Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	law_n	liberty_n	parliament_n	4,902	5	6.1958	4	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09567	A famouse cronicle of oure time, called Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of religion and common wealth, during the raigne of the Emperour Charles the fift, with the argumentes set before euery booke, conteyninge the summe or effecte of the booke following. Translated out of Latin into Englishe, by Ihon Daus. Here vnto is added also an apology of the authoure.; De statu religionis et reipublicae, Carolo Quinto Caesare, commentarii. English	Sleidanus, Johannes, 1506-1556.; Daus, John.	1560 (1560)	STC 19848A; ESTC S115937	985,386	980

it Al this time was themperoure at Regenspurg besides thre thousand Spaniardes about fiue thousand fotemen of Almaignes and seuen hundreth horsemen he had no more power commen to him at that time He had sent for the Spaniardes out of Hongary And it were the same whyche after the peace concluded with the French kyng wintered in Lorayne after went through Germany into Hongary as I shewed you in the laste booke The peace lately made betwene Fraunce England chauÌ„ced luckely for the Protestantes for that the Almaignes which had serued the French king came vnto theÌ„ through the coÌ„duite of Counte Bichling George recrode which was client to the Lanzgraue TheÌ„perour that xx day of Iuly by his letters patens doeth outlaw the Duke of SaxoÌ„ and the Lantzgraue In the beginning he accompteth at large what paynes he hath taken hytherto that Germany myght throughly be quyeted what decrees he hath made for the same that no force shulde be don to any man for any kynde of matter but that al thinges might be don by law and custom Agayne he sheweth how the states of th empyre be bounden to him and what fidelitie they ought to perfourme But all these thinges saieth he neglected Iohn Fridericke Electour of Saxonie and Philip Lanzgraue of Hesse by a certen rash boldenes haue at all tymes as muche as in them laye hindred all oure trauaile and paynes taken for the publicke weale neyther haue they ben obedient and haue not only them selues resisted vs but haue also intised other states to doe the lyke and with them to make vnlawful coÌ„spiracies And the Lantzgraue certen yeares past pretending a cause I knew not what attempted war against som of the chiefest states of thempire and inuading their dominions did extort agreat somme of monie And after they both together set vpoÌ„ an other prince of th empyre the cause not knowen and droue him out of his prouince kepte it to them selues They haue also gotten into theyr owne gouernmeÌ„t sondry Bishoprickes and offices as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuile the Lordes wherof are of an auncyente custome vnder the iurisdiction of Th empyre haue theyr place in the consistory amonges other states and as yet also thoughe they haue ofte complayned and sued to vs in all assemblies they deteine them styll in that seruitude They haue also spoyled many of theyr goodes and yerely reuenewes and receyued into theyr tuition the clientes and subiectes of others And nowe lately also throughe a certen singuler boldnes haue sollicited diuers states that they should not come at thys conuention to thintent they myght let our procedynges and brynge vs in contempt And all these thinges doe they so much the more boldely for that they contemne iudgementes and neyther acknowledge nor feare the magistrate For throughe theyr fault the hyghe iudiciall place of Th empyre is taken awaye the lawes kepe silence and of a long tyme now there hathe ben no iustice ministred to the great losse and domage of many and after a straunge example suche as hathe not ben hearde of before And that which is worste of all they worke all these thynges vnder that goodly and pleasaunt name of Religion peace and lybertie For these vse they as clokes to couer theyr doinges where they desyre nothyng lesse than eyther the agrement of relygion or of Germany the peace and libertie certes they can proue by neuer a place of scripture that it is lawfull for them obstinately to resiste theyr hyghe Magistrate in any case but the contrary is most manifest aswell by holy scripture as also by autenticke historyes that those auncient professours of the christen doctryne which confirmed their faithe not in wordes only but also by theyr dedes and death did obey heatheÌ„ princes Wherfore doubtles they ought much lesse to denie vs theyr dewtie vnder the pretence of religion And when they denie that they declare euidently that theyr intente is to take froÌ„ vs the crowne imperiall scepter and all oure authoritie and vsurpe the same to theÌ„selues and when they haue confounded all thinges to oppresse religioÌ„ law peace and lybertye And thus auaunced hyghly with new honours and possessions to bring all men vnder theyr tyrany For this do their wordes testifye ful of malicious threatninges and also their famous libelles and pictures dispersed into all places to the great mockerye contempt of our name Moreouer they haue not only made leagues againste vs in those their conuenticles but haue also styred vp forein kinges against vs secretly aided the same with theyr helpe couÌ„sel Ther be somme olso that cantel what they haue attempted to induce that Turke into Germany Which thing is the rather to be credited for that the same shuld be verey fitte and commodious for their pourpos Wherfore by these theyr doinges they breake theyr allegeaunce that they owe vnto vs and infringe the dignitie of oure office they reiecte all decrees which they neuer estemed otherwyse than yf they had beÌ„ made for thys intent that others myght not repulse violence froÌ„ them selues but that it were permitted to theÌ„ only to doe iniurie to all meÌ„ Therefore they haue fallen into that moste heynous crime of treason and into the condygne punishement for suche an offence by the lawes prescribed And because theyr doinges beknowen there is no nede to declare theÌ„ And albeit that through the authoritie that we haue we might haue punnished them long synce according vnto their demerites yet for the loue of peace and to auoyde trouble we haue fauoured them verye muche graunted to them ofte in many thynges more also than became vs and herin haue oftener than once hurte our owne conscience and minished oure authoritie and not well prouyded for others Thus did we fyue yeres synce at Regenspurge deale moste gentlye with the Lantzgraue two yeres past at Spier with the Duke of Saxon of thys hope verely that they beyng vanquished through our great lenitie pacience and clemencie shulde at the length leaue theyr vngodly deuises and shuld nede of no extreme remedy But where in dede I perceyued that this did no good at all that they abused our gentlenes inasmuche as contemning the decrees of thempire breaking conuenauntes they procede obstinately throughe a licencious lust to rule take other mens landes possessions and wil be bounden to no lawes But seke to subuert the whole state of the publicke weale And certenly vnlesse they be first put to silence neyther can Relygion be accorded nor the other partes of the coÌ„mon weale established and refourmed we are constrayned to vse agaynst theÌ„ the authoritie that god hath geuen vs. And because theyr rebellion is manifest insomuch as they themselues cannot denye agayne for that they woorke by violence and will abyde no iudgment Therfore doe we outlaw them as false rebelles seditious of treason giltie and disturbers of the coÌ„mon quiet and we are prefixed to punnishe them as they haue

maintaine theyr liberty For what time the Frenche king went out of his owne pale which was aboute the eighte day of Marche sendinge vnto them letters and messagers he desired only that they would prepare him vitaile that he might passe through theyr country with his armye promisinge all benenolence And he vsed for his minister the Cardinall Lenoncurt bishop of the Citye who setforth his good will and zeale to the Senate The conestable also wrote vnto them moste frendlye but whan he came neare vnto the citye with his force he desired to be let in and obteined the next day he was master of the gates and of al the fortifications Thither came also afterwardes the kinge him selfe at the xviii day of Aprill and there remaining four daies after he had taken thothe of the Senate and people he appoynted Mounsir GoÌ„norie to be theyr gouernoure and commanded their armure to be deliuered and caried into one place and the Citye to be fortified likewise doth he in the Townes before named and in Loraine and sending his messagers before to Strasburge to Haganawe and other places neare and to the bishoppe of Strasburge required to be aided with Wheate and Uitaile Whan Auspurge was taken as I said and thold Senate restored which themperoure had displaced and the liberty of geuinge of voices restored also to the people the Princes contederated marched towarde Woulmes that refused theyr league Whan they came thither the xii day of Aprill they ride aboute this Citye And whan they were shot at with the greate pieces they damaunde to be satisfied for the iniuries done them with the summe of three hondreth thousande Crownes which denied they becommed their enemies But duke Moris goinge from thence wente to Lintz a towne of Austriche that he mighte vnderstande by kinge Farnando the conditions of peace For he as I said by the Emperoures consent was a meane to intreat a peace Afterwarde the Emperoure exhorted by his letters the chiefest Princes of Germanye that they woulde assaye to quenche this fire and deuise some meanes of peace the whiche he woulde not be againste And where as diuerse required his aide for that thei were able to do nothing against so great a power comforting their myndes he answereth that he hopeth wel that the treatie of peace commenced shall haue a lucky successe if not than will he neyther faile them nor the common weale Whan Woulmes had bene beseged six daies the Princes the .xix. day of Aprill remoued to Stocach a towne of Hegouia There they receiued mony in the French kinges name for thre monethes as is conuenaunted and Gamey Marchiane the Frenche pledge was deliuered For the other Nantoliet died by the waye The Princes pledges whiche they gaue to the Frenche kyng were Christopher Duke of Megelburg and Philip the Lantgraues sonne The last of Aprill the Princes retourne to Thonaw certen myles beneth Woulmes In the meane seasoÌ„ Marques Albert burneth the townes and villages belonging to Woulmes and extorteth money and taketh their castell of Helfesteyne situated on a high hill and placeth therin a garrison and the towne of Gissing nere vnto it whiche is thre myles froÌ„ Woulmes with certen villages by the same he condemneth to paye .xviii. thousand crownes WhaÌ„ Duke Maurice was come to Lintz he propoundeth of deliuering the Lantgraue his father in lawe of appeasing the dissention of Religion and doctrine of wel ordering the common wealth of peace to be made with the French kyng their fellowe and confederate of the outlawes to be receiued agayne into fauour Those were the Ryngrane and others before named and also Erle Hedecke whiche in fourmer yeares gaue hym selfe into the tuition of Duke Maurice as before is sayde Howheit the Emperour had appointed no rewarde against his lyfe least he should offende Duke Maurice as it is to be thought Unto these demaundes Ferdinando with whom were Maximilian his sonne and his sonne in lawe Albert Duke of Bauier and also the Emperours Ambassadours maketh aunswere Howe the Emperour is content that the Lantgraue be set at lybertie yet so that the warre maye cease immediately Touchinge Religion and the common wealth he is well pleased that the matter be determined in the next conuention of German But the Emperour is very lothe that the Frenche kyng shoulde be herein comprised Neuerthelesse Duke Maurice may knowe of him in what sorte he wyl be accorded The outlawes may also be taken to mercie in case they wyl obeye the condition offered by the Emperour Moreouer FerdinaÌ„do requested that whan peace were once concluded Duke Maurice would helpe him in Hongary and that the soldiours should not slippe away to the Frenche kyng Wherunto whan Duke Maurice had aunswered and sayde that that he could determine nothing without the consent of his fellowes they departed so as at the .xxvi. day of May they should mete againe at Passawe whiche is a towne betwene Lintz and Regenspurge where the Ryuers of Thonawe and Oene mete Thither should come also the Princes that were intercessours and their deputies On Maydaye the Lantgraues sonne and Iohn Albert Duke of Megelburg leade the armie of Gundelfinge there lye eight whole dayes together lokyng for Duke Maurice retourne out of Austrich Whan he was come the next daye was the armie munstred at Lawginge a towne of Otto Henry the Pausgraues For they had also recouered his prouince possessed by the Emperour and had expulsed the Byshop of Auspurge out of his countrie And verely Otto the Paulsgraue ioyned hym selfe vnto their league From thence they goe towarde the Alpes And it chaunced at the same tyme that kyng Ferdinando had obteyned of them a truce whiche beginning the .xxvi. daye of May should ende the eight daye of Iune In the meane tyme Themperour leuied a power at the fote of the Alpes whiche assembled at the Towne of Rwe In this hurly burly the Byshop of Auspurge Cardinall which before was not very ryche and had nowe susteyned great losse as I sayde went to Rome that he myght obteyne of the Byshop new promotions and benefices wherwith he might fill vp those sinkes agayne After this the iudges of the chamber imperial flie away from Spiers For by the Frenche king and the Princes in their forsaide wrytinges signified plainly a displeasure ascribed to theÌ„ in a maner the blame of all their trouble The Frenche king came with his armie by the borders of Loraine to Saberne the third day of May foure myles from Strasburg a town belonging to the bishop He had before requested them of Strasburg to ayde his armie with thinges necessary For the whiche cause Ambassadours were sent vnto him to Sarburg seuen myles from Strasburg whiche should offer him a certen quantitie of wheate wyne those were Peter Sturmie Fridericke Gotesseme and Iohn Sleidane But the Conestable accompted that as nothynge whiche they offered And albeit the Ambassadours departed from hym in suche sorte as that they would aduertyse

