth euery man ought not to be permitted to haue his cōscience free But when any departeth from the commō consent of the churche he ought to be punished and restreyned And in case he obeie not he must be excommunicated after the example of those counselles whiche are accompted the chief whiche condemned Arrius Macedonius Nestorius Eutyches And in dede the counsell of Calcedonie deposed Dioscorides the maynteyner of Eutyches from his Byshoprike For where it is sayde that euery man ought to haue his iudgement and conscience free And that neyther Christe nor his Apostles did euer compelle any to beleue yea when many went awaye from Christe there was none holden against his wyll this same verely is grounded vpon no foundation And is confuted by Saint Augustine at large in the two hondreth and fourth Epistle For if it should be free for Byshoppes forsaking the catholique Religion to reuolte to an other they wyll not relinquishe theyr Byshoprike for they wyll saye that they can nōt doe it with a saufe conscience but they wyll desyre ayde of the Protestaūtes that they wyll assiste them in mainteining their state and keping of the people in their Religion If this be done there is no doubt but these wyl take in hande to defende them
that betwene the Byshop and them there wyll be no great good wyll For where it is reason that according to the lawes of the foundation mete persones should gouerne and rule holy offices and if they do against those lawes or relinquishe their state that thā their Collegers should remoue them and forsee that the same reuolting hurt but him alone Certenly their demaunde ought not to be refused Wherfore I exhorte you agayne and agayne that you contende no further herein For amonges other thinges you ought to consider how they do not prescribe vnto you what meane and waye is to be kept in gouerning of suche offices Colleges and benefices as to your selues you haue vsurped nor yet what is to be done with the ministers of churches of your dominions whiche breake the lawes set forth by you and neglecte their dutie For lyke as it should be greuously and euyll taken of you in case they would haue suche ministers as forsake and impugne your Religion of you to be reteyned So should it be muche more greuouse vnto thē if both the gouernment and possession of landes and goodes should be left vnto them whiche should both forsake and impugne their Religiō For what other thing myght hereof be loked for but debate strife and contention The foundation therfore of the thinge that is nowe in hande to witte peace it selfe by this meane should be vtterly taken away The eight daye after they aunswere Howe it is not their intent to prescribe the clergie herein muche lesse that the holy gouernmentes should be brought to desolation or that their nature altered they should be made ciuile or prophane For we' ar not ignoraūt say they that some part of the Empire consisteth in these matters and possessions whiche we couet not to deminishe or decaye but by al meanes to mainteyne them It would haue pleased vs right well that this question had neuer bene moued but to haue stande in the decrees of fourmer yeares made at Norinberge Regenspurg Spiers whiche include in the peace al the parteners of the cōfession of Auspurge And at the first in dede the Ambassadours of the thre Archebyshops Electours did wittely consider this also But after when this doubte began to be moued of others they went vnto their syde They that first moued this question had peraduenture some cause so to doe but what hath insued therof nowe appereth For if this let had not chaunced by the way al the matter in our opiniō had now ben brought to a good ende But why we should not admitte that cōdicion there wer Godly and weighty causes For euery man doeth easely perceiue howe muche it should be to the contempte and hinderaunce of our Religion if we should permitte that suche as imbrace the same should be displaced and depriued of all their honour dignitie and accompted in the nomber of heretikes What the first foundations of Colleges were and what vices haue crept in since we wyl here passe ouer in silence But we suppose that many of the same statutes be not against our Religion Again to assente that none of the ecclesiasticall state should be of that Religion whiche as the true Christen Religion we professe were doubtles no smal offence For by the same facte we should cōdemne it as wicked and vnworthy the state of pristes whiche ought chiefly to set forth Religion And seing it is thus moste mightie kyng we beseche you to waye these thinges in your mynde and for the authoritie that you haue of the Emperour you would suffer that part to be omitted But he maketh aunswere that nothynge more can be graunted them And sayeth moreouer that those thinges are nowe permitted them which of so many yeares could neuer be obteined Therfore let them haue consideration hereof for els shall they be fayne to departe without any thing finished Whiche if it so come to passe and any incōuenience arise therof there is no cause why the blame shuld be layde either in the Emperour or in him who so quietly patiently hath handled the matter and hitherto hath remayned Whiche nowe he can defer no longer Therfore he geueth them ten dayes that in the meane time they may wryte these thinges home to their Princes and make him a direct answer When the daye came these men for that they had omitted no diligence that al others were prouided for concerning religiō and for that they might not prescribe any measure herein to the king or Emperour doe assent especially since the king also released certen thinges as hereafter shal be shewed Therfore the seuenth Kalendes of October the decree made was red openly as the maner is to this effect For the doctrine of Protestauntes faith and Religion the Emperour king Ferdinando and the residue of Princes and states shall hurte no man of the whole Empire in any wyse neither shall they compell any man to forsake his Religion ceremonies and lawes whiche in their dominion the Protestauntes haue already ordeined or hereafter shall ordeyne by commaundemētes or any other meane nor yet contemne the same But permitte them this Religion free and also their goodes faculties customes possession and rightes so that peaceably they may inioy them That the controuersie also of Religion be appeased by none other but by godly frendly and quiet meanes In like case shall they that be of the confession of Auspurg demeane them selues towardes the Emperour king Ferdinando and the rest of Princes and states addicte to the olde Religion as well sacred as ciuile towardes the whole state ecclesiastical and colleges of the same whether so euer they shal finally remoue to dwel so that their ministerie be well ordered as beneath shall be sayde To all these shal they permitte their Religion lawes and ceremonies possessions customes and all other rightes frely neither by any meane hinder but that they may quietly inioye them and what so euer displeasure or strife shall arise be determined on either syde after the custome lawes of the Empire That suche as be of neyther Religiō be not comprysed in this peace If any Archebyshop Byshop Prelate or other ecclesiastical persone shall reuolte from the olde Religion he shall immediatly departe from his Byshoprike office benefice and also from all the prosites that he receiueth therof And it shall be lawfull and free for the College or those to whome the same thing shal by ryght or custome apperteyne to chose or substitute an other in his place whiche is of the olde Religion to the intent that the ryghtes of the foundation election presentation confirmation and such other like may remayne to them whole with the quiet possession of the goodes Yet so that nothinge hereby be taken away from the foresayde reconcilement of Religion that shal be And bicause diuerse states of the Empire and their progenitours haue taken to them certen ecclesiasticall gouernementes abbeies and suche other like goodes of the church haue disposed the same to the
in me I truste that for the vertue that is in them and true Nobilitie they wyll sooner geue credit not so muche to my saying as doyng whiche manifestly appereth and sheweth it selfe than to these sediciouse persones which as certen bellouse seke to reyse vp flame With what intier loue also and good will being absent Imbraced al Germaines for the remembraunce of the moste swete countrie that can both the Ambassadours of many Princes and many also of the Nobilitie declare whiche were than at Rome when I was of Mentz Treuers Collon Saxons of Brandenburg Maydenburge Bauarians of Brunswicke Passawe Osenburg Minden and of Basill For all these at once repared to me as a certen hauen and were faythfully holpen of me in their affayres and certen also through my labour and commendation haue ascheued offices and great promotions Now that same of the Lantgraue and of one Titelman what a fonde diuise is it For neyther had I euer any talke with the Lantgraue and his sonnes of that matter neyther can I remember that I spake one worde of it either at Rome or in Italy Much lesse can I tell what the Ministers of his dominion do teache or reuoke This in dede am I able to saye that to my knowledge there was no suche recantation made at Rome Therfore I doubte not but the Lantgraue when the matter shall so requyre wyll easely confute this same and the other also of my commendation Considering therfore that the artificers of so perniciouse libelles haue shamefully forged all thynges to the ende that the same fyre whiche many yeares since they had layde together myght nowe at the length burne and breake out all at ones it is nedefull that Princes and Magistrates take dilligent hede of them and when at the laste they shall be detected that they set suche an example as may make all others afrayde Finally in case there be any that haue conceaued any euyll opinion of me by reason of these sclaunders I earnestly praye them to laye it awaye and thynke assuredly that synce I am bothe a Germayne borne and come of a noble house I wyll doe nothinge vnworthy the vertue and Nobilitie of my auncesters When he had published this wrytinge the fifte Kalendes of Iune as before is sayde he wrote also priuatly to diuerse Princes to the same effecte and after went againe into Italy what tyme Bona the mother of Sigismunde kyng of Poole retourned home goyng to Naples In the meane season commotiōs were in England many Gentle men for suspicion of conspiracie as it was sayde were cast in prison Wherof some were executed other some fled into Fraunce and amonges them Sir Androwe Dudley brother to the Duke of Northumberland There were two also taken out of my Lady Elizabeth her house At the Ides of May Sir Peter Carrowe who for an insurrectiō had fled certen monethes before reconciled to king Philip and Sir Iohn Cheke whiche was king Edwardes scholemaister retourning out of Germany into Brabant to fetche his wyfe as they were going from Brusselles to Andwarpe by the cōmaundement of king Philip being apprehendetd are caried to London Aboute the ende of Iune not far from London there were .xiii. burnt together at one stake for Religion In the meane tyme Charles Marques of Baden receiueth the doctrine of the Gospel and of his neighbours borroweth ministers to refourme order his