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

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 freÌ„ch meÌ„ 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 choseÌ„ 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 confessioÌ„ 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 BoÌ„dage 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 eodeÌ„ 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 waÌ„s 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 BauÌ„berge 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 demauÌ„ded 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 purgatioÌ„ 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 geÌ„tlemaÌ„ 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

All theyr requestes wer euery where a like beginning in SuelaÌ„de and passing so vnto others reaching from Thuringe and the borders of Saxonie vnto the toppe of the Alpes and into the couÌ„trey about Salisburge whither after the rebellion appeased in FraÌ„ckonie came also the armye of the Princes confederated and distroied and banished many amoÌ„ges whom was theyr captein Geismer who passed through the Alpes by streyght passages with a part of his hoste to the Uenetians of whom he had an yerely stipende and dwelled at Padwey wheras after he was slaine by treason And this was th end of the Bowres warre in the whiche were slaine in one sommer at the least fiftie thousande The Princes that were of the confederacie and league of SwelaÌ„d so oft mentioned werethese Cesar as Prince of Austriche and his brother Fernando tharchbishop of Mentz the Palsegraue the Bishoppe of Salisburge Bamberge Wirciburge Aistet and Auspurge Wylliam and Lewes brethren Dukes of Bauar Otho Henricke Philip brethren Counties Palatine George Marques of BrandeÌ„burge and Albert his nephewe Philip the Lantzgraue of Hasse diuers others both of the nobilitie and Clergie Moreouer the most part of all the cities in Sweuia and amoÌ„ges other Norinberge About the eight day of Aprill the Masse was put downe at Zuricke by the commaundement of the Senate aswell within the citie as without And in stead of that was instituted the Lordes Supper Lykewise all Ceremonies abolished the Doctrine of Godes worde taketh place and a lawe made againste Fornication and adulterie and Iudges appointed to heare the causes of Matrimony âœš The fyfthe Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common We ale during the Empire of Charles the fyfte â§ The argument of the fyfth Booke MUncer by his newe doctrine teaching goodes to be had in common inflamed the rage of the people hauinge Phifer to his companion Duke Fredericke departeth the princes assemble against Muncer Who perswading the people to resist is discomsited and after executed Luther had written against him toy e senate of Misshuse the requestes which the wurs made at the beginning are here recited Wherunto Luther answereth sheweth their disordre exhorting the magistrate to destroy such wicked men Themperor vnderstanding these troubles appoynteth a counsel at Auspurge Carolostadius exiled from Wittenberg goeth about to make his purgation Luther marieth a nonne Ê’ winglius and he meete at Marseburge to conferre of theyr controuersie of the Lordes supper Whilest the French king was prisoner Pope Clement receiuing letters from the kynges mother solliciteth the parlamente of Paris to make persecusion Faber was constrained to flee wherof the king wing aduertised causeth such suites and actions against learned men to surcease the common welth of Pruse is altered from the Knightes of Germany to a Duke donie and receiueth the Gospell AGreat occasion of this terrible Warre came by rashe lewd preachers wherof Thomas Muncer was principall who leauing of the preaching of the Gospell set forth a new kind of doctrine in Alstet atowne of the Dukes of Saxonye in Thuringe and taughte not only against the byshop of Rome but against Luther also contendinge that bothe their doctrines were vyle and naught the byshop byndeth mens consciences with straight and ouer harde lawes whiche bondes he saide Luther in deede hath lowsed but offended in the contrary parte in geuing ouermuche libertie and not teaching those thinges that are of the spirite The bishops decrees we maye fafely contemne for that they helpe nothynge vnto saluation whiche to obtayne saith he we must first eschewe open crymes as murther adultery blaspheming of gods name the body must be chastened and made leane with fasting simple apparel the couÌ„tenaunce must be framed vnto grauitie speake seldome weare a long beard These such other like thigs he called the crosse the mortifieÌ„g of the flesh a discipline wherw t he that was furnished he said must get him out of coÌ„pany thike oft of god what he is whether he hath any care ouer Whether Christ died for our sakes Whether our religion be better thaÌ„ the Turkes Moreouer to axe of God a sygne wherby he maye testifie that he careth for vs and that we be in the true Religion And albeit he shew not a token by and by yet must we neuertheles procede praie still yea expostulate and braule with God that he dealeth not well with vs For seyng that the Scriptures promiseth that he will graunt such thinges as be demaunded it is not righte that he doeth not exhibite a signe to a man that seketh the true knowledge of him This expostulation anger saieth he is of God well accepted for that he perceiueth herby our earnest minde and zeale And than no doubt but being thus instantly sollicited he will declare him selfe by some notable signe and quenche the thirste of our minde dealinge with vs as he did intymes paste with tholde fathers He taughte moreouer that God opened hys minde by dreames wherin he builded the foundation of his inteÌ„t and loke whose dreame he could interprete him would he praise openly in his sermon And when he had by this meanes allured many to him then began he to take stipulation of them and wrot theyr names that promised him by an othe to ayde him in his pretensed mischiefe For he said he was commaunded of God to distroy all wicked Princes and subsistute new in theyr places He taughte moreouer that all thinges should be coÌ„mon al meÌ„ of like fredom dignitie wherupon the coÌ„mon people leauiÌ„g theyr daily labor toke such things as they neded of others that had store eueÌ„ agaist their wils The dukes of Sax. had banished him what time he begaÌ„ fyrst to preach seditiously thence weÌ„t he to Norin froÌ„ theÌ„ce to Mulhuse wherhe altered the senate droue out the MoÌ„kes entred into theyr possessioÌ„s takig vpoÌ„ hi not only as a preacher but also as a Senator determining al matters as he list For he sayd how he had all thinges shewed him by reuelation loke what he said was to theÌ„ sacred holy These partes plaied he for the space of two or thre monethes And wheÌ„ the Bowres were vp in Swelande Frankonie to the nuÌ„bre of fourtie thousand had discomfited a great parte of the nobilitie taken spoyled fyred many holdes castels as before is mentioned theÌ„ began he to set haÌ„de on seing the time seruing so well for his purpose he cast felde peces in the Gray friers and gote a wonderfull numbre of people out of the CouÌ„trie thinking to get some thiÌ„g He had of his counsell one Phifer a bold and a desperate felow which was much gyuen to dreames and visions in the nighte who dreamed that he sawe in a certeine stable an innumerable sorte of Myse which he put to flight al This toke he as that God had coÌ„maunded him to lead forth his armie

in vayne nor vntrewlye for God threateneth a punyshemente whiche remayneth dewe vnto you also if you handle not this busines ryghtly he that drowned the whole worlde with a flud he that swallowed vp Sodome with a fyrie shoure the same can easely destroye you also what power someuer you haue But it is to be proued easely that you take the name of God in your doinges falsely Wherfore it is not very harde to coniecture what the ende will be For he disceaueth not that sayed they shoulde dye of the sworde whiche toke vnto them selues the sworde that is which by their boldnes vsurped the aucthritie of correctyng others Where as Paule not withstanding commaundeth all men generally tobey the Magistrate with reuerence and feare What wyl you aunswere vnto this whiche will seme to followe the prescript of gods lawe and yet laye holde on the sworde and resiste the Magistrate whome God hathe ordeyned is not this to take the name of God in vayne But you wyll saye the Magistrate is suche as is vntollerable for they take from vs the doctrine of the Gospell in all other thinges they oppresse vs vnreasonably I admitte it be so yet maye not you therfore styre vp commotions and seditions for it is not euery mans pacte to punishe malefactours but this appertayneth to him only vnto whome is geuen the right and power of the sworde as the Scripture planely teacheth Againe not onely the lawes wrytten but also the lawe of nature printed in mennes myndes sheweth that no man ought to be iudge in his owne cause For we be all faulty and blinded with the loue of oure selues Neither can it be denied but that this tumult and sedition of yours is a priuate reuengement for you take vpoÌ„ you the determination of matters the iniuries that you thinke are done vnto you you seke to reueÌ„ge by your own aucthoriti but the same is against Gods lawe the lawe of nature finally against equitie and iustice And seing it is so you are by no meanes able to defend this fact of yours or if you haue any commaundemeÌ„t of God concerning your doinges the same of necessitie must be declared by some notable myracle But it taketh place in you that Christe spake you can see manifestly that is to be rebuked in others but you consider not what wyekednes is in your owne cause The Magistrate doeth naught but you doe muche worse whiche contempnyng Gods commaundement doe entre in to an other mans iurisdiction whiche leaue vnto the Magistrate nothing for what remayneth whan you haue taken a waye his power and authoritie the hygher powers take your goodes or possessions they doe wrong But you take away their iurisdiction in the whiche thynge consisteth all their state both of body and goodes Nowe whether is he more wicked that taketh some parte of your goodes and spareth your lyfe or he that taketh lyfe and goodes also Waye well what is sayde and you shal be founde more wicked But we desyre not their lyfe nor their goodes you wyll saye let hym beleue you that lyst I wyl not Who so taketh awaye the chiefest thyng wyll not be afrayde to take the rest also whiche dependeth vpon the same but let it be as you saye let them enioye their goodes and their lyfe in safitie That whiche you haue done already exceadeth all measure whan you takyng from them all their authoritie wyll be Lordes and Rulers your selues Waye it with youre selues I beseche you in case your enterpryse should be commended and take place there should be no place for iudgement no Magistrate at all eche man myght vse an other as he thought good and what wold followe therof but robbyng and murtherynge one of an other for so sone as one shall thynke hym selfe to haue receyued wrong of another he wyll couet to reuenge hym selfe at his pleasure Whiche if it be amysse and not to be suffered in any man muche lesse should it be permytted to any vnlawfull assemblye or if it maye be suffered it is also to be borne with in all others But what say you if in your assemblye the cause should requyre that euery man woulde pryuatlye auenge his owne cause tell me what woulde you doe Doubtlesse he should be constrayned to stand to the publique iudgement appoynted by you What thyng doth than excuse you that contempne lawes iudgementes and reiecte the Magistrate whom God hym selfe hath appoynted ouer you This lawe wherof we speake nowe is impryuted in all mens hartes and is obserued also of the moste barbarous people for els should ther be a wonderfull confusion in all thynges whiche lawe all beit you did obserue neuer so dilygently yet shoulde you be nothynge better than Turkes or suche other lyke people that knowe not our religion For to be ruled by lawe and Magistrates maketh not a man a good christian for necessitie byndeth them to it maugre their heades Wherfore seing that you do breake this lawe whiche is ingryft in the mynde and common to all men ye are a great deale worse then the Heathen people and farre vnworthy of the name of Christians Whiche tytle because you doe vsurpe to your selues and doe iniury to Goddes name beynge not worthy in deede to be called Turkes for breakyng of the lawe of nature howe shall you stande before the face of Christe what tyme he shal iudge vs al For see therfore agayne and agayne what maner of men your preachers be for I feare lest some blouddy butchers be crept in amonges you whiche perswade you to this in their Sermons to the inteÌ„t that they may through your ayde beare Rule and reigne being carclesse for your saluation God coÌ„maundeth that all vengeaunce be lefte vnto him the scripture teacheth vs to obeye the Magistrate though he be frowarde you ought therfore to be obedient otherwyse you shall Reyse a coÌ„motion in dede but the same shall lyght in your owne neckes for GOD wil not permytte youre lycencious outrage to be vnpunyshed And whylest you seke your lybertie you shall procure to your selfe the losse of lyfe goodes and soule also For the wrath of GOD is kyndled agaynst you And the deuyll ennemye of almens saluations hath sent into your felloweshyp false teachers followyng therfore my counsell beware and amende in tyme. Nowe wyll I speake of the Christian lawe or the lawe of the gospell For as muche as you chalenge to your selues that surname is mete it shold be tryed and knowen what your lawe is in this behalf And first Christ coÌ„maundeth vs not to resist harme but when we are stryken on the one cheke to offer also the other and to hym that taketh awaye your coote he byddeth you to delyuer also your cloke he commaundeth vs both to praye and doe for our enemyes And in the same sense are also many other places of Scripture Nowe consyder with me howe this your enterpryse agreeth with Christes commaundement see howe farre youre

fourthe daye of August they put vp also an other wherin the pouertie coÌ„playned that they were in all cities and townes ouermuche burthened wyth beggyng Freres For that whiche should be a helpe vnto them to susteyn their life was preueÌ„ted caught vp by them and not only that but often tymes also there came to their handes throughe flattrye great landes and legacies to the losse and hynderaunce of many wherfore their deuyse was that they should not be suffered to make anye moo Freres when these are dead and to permytte them that wyll take an other kynde of lyfe vpon theÌ„ to depart out of their cloyster with some annuall stypende And the rest to be geuen to the poore mens boxe Moreouer they thynke it not reason that the clergie should be frelye exempted from al charges and paymeÌ„tes for that priuilege was grauÌ„ted them in tymes past by the lyberalitie of kynges and Prynces but yet at such tyme as they were both fewe in nombre and had but small lyuynges But nowe that they be so many growen to such a welth there is an other consyderation to be had for the cause of their inunitie beyng taken away the benefite also employed taketh place no longer for they do enioye the benefytes and commodities as muche as other men or more for the whiche tribute custome and all other mony is payde agayne to haue ouermany holye dayes whiche hynder the people sore wherunto they are bounden vnder great penaltie and do not only leaue their necessary workes vndone but also in those idle daies offende God diuerse wayes They thynke it also mete to abolish the lawe that is made for the choyse of meates to leaue vnto all men their owne ceremonies tyll the counsell and in no wyse to stoppe the course of the euaÌ„gelical doctrine But after the byshoppes vnderstode the Emperours pleasure they woulde not proceade in matters of religion but thought in this great dissention bet wyxte the Byshop and hym to deferre the thynge tyll some better oportunitie serued when there arose great stryfe among the men chosen whiche were contrary in Relygion the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue all consultation layde asyde ment to go home and commaunded their company to make them ready to take their iournaye That seyng Ferdinando the Archebyshop of Treers and others consyderynge what daunger it were in so peryllous a tyme yf they shoulde thus breakynge of in displeasure conclude vppon nothynge but departe wyth grudge and malyce Founde the meane to Salue this wounde For wherof the commotion in the yere before and what dissention so euer is nowe in Germany sprange vp altogether of the controuersye that is in Relygion they thoughte good to remedye the thynge in tyme. Wherfore to appease certen mens myndes at the laste they made a decre that for the establyshynge of Religion and mayntenaunce of the common peace and tranquilitie it was necessarye to haue a lawfull counsell eyther prouinciall or generall to begyn within a yeare at the furthest And to the entent there shall be no let nor delaye in the same to sende Ambassadours to the Emperour to entreate hym that he woulde consyder the myserable and troublesome state of the Empyre and to repayre shortly in to Germany to holde there a counsell And touchyng the decree made at Wormes thei were contented that untyll the counsell were begonne all men shoulde so demeane them selues in their prouinces as they woulde yelde an accompte of theyr doynges bothe to God and to the Emperour Before this decree was made the Duke of Saxon and the Lantgraue enter in to talke with the Ambassadours of Strausborough Norenberge and Auspurge whiche they sawe fauoured the Gospell concernynge a league that for as muche as they knewe not what the Byshoppes and theyr adherententes intended if it fortuned anye to stande in daunger for Relygion that one myght helpe an other And for as muche as they had a good opinion of them of Frankeforth and Ulmes they woulde not refuse to breake wyth them also in the matter The Ambassadours make aunswere that they had no commission touchynge anye suche matter neuerthelesse they would wryte home ryght diligently The Duke of Saxon had his preachers George Spalatine Iohn Islebie and the Lantgraue had also his The residewe of the Princes requested that they might not preache for feare of any sturre but it was in vayne Fardinando also calling before him the Ambassadours of all cities and accomting vnto them the benefites of his auncesters and the house of Austriche exhorted them to be obedieÌ„t to the Emperour and not to be caried away by the counsell and perswasion of others They decreed also here to sende ayde to the kynge of Hungary but at what tyme the assemblye was finished which was about the ende of August the Turke was entred into Hungarye and had vanquyshed kynge Lewis in battell who was also slayne in the chase At this assemblye were all the Prynces electours sauinge onlye the Marques of Brandenburg The Emperour this sommer maried Isabell daughter to Emanuell kyng of Portugall syster to Iohn whiche had succeded his father What tyme the assemblye was at Spyres thetwelue townes of the Neluetians or Swycers kept a disputatioÌ„ at Badene Thether came the chiefest diuines of the byshop of Romes syde Faber Eckius and Murmer And the byshop of Constance Basill Courtes losanna sent thither their Ambassadours There were theames set vp whiche Eckius defendeth ryght boldely That the very body and bloud of Christe is present in the Lordes supper that it is a trewe oblation for the quicke and dead that the vyrgin Mary and other saynctes must be prayde vnto as intercessours that Images ought not to be taken downe And that after this lyfe there is the fire of purgatory Oecolampadius and others did impugne theÌ„ Zwynglius was absent and in his letters to the Heluetians he declared the cause of his absence and confuted the opinions of Eckius by writing For Zwynglius dred bad measure suspecting bothe the men and the place They concluded thus That all men should perseuer in the same religion that they haue obserued hytherto and receyue no newe doctryne but followe the authoritie of the counsell The byshop of Constaunce had a litle before caused one Iohn Huglie a priest to be brent at Merspurge for that he woulde not allowe the byshops of Romes doctrine in all thinges When Lewys the king of Hongary was thus myserably slayne Ferdinando contended that the kyngdome was dewe vnto hym by a certen composition but he had an aduersarye Iohn Sepuse the vayuode of transsyluania Of the whiche dissentioÌ„ when all the nobilitie states were deuided there arose warre right noysome and hurtfull to the Germanes other nations that dwelled nere For afterwardes the Emperour of Turkes receyuing the Uayuode into his fayth and protection established hym kyng as his tributarye and client and had Buda delyuered vp

cause of religion were decided notwithstanding howe the Emperour in the meane time should appointe certen that should preache without the reproche of any maÌ„ 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 coÌ„maundeth 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 SoleÌ„nities 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 weÌ„t he not to heare masse as gods seruice but to execute his office accoÌ„panied with George Marques of Brandenburg none of the rest came there from masse he came to the court of parliameÌ„t There Frederick couÌ„te Palatin excuseth the long abseÌ„ce of themperour repeteth the causes of the calling of that asseÌ„blie After this was recited a loÌ„g oration writteÌ„ as the maner is wheriÌ„ was aswel declared the cause of themperours departure out of Germany into Spayne of his loÌ„g abode there as also of his returne now the calliÌ„g of this asseÌ„blie which is instituted chiefly for two causes th one for establishing of religioÌ„ 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 coÌ„sidering 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 meÌ„ ful many a thousaÌ„d 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 coÌ„men 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 coÌ„corde 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 occasioÌ„ he wyll retourne with a greater power to the vtter destruction of all especially Germanye wherfore to be very neful requisite to coÌ„sulte 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 vaÌ„quished 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 flaÌ„ke 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 religioÌ„ 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 vnderstaÌ„de 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 deliberatioÌ„ 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 deuotioÌ„ 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 estimatioÌ„ 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

the .xiiij. daye of Nouembre pronounceth it to be of none effecte The fyft daye after in the Emperours presence was the decree recited before all the states and after a long discourse of the handlyng of all matters the Emperour decreeth that they shuld no longer be suffered that teache otherwyse of the Lordes supper than hath bene obserued hytherto that in the Masse eyther common or priuate nothyng be altered that chyldren be confyrmed with chresme sycke folkes annoynted with oyle consecrated that no Images be remoued and where they be taken awaye to be restored that the opinioÌ„ of them that denye man to haue fre wyll be not receyued for that it is beastly and also contumeliouse against God that nothyng be taughte any where agaynst the authoritie of the magistrate that the opynion that fayth only iustifieth take no place that the Sacramentes of the church be in numbre and place accustomed that the ceremonies of the churche rites obsequies for the dead and suche other be obserued that benefices vacant be imployed vpon mete persones that suche priestes and men of clergie whiche haue maried before this tyme be depriued of their benefices whiche immediatly after this assembly shal be geuen to others But suche as forsakyng theyr wyues wyll retourne to their olde profession and be absolued the byshop may restore by the consent of the byshop of Rome or his legate But the others to haue no refuge in any place but banyshed or extremely punyshed that the priestes be of honest conuersation their apparell decent and commonly that they auoyde all sclaunder That the preachers exhorte the people to heare Masse to praye to the virgyn Mary and other sainctes to kepe their holy dayes and fasting dayes to abstayne from meates forbodene to releue the poore to tell the Monkes howe they may not forsake theyr profession and ordre briefly that nothyng be altered in Religion they that shall do otherwyse to lose bodye and goodes that where as Abbeys be pulled downe they be reedified and what soeuer hath bene taken awaye from the clergie to be restored that the wonted ceremonies and rites may be accomplyshed And suche as be followers of the olde Religion dwellyng within the lymites of the coÌ„trary parte and allowe this decree shall be receyued in to the protectioÌ„ of the Empire and shall flitte whether they lyste without any hynderaunce that the byshop of Rome shal be called vpon to apoynte a counsell in some place conuenient within syxe monethes that afterwarde the same may begynne as shortly as may be and at the furthest within a yeares space that all these thynges be ratified and establyshed Al exceptions or appellations made to the contrary to be voyde and of none effect And to the intent this decree may take place and be obserued as coÌ„cerning religion the force and power that God hath geueÌ„ them shal be wholy applied hereunto and their lyfe and bloude also spent in the same quarell Duryng this Parliament Luther by the commaundement of his Prynce was at Coburge in the borders of Frankony to the intent he myght be nerer Auspurge in case the matter requyred his aduyse or counsell And though he were absent yet to the intent he myght some what further the commoÌ„ benefit he wrote a booke to the byshoppes Prelates in that assemblye wherein he sheweth what the state of the churche hath bene vnder the byshop of Rome what wicked doctrine what shamefull errours And with moste weightye wordes admonisheth theÌ„ of their dutie chargeth them to be of cruell bloudy mindes and agayne exhorteth them not to let slippe the occasion nowe to redresse their euyll He sheweth them howe his doctrine is agreable to the bookes of the Prophetes Apostles and proueth that is in vaine what soeuer they consulte or imagine against God In this malyce threatheninge of the Emperour and Byshops Melancthon was discouraged and careful in his mynde not for his owne cause but for posterities sake and gaue hym selfe wholy to pensiuenes wepynge and mournynge But when Luther knewe therof he comforteth hym with sondrye letters And for as muche as it is no mennes matter but the cause of almyghtie GGD he admonyshed hym that layinge al thought and care a parte he caste the whole burthen vpon hym And why sayeth he doest thou thus afflicte and tourment thy selfe If God hath geuen his sonne for vs why do we tremble and feare why doe we syghe and lamente Is Sath an stronger than he Wil he that hath geuen vs so great a benefite forsake vs in lyghter matters Whye shoulde we feare the worlde whiche Christe hath vanquyshed If we defende an euyll matter why doe we not chaunge or pourpose If the cause be iust and Godlye why truste we not to Gods promyses Certenly the Deuyll can take no more from vs but our lyfe But Christ liueth and reigneth for euer in whose protection consisteth the veritie He wyll not cease to be with vs vnto the Worldes ende If he be wyth vs. I beseche you where shall he be founde If we be not of his churche doe you thynke that the byshop of Rome and our other aduersaries be of it We be synners in dede dynerse wayes but yet for all that Christe is no lyer whose cause we haue in hande Let kynges and nations fret and fume as muche as euer they lyste He that dwelleth in heauen shall laughe them to skorne God hathe gouerned and maynteined this cause hetherto without our counsell the same shall also from henceforth bryng it to the ende wyshed for Touchyng lawes and traditions of men that you wryte of the aunswere is not harde For both the fyrst coÌ„maundement and al the Prophetes also doe coÌ„dempne suche maner of workes They may be a bodely exercyse but if they come ones to worshyppyng it is idolatry As for any agremeÌ„t it is in vayne loked for for neyther can we depose the byshop of Rome neyther can the true doctrine be in safetie so longe as Popery shall endure In that you wyll haue the Lordes supper to be communicated wholy and geue no place to your aduersaries whiche holde it to be indifferent you doe well For it is not in our arbitremeÌ„t to decree or suffer any thynge to be vsed in the churche whiche hathe not Gods worde to beare it They crye out that we condempne the whole churche but we saye how the churche was violently taken and oppressed with tyrannye when the communion was deuided in the middes and therfore to be holden excused as the whole Synagoge was excused that in the captiuitie of Babylon it kepte not the lawe of Moses other ceremonies beyng by force prohibited that they coulde not doe it Take hede in any wyse that you graunt not to the byshops ouer muche iurisdiction lest more trouble ensue there of hereafter All this treaty of a concorde in doctryne is cleane agaynst my mynde For the labour is spent in vayne vnlesse the byshop