churches Before this also had the Senate of Spire taken a preacher or two of the Gospell Maximilian the eldest sonne of king Ferdinando with his wife the Emperours daughter departing frō Uienne the. xvii day of Iuly came to Brusselles where he had bene long and much desirous to take that iourney Peter Martyr a Florentine of whome we haue spoken before what tyme the dissention about the Lordes supper was kindled againe he in certen bokes was touched by name wēt from Strasburg to Zurick that he might handle that matter frely both in teaching and writing That time Conrade Pellicane died at Zurick And therfore the Senate being requested by the ministers of the churche wryting their letters to the Senate of Strasburg praye earnestly that he might be sent them So he departeth at the third Ides of Iuly not without the sighing grief of many whiche loued him for his incomparable learning his moste exacte iudgement his great gentlenes and modestie and his other vertues At the same time the Archebyshop of Pise Cardinall borne in Sicilie passing by Basil went to themperour at Brusselles being sent frō the Pope where a litle before Cardinal Caraffa the Popes cosin was come to the kyng of Fraunce A reporte had bene and that written that there was moste heinous displeasure betwixt the Pope themperour that the matter tended vtterly to war For amonges other thinges the Pope had taken from the house of Columnois al their possessions in Italy Whiche thing in dede semed to apperteine to the iniury of the Emperour Again it was said how he would not inueste kyng Philip his sonne in the possession of Sicilie and Naples propounding ouer hard condicions for those kingdomes paye tribute to the Byshop of Rome and depende vpon his benefite At the Ides of Iuly Albert Duke of Bauier in the name of king Ferdinando beginneth the counsel at Regensburg declareth that he is occupied with holding assemblees in Austriche and Boheme so that he could not come hither hym selfe at the time appointed and sheweth why he can not be present yet neither For by meanes of Peter Petrouice the kynges cliente who had desired ayde of the Turke all the coūtrie of Transyluania when no necessitie vrged them when they had no iust cause reuolted from the king to the sonne of Iohn Uayuode After that Fraunces Beuecke and George his sonne making a rebellion in Hongary haue by the helpe the aide of the Walachiās taken certen townes and castels Againe that the Turke hath lately sent a gouernour to Offen And that an other also what time they treated of the truce beseged the towne and castell of Zegeste the .xi. day of Iune and began to batter it sore Moreouer to be signified by the letters and messages of many that the gouernour of Bosnia leuieth an exceading great army to inuade Slauonia And also that the president of Grene gathereth no small power at the citie of Sophie intending to marche forward and that the Emperour of Turkes him selfe wyll in haruest next come in to Hongary and wynter there or if he defer it to the next spring that he wil come than with a strong army to wyn Uienne by sege For these causes therfore the kyng can not at this time leaue his countries but is wholy busied occupied in making preparation to resiste And for as much as it is not for the profit of the cōmon wealth to differ the coūsel any lōger therfore hath he appointed him to begin the treaty and to procede till he may come
commotion at Burdeaur eodem A wonderful conuersion of Uergelius 328 A meting of deuines in Saxony 330 A Diaphora 333 An open disputation at Oxford 335 A communication at Lipsia 336 A rebellion in England eodem A boke in Italian againste the Poope 339 An assembly of Cardinals for to chuse a new Pope 340 A straunge sight neuer hard of 342 A trouble in the Church of Strasburg eodem A iest of the Cardinall of Auspurge 343 A peace concluded betwene Fraunce and England 344 A confession of faith made by the ministers of Auspurge 345 A Regester of the deuines of Louaine 346 A proclamation for printers 347 Andwarpe astomed at the Emperors Proclamation 347 A woman in pearil for a lyght worde 348 An ambassade against them of Maidenburge 350 A cruel decre against the Maidenburgians 351 A wryting of the cleargye againste the city of Maidenburge 354 All godly folke afflicted for the verity 357 A new doctrine of Osiander 359 A cruel Proclamation against the Lutherans 368 A purgation of the french king eodem A decre of Trent of the Lordes supper 369 A decre of penaunce 273 A Cardinall of Dalmatia slaine in hys owne house 378 A brute of warre againste themperor 385 Albertes crueltye to them of Noremberge 402 Assembly at Auspurge 386 A poynt of the law 72 A Monke forsaketh his religion 76 Alteration in Denmarke 45 Archbishop of Mentz answer 22 Aristotle 20 Albert Arch bishop of Mentz 3 Authors of scismes 47 An assembly called at Auspurge 65 A bloudy preacher bloweth a trom 56 A most cruell maner of burning 54 Albert to them of Wolmes 403 Albert of Austrich of whome 466 Ambassadors of Strasburge to themperor 413 Albert ouerthroweth the frēch mē 414 A battel fought betwixt duke Maurice Marques Albert. 421 Augustus brother and heyre to Duke Maurice 423 Albert reconciled to Augustus 426 A disputation in England 428 An end betwixte Iohn Fredericke and Augustus 431 A parliament in England 433 A wryting of the city of Norinberge against Marques Albert. eodem A place of treaty of peace chosē by the Quene of England 451 A tumult raised at Geneua eodem A vniuersity erected at Dilling 453 A boke of Peter Asot againste the confessiō of the duke of Wittem eodem August Prince elector had a son 454 A wryting of the Papistes to requestes of the protestaunt 456 A wryting of the king Fardinando to the Princes 458 A decre wherby Religion is frely permitted to all men 460 An ecclesyastical parson that changeth his Religion shal be depriued eodem A parlament in England 461 An assemble in Austrich eodem A Comet sene 465 A father killeth his iii. children 466 A slaunder deuised against certain 467 Aucthority of the deuines of Paris 32 Agrement betwixt Luther and Zwinglius 83 A Concord 107 B BIshops of Rome bound as other is to Goddes commaundement 3 Boke burners 27 Bloudye preacher bloweth a trompet 56 Bokes presented to themperor 85 Bōdage no let to christian liberty 63 Bucer laboreth for concord 96 Busy marchauntes 118 Brauling Friers 119 Barbarossa almost taken 121 By what meanes men be disceiued 134 By what means the deuel is van eodē Baptisme condemned 135 Bishops stir vp princes 150 Barbarossa taketh castel Newstat 178 Bucer preacheth at Bonina 201 Barbarossa returneth 213 Bolloigne rendred 214 Bruly burnt at Tourney 216 Bucer declareth how tharticle of iustification wās accorded in 229 Bucer is sent for to Auspurge 310 Bucer is in daunger 313 Bren. wife his children banyshed 316 Bucer and Fragus come into Eng. 331 Baūberge redemeth peace dearly 402 Brunswicke besieged 428 Bradford burned in England 451 Bish of Merspurge answer to Lu. 22 Best thiuges pleaseth fewest men 34 Beginning of fyrst frutes tenthes 42 Bible is to be preferred before al. 43 Bishop of Constaunce maketh a boke in defence of Images 48 Boke of restitution 131 Bi. Munster demaūded his charges 136 Bold answer of the king 137 Barnes aid to Geneua eodem Bolde and profitable Counsell of the Lantzgraue 359 Bhoemers serued against the Duke of Saxon vnwillingly 169 Bohemers refuse war in Saxony 277 Bishop of Strausburge syngeth hys fyrst Masse 331 Bondage of the Germanians 392 Bishop of Winchester dieth 461 Bauarians followeth the Prynce for Religion 465 C CHarge of the Bishoppe of Maidenburge 1. Ciuilians vse of Citing 2 Cardinall Caietane wryteth to the duke of Saxon. 8 Charles is declared Emperour 14 Conditions propounded by Luther 18 Confession of sinnes eodem Counsel of Lateran and Pisa eo Capnio a deuine 19 Catarinus wryteth against Luther 27 Commotions in Spaine 34 Cornelis Scepper a good wryter 42 Cardinall Campeius wryteth to the duke of Saxony 45 Campeius Oration to the Prynces at Norenberge eodem Campeius raileth against Matrimony 49 Christianity taketh not away bondage 61 Carolostadius wryteth against Lu. 65 Carolostadius maketh his purgatiō 65 Counsel at Spires 69 Contention about the Masse 79 Certaine Princes resiste the decree of Spires 81 Ciuil war amongst the Swicers 82 Cardinall Campeius Oration 88 Certaine chosen to accorde Relygyon 90 Conditions of peace 104 Conditions of peace betwene themperor and the Protestauntes 105 Conditions of creating a kinge of Romaines eodem Cristine kinge of Denmarke is taken 108 Christ was called Seditious 112 Conditions of peace 116 Conditions betwixte Fardinando and Duke Ulrich eodem Crafty marchauntes 118 Couetous marchauntes 119 Cruelty vnsemely in Churchmen 122 Condition of peace 128 Ciuill war in the city 129 Cnipperdoling was the chief of that faction 129 Cnipper doling prophecieth 130 Croked necked cattel 134 Comotion in Lincolne shire 141 Captaine Aske executed for Treason eodem Cardinal Pole the Popes ambassador to the French king 142 Cardinals Poles boke against e Kinge Henry the eight eodem Cold reasons for the Popes supremacy 143 Carninall Poole was vnthanckefull eodem Cardinall Pole incenseth the Emperoure against the king of England eodem Cardinals Poles Hipocrisy and falsehode eodem Cristierne king of Denmark receiueth the Gospel 158 Complaintes of Pillage 178 Contention betwixte the electoure of Saxon and Duke Moris 188 Conterme in displeasure with the pope and cardinals 194 Cardinals sent to make peace 197 County William taken Prisoner 213 Cabrier yelded 220 Cardinall Farnesius his comming to Wormes 221 Counte William deliuered 226 Claudius Cenarcleus a yong gētlemā of Sauoy 235 Condityons imposed to the Duke of Wirtemberge 275 Conditions offred to the Lantzgraue 281 Caspar Phlugus captain of the Bohemers army eodem Conditions wherby the duke redemed his life 285 Ciuil war betwixt England and Scotland 310 Countries vnited by mariage 311 Ciuil war in Affrica 330 Contention for thempire betwene the Emperor and Fardinando 353 Complaint of the bishop of Strausboroughe 360 Contrary tales of the king and themperor 364 Causes of callinge the counsel 371 Countries oppressed by the Emperor 394 Conditions of peace offered by Duke Moris 397 Cruelty against godly preachers 40 Conditions of peace offred by themperor 48 Conditions of peace 411