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 coÌ„mon wealth therfore do they ernestly beseche him to impute this their writing to the loue of him their couÌ„trey 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 coÌ„mon 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 couÌ„sayle 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 theÌ„ 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 LuneÌ„burge 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 coÌ„mon 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 BrandeÌ„burge 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 violeÌ„ce but seyng that both they and their auÌ„cesters 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 coÌ„munication with the princes in ColloÌ„ 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 confideÌ„ce 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 FerdinaÌ„do 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 weÌ„t to Brussel in Brabant âœš 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 â§ 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 Ê’ uricke wherein Ê’ 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

loke as theyr Duke Ernest would doe so woulde they also Afterwarde they consulted about geuyng theyr voices for sodayne ayde leuieng of money for continuall ayde chousyng of Captaines and receiuing of those that would be of the same league After that they appointed theyr attourneis and aduocates to aunswere for them in the lawe if the Emperour or any other should attempte sute against them And to this parte of defence adioyned them selues George Marques of BrandeÌ„burge Norinberge Campedowne Heilprune but the league they refused It was decreed moreouer that open crymes should be punished by eche man in his dominion Before the league was made they toke the aduyse and counsell not only of lawyers but also of the diuines And Luther taught alwayes that they myght not resiste the Magistrate and set forth a boke of the same matter But where as the lawyers in this consultation dyd affyrme howe the lawes did permitte in some cases to resiste and howe it was nowe come to the same point that the lawes made mencion of Luther confessed playnlye that he knewe not this to be lawfull before but for because the Gospell doeth not impugne nor abolyshe the polityke lawes as he hathe alwayes taught And agayne for as muche as in this doubtful and dauÌ„gerous tyme many thynges may happen so as not only the lawe it selfe but also the force of conscience and necessitie may dryue vs to take weapons he sayeth howe they make a league in their owne defence whether the Emperour hym selfe or any in his name shoulde moue warre against them In a booke also set forth he declareth firste howe obstinate the Romishe syde was in the conuocation at Auspurge secondly he warneth all men in generall that they obeye not the Magistrate commaunding them to take in hande any suche warre And he reciteth manye and moste detestable errours of the Romyshe doctryne whiche he sayth are mainteined of them that warre in those campes Wherein he sayeth is great wickednes he sheweth also howe greatly mens myndes are lyghtened by the knowledge of the Gospell warnyng men to tempre them selues from entryng in to wycked warres They appoyted an other metynge at Frankefurte the fourth daye of Iune wherein they should determyne whether they of Zurick Bernes or Basyll shoulde be receyued into the league without exception of any opinion or doctrine and the cities make a determinate answer touchyng the preparation for their defence And also an aunswer was framed in the meane tyme by the Duke of Saxon to the Emperours letters wylling them to take FerdinaÌ„do for kyng of Romanes which thynge they wil not graunte to But whylest they were yet at Smalcalde they receyued letters from the Emperoure pourportinge howe the great Turke was comyng with an exceading great Armie to inuade Germany wherfore he charged them without exception to prepare their ayde to resiste They make aunswere howe they wyll after thensample of their progenitours refuse no charge or dutie that they owe to the coÌ„mon wealth But he knoweth what threatning wordes the Marques of Brandenburge spake vnto them at Auspurge in his name and the rest of the Prynces and what thynges were there decreed against them howe they haue both there and synce sewed vnto hym for peace and can get no graunte nor answere Wherfore to sende their ayde agaynst the Turke whan they can obtayne no peace at home but are dryuen to loke dayly for outlawyng and violence were to vnarme them selues and to cut their owne senewes Howe be it if he wyll graunte them peace and quietnes froÌ„ the lawe and ciuile warre for Religion vntyll the tyme of the counsell they wyll doe agayne for theyr partes not only in the Turkyshe warre but also in all other affayres that concerne the common wealth that thynge whiche shall be their dutie requesting him to signifie vnto them by the same Ambassadours what his mynde and pourpose is herein In the moneth of Marche Rychard Archebyshop of Treers departed out of this lyfe not without the suspicion of poyson and one of his house being racked for the same through his constance and stoutenes escaped the daaunger This byshop was of great authorite emonges the Electours for his experience and frankenes in speakyng Whan they of Ulmes had asked leaue of the Senate of Strausborough Bucer went thether set an ordre in the churches prescrybing them a forme of Religion by the aduyse and counsell of Oecolampadius and Ambrose Blanrer About this tyme the Lady Mary the Emperours syster which was maried to Lewys kyng of Hongary came into Flaunders whom the Emperour made Regent of all the base countreis in the place of hys aunte Margaret lately departed Clement the seuenth was at sute with alphonse Duke of Farrare for the cities of Rhegio Mutina at the length makyng a compromisse they put it to the Emperours arbitrement who being at the same tyme in Brabant gaue sentence with the Duke of Farrare The Frenche kyng aunswereth to the letters of the Princes and cities of Protestauntes the .xxi. of Aprill How he desyreth nothing more than the concorde of all Europe and is right glad that they do also bende the same waye and couet to haue a counsel for the same appeareth vnto hym to be not only profitable but also ryght necessary And so ofte as he chaunceth into talke of refourming the coÌ„mon wealth He iudgeth alwayes thatthere can be no surer foundation than if that holy spyrit vtterer of all truthe myght in this case be president Whereunto if others would geue lyke consent and a place myght be assigned for the counsell voyde of all daunger and suspicion where as euery man myght speake his minde frely nothyng be chief geuen to affections than in dede there were good hope that all should be well And where as they are carefull lest he should beare them the lesse good wyll by reasons of the sclaunders of their aduersaries they nede not to be afrayde for he is not wont to credit thynges lightlye that are reported of his ennemies but seing there is so great so auncient frendshyp betwene the kynges of Fraunce and Prynces of the Empyre what vngentylnes were this of his allies and frendes to coÌ„ceaue a sinistrall opinion especiall and they not harde for how muche he setteth by this olde amitie hereby it is well perceyued that what tyme he hath warre with the Emperour yet haue the Germaynes the citezens of the Empyre free accesse into Fraunce and libertie to passe from thence againe whan their marchaundise busines is done as muche at their owne pleasure as if they were at home in so muche as Fraunce may very well be called the mansion place of the prynces and citezens of Germany And al be it these thynges be coÌ„monly knowen yet are they not so great but that when occasioÌ„ shall serue he wyl do muche more for them in case as they do professe they shall not refuse the decree of a