Commotion in Kent 430 Cardinall Pole arriueth in England 438 Controuersy for the dominiō of Chatz 452 Cinistre suspition spread of the Cardinal of Auspurge 456 Commotions in England for suspition of a spiratie 469 Cardinals sent from the pope to themperor and Freuch king eodem Counsel begon at Regenspurg 470 Cause why Luther was not punished 41. Complaintes of them of Zurick 51 Cause of them hatred eodem Constancy of them of Zurick 52 Confession of the Protestauntes 88 Conspiraty of the Papistes against the Protestauntes 93 Complaint of the Pope to the kinge of Pole 97 Common wealth hath neade of manye remeadies 102 Contentiō betwene Erasmus and Luther 114 Clement the seuenth dieth 117 Counsel of Constaunce 149 Counsel of Myllen broken of 152 Craft of Popes eodem Cardinall Montaine striken with a fury 300 Cruel actes of Marques Albert. 434 D DUke Fredericke his wisdome 2 Disputation at Lipsia 18 Dissention betwixte Leo and hys Cardinals 38 Decrees of Pius and Iulius 23 Dyssentyon at Basill for Relygyon 80 Daunger of the Turke 85 Duke Ulrich expulsed out of his countrey 113 Disputation with the king of Anabaptistes 136 Duke George of Saxon dieth 176 Doctor barnes burnte in Smithfielde 174 Dure the chiefest Towne in those partes is taken 196 Depensius driuen to recant 20 Duke of Moris maketh lawes for the ministers of the church 202 Duke Moris foundeth three Scholes eodem Duke Moris is beneficiall to the vniuersity of Lipsia eodem Dissention in Scotland 205 Duke Moris serued themperor at Landerssy 206 Duke Moris intreateth a peace 405 Duke Henry and his Sonne yeld them selues eodem Diaze goeth to Maluenda Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue prepareth to warre Duke Frederick chosen Emperor Donauerde taken Donauerde rendred 265 Duke Maurice consulteth agaynste the Potestauntes 266 Duke Maurice letters to the Electour 269 Duke Maurice blamed of all men 270 Duke Maurice Excuses eodem Duke Maurice nothing couetous eod Duke Maurice followeth Doeg 275 Duke Ericke discomfited 287 Duke Maurice and the elector of Brādenburge intreat for the Lantgraue eodem Duke Maurice letters to the Lantgraue eodem Duke Maurice intreateth liberallye to the deuines of Wittemberge 291 Duke of Placence depryued Hierom. 294 Daughter of Nauarre married to the duke of Uandome 321 Duke Henry besiegeth the city of Brūswicke 348 Dracutus an archpirate 348 Duke Maurice general of the war 351 Duke Maurice besiegeth Maidenburg 352 Duke Maurice letters to the Emperoure 363 Duke Morice seaseth vpon the dominion of Chatz 370 Duke Morice entendeth to warre vpon themperor 373 Discipline amongst the fathers 374 Duke Maurice feared of themperours 380 Duke Maurice ambassadoure sente away 381 Duke Maurice letters to hys ambassadours 384 Duke Maurice taketh Auspurge by cōposition 388 Diuers minds in the counsel of Trent 389 Duke Moris goeth to the field 395 Duke Moris letters to the king 399 Duke Moris nie slaine 40 Duke Moris weary of delaies 47 Duke Moris reburneth his fellowes 48 Duke Moris admitteth peace 410 Duke de Anmalle taken Prysonner 44 Duke Morleague wyth the Duke of Brunswicke 420 Duke Maurice wan the field and loste his life 422 Duke Henry of Brunswicke marrieth a wife 465 Duke Frederickes answer 26 Deuines of Paris condempn Luthers bokes 32 Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue prepare them to warre 78 Duke of Saxon Marshall of the Empyre 90 Duke of Saxon letters to the Prynces 98 Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue wryte to the French king 166 Death of the french king 282 Daughter of Scotland affiansed to the king of England 308 Death of Sigismund king of pole 305 Duke of Swaybrige molested for Religion 332 Death of Pope Paule the thyrd 336 Disputation at Baden 71 Decre for religion 70 Decre of the duke of Loraine 50 Disputation at Zuricke 44 Decre of the Swices 45 Daniel expounded how 89 Deluge at Rome and in Seland 94 Dombe sprite walking 114 Dukes Confession of the duke of Wittemberge 386 E ECkius boke against Luther 2 Erasmus iudgemente of Luther 16 Eneas Siluius 23 Erkius to Luther 28 Erasmus boke of fre wll 50 Eckius the Popes champion 52 England hath title to Fraunce 74 Erasmus boke against Gospellers 83 Erasmus wryteth to Campeius 90 English Bibles Printed at Parys 160 Ebleb a noble Gentleman dyeth for sorow 29 Execution done in the frenche kynges syght 335 Erle Hedecke frende to them of Maydenburge 361 Erenberge taken away 40 Ecclesiasticall lawes in England 432 England is tourned to her vomyt 439 Emperour sendeth for Luther 28 Emperour wryteth to Luther eodem Emperours letters to the Princes of Germany 65 Ende of the Papistes dectrine 67 Emperoure marrieth a wife 71 Exhortation of the Lantzgrane 57 Excuse of some to the Protestauntes 94. Emperor of necessity graunteth peace to Germany 108 Emperoure goeth into Italy 109 Erroures of the Anabaptist 133 Erroures of the Mūsterians in fayth 135 English ambassadors winter at Wittenberge 139 Emperoure inuadeth the frenche prouince 140 Erasmus death eodem Emperour French king and the pope mete at Nice 59 Emperors and French kings ambassador to the Uenerians 168 Emperors priuate wryting for the protestauntes 183 Emperors letters to them of Collon 203 Emperors answer to the pope 195 Emperors letters to the states of Boheme 283 Emperors sōne commeth into Flaunders and he is receiued at Millan 330 F FRaunce and Germany were vnited 12 Frederick the Paulsgraue sent into Spain 14 Flatterers must be eschued 18 Fraunce is offred to the spoiles 19 Feare for the host 47 Feare in Muncers camp 57 Faith ought not to wauer 65 Faber driuen out of Paris 66 Fardinando forsaking king Lewes 77 Fardinandoes title to Hongary eo Fraunces Sfortia reforced to the dukedom of Millan 83 Florence rendred 90 Florence loseth her liberty eodem Fardinando proclaimed Kinge of Romaines 98 Frances Sfortia marrieth the Emperors Niece 117 Folish pity marreth the city 122 Fredericke forsaketh the bishoppricke 128 From the horse to the asse 130 Franckfurt receiued into the league 139 False doctrine is not to be born wyth 151 Fardinando his army destroyed 154 Fardinandoes request 173 Fiers in Saxony 174 Fardinando besieged Buda 184 Fardinādo defeateth the request of his nobles 186 Frances Lander cōmitted to Pryson his weaknes and recantation 200 Few Spaniardes loue the Gospel 233 Friers be disturbers of peace 236 Friers are vile in life and learnynge 237 Feare in themperors campe 259 Force ought not to be vsed in Religyon 260 Fraunce denied to aid Protestauntes 264 Fardinando Sebastian deputye proclaimeth war to Saxony 269 Fardinando to the Bohemera 283 Fardinando ambassadour to the Bohemers 284 Fardinādo goth which his army to Proge 291 Freight with others caried to prisone 325 Frances Spiera dispaired 327 Fraunces Spiera his recantation his death in despair with comfort 328 Forces bent against Maidenburge 350 Folish ceremonies 358 Fiue of them studentes of Lossaunce french men borne 424 Fiue condempned at London for the Gospel 440 For Churche goodes all coutrouersyes are taken away 461 Fraunce
venery displeased eodem Fredericke Counte Palatines death 465 French king taken prisoner 43 Faith of Abraham obtained greate benefites of God 56 French league against themperor 71 Frenche kinges letters to the Prynces of Germany 73 French kinges inuentions against the Emperour 79 French kinges oration 120 French kinges letters eodem French warreth againste the Duke of Sauoy 38 Frenche kinge kissed the Popes ryght fote 159 French king geueth counsel to the Duke of Wittemberge 166 French kinges answer to themperors letters 199 French king coÌ„pared to the Turk 207 French king hated of all men for the Turkes societe 211 Frowardnesse of the Duke of Brunswicke 225 French king is receiued into Paris 235 French dischargeth his army 410 French kinges Proclamation against condemned of thinquisition 452 G GRece and Bohemes happines 3. Gerson of Paris 8 Gesmer captain of the boures 54 Gods power appeareth in fewest men 56 Gods wrath is slow but yet sore 58 George Duke of Saxon hateth the gospel 67 Godlines is not to be sought for in the Court 68 Great ghostly fathers 89 God bridleth the power of Sathan 134 Great execution done at Gaunt 171 Granuellans oration at Wormes 174 George of Austryche apprehended at Lions 184 God offreth hys worde before he Plageth 185 Gropper commended Bucer 187 Gwelphians eodem Gibellines whiche were names of the Emperiall eodem Geneua 192 Grashopper in Germany and Italy 193 Gropper forsaketh the gospel 202 Greate Princes sue for the Popes fauour 305 Griniam the French ambassador 309 Granuellan his answer to the Lantzgraue 409 General counsel promised 72 Great slaughter 105 Great alteration in England 113 Great assemble at Regenspurge 176 Gonzage gouerne of Millane 501 God is not the author of wrong 263 Gropper had the spoile of Frede. 277 Godly preachers flie 315 Ganimede nourished by the pope 348 God woundeth and healeth 357 Germany the fortresse of Christendom 394 George duke of Megelburge slain 408 Great frendship betwixt duke Maurice and Marques Albert. 422 George Earle of Mount Pelicart marieth the Lantzgraue daughter 453 Gospell is slaundred wyth rebellyon 63 Godly constancye of the Duke of Saxons children 322 H HEbrue bookes of thre sortes 20 How the scripture muste be handled 22 Honoures chaunge manners 23 Henrye King of Englande wryteth against Luther 34 How the yoke of Papistes is to be shaken of 48 Henry Zutphan put to death 50 How the magistrate should deale wyth the Papistes 58 How wicked dominion is to be shaken of 58 Hunting hauking and fishinge prohited 60 How ministers should be ordained 62 Hipocrisy of bishops 75 How scripture should be expounded 82 Hugh Capet Earle of Paris 101 How a free counsell is to be vnderstaÌ„d 111 Hirman Stapred 128 Heldus the Emperoures ambassador 143 Heldus Oration at Smalcald eodem Harlots honored at Rome 157 Hatred betwixt counsellers 170 His arme discomfited 184 Howe the Turkes atcheued the Empyre 187 His death 194 His weakenes before the king 202 Holy men haue had leagues wyth men of contrary Religion 211 Hermon leueth his Bishopprick 277 How miserable is it for the Quene for to marry with a straunger 311 He that doth against his conscience procureth him self hel fire 316 Hallowing of churches 333 Hallowing of Belles 334 Hallowing of altares 334 Hedeck and Mansfield discomfyted by Duke Morice 352 How much the papistes esteme Scripture 383 Heldius answer 147 I IHon Tecel a Dominican Frier set vp conclusyons at Frankfurt 1. Indulgences to be vsed after the Canon law 2. Iames Hogestrate wrote againste Luther 3. Ihon Wickliffe an English man 32 Ihon Husse a Boheme eodem Ihon Husse appealeth froÌ„ the pope eo Ihon Husse and Ierom of Prage burned eodem Iniquity procedeth froÌ„ the priestes 40 It is not lawful for vs to kil any maÌ„ 43 Images burnt at Zurick 48 Ihon Fredericke of Saxon marrieth Sthel of Cleaue 74 Ihon Uaivodes letters to the states of th empyre 76 Ihon Uayuodes ambassadors takeÌ„ 77 Images put downe 80 Images burnt on Ashwedensday eod Inas king of Brittain 114 Idle Nunnes marchant women 120 Ihon Leidan an Anabaptiste 128 Ihon Mathew the high Prophet 130 Iesting punished eodem Ihon Leidan inuadeth the kingdoÌ„ eo Ihon Leidans pompe 131 Ihon Husse at Constance 199 Ihon Caluin and Peter Bruly superintendantz of the Colledge of Stras borough 168 Ihon Isleby chief of the Antimo 172 Inuectiues vnmete for princes 174 Ioy in France at themperors losse 185 Ihon Miners president of the Counsel at Agnes 219 Iustus Ionas asked whether we shall know eche other in the life to come 232 Ihon Diaze a Spaniard 233 Ihon Isseby a Reuolt 310 It is daunger to vse forain aides 311 Ihon Marques of BraÌ„deÌ„burge refuseth thinterim 315 Isseby rewarded of themperor 320 Inquisitions of Uergetius 320 Iuly the third consecrated bishop 343 Interrogatories for the Ministers of Auspurge 383 Ihon Sleidan ambassador for Strausburg to thempire 373 Ihon Frederick demaundeth laÌ„ds and dignities 423 Ihon a Laisco a Polonian 432 Interrogatories Ministred to the Abbot of Newstat 436 Ioy at Rome for Englande reduced to the Romish church 443 Indulgences graunted by the Pope for the conuersyon of England eodem Ihon Fredericke the electours Sonne marieth 451 Ihon Gropper made Cardinall 461 Ihon Sleidane dieth 470 Iudges of the chamber trouble the protestauntes 123 Ihon Laydon parradocsises 131 Iudges of the chambre 144 Ignorannce of the people is gaine full to the priestes 150 Iudges of the chambre shal kepe theyr place 212 Ignoraunce of the people for lacke of teachinges 237 Interim permitteth Priestes to keepe theyr wines stil 313 K KInges of Naples paye Tribute to Rome 11. King Henry the eighte calleth hys mariage in question 113 Kingdoms destroid for Idolatry 185 Kinges of Fraunce moste addict to the Pope 200 King HeÌ„ry banished the Pope but not Popery 278 King Ferdinando moueth the Bohemers to warre 279 King of Fraunces fautour of â—ear 282 King Fardinandoes letters to the Bohemers 286 King Fardinando requyreth mouye of the states 314 King Phillip inuested in Flaun. 337 Kinges haue long armes 279 King Edward sore sicke 408 King Fardinando proclaimeth warre against Albert. 408 King Phillip arriueth in Eng. 437 Kinge Phillippe came to his father to Brurels 453 King Phillip entreth into And. 462 King Fardmando goeth into Boheme 466 King of Denmarke slieth 41 King of England wryteth to the princes of Sarony 44 Kinges sonnes are pledges 69 King of Hongary slain 71 King Henry hated againste the Pope 114 Kinges supper and murder 132 King of England patrone of the Protestauntes league 139 King Edward the .vi. borne 154 King of Englande refuseth the Counsell eodem King of Englande hated of the Pope eodem King of England maried the .vi. wife 187 Kinges purgation 191 King of Denmarke warreth vppon the imperials 266 King of England warneth the Protestaunts of the daunger 227 King of Denmarke aided not the Protestauntes 275 King is apparelled like a deacon 292 L LUthers letters to the Bishoppe of Mentz 1. Luthers questioÌ„s at
Wittenberge 1 Luthers exception eodem Luthers letters to Pope Leo. 2 Luthers answer to Siluester Prierias eodem Luthers second aunswere to Siluester Prierias 3 Luthers forsaking of Rome eodem Luther cited to Rome 4. Luther is called to Auspurgē 5. Luthers conference with Cardinal Caietane eodem Luther appealeth 6 Luther appealeth from the Pope to the Counsel 9 Luthers letters to the Pope 17 Luthers boke to the duke of Saxon. 18 Luthers boke condemned at Louain 19. Laurence valla eodem Luthers letters to themperor 21 Luthers letters to the archbishoppe of Mentz eodem Luthers letters to the bishop of Merseburge 22 Luther cursed of the pope 23 Luther impugneth the Popes censure 24 Luthers boke of the captiuity of Babilon eodem Luthers bokes are burnt 26 Luther burneth the Canon law 27 Luther cometh to Wormes eodem Luther pledeth his cause before themperor and the hole Empire 1. Luthers answer to the princes 39 Luther sent away from Wormes 31 Luther is outlawed by themperor 33 Luther wrote sūdry bokes in his exile eodem Luther is conueied out of daunger eo Luther returneth to Wittenberge 35 Luther foreseeth the tempest comming eodem Luther wryteth to the Bohemer◠36 Luther wryteth against the bishops eo Luther a Frier 38 Luther compared with Mahomet 40 Luther expoundeth the Popes laying eodem Luther interpreteth the decrees of the Princes 43 Luther wrote to the Senate of Prage eodem Luther wrote of eschuing the doc 44 Luther compared to Mahomet 50 Luther disswageth al men from sedi 58 Luther did more with the worde then could haue bene done by forc eodem Luthers answer to the boures 60 Luthers office 63 Luther bloweth the trōpet against 64 Luther to vehement 65 Luther married a Nonne eodem Luther and Zwinglius mete at 66 Luthers letters of submission to the. 67 Luthers letters to George duke of eo Leonard Cesar apprehended for the. 74 Lawes of disputation 75 Lantrech besiegeth Naples eodem Luther and Zwinglius dispute at 83 Luther wrote a boke to the bishops 96 Luther comforteth Melancthon eodem Luthers opinion of mens traditiōs eo Letter of the duke and Lantzgraue 103 Luthers counsel 112 Luthers purgation eodem Luther comforteth thexiles eodem Luthers opinion touching the spri 116 Luthers wryting of Munster 134 Legions of soldiors in Fraunce 137 Luthers constancy 138 Like lips like lettes 151 Longolnis oration against the Lu. 167 Lascus committed to prison 175 Luthers boke against the Duke of 176 Luther is cursed of the Pope 175 Langeus letters to Alphonse 184 Luthers oration for the field 189 Lawes against deflowrers of vir 202 Laundersey besieged 205 Luthers boke of the Lordes supper 215 Luthers answer to them of Louain 218 Luthers boke against the Pope 222 Luthers Themes of iii. gouern eodem Luthers picture against the pope eodē Luther a Prophet eodem Luther chosen arbitror 231 Luther wareth sicke 232 Luthers last prayer eodem Luthers birth eodem Luther sent to Rome eodem Luther eloquent in the dutch eodem Lightning caused destruction 255 Liberty is exiled out of the counsel 256 Letters for the Lantzgraue to 295 Letters of Strasborough to them 326 Luther brought in contempte the Popish Ceremonies 334 Lewes Marsile one of the prisoners 423 Libels strowed about in London 461 Lady Clinor commeth into France 86 Lantzgraue departeth from Ausp 89 Lantzgraue goeth to the frēch king 113 Lantzgraue boroweth Monye of the French king eodem Lady Mary proclaimed bastard 114 Lantzgraue taketh his leaue of themperoure 240 M MAximilians letter to Poope Leo concerning Luther 3 Maximilians death 10 Many sectes in the popish kingdom 36 Maner of chusing themperor 10 Matrimony lawful for all men 47 Muncer a great Anabaptist 55 Muncer wil haue a token of God eodē Muncer maketh gunnes eodem Muncer teacheth that all thinges shuld be common eodem Muncer raileth on the princes 56 Muncer disceyueth the people by the rainbow eodem Muncer is taken his cruel answer and he is reproued of the Lantzgraue 57 Muncer repenteth at the hour of death eodem Mishaps of the french king 82 Matters receiued in religion 89 Monestical vowes 124 Munster a city of Westphalia 137 Maidens do prophecy 130 Mariage counted whoredome 135 Many filthy actes of Monkes 156 Meanes to restore the ecclesiastical 181 Melancthon and pristor come to 201 Miners president of Aygwes 219 Miners leuieth a power againste Ualdois 219 Maluenda treateth of iustification 229 Marquin excuseth Diaze 234 Mariages in broil of warre 254 Maurice loueth his townes 276 Marques Albert sent to aid 277 Mendoza ambassade from the Frenche King to Strasburge 279 Marques Albert taken prisoner 280 Mihel Sidonie a great Masmōger 294 Muskel borowe field 296 Muleasses king of Tones 313 Maximilian marieth his cosen 315 Musculus departeth to Bernes 316 Maximilian warred against the Swissers 322 Maried Priestes plucked from they re wyues 329 Melanthō defēdeth the Adiaphorist 333 Monseur Ueruine beheaded 336 Maximilian cometh out of Spayne 353 Melanthon best learned 359 Mony gathered for the warre of Mayden burge 760 Maximilian entreth into Trent 378 Marques Albertes letters agaynst thēperoure 393 Marten van Rossem spoileth Champanie 399 Marques Albert warreth for hym selfe 406 Marques Albert the scourge of Pristes 410 Marques Albertes request to Straseburge 410 Marques Albert refuseth peace 101 Marques Albert entreth Treuers 412 Marques Antonius Ambassadoure of Uenisse 413 Marques Alberte reconciled to Themperoure 413 Marques Albert sendeth to the Emperoure 420 Marques Albert outlawed 429 Marques Albert goeth to Sewinforte and flyeth 436 Maryburge taken 473 Melanthon conforteth the mynisters of Boheme 449 Marcellus the Second chosē Pope 450 Marcellus the Second dyeth 450 Maurenburge vitaled 452 Mount Calue is taken by the Frenchmen 453 Masse abolished at Zuricke 54 Madnes of the Munsterians 57 Magestrates is as necessarye as the Sonne to the worlde vi Marques letters to the state of Duke Maurice 42 Ministers exiled out of Boheme 442 N NEw pardons 9 No man may be kepte frō the gospell 6◠Newes of the Turkes Coming 200 Newes of the Turkes approche 1◠Nauius hath the place of Heldus 174 Nuburge rendered to the Emperoure 264 Notes of the Interim by the Bishop of Rome 314 No man oughte to be compelled to hys fayth 319 New ambassadours from Wittenberg 375 Norinberge hath peace with the Marques 402 Nyne bournte at Lyons 423 Note how Bisshoppes seke authoritie of kinges to condemne 454 Nombers of great gonnes taken front protestauntes 29 Notes of the Interim by the bysshops of Rome 313 O O Eham condemned in Paris 19 Of the original of the Turkes 190 Of ecclesiasticall benefites 281 Out of the conclaue came most fylthys Letters 343 Ortauious Farnesius cliēt to the frēch kinge 360 Oration of tharchbishop of Treuers 12 Opinion of the Cyties touchynge the king of Romaines 102 Othe of the Electors 406 Oration of the Popes ambassadour to the Duke of Saxon. 109 Oration of Themperours Ambassadour 109 Oratiō of the french ambassadours 123 Ofspring of
house of Lucenburg 406 The battaile of Cressie eodem The Frenche kynges aunswere to the intercessours 407 Themp. letters to thintercessours 408 Their aunswere to themperour eodeÌ„ The Ambassadours commentaries intercepted 409 The aunswere of Strausburge 410 The death of Bernard Archebishop of Colon. 412 The duke of Saxon goeth home to his owne house eodem The Emperour goeth with his armie toward Loraine 413 TheÌ„perorentreth into Strasburg eod The spoyle of the souldiours eodem The death of Caspar Hedio and Andrewe Osiander eodem The Emperour besiegeth Metz. eodem The batterie of Metz. 414 The Duke of Brunswik driuen out of his countrie eodem The duke of Guise defended Metz. eod The Frenche kinges writyng against the Emperour 415 The Emperours letters of aunswere to Marques Albert. eodem The armes of Electourship eodem The Cardinall Lenoncourtes ambicion eodem The father and the sonnes contend for inheritaunce 417 Terwen raced eodem The Ladie Iane of Suffolke maried Guilford Dudley 418 The Marques maketh war i Sar. eodeÌ„ The spoilyng of Albert. 