Zwynglians was ment that the Prynces myght be sequestred from the moste parte of the cities and in this treaty the intercessours did so expounde it that if the Zwynglians would acknowledge theyr errour and forsake it they myght also be comprysed in this peace if not to be refused neyther to ayde them nor enter into league with them But the last yeare at Smalcalde the Protestantes were accorded And what time thei of Strausborough and certen cities of Sweuia had more playnly expounded their opinion propounded at Auspurge concerning the Lordes Supper their declaration was excepted of the Saxons And therfore now with one mynde they aunswere all one and the same thynge to eueryry requeste and at the length propounde these conditions of peace That they which at Auspurge did exhibite the confession of theyr doctrine and an Apologie of the same and suche as hereafter shall receiue the same doctrine do consiste within these lymites and renewe nothynge furthermore vntyll the counsell so often tymes promysed and poynted vpon That they ioyne not with them as concernyng theyr doctryne whiche teache otherwyse of the Lordes Supper of Baptisme than is specified in their wryting exhibited at Auspurg that thei neyther allure vnto them nor maynteyne an other mans Subiecte through the occasion of Religion Howe be it if it shall be lawfull for any men eyther by lawe or condition to go whether they wyll whan they shal haue first declared the same to their Lordes or Magistrates they may flitte and remoue if they wyll and be receiued That they sende forth no preachers without their owne limites to preache vnlesse that eyther the Magistrate of that place desyre or permitte hym so to doe whan any assembly shall happen to be there For if he refuse than it shal be lawfull for them to doe it at home And if they shal be eyther at the counselles of the Empyre or sende the power agaynste the Turke let them at suche tymes vse theyr owne preachers and also the Lordes Supper accordyng to Christes coÌ„maundement let them absteyne from the reproches not withstanding let the Ministers of the churche according to their dutie reprehende errours and vices with a modestie and shewe them the thynge that is ryght That such as be of their Religion be not secluded from the chamber imperiall that the ecclesiasticall iurisdiction remayne in place as it nowe is And that it shall not be lawfull for byshoppes to moleste or brynge in trouble any man for professyng this doctrine That sentences geuen concernynge Religion iurisdiction Ceremonies churche goodes whiche are not yet put in execution be differed tyll a generall counsell Let them vse the churche goodes whiche remayne in those places wherunto those gooodes do properly appertayne neyther let any thyng be violentlye taken from any man and that the yerely reuenewes be brought to the same places as they haue bene of olde tyme accustomed tyll the counsell shall otherwyse determine it In al ciuile matter let euery man do his office and dutie let all men tende the common wealth and shewe mutuall faith and beneuolence When the matter was brought vnto this poynt and woulde come no nerer the intercessours continue styll theyr purpose and to the intent that all thynges myght be reported to the Emperour more spedely they appointe an other metynge at Norynberge the thyrde daye of Iune And there at the laste albeit the ful agrement was not had yet for as muche as the Turke inuading Austriche necessitie requyred to make all the power againste hym that myght be gathered the Emperour doth establyshe an vniuersall peace throughout Germany and decreeth that no man be molested for Religion vntyll the tyme of the generall counsell and if there be none vntyll the states of the Empyre shall fynde an other meane to redresse this controuerste vnto such as shal do otherwyse he appoynteth great punyshement And sayeth he wyll do all his endeuoure that it may be called within this half yeare and begynne within a yeare after And if this can not be obteined that then the matter shal be discussed in the counsell of the Empyre wherfore he chargeth and commaundeth that all suytes and proces in the lawe commenced for Religion shal in the meane tyme be let falle and suspended And if any thyng be otherwyse done against the protestauntes he commauÌ„deth it to be voyde and of none effect Agayne the Protestauntes which were than seuen Princes and .xxiiij. cities offer vnto hym their obediences and seruice and promyse him ayde against the Turke This peace was concluded by the intercessours the .xxiij. of Iuly and the Emperour whom they aduysed by letters and messengers confirmed it the seconde of August caused it to be proclaymed openly commaunding the counsell of the Empyre and other iudges to obey the same It was decreed in the counsell at Auspurge that the iudgement of the counselles chamber should be refourmed Wherunto the Emperour appointed two in his name and moreouer chose the archebyshop of Mentz and the Palsgraue Prynces Electours also the byshop of Spyres and of Strausborough and Philip the Marques of Brandenbourgh Euery one of these sent his depute to Spyres at the begynnynge of Marche who made there certen lawes whiche concerned partly the iudges pattly the aduocates and partly the suters Which they exhibited to the Emperour in this assemblie at Regenspurge who lyked the reformation well and added a fewe thynges to the same In the laste booke before this you haue hearde howe the Emperour vnded the conuenantes betwene Alberte Duke of Pruse and Sigismunde king of Pole But where as Albert perseuered in his purpose he was outlawed at this tyme by the Iudges of the Emperiall chambre at the sute of Walter Cronberge Whiche thynge whan the kynge of Pole vnderstoode he sent his Ambassadour to this assemblie to declare howe the lande of Pruse hath of olde tyme bene vnder the defence and tuition of his realme Wherfore he desyreth that this sentence of outlawerye maye be reuersed But Cronberge with a long oration had the thyrde daye of Iune proueth it to be vnder the iurisdiction of the Empyre and to belong nothing at al to the kynges of Pole And al be it that his predecessours vanquyshed in battell were constrained to geue their fidelitie to Casmire father vnto Sigismunde yet was the same cleane contrary to the conuenauntes made before tyme whiche thynge he is able to proue by the testimony of Albert him selfe who coÌ„fessed the same eight yeares synce in the assemblie at Norinberge Therfore requyreth he that the requeste of the kynge of Pole set a parte the sentence geuen agaynst Alberte may be put in execution This yeare Christierne kynge of Denmarke who had bene ten yeares a banyshed man prouyded a nauie intendyng to recouer his kyngdome but he was taken on the sea and committed to warde and about the same tyme died hauing a towarde young man to his sonnne and broughte vp with the

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 coÌ„ditions For religioÌ„ 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 FerdinaÌ„do 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 coÌ„dicions and that within the same time the Emperour shall also coÌ„firme 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 SaxoÌ„ 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 LaÌ„tgraue 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 coÌ„dicioned 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 coÌ„moditie 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 FerdinaÌ„do 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 FerdinaÌ„do shall entreate that the Emperour will also forgeue theÌ„ 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 theÌ„ 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 coÌ„sideratioÌ„ 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 WilliaÌ„ Duke of Bauer after that he was remoued froÌ„ thence to Insprouek a towne of Ferdinandos in the countie of Tirol And wheÌ„ after the Turkes retire as I sayde before the Emperour retourned into Italy he through the motion aduise of his frendes coÌ„ueyeth 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 strauÌ„ge countrey made religious but after that his father was restored he weÌ„t into FrauÌ„ce attended vpon the freÌ„ch king When the matter was pacified the LaÌ„tgraue sent a messager with letters to the Emperour in Spain the coÌ„ditions 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 theÌ„ selues shold assemble altogether come to some vnitie concord for the furtherauÌ„ce 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 religioÌ„ 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 coÌ„maunded 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 coÌ„prysed 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 innoceÌ„t 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 meÌ„ of Fraunce and Germany it requireth a long deliberation and diuerse coÌ„missions 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

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 âœš 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 â§ The argument of the eleuenth Booke THe Protestantes hauing declared to the Emperour by ambassade three poyntes Heldus coÌ„ming 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 couÌ„saile 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 vicechauÌ„celour 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 theÌ„ but chiefly they of Auspurge which haue oftentymes sollicited the Emperour both in Italy and Spayne about ReligioÌ„ 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 whaÌ„ 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 coÌ„mendeth 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 theÌ„ 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 experimeÌ„ts than one As touchinge the iudgement of the imperiall chambre The Emperours commaundemeÌ„t 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 coÌ„maunded theÌ„ that of such matters as thei supposed were sequestred from religioÌ„ 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 seditioÌ„ and

should seme to be done in contempt of the Emperours iurisdictioÌ„ 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 perswasioÌ„ 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 FreÌ„che 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 beloÌ„ging 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 coÌ„sortes 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 MeÌ„tz the Palsgraue were intercessours How after much long deliberation there appered no surer way to establish the coÌ„monwelth than to grauÌ„te 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 coÌ„prised 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 chaÌ„ber in their opinioÌ„ able to proue the coÌ„trary But now where he sayth how themperour gaue them authoritie to iudge of qualitie of matters it is to them greuouse For they accoÌ„pt 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 ReligioÌ„ is preiudiciall ought to be determined by a counsell before suche matters be examined as depend vpoÌ„ the same And seing that benefites are imployed for desert dutie they can not suffer that those which wtin their dominions folowe a coÌ„trary religioÌ„ froÌ„ 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 coÌ„cerneth the coÌ„scieÌ„ce of the mynde there remaineth no place to right of possessioÌ„ or of restitutioÌ„ And seing that wheÌ„ the coÌ„positioÌ„ was made at NoriÌ„berg they expresseli named al actioÌ„s sutes which hanged then eyther in the chaÌ„ber or other courtes of iudgemeÌ„t exhibiting theÌ„ to the intercessours as matters of religioÌ„ who promised than to fynde the meanes that themperour should exempt theÌ„ froÌ„ iudgement The same thing also king FerdinaÌ„do toke vpoÌ„ him in thasseÌ„blie of Cadane by those wordes of proclamatioÌ„ where theÌ„perour cutteh of all ple all authoritie to iudge of the state of matters was cleane taken away froÌ„ the iudges of that imperial chaÌ„ber And although they wold not report euil of theÌ„ yet many seyng theÌ„ ready to geue sentence agaynste them wer incouraged to rather to comeÌ„ce their actioÌ„s which thing is to be prouoked

the expresse wordes of the composition sealed and confirmed by the Emperour hath taken vpon them to heare and determine and to call before them diuerse for the alteration of Religion for Rites ceremonies and churche goodes whiche thyng were playnly exempted in the pacification concluded But the iudges of the imperiall chamber being also of a contrary Religion bounden by their othe to geue sentence as well after the prescript of the byshop of Romes lawe as of the Emperours doe lyttle regarde the compositioÌ„ of the peace but procede directly against it Wherfore they haue iust cause to refuse theyr iudgement and to desire a reformation and that for diuerse considerations whiche are also before mentioned For first the iudges of the imperiall chamber are for the moste parte of a coÌ„trary Religion they are bounde by an othe to iudge after the decrees of the Byshop of Rome as wel as after the lawes of the Empire Thei beare fauour to our aduersaries and that manifestly and frowne vpon vs and our fellowes They medle with mere matters of Religion contrary to the Emperours proclamation Finally they haue condeÌ„pued our coÌ„federatours of Hamborough only for matters of ReligioÌ„ in a great somme of gold so would procede against others in case they were not refused And as touching the names of them that are come into their league synce the peace making they had long synce wrytten and sent to the Emperour in Italy by their Ambassadours Who seing the tyme of the counsell so longe differred ioyned them selues in league with theÌ„ iudgyng it mete to preferre their conscience before any ciuile bonde last where hedesyreth to knowe the fourme and maner of their league thei maruell that he will requyre it considering that the Emperour knoweth it well inough and made meanes by the intercessours at Norinberg that they should haue left it but they made hym suche aunswere than as he moued them no more herein howe their aduersaries haue geuen the occasion hereof For what mischiefe they haue deuysed against theÌ„ it is right well knowen And this league of theirs is ordeined to iniurie no man but to defende them selues and is framed of suche condicions as if nede require it may be declared to the Emperour or any man els without any shame at all And as concerning suche thynges as he spake of the counsell and of the Emperours mynde towardes the common wealth they lyke very well all Howe they do beleue also that the Emperour knoweth not the byshoppes minde herein therfore procureth the counsell so ernestly But what opinion the Emperour hath of the bishop thei wil leaue vndiscussed Neuerthelesse for as much as his wrytte is coÌ„trary to the Emperours minde and altogether suspicious they can not dissemble what they thinke thereof For before the counsell do begyune he hath condempned their doctrine not only in word but in dede also and also it is wel knowen how that in all assemblies where religion is treated of albeit thei see that the Scripture maketh against them yet wyl they presume and take vpon them the authoritie of determination And although they are mynded in a lawefull counsel to accuse the byshop and his complices of false doctrine heresy and impietie yet is there no doubte but that he will after his accustomed maner be both partie and iudge also For that is his entent the wrytte it selfe wittenesseth whiche if they should ones allowe it were in vain and to late afterward to talke of any conditions or fourme of disputation in the counsell And whether this be suche a counsell than as the Emperour and the states of the Empyre haue in diuerse assemblies agreed vpon they leaue it to the opinion of any indifferent iudge For euermore those wordes a free and a Christian counsell were wyselye pourposely added and the same in deede not to be so taken as that it should be lawfull only for euery man to speake his minde there but also that neyther the bishop nor his adherentes which are depely bound through their fidelitie and promyse one to an other should pronounce sentence in their owne causes And the other ought not so to be interpreted as though there were no place in the counsell for the Turkes and suche others but that accordinge vnto holy Scripture all partes of doctrine might be examined and determined And how they know moreouer that not in one countrey only but euery where also in the whole worlde are Godly and learned men dispersed here and there whiche thinge refresheth their spirites to thinke vpon considerynge hopyng that in case this vnreasonable power of the byshop of Rome might be diminished and that all thinges shoulde not depende vpon one mans coÌ„maundement it would come to passe that not only their diuines but also diuers other good men in sondry countreis whiche being now oppressed with his tyrannie hyde theÌ„ in coruers and sayde nothyng would applie their whole study and endeuour to the refourmation of the churche And now as concerning the place of the counsell they knowe not where it should better be chosen than in Germany For albeit the counsell doth also appertayne to other nations yet chiefly it concerneth the Germaines whiche must come thether them selues with the ministers of their churches where as other kynges Prynces may do the thing by their deputes after the olde woÌ„ted maner of long tyme accustomed Furthermore what the situation and coÌ„moditie of MaÌ„tua is they wyl not dispute of but there is now warre in Italy but in case there were none yet haue they lately declared why that place ought to be of them suspected How the Duke of MaÌ„tua him selfe is affected they wyll not reason but his owne brother is one of the chiefest Cardinalles whiche maketh muche to encrease the suspition Therefore if other nations shall heare one of their reasons wherfore they doe refuse both the place and fourme of pleadyng they doubte not but they wyll allowe the same and if they did not than should they in dede conceaue of them a wronge opinion The Emperour knoweth also that in Germany be many cities as commodious for the pourpose as Mantua and the whiche ought chiefly to be respected muche commended for equitie and iustice For those secret and priuie conspiracies to dispatche men out of the waye are not so well knowen and practised in Germany as they be in some other places And where as thei cleaue and sticke on this wyse to the decrees of the Empyre and wyll not permitte them selues to be remoued from the same it ought to seme no maruell nor newes to the Emperour For also in tymes past Liberius Bishop of Rome the frende and fawtour of Athanasius required the Emperour Constantine to call a counsell at Alexandria where the defendant and plaintiues dwelled And albeit that the same place was nothing commodious for the West churche And although the Emperour alledged that Athanasius and his fellowes were by the consent of the whole