419 The complainte of Duke Moris vpon Marques Albert. eodem The marques answer to duke Mo. 420 The Bishop in his absence inuade his countrie 421 The great crueltie of marques Al. eode The death of good kyng Edward eodeÌ„ The vertues of Edward the sixt eodem The wonders before Duke Maurice death 422 The death of Orace Fernese eodem The blasphemie of the lieutenanÌ„t 424 The ladle Iane. eodem The lady Mary proclaimed quene eodeÌ„ The Duke of Northumberlande condempned 425 Thomas Palmer knighte professeth the doctrine of the Gospell eodem The constancie of the Archebishopp of Cantorburse eodem The bishops caried to prison 426 The Popishe religion restored in Englande eodem The Turkishe naute taketh the Iland of Corsica 427 The FreÌ„che king atteÌ„pteth Cam. codeÌ„ The bloode of Innocentes gainfull to many 428 The Duke of Brunswickes letters to the Duke of Saxon. eodem The Duke of Brunswicke is reconciled to the duke of Saxon. eodem The Turke hanged his sonne Mustapha 429 The Archebishop of Cantorburie and others condempned eodem The Godlie lawes of good kynge Edward repealed 430 The duke of Norffolke forsaken of his menne eodem The duke of Suffolke 431 The Ladie Iane and her husbande beheaded eodem The duke of Suffolke beheaded eodem The godly ende of IhoÌ„ Frederick codeÌ„ The godlines of his wife 432 The Lady Elizabeth committed to the Towre eodem The slege of Senes eodem The death of Wiat eodem Thassemble of Auspurge 433 The death of Char. duke of Sanot 436 The letters of king Ferdinando to his subiectes of the lordes Supper eodeÌ„ The states make aunswere to the kinges letters eodem The Abbot of Newstat accused of Hereste eodem The Frenche kyng inuadeth the Emperours countries 437 The Frenche kynges letters 438 The Emperour giueth to his soonne the dukedome of Millane eodem The Cardinall giueth the Lordes absolution 439 The Emperours letters against Marques Albert. eodem Themperiall counsel of Auspurg 440 The ministers exiled out of Boheme 442 The Towne of Cassell taken by the Frenchmen 449 The letters of the princes of Saxon to the Emperour eodem The archbishop of Metz dieth 450 The death of Pope Iuly the third eodeÌ„ Theâ— of Senes render theim selues to themperour eodem The secte of Iesuites eodem The trauaile of Cardinall Poole to make peace betwene the Emperour and Frenche kyng eodem The Emperours letters to the States of the Empire 451 The duke of Alba sent to Millane eodeÌ„ The Emperours mother dieth eodem The Frenche kinges Proclamacion again condeÌ„ned of thinquisitors 452 The Lucernates require of the Swisses the doctrine of the Gospell eodeÌ„ The Naute of the Kyng of Denmarke 453 The Spanish Flete intercepted by the Frenche kyng eodem The controuersie about the lordes supper is renued by the Bremers eodeÌ„ The aunswere of the Parliamente of Paris by the kynges Proclamacion of Lutherians 454 The meting of princes about the LaÌ„tzgraues matter 455 Themperour Charles giueth the gouernement to his sonne Philip. eodeÌ„ The office of the Archbishops 456 The aunswere of the Protestantes to the writyng of the Papistes 457 The bishops which chaunge their religion should lâ—se their promocioÌ„ 459 Thecclestastical lawes shal not be exercised against the Protestantes 461 The wife of IhoÌ„ Frederick dieth eodeÌ„ The ambassadours of Austrich require of Ferdinando that true Religion male be permitted vnto them 462 Truce taken betwene the Emperoure and the kyng of Fraunce 463 The aunswere of Ferdinando to the Ambassadours of the house of Austrich eodem The Emperours Sigismonde burned Husse eodem The Ambassadours aunswere to Ferdinando 464 The aunswere of Ferdinando eodem The bishop of Treuers dieth 465 The Duke of Pruse professeth the confession of Auspurge eodem The Archebishop of Cantorburie burned for Religion eodem The Pope was displeased that peace was graunted to Religion 466 The Duke of Arestat brake out of prison eodem The Cardinalle of Auspurge purgeth hymself by writyng eodem The Cardinall of Auspurge addicte to the olde religion 468 The good will of the Cardinall of Auspurg toward the Duke of Wittenberge eodem The loue of the Cardinall of Auspurg toward the Germaines 469 Twelue burnt at Stratford bow eodeÌ„ The marques of Barden receiueth the Gospell eodem Themperour goeth into Spaine with bothe his sisters 470 VV. WHy the Bisshoppe of Rome is extolde 3 Whiche are properlie called Sacramentes 24 Who is aucthour of single life 35 What nedeth gold in the churche 47 What is true confession eodem What thyng Rebellion is 58 Wee are all blinde in our owne cause 61 Who be the aucthours of dissencion 81 Uergecius the Popes ambassadour 86 Upon what condicions the duke of Saxon will come to the assembly 103 Warres in Swiserlande 104 Whereof sprang the dissencion in Religion 110 Wilâ—e Marchauntes 120 Uergecius message to the Duke of Saxon 121 Uergecius spake with Luther 122 Who wrote against the Anabaptistes 131 Uergecius sent to the Emperour 138 Who ought to be at the Counsell 150 Why Innocentes be in perill 151 Whereof cometh contempt of the clergie 155 Who ought to be made bishop eodem Unlawfull to giue benefices by legacis eodem Why Cardinalles wer first made 156 Uergecius his oracion 176 Why the Protestantes desire a Counsell 177 What moued Luther to write against Papistes eodem Willyam Farell 192 Warre betwixte England and Scotlande 196 William Countie forsaketh the FreÌ„ch kyng 206 Whether we shal knowe eche other in the life to come 232 What Counsell the Protestauntes desired 237 What profite hath the Emperour out of Germanie 239 Ulmes reconciled to the emperour 273 Unreasonable tormente is a perillous matter 283 Wittenberg rendered 286 Wittenberge a Towne of Electorship 287 Uogelsburge apprehended 312 Uogelsburge coÌ„stancy at his death 312 Workes of superogacion 313 Whilest the Masse is set vp in Germanie it is put doune in England 317 Uiolence is not to be vsed in Religion but reason and truthe 318
Who were outlawed by the Emperour 320 Who impugned the Interim 322 Uergecius vanquished with the truth 328 Uergecius repaireth to Mantua and is put out of the Counsell 329 Uergecius Preacheth the Gospell in Rhetia eodem What thynges offende many 353 Why the Clergie forsake the citee 356 Wonders in Saxonie 360 Wilie begiled 379 Warre in Italie 48 Winchester made Chaunceler 425 Warres renued betwixte the Duke of Brunswick marques Albert. 426 Uercelles surprised 429 Wiat taken and committed to pri 431 Uulpian victualed 452 Uulpian taken raced by the Frenche kyng 453 Whether peace should be giuen to the religion or no. 455 Unconstancie of Clement 53 Uictorie of themperialles eodem Winnyng of Munster 136 Warres of Geneua against the Duke of Sauoy 137 Uenecians league with the Emperour 138 Uenecians Ambassadour to the Turk 169 FINIS ✚ Imprinted at London by Ihon Daie for Nicholas Englande M D. LX. The. 26. daie of September Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum Luthers letter to the B. of Mentz B. of MaydeÌ„burgs charge Luthers 95 questions at Wittenberge Luthers exception The B. of Mentz clence Ihon Tecell ft. do concl at frankford Luters letters to Pope Leo. Duke Fredericks wisdom Echins booke against Luth. Siluester priers dialogue Silue priers Themes Luth. answer to Sil. priers Scriptur and choldewriters only to be also wed Iudulgences to be vsed after the Canon lawe The CiuiliaÌ„s vse of citing Silut prier seconde aunswer to Luth. Thomas of Aquine Albertus magnus scollar Thomas of Aquine a salt Thomas of Aquin geueth authoritie to the Pope 1274. Thom. of Aq. died Luth. seconde answer to Siluester prier Rome the seat of Antechrist Grece and Bohemes happines Lut. his forsakiÌ„g of Rome The caus whâ— the By. of Rome is extold Princes of necessitie must reforme Ro. The bishop of Rome bounde as other to Gods commaundement Iames Hogestrate wrote against Luther Thassembly at Ausputge by Maximilian The treaty of warre against the Turke Albert archb of Mentz mabe Cardinall The cause of his Cardinalship Maximilians lettre to Pope Leo coÌ„cerning Luther Luther is cited to Rome The Popes letters to the duke of SaxoÌ„ The Popes letters to Gabriel veneius The vniuersitie of Wittenberg writeth for Luther Luther is called to Auspurg His conferens with Cardinal Caietane Luther appeleth The welspring of Pardons The pope vnder the Coun. Gerson of Paris Pope Iohn is deposed Caietan writeth to the duke of Saxonie The dukes letters to the Cardinall The Uniuersitie of Wittenberge writeth for Lut. New pardoÌ„n Luther appealeth from the Pope to the Counsell The Pope sendeth a golden Rose to the duke of Saxonie The death of Maximilian The swisses banquished Kinges of Naples paye tribute to Rome An oration of the Archebyshop of MeÌ„iz The oration of the Archbi of Treuers Fraunce and Germani wer 〈…〉 ted Themperour Raffe The duke of Saxo. refuseth to be Emperour Charles is declared Emperour Friderick the Paulsgraue sent into Spaine 1500 The byrth of the Emperor The manes of chosing â—he Emperour Erasmus iudgement of Luther The disputatis at Lypsia 1520 Luters letters to the Pope The court of Rome is vnturable Conditions propounded by Luther Flatterats must be eschewed The part of a true frende Luth. boke to the duke of Saronie Confession of synnes The supper vnder bothe kindes The wishe of Pope Pius The counsell of Latherane The counsel of Pisa The Popes Shifie Fraunce is offered to the spoile At Rome they doubt of the immortalitie of the Soule Luth. Bookes condemned at Louaine Capnio Rewcline Ockam Picus mirandula Lawrence Ualla Aristotle WilliaÌ„ OckaÌ„ The story of Reuchliue Hebrew bokes of thre sortes Luthers letters to the emperor Luth. letters to the archbishop of MeÌ„tz His annswere to Luther How scripture must be hadled Luth. letters to the Bish oy Merseburge His aunswers to Luther The pope curseth Luther The Bulle of Leo. The decree of Pius Iuliê° Aeneas Siluius Honors chaÌ„ge maners Luth. impugneth the popes censure Luth. booke of the captiuitie of Babilou Thre Sacrases Which are properly called Sacrament The maner of the CoronatioÌ„ Themperor calleth a couÌ„sel imperial The Pope was subiecte to themperor The lawe of Clement The courte of Rome in Fraunce The duke of Saro incensed againste Luther The answer of duke Friderike Luthers bokes are brâ—â— Luther burneth the Canon laws Booke burners Catarinus writeth against Lut. The Emperour sent for Luther to Wormes The Empe. writeth to Luther The Bul of cursyng The constaÌ„cie of Luth. Lut. coÌ„meth to Wormes Eckius to Luther Lu. pleadeth his cause before themperour and the whole Empire Iohn .xviii. Pope Cost sell may erre Treuers other Princes threateneth Luther Luthers answer to the Princes The offenca of Faith and maners Actes .v. Luth. sent awaye scom Wormes Iohn Wiclâ—ffe an Englishe man Iohn Husse a Bohemer Husse appealeth from the Pope The CouÌ„sel of CoÌ„stauÌ„ce Iohn Husse Hierome of Praga burned Thre Popes deposed The Diuines of Paris condempne Luth. bokes Thauthoritie of the Diuines of Paris The Swysses make a league wyth the Frenche kynge Thirtene townes of Swysses The libertie of the Swysses Luib is ontlawed by the Emperour Luth. is conuetghed out of daunger Sunday bokes of Luth. Of themasse to be abolisshed The best thiges please fewest men Henry kyng of Englande writeth against Luth. Themperor hath warre with FrauÌ„ce The death of Leo the .x. Adrian succedeth Leo. The Turke taketh Belgrade Commotfôs in Spaine The lady Mart assured to theÌ„peror Who is author of single life Lut. rotaurneth to Wittenberge Luther foreseeth the teni pest coÌ„myng Luther writeth to the Bohemers Many sectes in the popish kingdome Three sectes of the Bohemers Lu. writeth againste the Bishoppes Adrian writeth to the duke of Sa. Reucline dieth The Pope writeth letters to at the princes of Germany 1. Corin. 〈◊〉 Luthers Frere The warre of Treuers The Popes letters to Strasburge The stocke of Aorian Dissention betwixt Leo and his Cardinals A disputatioÌ„ at Zuricke The questions of Zuinglius The request of Adrian to dispatch Lu. Luth. compared with Bahomet Iniquitie procedeth froÌ„ the Priestes The synne of Rome spred ouer al the worlde Lut. expoundeth the Popes saiynge The meane to let couÌ„sels The answer of the prices Why Luth. was not punished The maner of a free couÌ„sell An alteratiû in Denmark The king of Denmarke flecth Cornelles Scepper The beginnyng of the first fruictes and tenthes A Romishe Palle Two freres brent at Brusels The Ceremonies of disgratyng Luth. interpreteth the 〈◊〉 of the Princes The Bible to be preferred before all others Lut. wrot to the Senate of Prage Luther wrot of eschewing the doctrine of men The death workes of Hutten The king of Englande writeth to the princes of Saxonie The answer of duke George Adrian the Pope dyeth Clement succedeth Zuinglius is broughtin hatred The eatyng of Fleshe A new disputatioÌ„ at Zu Priestes maried wiues Pope ClemeÌ„t sendeth Campegius to duke Fri. A decree of the Suyses
spake with Luther The answer of the Prot. Crueltie is vnsemely in churchmen Their craft is spied The Empe. may order counsels Pepes concempned of Heresy The oration of the FreÌ„ch Ambassad Folysh pitie marreth a citie Of Fraunce and Germany one ofspring The iudges of the chamber trouble that ProtestaÌ„tes The Emp. letters The answer of the Protestauntes to the Frenche Ambassad The duty of Princes The kinges opinion of matters in controuersie The commoÌ„places of Malancthon The masse mainteineth purgatory Monasticall voues Paphnutius The Lordes suppervnder both kyndes The kynges of Fraunce and Nauane ercommunicated The protest would make no league with the kyng the oratioÌ„ of byshop Fore Ambassa for the kynge of Englande The alteration of Religion in Englande The state of the churche troublesome The rage of Antichrist The protest league is renewed The Erle of Nassowe The Gospel receiued at Auspurge Munster a citie of Westophalia The original of Anabaptistes their doctrie and maners Rotman a Preacher The papists coÌ„ sesse their ignoraunce The papists forsake the citie Frederick forsaketh the byshoprike They of muÌ„ster oppresse the papistes Condicious of peace Iohn LeidaÌ„ an Anabap. Herman Stapred The Anab. banished the citie Rotman became an Anabaptist The constaÌ„cie of Fabritius Peter Wirtemie A Prophet inspired Eiuile war in the citie Cnipperdolyng Iohn Matthewe the high prophet Maydens do prophecie Iestyng pâ—nyshed The prophet inspired with 〈◊〉 Cnipperdoling prophecieth From the horse to the Asse The diuisioÌ„ of Germany into prouice The salshod of Leidane Twelue iudges The Paradoxes of iohn Leiden Sedition in the citie Iohn LeidaÌ„ inuadeth the kingdome A new king of Anabap. His pompe the madnes of Cnipper The boke of restitution Who wrote against theÌ„ A supper The Apost of Munster The kinges murther The preachers of MuÌ„ster They be racked Their obstiuacie The Kynge taketh hede to hym selfe the errours and mischief of Anabap. A booke of that miâ—â—ries of scripture The diuisioÌ„ of the world This preseÌ„t age cumpared to Esaw The kynge beheaded the Quene A blynd asse Luthers writig of MuÌ„st God bridleth the power of Sathan By what meanesmen be disceaued Croked necked cattell The craft of an ignorauÌ„t Deuyll Gods wrath By what meanes the deuil is vanquished The errours of the Munsterians in fayth In baptisme Of mariage The assemblie at Wormes The citie was required to rendre The coÌ„plait of the Munsterians Two escaping betraye the citie The wynnyng of MuÌ„ster The kyng is taken Rotman desperate The byshop of Munster demaundeth his charges The kyng his fellowes caried about 〈…〉 Disputation with the king 〈…〉 The bolde aunswer of the kyng The cruell death of the kyng The death of quene Katherine The warre of Geneua with the duke of Sauoy The ayde of Bernes The FreÌ„che king against the Duke of Sauoye The Popes counsel to inuade Sauoy Legions of Souldiours The house of vicecouÌ„tes The FreÌ„che kinges title to Millan The Emperous oration against the FreÌ„che king The Uenetians league with the Emperour The Duke of Florence marieth the Emperours bastarde Luthers constancie Uergerius sent to the Emperour The diuisers of the bâ—ll The king of England is patrone of the Proâ— league The english Ambassad wynter at Wittebergâ— The kinges letters to the Protestants The king of England requireth a coÌ„ference of lerned men The kinges deuorcemeÌ„t Receyued in to league The lamentable death of Quene Anne A counsel is called Against the FreÌ„ch kyng The Protestantes send to the Emp. The Empe. letters to the Protestant The Empe. inuadeth the French prouinces Peronne beseged The death of Fraunces the Dolphin A reformation of Collon The death of Erasmus Commotion in Linkcolnshyre Captayne Aske The Pope wyl reforme the court of Rome The king of Scottes maried that FreÌ„ch kinges daughter The Duke of Florence slayne by his cosyn The Swycers sewe to the king for the Gospellers Hesdine rendred Cardinall Poole the Popes Ambassadour to the Frenche kyng A sworde hallowed Pooles boke against king Henry the eyght Cold reasoÌ„s for the popes supremacie He inceÌ„seth the Emper. against the king of Englande Poole was vnthankful His hipocrisie falshod A wryting of Auspurg The Prote Ambassad to the Emp. Heldus the Emperours Ambassad His sration at Smalcald The FreÌ„che practises The iudges of the chaÌ„ber The Dukes aunswere The answer of Heldus The Popes Ambassad The Popes Ambassad vispysed The Popes errours The Popes vnreasonable authoritie Of the place of the couÌ„sel Athanasius Arrius Liberius The craft of Paule the. Popes haue Emperours in subsectioÌ„ The counsel of CoÌ„stasice Iohn Hussâ— The Protestaunâ—es decre for mainteining Ministers Reason why the Protest refuse the Counsel Who ought to be at the counsell The Preachers of the Gospel haue brought godly workes to lyght It is false that they styre vp 〈◊〉 heresies Byshoppes styre vp prices False doctrine is not to be borne with Why the innocentes be in perill Thaâ—thoritie of iudgement is in the churche The Pope is accused of Idolatry Heresye Like lippes like lettuse The craft of the Pope Thosspring of C 〈…〉 The Counsell of Mill 〈…〉 broken of The Potest letters to the FreÌ„ch king The queene of Scottes dieth The king of England re suseth the Counsell A proper saying of Cipriane TeroweÌ„ beseged invain Ferdinando his armie destroyed The birth of kiÌ„g Edward the sixt The Pope hateth the kyng Rebellion in Gelderland Pope Paule euil reported The Pope entended to make Erasmus Cardinall The Pope hath a double office Wherof 〈◊〉 meth the coÌ„tempt of the Clergie Who ought to be made Bishoppes Unlawefull to geue benefices by legacye A pristes son may not inioy his fathers benefice Why Cardinals were fyrst made Aâ—arice and concupisceÌ„ce let counsels Many filthy actes of Monkes The cowle maketh not the Monke Simony reigneth in the churche Harlottes honoured at Rome Presidentes of the couÌ„sel 1538 The Cardi â–ª of Capua caÌ„ abide no reformation The Colloquie of Erasmus MomoraÌ„ciâ— made constable of Fraâ— Christiane kinge of DeÌ„marke receiueth the gospell The Duke of Pruse is outlawed A gentlemaÌ„ of Tolouse burnt at Paris Themperor the frenche king and the pope meets at Nice Andrâ—w de Aurie The meting ofthemperor the kynge The FreÌ„che kinge kissed the Popes right foote The Bishop of Liege made his graue yet liuing English Bibles were printed at Paris The ignoraunce of the people is gainefull to priestes A colledge erected at Strausâ— Iohn Caluin Peter Brulie Thomas Becket Newes of the Turkes approche The Marquses of 〈…〉 denburge of the Protestantes Religion The lady Elizabeth sister to the Lantgraue is receiued in to the league of Protest The fecte of AntinomiaÌ„s Iohn Isleby A lege of the Papistes against the ProtestaÌ„tes The citie of Mynden ouâ— lawed The Duke of Brunswick desyrous of war The Lantgraue intercepteth the Dukes letters 1539. Inuectiues vnmete for Princes The death of Iohn Duke of Cleaue The Duke of Saxony woulde not geue to Ferdinando the title of kyng of Romains The FreÌ„cha kyng geueth touÌ„sel to
The Pope woulde bye Millan Philip created kynge of Spayne A league of themp the king of England against the Frenche kyng The protest ambassad to themperor Themp. viage againste the Duke of Cleaue They of Hildisseme are accused to the emperour Themperours letters to them of Collon The Popes letters to the clergie of Colion The French king fortifyeth Landersey The turkes Nauie arriueth in the prouince The Castell of Nice beseged Batchelaurs Abooke of Caluine againste the Sorbonistes A booke of the relieques of Sainctes Two Cities full of relicies Afalsereport of the Emperours deathe The Duke of Cleaue craueth pardon of themperoure CondicioÌ„ns to him imposed The daughter of Nauaris sent to the Duke of Cleaue Laundersey beseged The preachers of the gospel thrust oute of metz The sege is leuied at Nice Dissencion in Scotland The yonge Quene of Scottes affiaunced to Kynge Edwarde The king of Denmarke warreth vpoÌ„ theÌ„ perialles The duke of Cleaue renounceth the Frenche Leage The departure of the Frenchmen from LaÌ„dersey Duke moris County willyam forsaketh the Frenchking 1544. Thre eclipses of the moone A great Assemble at Spiere The causes of the turkes prosperitie The French king compared to the Turke The Protestantes oration to themperoure The Duke of Brunsewicke accuseth the Protestauntes The French ambassade to the assemble at Spier The French Herault euil receyued at Spier The ambassadors retorne by nighte The princes letters to the Pope The Popes aunswer The meane to heale the comon welth The princes letters to the Swisses The protestantes accuse the Duke of Brunswicks The tenure of his letters The Duke of Brunsewicke conteÌ„neth hys owne religion A straunge tale of the saide Duke An Image buryed in the sleâ—e of Eue. The French victory at Carignane The Duke of Sauoye accuseth the FreÌ„ch king The swysses aunswer the Princes letters Thenglishe Nauie inuadeth scotlaÌ„d The oration of the FreÌ„ch Ambassadours Holy men haue had leagues with men of a contrarye relygyon The duke of Saxon is set throughe with kynge Ferdinando The French king hateâ— of all men for the turks societie The states of thempire decree an aide against the Frenche Kynge A decree for relygion Of the chaÌ„ber Themperoures gentlenes to the Lantzgraue The duchye of Brunsewicke committed to theÌ„peroure Themperoures Iornoy into Fraunce barbarossue retourneth The deathâ— of the Duke of Lorayns The kyngs besegeth Bollogns The deathe of the Prince of Drenge Counte willyam taken prisoner Eperney brunte The feare flyghte of the Parisians Bollon rendred A peace concluded betwixte themperour and Fraunce The condicions of the peace Three moste myghty enemyes of Fraunce The Popes letters to the Emperoure The enemies of the romish church The Pope can abide no superiour Themperoure is the Popes eldest sonne Great princes swe for the Popes fauoure The creatyon of Cardinalies A counsel is called Luthers booke of the Lordes supper The clergie of Collon to the Arche Bisshop They appeale to the Pope and Emperour An Ambassade to the Kynge of Englande Peter brulie 1545. Brulie burnte at Tourney Hys examination A conuentioÌ„ of diuines at mellon The Articles of Lovayne Luther aunswereth theÌ„ of Louayne An AsseÌ„ble at wormes The ProtestaÌ„tes make aunswer The counsel of TreÌ„t vnlawefull The deuise of the popish Princes Grinian the French ambassadour The Ualdois The cruell sentence at Aygnes Iohn Myners The Cardinal of tournon Miners presidente of Aygwes He leuieth a power agaynste the Ualdois The merindolans flee into the woodes A lamentable departynge A soldioure geueth them warnynge A Captayne defendeth the women A cruell fact of Miners Cabrier yelded A terryble example of crueltye The Swisses intreate for the Ualdois A sharpe aunswer of the kynge The confession of the Ualdois doctryne The deathe of Lewes Duke of Bauier Cardinall Farnesius his coÌ„ming to wormes Themperours Ambassadour to the kyng of Poole The kinges aunswer to themperour The pope most desyrous of war A frere obseruaunte stireth TheÌ„peroure to warre Luthers boke against the Pope Luthers themes of thre gouernmentes The wylde beaste Luthers picture against the Pope Luther a prophet The ignoraÌ„ce of Grinian The deathe of Fraunces Duke of