our daies and therfore desyred a counsell that the wrong beyng redressed concorde might be reteined But in this our time a Counsell is muche more nedefull for as muche as the same errours and vices do remaine in sundry places and strife and contention is arrisen and many therefore are in daunger of their lyues that be innocent persons For these therfore so weightie considerations not onely we but themperour also and the residew of the states and Bishoppes haue determined that acounsell is chiefly necessary for the Church wherin the pure doctrine might be mainteined For vnlesse it were of suche sort they sawe right well howe it would styre vp a greater confusion But behold whilest we loke for such a counsell the Bishops Buls come forth quite contrary to the decrees of th empyre And because it doth not coÌ„cerne vs only but also the whole commen wealth of Christendom we haue thought nedefull by this publike writyng to testifie and declare wherefore we discommende this counsell For the power and Authoritie of Iudgement belongeth not onely vnto Bishoppes but vnto the churche Of which numbre verely are all kinges and all other states Wherfore al beit the Bishoppe of Rome were nothing at all accused yet were not this to be graunted him that he alone and his should be iudges excludyng other ministers of the churche but seyng manifestly that he is a partie one of the suters much lesse ought it to be permitted because it is both against Gods lawe and also the lawe of Nature But we accuse the Bishop of Rome of no smale crimes neyther do we dispute onely of his vsurped Authoritie and abhominable liuinge but we reprehende his doctrine his lawes and wicked Religion that is we accuse him as giltie of Idolatrie and Heresie Whiche crimes beyng obiected the Bishoppe ought not but the churche to geue iudgement as the olde lawes of the Bishoppes them selues do testifie Furthermore the Bishoppe is not only one of the parties but because he hath condemned oure doctrine longe before he hathe heaped vpon him selfe the greater suspition And seyng it is thus who can doubte what his iudgement shal be in the counsell concernynge our doctrine For it is not to be thought that he will contrary to his olde custome permit any other man to haue the determination of matters And wheras in his writynge he speaketh nothyng of the maner of treatie in the Counsell we haue iust cause to suspecte all thynges the more For he calleth them onely thither which are bounden vnto him diuerse wayes of whose good willes he is assured And he protesteth also this to be the cause of calling the counsel that the Heresies sprong vp of late might be weded out And albeit the same may be taken largely yet is there no doubt but he meaneth it of our doctrine For it is not credible that he speaketh of his own errours Yea after he sent forth an other writynge touchinge the reformation of the Courte of Rome wherein by expresse wordes he confesseth that the Counsell is called for this intent that the Pestiferous Heresie of Luther might be abolished And so in dede at the fyrst he couered his mynde crastely that his writte myght haue some shewe but he disclosed it afterwarde Wherfore there is doubte but that he is fullye bente to roote oute our doctrine And what madnes were it than for vs to allow this his intention For this goeth he about that suche as receiue his writyng shoulde confesse oure doctrine to be wicked and Hereticall Moreouer that Kynges and Princes whiche admitte the same shoulde be bounden to aide and asiste him Therfore seing the thing concerneth the vniuersal common wealth we beseche all men that they will consider diligentlye thys his crafte and policie For it is to be marueiled whie he conceaued his writynge with suche wordes And there is a doubt whether he did it to the intent to feare vs from the Counsel or by the approuing of the writte to haue vs intrapped But amonges vs assuredly there is no doubt but that themperours mynde is to further the common wealth neyther do we thinke that he will allowe this forme of writte But the Byshoppe hathe not onely appoynted the Counsell but hathe also pronounced sentence against vs. For he will not permitte that the matter may be tried by the Scriptures but he will aledge his own lawes custome and certen Counselles of the latter time to proue the matter But we chiefly hold affirme the mens traditions that are contrary to Gods worde oughte to be reiected For we admit the doctrine of the church but the Byshops errors tyrannie ought not to be coloured with the title of the church Tholde church neyther receiued any law coÌ„trarie to the Scripture nor attributed the vnmeasurable power to the Bishop of Rome which he now taketh vpon him selfe And againe yâ— sorte of men which do condemne persecute by the doctrine of the gospell be not the church but paricides the generatioÌ„ ofspring of Cam. And in old time in dede godly Bishops dyd oftentimes refuse couÌ„sels seing the same to be called not to defende the veritie but either for the main tenauÌ„ce of some wicked opinon or els to establishe some meÌ„ in Authoritie Themperor CoÌ„stantine had assigned a counsel at Antioche But Maximus Bishop of Hierusalem albeit it was not farre of came not thither for because he knewe themperors minde what the Arrians intended And although Athanasius came to the couÌ„sell at Tyrus yet taried he not long for that he saw the chiefest of the couÌ„sel plaie the parts both of the accusers Iudges And for that he saw certen accusers procured against him There was holdeÌ„ a great counsel at SirmiuÌ„ a town in Hungry against Photynus for the matter was weightie And albe it themperour coÌ„maunded the Bishops to come thither yet wold not they of the west partes obey him for that they sawe there a numbre of Arrians there encreased suspected that some false opinion shoulde there be decreed That time was Osius Bishop of Corduba a famous man whom themperor at the request of the Arrians commaunded also to come thither out of Spaine When he was come he approued that perilous counsell of Sirmie which brought afterwardes a great consusioÌ„ to the church for this cause was Osius sore reproued of Hilarie whiche came not there Cyrillus Bishop of HierusaleÌ„ neuer came at their assemblies which denied Christ to be of the same substannce with the father is accompted the fyrst that euer appealed from the counsell by writyng There was a Counsell kepte at Millan and the Bishoppes called thither by the Emperour But what time Paulinus Bishoppe of Treuers and a fewe others sawe howe Anxentius the Byshoppe of Millan and his mates went about an euill purpose they departed brake vp that Counsell After this sort did those worthy men flie at suspected counselles lest they should be made partakers of

Prynces also to geue their assistaunce after the forme of the league What time these thinges were thus come to light because there was great daunger towarde and the occasion of warre was sought of them the LaÌ„tgraue furthwith wrote his letters to his father in lawe Duke George and declaringe the whole matter as it stoode sheweth how he hath great wrong offered him how he maketh no preparation for warre About the same time Matthias Helbus rode in great post haste through FrauÌ„ce into Spayne to the Emperour Afterwardes the Lantgraue wrote to king Ferdinando and to his syster Mary Regent of Flaunders to the Princes Electours the Dukes of Bauier after the same sorte as he did to Duke George his father in lawe and maketh his purgation Whan the Duke of BruÌ„swicke perceiued that the matter was disclosed and heard of the Lantgraues letters he aunswereth that he hath not susteined wrong at his handes only whiche nowe hath taken his Secretary but also by the Duke of Saxon the last yeare whan by the commaundement of kyng Ferdinando in the Emperours name he went to Duke George of Saxony and againe comming home from Norinberge what tyme the league was made than did he laye wayte for him Unto this the Duke of Saxon aunswereth For as muche as he denied him and his fellowes saufeconduicte whan they went to brunswicke against the lawe and custome of the Empyre he coulde thinke none otherwyse of hym but to be his ennemye he had dyuerse tymes before gone with two or thre with hym disguysed in seruauntes apparell that he should not be knowen through his and his brothers countrey priuely neyther did he whiche knewe this well enough empeche or lette him But after he would haue the passage stopped for hym and his league frendes why should he thinke to haue more libertie with other men than he wyl graunt vnto them Wherfore vpon this occasion they began to write one against an other which not long after ended in most sharpe and bitter inuectiues hauing in dede the beginning of the Duke of Brunswicke whiche after a rare example amonges Princes let passe no kynde of raylyng and opprobrious wordes as bokes set forth in prynte doe declare Whylest these thynges are a workynge dieth Iohn Duke of Cleaue leauyng William his sonne and heyre whome Conradus Heresbachius from his chyldhode had instructed in good letters and maners What tyme they were come to Franckefurte in the moneth of Februarye accordyng to the appoyntment After much sondrye and sharpe debatynge of the matter they concluded at the last the nyntene daye of Apryll vpon these conditions The Emperour to the intent a coÌ„munication of learned meÌ„ may be had coÌ„cerning religion graunteth to the coÌ„federatours of the doctrine professed at Auspurge whiche are nowe in that numbre truce for .xv. monethes and commaundeth that in this meane tyme they be not molested in any case concernyng Religion The peace of Norinberge and the Emperours decree at Regenspurge are also for this tyme ratified And if duryng the tyme of this truce they can not fully agree in Religion yet shall that peace be of force vntyll the nexte assemblie of the Empyre And if perchaunce there be an assemblie before the truce be expyred yet neuerthelesse that peace shall take place vntyll the other assemblye In the meane whyle during the tyme of this truce the Emperour doeth suspende all suites and actions in the lawe commenced againste the Protestauntes and also the outlawyng of the Cytie of Myndin and if anye thynge be otherwyse done he commaundeth it to be frustrate Where it is wonte to be obiected vnto them as though for the profession of this Religion they myght not consiste in iudgement the same shall take place no longer but they shall enioye the benefite of the lawe without exception Agayne the Protestauntes shall moleste no man and durynge this truce shall take none in theyr league yet so as no man susteyne anye wronge in the quarell of their Religion The Emperour shall also forsee that no man be receyued more ouer in to the contrary league The Protestauntes shall permytte the clergie to enioye all those yearelye profites whiche they haue at this daye By the consent of the Emperour a daye shall be assigned at the kalendes of Auguste at the whiche daye should mete at Norinberge the Cathoqliues and ProtestauÌ„tes such as were good men and desirous of peace and not contentions or frowarde Those shal chouse out a certen numbre of diuines whiche quietly and frendly may conferre of religion with them also shal be ioyned others that professe not diuinitie but yet experte men and sobre Moreouer the Emperour and kynge Ferdinando if they lyste maye haue their deputes in this conference and what soeuer shall there be agreed vpon by consent of eyther partie shal be signified to the states that be absent who approuing the same the Emperours Ambassadour also shal ratifie it or els the Emperour him self in the next asseÌ„blie of thempire after he shal haue coÌ„firmed shal coÌ„maund to be kept inuiolate Both parties shal lay away the preparatioÌ„s vnto war he that shal seme to go about any thiÌ„g shal be enforced to shew the cause why he doeth it yet so as no maÌ„ be inhibited to kepe a defeÌ„ce necessary in al other thiÌ„gs the law of theÌ„pire shal be of both parties obserued In this truce are coÌ„preheÌ„ded neither Anabaptists nor others that followe a doctrine coÌ„trary to the coÌ„fessioÌ„ of Auspurg The protestaÌ„tes shal haue in a redines ayde for the Turckish warre that ther be no delay And whan the Princes Electours and other principall states shall at the Emperours commaundement sende their deputes to Woormes at the .xviij. daye of May the ProtestauÌ„tes shall sende theirs also that they may consulte of soden ayde against the Turke and what someuer there shal be agreed vpon by the consent of the more parte to the same shall they also subscribe And if the Turke shall moue warre duryng the tyme of the truce they shall resiste hym with the reste And these thynges to be ratified in case the Emperour within syre months shall allowe the same begynning from the kalendes of May. And in the meane tyme that agrement concerning the truce and not to augmente the league shal be of force And in case the Emperour do not declare his mynde within the same tyme â—yet shall the peace of Norinberge be in as full strength and vertue hereafter as it was before The Emperours depute here was Iohn Archebyshop of Londe for Heldus was gone into Spayne as before is sayde And kyng Ferdinando also sent thether his Ambassadours The Protestauntes were there many and the Duke of Saxon him selfe and the Lantgraue whiche brought with them certen diuines The Palsgraue and the Marques of Brandenburg both Electours did intreate as meanes The Duke of Saxon amonges other thynges protested this at that tyme that he would not attribute to Ferdinando the title of

Chauncelour whan he had tolde him the cause and occasion of hys comming It is not in one place nor in Germany only but also in foreine Nations reported moste myghty Emperoure that throughe the Bysshop of Roomes procurement you shulde mynd great displeasure to the Protestantes There goeth abrut also that at the conclusyon of the peace you shuld haue perswaded the French kyng to ayde you in punnisshyng the same Moreouer that you sollicite the Turke for a trewes that you may so muche the easelyer brynge youre pourpos to passe and therefore they saye the Bisshop hathe called and coÌ„maunded a counsell that vpon the decrees made in haste the matter myght be put in execution it maketh vs the rather to think this report to be trewe to see howe ernestly and busyly the suite procedeth againste the Archebisshop of Collon And certenly forasmuche as we haue ayded you chargeablye against the French kyng and the Turk and offered to doe more as was declared at Spier because we haue donne more also then euer our aunceters were accustomed moreouer inasmuche as you haue graunted vs large warrauntes concerninge the peace and the law bothe at Regenspurg at Spier these thinges chaunce to vs now beyonde all expectation Yet we trust that before you departe out of Germany you wyll cause that relygion be established after the prescripte of Goddes woorde by a prouinciall counsell of Germany and in case the dissention can not be throughly accorded yet that the peace whiche was promised vs at Spier you wold commaunde to be wholy obserued in suche wyse as it bee neyther chaunged nor taken awaye by the decree of any counsell Hereunto Themperoure aunswereth by Nauius Howe sondrie reportes haue commen to hys eares of them also that they should attempte some enterpryse yet wolde he not credite the same especiallye after he had hearde hys letters written to Nauius and nowe also beleueth it muche lesse As concernynge that whyche he spake of the Frenche kynge there is no man able to proue it he hathe pease with him only and nothynge els It is the guise of Fraunce to braue and bragge of matters that bee vayne he moued the Turke of a trewes chiefly for the loue of Germany for seyng that in sondrie assemblyes of Thempire they complayned of the greate charges and the pouertye of the people he thought this the best waye to relyeue them that duryng the tyme of the trewes they myght consulte how to make war agaynste him and to set an order in Religion but herein as yet is nothyng determyned for hereof must he conferre with hys brother Fernando the Counsell which they haue so many yeres requyred of him is nowe throughe hys greate suite and labour assembled And what so euer he hathe done therin he hathe donne it of a good affectyon to the publicke weale And where some perchaunce taketh it otherwise it is not well donne of them he hathe vsed the Archebisshop of Collon frendlye but he coulde abyde no delaye at all What is hys preparatyon to warre he seeth preseÌ„tly there is no man with him but his housholde seruauntes neyther doeth he gather any power And the cause whie he sent for him is for that he supposeth him to be a man that desireth peace And therfore requireth him to declare his fantasye howe Relygion may be appeased or what he thinketh maye be obteyned of his fellowes And if he list not now he wil appoint of his couÌ„sel to coÌ„ferre with him in the matter TheÌ„ the Lantzgraue speaking himselfe yf it laye in me noble Emperoure to doe anye thynge for the welthe of Germanye and maynteynge of Amytye beetwene you and the states of Thempire certenly I wold spare no paines for this cause chiefly came I hither I wisshed surelye to haue had some moe of my fellowes here but that could not be for shortnes of tyme. The Duke of SaxoÌ„ is to farre of and Iames Sturmius is troubled with sicknes I beleue ryghte well that you haue hearde sondrye reportes but doubteles the trewthe is so as I wrote to Nauius for there was no consultation had agaynst you at Frankefurte but we treated onlie howe we myght bothe perseuer in oure relygion and also repulse vniuste violence Of the French king it was shewed vs that for the affinitie of the Duke of Orleans the king had promised you ayde against vs Many wise meÌ„ marueled that you sued to the Turke for trewes and supposed that no lyght cause moued you so to doe especiallye hauyng peace with the Frenche kyng but now forasmuche as you saye it is done for the common welthes sake I haue nothyng to obiecte against it For Germany had nede longe synce to haue ben vnburthened of suche charges we desyred a counsell the treweth is so but the same to be free godly and holded in Germany And why we doe not esteme thys of Trent to be suche we did sufficientlye declare it vnto you at Woormes For to shewe any waye howe to accorde relygion I maye not withoute the aduise of manye fellowes and I perceyue well I should haue but small thanke of neyther partie yet will I not refuse to conferre with your counsell herein so it be not preiudiciall I haue in dede no hope in the counsel where all others secluded the bisshoppes onlye and such others as be the Bisshop of Roomes sworne men shall determyne all thynges but I suppose a synode of Germany shulde not be vnprofitable for as yet other nations differ muche from vs in opinions and doctrine And the thyng is so farre entred in Germany that it can not be altered Therfore were there nothyng better than yf you woulde permit relygion there to be free yet so as all men shulde obserue the peace I suppose you ordeyned the colloquie at Regenspurge of a verye good intent but I heare by som that were present howe there be certen bitter Freers which call agayne in questyon the articles already accorded and be of so naughtye a lyfe withal that there is no good to be looked for at theyr handes The Archebisshop of Collon is doubteles a goodman And what so euer he dooeth in thys matter he supposeth it to bee hys dewtye especyallye syth the decree of Regenspurge inioyned hym to refourme his Churche And that reformatioÌ„ he caused to be made as temperately as might be taking awaye no more thaÌ„ was nedeful in the church goodes he altered verie littel And his boke is agreable to the holy scripture coÌ„firmed with the testimonies of the auncient Doctours TertuliaÌ„ AusteÌ„ Ambrose others which wer nerer the time of the apostles wherfore if any violence should be offered hym for thys matter the same might be awarnynge to others that had altered a great deale more Than sayeth Themperoure I leaue the treaty of Franckfurte for I neither beleued the tales that wer tolde me neyther haue I geuen anie occasyon that it shoulde so be And I haue not procured the counsell

for other intent then to profite the common welth not mynding that yf any thyng be there decreed there shuld any wrong be donne to the protestantes therfore for euen for this cause was appointed the confereÌ„ce at Regenspurge the beginnyng wherof was very well in case it had proceded The Archebysshop of Collon albeit he had promised to surcease and differ the matter procedeth neuerthelesse and that by rigor and compulsion he putteth out the ordinary curates and putteth in others at hys pleasure he handeleth the Clergye extremely he stayeth and witholdeth the reuenewes and customes of the Chanons and is to precise in all thynges so that I am constrayned to assist the Clergie complaynynge vnto me of theyr iniuryes that the talke betwene you and my counsellours shoulde not be preiudiciall therwith am I well contented Hereunto againe the Lantzgraue that you beare so good an affection towardes Germany and my league frendes most victoryous Emperoure I am ryght glad and ioyful and beseche God that you maye perseuer herein And surely yf accordyng to youre excellent wysedome you doe well consyder and waye with your selfe what a commoditye Germanye is to youre magnificence to youre Realmes and prouinces you shall fynde that there is nothyng more to be wished for then that all states shoulde bee glad of you theyr supreme Magistrate And that you agayne maye haue them styll louyng and obedient For certenly yf it fortune that Germany shoulde be weakened the same wylbe chiefly to youre discommoditie And as touchyng my Lorde of Collon the matter standeth euen so as I sayde before Inasmuche as he is a Sheparde he wolde fayne haue hys flocke fedde with good and holsome foode And thynketh hys dutye to be no lesse Therefore hathe he caused a fourme thereof to be set foorthe And they that are nowe hys aduersaryes were at the begynnynge moste gredye of this reformatyon and now it is commen to passe they refuse it and drawe backewarde Here themperoure interruptynge ah sayeth he what shulde that good man refourme he scarselye vnderstandeth any Latyn And in al hys lyfe he neuer sayde but three masses wherof I heard two my selfe he is not learned But he readeth ouer diligeÌ„tly the Germane bookes sayeth that LaÌ„tzgraue as I am wel assured he vnderstaÌ„deth religioÌ„ Againe theÌ„peroure to refourme is not to bring in a new faith religion Neyther doeth he sayeth the Lantzgraue graunt that he hath receyued a new Relygion but he hathe renewed that olde that was leafte of Chryst and hys Apostles And where he hath displaced certen Curates of the churche and placed others the same aperteyneth to hys charge office For yf the person be a naughty lyuer or vnlearned it is surely the Bisshops parte to substitute an other in hys steade that is fyt for it For within the iurisdictions of diuers Bisshoppes many churches lye Uacant as I am able to saye beyng destitute of Curates where the people are fedde with no kind of doctryne nor gouerned by no discipline but lyke brute beastes lyue a barbarous and dissolute lyfe where he hathe taken somwhat of his Clergye he hath thys reason for hym that he imployed a greate some of golde on the Turkisshe and Frenche warres And it is the maner of Thempire that the Prince shal for this cause commaunde his subiectes to paye therefore thys thynge deserueth no blame at all And where it is commonlye bruted that he did this for relygion that had hys aduersaryes inuented to brynge hym in hatred The nexte daye at the Paulsegraues lodging mete the Lantzgraue GranuellaÌ„ Nauius and Masbacke There Nauius began the talke repeteth some parte of TheÌ„perours coÌ„munication the daye before declareth wherfore they are nowe mette and sheweth howe desyrous Themperoure is of peace and where for the same cause he appoynted a conference at Regenspurge he sayeth the diuines weÌ„t a waie Then aunswered the Lantzgraue that of theyr departure from thence as yet he knoweth nothyng but the Duke of Saxon and he were aduertised by letters what vnreasonable condicions were offered them at the begynning whan they might neyther haue theyr scrybes to wryte nor see the copye of the treaty nor yet be permitted to write any thyng home they hearde also howe vntemperately the Freers that were collocutours handled the matter which both wolde ouer throwe the articles that were there before reconciled and tooke awaye all hope of concorde and with the dishonest examples of life where offense to many Whether theire diuines departed therfore being in dispayre of the matter as yet he knoweth not but certenly they were not called thence TheÌ„ talked Granuellan and fyrst speakyng much of Themperoures good nature and loue of peace he partely excused that of the condicions of the disputation And where they were prohibited to sygnifye oughte home he sayeth that was done without Themperours commaundement There the Lantzgraue exhorting that these thynges set a side they wolde come to the present matter commendeth the decree made at Spier in the yere paste concernyng peace and order of lawe and declareth that a prouinciall counsell of Germany were moste expedient to accorde and quyet Religion and in asmuch as Italyans Spaniardes Frenchemen dissent so farre from the Germanes doctryne in hys opynion a generall counsel shuld be to little porpos Not withstandyng how soeuer the matter fall and though none agrement can be made yet sheweth he how they ought to obserue the peace that the decree of Spier mighte not be abolisshed For now was the state of relygion suche in Germany that whoso wolde assaye to extinguish it muste distroye innumerable thousandes Whyche shoulde be bothe an exceading great losse to Themperoure whom the force of Germany hathe auaunced also to other nations that loue them not chiefly the Turkes a greate reioysing and commoditie The decree of Spier sayeth GranuellaÌ„ was made but for a time neyther was the fault in Themperoure that it was of no more force but whom it was loÌ„g on it is knowen well enough In priuate counselles of seuerall natyons ther hath ben redresse made only of vices maners but of faithe and religion no mention made And now are all thinges full of disseÌ„tion and sectes where touching the faythe all are not of one opinioÌ„ Wherfore this disceptation concerneth not only the Germanes but al other chrysten people in lyke case The moste parte of the Diuines are frowarde men stubburne and obstinate with whom the case can not be dipatched Therfore muste prynces and noble men be at the skannyng therof and certen meane waie in relygion founde oute for you your selues do not permitte religion to be free For suche as are of a contrary opinion to you are punisshed with imprisonment and by the purse And seeyng Themperoure desyreth chiefly a concorde he maye in no wyse graunte that thyng which is vngodly For yf all thynges were permitted to the common people Than shoulde not the Magistrate liue in saftie