Lorayne The birth of CharlessoÌ„ns to kyng Philyp The Duke of Brunsewicke getteth monye of the FreÌ„ch kynge Themperoure taketh truce with the Turke The clergie and vniuersitie of ColloÌ„ against their Archebishop Temperourciteth the archebishop The Pope citeth the archebishop of Colon. The decre of Auspurg The frowardenes of the Duke of Brunswick The warrâ— of Fraunce England The Protestantes send Ambassadours into FrauÌ„ce and Englande The deathe of the duke of OrleauÌ„ce The armye of the Duke of bruÌ„swick The Lantzgraue goeth against him Duke Moris intreateth a peace A skirmishe betwirte the Duke the Lantzgraue The vanitie of the Duke of Brunswick A conflicte betwixte the Duke the LaÌ„tzgraue Duke HeÌ„ry and hys son yelde themselues The deathe of the Cardinall of Mentz CouÌ„te willyam deliuered The Lantzgraues letters to theÌ„peroure Themperoure to the LaÌ„tzgraue A treatie of peate beetwirt frauÌ„ce England 1546. The king of Englande warneth the Protestants of the daunger The Palsegraue ordeineth ministers in hys Churches A brute of war against the Protestantes Granuellan his aunswer to the Lantzgraue Sebastian Scherteline The Protestantes accused of conspiracie The Lantzgraues letters to Nauius The coll 〈…〉 quie of the learned meÌ„ at RegeÌ„spurg Maluenda treateth of iustification Bucers aunswer Pflugius amonges the Presidentes The colloquie dissolued Ambassadours to theÌ„peroure for the archebisshop of Collon Gonzage go uernour of Millane The Popes Legates in the counsell of Trente Preachinge Freers A bul of perdonnes The begynnyng of the counsell The oratioÌ„ of the popes Legates TheÌ„ was 〈…〉 g of Esedras and Nehemias A decree of the Sinode redde The seconde session of the Synode Luther chosen arbiter Luther is sicke Whether we shall knowe eche other in the lyfe to come Luthers last prayer The quiet departure of Luther Luthers birthe Luther sent to Rome Luthers eloquence in the Dutche tongue The inuincible constaÌ„cie of Luther The victory and conquest of the word Iohn Diaze a Spaniard Diaze goeth to Maluenda Fewe Spaniardes loue the Gospell Marquins excuseth Diaze His brother Alphonse coeth into Germany The traytorous mind of Alphonse Alphonse retourneth to Nuburge to kill his brother The murtherer killeth Diaze Cladius Senaclyus Themperours letters for a paracide TheÌ„peroure visiteth the Lantzgraue hys daughter The Lantzgraue commeth to theÌ„peroure The Lantzgraue to theperoure What counsell the Protestantes desyred Freers be disturbers of peace The boke of reformation at Collon The Archebisshop of ColloÌ„ is accoumpted vnlearned The ignorance of the people for lacke of teachyng A communication of the LaÌ„tzegraue and others Freers vile in lyfe and learnyng Diuines stubburne obstinate Themperoure ought to compell the Pope to do his dutie The ende of Scripture The beste thinges please sewest The mynde of the Pauls graue What profit hath theÌ„peroure out of Germany The Lantzgraue is arbiter beetwirte the Dukes of
Saxon. TheÌ„peroure thanketh the Lantzgraue Spedius a blabbe The Lantzgraue taketh hys leaue of the Emperoure The thyrde session in the Syneode at Trente The oration of the Emperours ambassadour The Popes letters to the Bisshops of Sedune and Chur. The Archebisshop of Collon excoÌ„municated by the Pope TheÌ„peroure commeth to Regenspurg The murther of Diaze vnpunished Adiuision amonges the electours The brute of warre against the Protestantes The falsehod of Marques Albert and Iohn of Brandenburge The Lantzgraue is circumspecte TheÌ„perours letters to the Cities of the ProtestaÌ„tes TheÌ„perours crafte A statute of Trente A decree of oryginal sin The oration of the FreÌ„ch ambassadour Danese He vnderstandith this of the kynge of England The FreÌ„che kynges â—â—quâ—ste An aunswer of them of Strasborough to theÌ„peroure The Pope Tyrante The clergie abused the churche goodes The goodwyll of the ProtestaÌ„tes toward theÌ„peroure An heape of euylles of ciuill warre TheÌ„peroure had secrete talke with Duke Moris Themperours anbassadour to the Swysses The Cyties of Wirtemberge puton armure The oraiion of Balthazar to the soldiours The ProtestaÌ„tes letters to the Uenetians A leage beetwyxte the Pope the Emperoure The church goodes in Spayne to be imployde herein Peace betwixt frauÌ„ce and EnglaÌ„d The Cardinall of Scotland slaine The Popes letters to the Swisses The teares of the Crocodile The Pope attempteth the matter by force of armes The Protestantes Ambassadours to the Swisses The Paulsgraue axeth the cause of the warre A pretence of mouing war The Palsegraue seketh to reconsile the protestaÌ„t to Themperoure Duke of Saxon and the Lentzgraue prepareth to war Their letters to TheÌ„peroure TheÌ„peroure periured The authors of this war TheÌ„perours letters to the Archebishop of Collon TheÌ„perours polycie The Cardinall of Auspurge the firebrand of thys warre Duke Fridericke chosen Emperoure It is lawsul to repulse a violence The iudges of the ChaÌ„ber be Papistes The leage betwixte the thre houses Thintent of the Papistes The ProtestaÌ„tes letters to Iohn marques of braÌ„denburge The Popes bull against the Protestantes The diligeÌ„ce of the Protestantes in leuying theire armye The Lantzgraue sent hys sonne to Strausburg The fyrst enterprise of the Protestantes The Castell of EreÌ„berg Sherteline retireth Donauerde taken Themperours power The duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue ar out lawed by TheÌ„perour The Protestantes accused of treason The Popes letters to the Swysses The Pope bringeth the Emperouro into hatred Mariages in the broyle of warres The number of the fathers at treÌ„t The king of Swecia receyueth the Gospell TheÌ„perours letters to Duke Moris The Protestantes letters to the Duke of Bauer Lightenyng caused of struction at Machlin The Swyses aunswer to the Protestantes The deathe of Diazius is vnpunished The Protestantes proclayme war agaynst theÌ„peroue The crafti 〈…〉 s of themperoure Lybertie is exiled out of the counsell The articles of the Uniuersitie of Louayne TheÌ„peroure woulde not receyue the Protestants letters The table of prescription The Popes armie commeth to theÌ„peroure The Captaynes of the said armie The Capitaines of theÌ„peroures armie The princes of the Protestantes caÌ„pe The Lantzgraue rioeth foorth to espye The Spaniardes inuade the Protestantes caÌ„p The Erle of Bure leadeth an Army to themperour The bould profitable counsell of yâ— Lantgraue The cause of the Protest misery Feare in the Emperours Campe. The Swisses aunswer to the Emperour The Emperour to the Swisses is a Gospeller The ProfestauÌ„tes one against another Force ought not to be vsed in Religion The Protestauntes seÌ„d to the Bohemers The Pope hireth men to poyson other The Protestauntes answer to the table of outlawery The Emperours crafte towarde the Protestants The Emperors decrees made for fear The dissimulation of the Emperour The Duke of BruÌ„swi 〈…〉 a bitter enemy to the protestants The french Ambassador disswadeth the Emperour from this warre The Emperour will coÌ„quer Germany God is not the anctour of wrong The Rable of Papistes The Emperour pretended this war long before The decres of Wormes was the troÌ„pet of this warre The custom of thempire in asseÌ„blees The Protestauntes remoue their Campe. Nuburg reÌ„dred vnto the Emperour Fraunce de 〈…〉 ed to ayde ther Protest Peter strosse disceaued the ProtestaÌ„tes The Prote write to the Swisses gospellers Their aunswer to the ProtestaÌ„tes The Emperours the ProtestaÌ„tes campes nere together Albert of Brunswick hurt Donauerd rendred The duke of Alba rauÌ„teth the LaÌ„tgraue AlteratioÌ„ in Sauonte Duke Maurice consulteth against the Protest Siluer mynes coÌ„mon to the Dukes of Saxon. The vnreasonable request of Duke Mauris counsell Scherteline departeth from the protest auntes The Emperour winneth the Riuer of Thonawe The occasioÌ„ of taking the Emperour loste A warlike pollicie of the Emperour An other pollicie Pestilencein the Emper. Campe. The Lantgraue aunwereth the states of Duke Moris The crueltie wrought by the papistes The Proie benefites to Duke Moris The Proie letters to the cities The Bohemers serued against the Duke of sax on vnwillingly Hussares Ferdinando his depute proclaimeth to Saxonie The Duke of sarons request to hys fellowes Duke Maurice letters to the Electours The Electours countrey â—nuaded The Bohemers slyp away Duke Maurice 〈◊〉 of ali men His excuses Duke Maurice nothing coucious Persecution in Fraunce Tharchebyshop of Collon appealeth froÌ„ the Pope The vnlucky successe of the Protest warre Authoritie caÌ„not beare equalitie The peril of the Protest The Duke of Saxon â—â—acteth mony of the Papistes The Emperours letters to the Duke of Wirtemberg The Dukes letters of submissioÌ„ to Themper The Paulsgraue asketh pardon of Themps Paulus Fagius Ulmes recoÌ„ciled to the Emperour Darmstat wonne Thes of FraÌ„kefurte render to therle of Bure The Electours letters to the states of Duke Maurice The calamitie of Saxony Duke Maurice followeth Doeg The king of Denmarke ayded not that ProtestaÌ„tes 1547. Conditions imposed to that Du. of Wirtemberg Thecities of ProtestaÌ„tes send Ambassadours to that Emperour The Emperour wyll heare no meÌ„tion of Religion Rebellion as Genes agaist that hous of Aurie A decree of the counsell at Trent of iustification The Duke of Saxon be segeth Lipsia Maurice loseth his townes The Bohemers refuse to warre in Saxony Marques Albert sent to ayde Maur. Adolphe substituted to Herman Archebyshop of Collon Herman leueth his byshoprike Gropper had the spoyle of Friderick The death of Henry the eight kyng of England AlteratioÌ„ of Religion Kyng HeÌ„ry banished the Pope but not popery The Duke of Somerset Thomas Cranme primate of England They of Auspurg make their peace with Themperour Sherteline moste hated of Themp. The Electour of BraÌ„denburg intreateth a peace TheÌ„perour leuieth a new army The Elect. of Saxons lettern to theÌ„ of strasburg Mendoza Ambassa from the freÌ„che kyng to Strasburge The death of Nauius Kyng Ferdinando moueth the Bohemers to warre The league of the Bohemers The winig of Roclice Marques Albert takeÌ„ prisoner The Duke of Wirtemtemberg craueth pardon of the Emp. The seueÌ„th Session at Trent of the SacrameÌ„ts Of ecclesiasticall benefices They of
his wyfe Iohn Alasco Ecclesiastical lawes in Englande The Lady Elizabeth coÌ„mitted to that Tower The siege of Senes The death of Wiat. A ParlameÌ„t in England Thassemble of Auspurge A wrytinge of the city of Norinberge against Marques Albert. The cruell actes of Marques Albert. Marques Al. goeth to Suinfort His flight The death of Charles D. of Sauoy The letters of king Fardinando to his subiectes of the Lords Supper The states make aswer to that Kinges letters Thabbot of Newstat accused of Herisye Interrogatories ministred to him The frencheÌ„ Kinge muadeth themperours countries Mariburge taken Kinge Phillip arriueth in England The frenche kinges letters Thempeor geueth to his sonne Phyllip the dukedom of Millan Cardinall Poole arriueth in England England returneth to her vomit The Cardinal geueth that Lordes absolution The Emperors letters against Marques Albert. Thimperial counsell of Auspurge 1555. Fiue coÌ„deÌ„nd at London for the Gospell The ministers exiled out of Boheme Ioy at Rome for England reduced to that Romishe Church IndulgeÌ„ces graunted by the Pope for the conuersion of Englande Melancthon comforteth the ministers of Boheme The towne of Cassalle taken by the Frenchmen An assemble of the Princes of Saxonie at Numburge The letters of the Princes of Saxony to themp The Archbyshop of MeÌ„tz dieth The death of Pope Iuly the third Marcellus the second choseÌ„ They of Sene rendre them selues to Themp. Marcellus the second dieth Paule the fourth The secte of Iesuites The trauell of Cardinall Poole to make peace betwene them perour and FreÌ„ch king A place of yâ— treaty of peace chosen by the Quene of England The Empe. letters to the states of the Empire The Duke of Alba sent to Millan Bradforde burnt in Englande Iohn Friderick thelect sonne marieth The Empe. mother dieth A tumult raised at Geneua Porte Hereules taken by Imperials PluÌ„bine besieged of Turkes Controuersie for the dominion of the Chattes Uulpian vitayled Maryburg vnailed The FreÌ„che kinges proclamation against the coÌ„demned of that inquisitours The Lucernates require of that Swisses the doctrine of the Gospell The Nauie of the kinge of DeÌ„marke Sanstorian Camillus Cardinalles led into pryson The Spanishe flete intercepted by the French King Philip came out of England to his father at Brusselles An vniuersitie erected at Dillinge A boke of Peter Asot against the coÌ„fession of the Duke of wirtemberge George Erle of Mount pelicarte marieth that Lantgraues daughter Uulpian taken and rased by the Frenchmen Mountcalue is taken by that Frenchmen The controuersie about the Lordes supper is renewed by that bremers August prince Electour had a sonne borne Ridley Latimer burnt in England Thanswere of the Parliament of Paris to that kinges proclamatioÌ„ of Lutherians Note howe byshops seke authoritie of kinges to coÌ„demne innocentes The meting of Princes about ytâ—aÌ„tgrauet matter The Emre Charles geueth the gouernemeÌ„t to his Sonns Philip. Whether peace should be geuen to Religion or no A wrytinge of the Papistes to requestes of that Protestauntes The office of Archebysh The answer of the Protestauntes to that wryting of the Papistes A wryitng of king Ferdinando to the Princes The bishops whiche chaunge their religion shuld lose their promotions a decrewher by religioÌ„ is frely permit to all men An ecclesiastical person that chaungeth his Religion shal be depriued For churchs goodes al coÌ„trouersies ar taken away The ecclesiasticall lawes shall not be exercised against the protestauntes A parliameÌ„t in England Libelles strowed about in London The byshop of Winchester dieth The wife of Iohn Friderick dieth Frances Uenery displaced Ambassad to the Princes of Germany An assemble in Austriche Iohn Gropper Cardin. King Philip entreth into Andwerpe Thambassadours of Austrtche require of kynge Ferdinando that the true ReligioÌ„ may be permitted them Truce takeÌ„ betwene the Emperour the kynge of Fraunce The answer of king Ferdinando to that Ambassa of the house of Austriche He meaneth the Emper. Sigismonde that burnte Iohn Husse The Ambassadours answer to Ferdinando The answer of king Ferdinando Duke HeÌ„ry of BruÌ„swick marieth a wyfe The byshop of Treuers dieth Fredericke Counte Palatine dieth The Duke of Pruse professeth the coÌ„fession of Auspurge A Camete sene Tharchebyshop of Cantorbu burnt for Religion The Bauarians sollicite their Prince forreligioÌ„ A father killeth his thre children The Pope toke displeasauntly that peace was geuen to religion Kyng Ferd goeth in to Boheme The Duke of Arescot brake out of pryson The Cardinall of Auspurg pourgeth himself by wryting sinisire suspicious spred of the Card. of Auspurg The pourgation of that Cardinall of Auspurg against the suspicious of certen A sclaunder deuised against certi Princes The Pope had no conference with that Emperour against religion or the libertie of Germany The Cardinall of Anspurg addicts to the olde Religion The good will of the Cardinall of Anspurg towardes the duke of Wirtemberg The loue of that Cardinall of Auspurge towardes that Germaines CommotioÌ„s in England for suspicion of a conspiracie Sir Peter Carrowe Syr Iohn Cheke takeÌ„ prisoners Xiii burnt at Stretford at the bewe The Marq. of Baben receiueth the Gospell Peter Martyr goeth to Zurick Cardinalles sent from that Pope to the Emper. and the Frenche kyng Counsell begon at Regenspurg Buda in Latin The Empe. goeth in to Spain with both his sisters Iohn Sleydane dieth
what they wyll doe herein he cōmaundeth them to sende playne worde by the brynger of these letters Unto the whiche letters they aunswer briefly that whylest they be saufe and so longe as they haue lyfe they wyll doe no suche thynge as he demaundeth The Frenche king passing out of Germany with his army deuided in thre partes came at the last to Walderfing whiche is a litle towne of the dutchie of Lorayne by the Riuer of Sare There vniting his armie the .xxv. day of May marching forth and passing ouer the riuer of Mosel what tyme he came into the lande of Lutcemburg he distroied all before him with spoiling and burning prouoked by the example of Rosseme as they thē selues reporte and recouereth the towne of Asteney voyde of soldiours to defende it For Marten Rosseme was retourned home Againe pitching his tentes he taketh a little towne by surrender called Danuillers after that also Iueye one of the chiefest fortes there In the same town was Count Mansfield Ernestus gouernour of the whole countrey with the floure of the youth there with him Al they were taken prisoners Afterwarde was the towne spoyled of the outragious soldiours against the kinges will as they reporte Now let vs retourne to Duke Maurice He for to treate a peace as I said was gone to Passa we There he repeting the treatie that was at Lintz the first of Iune propoūdeth declareth al thinges more at large There were themperours Ambassadours kyng Ferdinando Albert Duke of Bauier the Byshops of Salisburge Eistet and of all the chief Princes of Germany the Ambassadours also of Cleaue and of Wirtemberge and many others besides He complaineth that the state of thempire whiche chiefly ought to be free is gouerned by straungers that thauthoritie of the Princes Electours is deminished that many things be done with out their aduise knowledge That certē thinges also are plucked away alienated frō thempire Howe meanes are deuised that thautoritie of electing thēperour may be takē from thē in cōmon assemblies the Electours voices are in a maner neglected that the priuate conuentions of the Electours are for a certen feare omitted and their liberties infringed whylest the chamber imperiall receiueth those that appeale from thē contrary to the auncient custome That the controuersies of the states Imperial are purposly maynteined and be neuer accorded before either partie haue susteined losse and dammage Howe in the Emperours courte a man can hardly be heard speake neyther is his matter exactly knowen chiefly for that they vnderstande not the tongue and that there is muche losse not only of costes but of tyme also In open assemblies matters are handled nothyng frendly and if any man propounde ought for the common wealth it is taken in euyl parte That Germany is sore impoueryshed and beggered with those ofte and dayly conuentions and at home oftentymes are many thynges neglected and neyther yet is the publique state any whyt amended yea it is made worse and more intricate By strayghte proclamations it is prohibited that no man serue in foreyne warres That suche as be reconciled are bounde that they shall not warre against the Emperours countrey and so are plucked from the Empyre In the Protestaūtes warre such as serued their Lordes according to their dutie were punished by the purse such as in the same war remained in thēperours frendshyp were commaunded to paye also and that their landes and goodes should be put to sale vnlesse they payed immediatly and their Ambassadours bicause they did not by and by assent were commaunded vnder paine of death that they shuld not departe from the court That foreine soldiours haue bene oftentimes brought into Germany and the last warre beinge finished were distributed hither and thither into Prouinces whiche haue done many thinges dissolutely and vitiously and haue gloried of the conquest of Germany and haue sayde how it should be annexed 〈◊〉 the Emperours patrimonie and that in the head cities should be buylded castelles and fortes Howe muche ordenaunce and warlike munition was as it were in a mockerie caried out of Germany into foreine nations Howe diuerse men for a certen ambition haue caused the armes of the Princes of Germany to be set vpon the gunnes which they made for themselues as though they had taken them from thē How there be set forth bokes that with the Emperours priuilege whiche sounde to the great reproche and infamie of Germany as though it were cōquered and brought in bondage That in common assemblees vnder the name of the Emperours prouinces certen men were placed amonges the Princes and states and this to be wrought through secret deuises that the nōber being augmented they may preuayle by the nomber of voices Howe foure yeares past was ordeyned the iudgemēt of the chamber imperial and lawes made by a very fewe which wer after published to the great hynderaunce of many especially of them that be of the Protestauntes Religion For all those are vtterly excluded from that benche Wherfore the thinge it selfe requyreth that those lawes be better skanned in the next conuention These and suche other lyke thynges he propoundeth and for as muche as they chiefly concerne the Emperour he requyreth that they be redressed out of hande and that the Empyre be restored to the fourmer dignitie and that others be not permitted to delude and contempne the same The intercessours conferring together iudged nothinge amisse in these requestes Howebeit to the intent that both the Emperours dignitie should be mainteined and might so much more easely be perswaded they thynke that many thynges whiche concerne the reformation of the state publique may be ryght well differred tyll a generall conuention of the Empyre There was present the French Ambassadour Fraxineus Who the thyrd daye of Iune made an oration before the Princes How betwene the Frenchemē and the Germaines in old time and before the name of Francons was knowen there was so great lykenes of life and maners that the Germains be thesame people whiche the Romaines in times past called the brethren of the Frenchemen But after that the Francons had planted them selues in Fraunce both natiōs were so vnited that there was one Empire one Prince and the same lawes for both Afterwarde whan an alteration chaunced and that th empyre was deuolued to the Germains The Dukes of Saxon other Emperours for that they had their originall of the kinges of Fraunce had continual amitie with the Frenchmē in so much that Philip king of Fraunce caused the auncient league whiche could scant be read for the olde antiquitie therof to be written out in goldē letters and layd vp in an holyer place And verely not without iust cause For during that league of amitie the cōmon wealth of either nation was in dede moste florishing And certenly the force of Germany was thā so great that it prescribed lawes not only to the Hongarians Bohemers Poloniās and Deanes but also to the Italians