of this warre but yet vpon condicion that he laie to theÌ„ againe in mortgage so mutch of hys owne landes And because the thing is strauÌ„ge 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 coÌ„ceaued The copie of thys confederacie the Bishoppes legate Hierome FraÌ„ch 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 HeÌ„ry 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 EnglaÌ„d The third daie of Iuly the byshop of Rome sendeth his letters to the Swisses threatning vpoÌ„ them kindnes for the frenship that had ben betwene theÌ„ his predecessours he bewayleth that som of theÌ„ are through the disceipt of the deuil law breakers plucked from the apostolicall relygion froÌ„ 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 coÌ„stant in the faith towards god the church to thinteÌ„t verely that others which through the talke of wicked men haue ben disceaued should haue an exaÌ„ple 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 religioÌ„ 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 instinctioÌ„ of the holy ghost shuld treate of religioÌ„ 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 couÌ„sell 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 persoÌ„s 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 beloÌ„geth 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 religioÌ„ 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 haÌ„des 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 conuentioÌ„ 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 garnisoÌ„ The Paulsegraue prince electour in this hurly burly maketh suite to themperoure at Regenspurge

by his ambassadour Sir Wuolsie Affesten knight to knowe what is the cause of this war against whom the preparation is made he desyreth him also to leaue warre besech him to geue him licence to be an intercessour in the cause A few daies after themperour maketh him aunswer by Granuellan and Nauius that it is not hard for him to know both what is the cause whom the war concerneth After he reciteth the same thinges in effecte that he did before in his letters to the Cities that they obey him not that they haue practised thinges against him in Germani and in forein nations vnder the pretence of religioÌ„ how they wil be bounden to no lawes take other mens goodes and possesons bothe sacred and prophane styre vp other states to Rebellion reiecte the Decrees of Thempire and woorke altogether by crueltye and a kynde of Tyrranye Therefore he purposeth in thys Warre to appease not only relygion but all other displeasures in lyke case restore peace libertie vnto Germany and such as shal do their dewtie to defend through his protection and those that be disturbers of the coÌ„mon quiet be oppressours of libertye to punnish sore and extremly according to theyr demerites This aunswer of Themperoure the Paulsgraue the tenth day of Iuly when it was brought him the day before sendeth to the Duke of SaxoÌ„ the Lantzgraue the Duke of Wirtemberge declaryng the common daunger that hanged ouer Germany especially by the straunge soldiour if the war should waxe mortal he besecheth them to condescend graunt to as much as they maye For albeit the likelynes of thinges is sharpe sorrowfull to be holde yet he supposeth that in case they wold make their submissioÌ„ to TheÌ„peroure follow his mynd in certen thinges it wolde be agreat furtheraunce to bryng the matter to a concord And these be thinges wherby he perceiueth Themperoure wil be appeased fyrst if they wil craue perdon for theyr offence secondly if any maÌ„ hath don any thing vniustly that it be ameÌ„ded fynally yf they possesse ought of any other mans that they wold permit that to Themperoure or to some other as they shall thynke mete Wherin if he maye doe any good he promiseth hys fayth trauaile In the meane time the Duke of Saxon and the Lantzgraue to whom this soden tumult chaunced much vnloked for especially for that themperour lately departed so frendly froÌ„ Spier being aduertised of the whole matter with great diligence gather theyr forces also and warne their fellowes to do the lyke not to suffer theÌ„selues to be diswaded through the craftie counsel of certeÌ„ And whan they were assembled to take counsell the fourthe daye of Iuly sendyng their letters to themperoure we haue heard they saye most mercyful Emperoure by our Ambassadours sent at your coÌ„maundement to Regenspurg how what time they had heard of preparation for warre the fellowes of our league religion did sollicite you dillygently that you wold force that Germany susteined no doÌ„mage And albeit you aunswered so at that tyme that we myght wel suspect somthing yet wer we in a good hope that the same war had not ben moued against vs or any state of thempire for so much as being called of you to that asseÌ„blie we sent our ambassadours thither with ful authoritie who also consulted vpon your demaundes shewed what their aduise was in so much as we could suspect no displeasure moreouer that aunswer of youres doeth coÌ„cerne thynges past but yet to come whilest you saye that you will establishe the common welth accordyng to youre authoritie punnishe those that shal be disobedient Wherfore we could not thinke that before you had published your demaundes and before we had made any aunswer you wold haue prepared war But at lengthe whan by manye coniectures and chyefely by youre letters adressed to certen prynces and Cities and also by the wordes of Granuellan and talke of Nauius we perceyued that youre purpose was to punyshe certen Prynces that were disobedyent and the brute was euerye where that the warre was bente agaynste vs we tooke it in dede heuely and greuousely as becommeth vs no lesse and thought good to sende thys epistle to you to pourge oure selues And fyrste we are truly able to affirme that we oure leagefrendes haue alwayes dorne the common charges imposed vpon vs more than others whan some also haue gonne free Moreouer the ayde that you desyred in the last assemblie at Spier we found the meanes that you had them graunted and perfourmed the same oure selues And now that after all these seruices donne we shulde be charged with disobedience it doeth not only greue vs but is also muche displeasaunt and bytter We wolde haue wished surely and it had ben also reasou that we shulde fyrst haue ben accused and hearde before it had commen to hande strypes and that oure accusation had ben thus blased abrode For so shulde we bothe easely haue proued our owne innocencye and coÌ„futed theyr sklaunder that of vs to you haue thus coÌ„playned How louingly you dealt with vs bothe lately at Spier and also fiue yeres synce at Regenspurge it is openly knowen so that to vs can be obiected no rebellyon or dede vnworthy we will omytte that at youre request we put the possession of the Dukedome of Brunswicke to arbiterment one yere paste and were in daunger therby to haue lost oure lyues and goodes Furthermore you are not ignorant what time you wer created Emperoure at Frankefurt in what sort you bound your selfe to Th empyre what you promised by a moste sacred othe howe your doynges shulde be accordyng to the lawes of the Empyre whaÌ„ any such crime as you now obiect vnto vs shuld be layd to any mans charge And where you intende to worke violence agaynst vs before oure matter be hearde or knowen we will committe that vnto god and when we shall heare of what matters you doe accuse vs we shal so make aunswer that all men shall vnderstand that we bothe suffer iniurye and that you also through the instigation of the Roomish antichrist and the wicked counsell of Trent do attempt this war to the intent both the doctrine of the gospell also the libertie of Germanye may be oppressed and wil proue that there is none other cause the coÌ„dicion state of our thinges requyreth that we shuld thus muche declare vnto you you shall take it therfore in that part For it had ben a a great deale more pleasaunt for vs to haue gratifyed you and approued our fauour and dilligence Themperoure the seueÌ„th of Iuly writing letters to the Archebishop of Collon for the welth of Germany sayeth he that is to saye that common quiet right equitie the dignitie of this our office libertie of Thempire may be recouered which thynges in dede certen seditious persons haue almoste expulsed out of the coÌ„mon welth and vnlesse they should be

came not our selues to RegeÌ„spurge we haue bothe made oure excuse the Duke by hys Ambassa dours and I by presente talke with hym at Spier But what is then the lybertye of Germany or state of the publicke weale yf we must haue warre therfore whan bothe in others heretofore and also in this conuention nowe at Regenspurge many other Prynces are absent And as for the warre of Brunswicke we are not to bee blamed For it is lawfull for all men to saue them selues from violence We haue often tymes desyred in sondry assemblies that hys vyolence myghte be restreyned but more than wordes letters we could obteyne nothing And yet in those letters whych Fernando at our request wrote herof to Duke Henry openly wer other letters inclosed wherby he myghte easely perceyue that he neded not to obeye the others These Letters were founde in the castel of Wuolsbuttell subscribed with the kinges owne hande and are foorth commynge and nede be But in case the lyke seueritie had ben extended to the Duke of Brunswicke as themperoure sheweth nowe vnto vs albeit we haue not deserued it there had ben no warre at all But in asmuche as he impugned vs who for the profession of the Gospell doe susteyne greate hatred they coulde winke at hys myscheuous actes And TheÌ„peroure knoweth how we commytted the prouince taken to gardience and for the defence takeÌ„ in hande we offered our selues to abyde the order of the lawe and arbitrement by hym appoynted yf he would haue taken the same way and had not forsaking the Arbiterment and contemnyng Themperours order atteÌ„pted a new warre but wolde haue tryed the matter with vs by the lawe the way had ben easy enoughe For if we being conuict in iudgement had not obeyed than shulde Themperour haue had iuste cause to put the lawe in execution but nowe that he shulde thus doe he hath not at al. Finally from the time that this Duke and his son were taken themperoure did neuer demaunde thing of vs for the same therfore there is no cause wherfore we should be accused for negletynge oure dewtie And in case it shoulde bee ascribed to vs as though we shuld impeache the law then haue we to muche wronge For in asmuche as of many yeres now those only were receiued to be iudges of the chamber whych hated our religioÌ„ most bitterly for that the same iudges all coÌ„positions set a part gaue sentence against vs our fellowes in matters of religion also in ciuill causes wolde let vs haue no iustice we did as we myght doe euen by order of lawe necessarely and lawfully refuse them as suspected our aduersaries protestyng that we wold declare more at large the causes of the refusal before chosen iudges Therfore can there nothing be imputed vnto vs in this be halfe Moreouer two yeres past it was decried at Spier that the chamber shuld be establyshed vprightly why it was not so don it caÌ„not be ascribed to vs nor our fellowes And it is not vnknoweÌ„ to themperoure how the last yere in the asseÌ„blie at Wormes ther did no man resist this decree of his more than they themselues whiche wyll seme to be loyall obedient princes for this intent verely that where as they be oure aduersaries they myght be oure iudges also We doe heare moreouer that this is layed to our charge as much blame worthy that we seke to allure vnto vs certeÌ„ of the Nobilitie But maruell it is that we should be reproued for this matter For it is to be founde proued that this hath ben alwaies the maner in the dayes of oure forefathers that they should ioyne vnto theÌ„ not only the gentelmen of their owne couÌ„tries but the bishops also And though there wersom fault therin it is therfore lawful to moue warre against vs our cause not heard and albeit that in the league of in heritaunce which is betwene the houses of Saxon Brandenburg Hesse themperour is excepted yet ought this to be so taken if he do not abuse his authoritie Wherfore let Albert Iohn of Brandenburge cosins who haue promised to serue Themperour against vs consider with theÌ„selues dilligently what they doe remeÌ„ber their othe wherwith they ar bouÌ„deÌ„ we wold they shuld haue this knowledg and warninge as they also which being our clientes take wages vnder theÌ„ in this war Neither are they excused if haply they wil say how theÌ„perour is pourposed to punnish certen princes for disobedience For they knewe themselues howe there can be no such thing imputed to vs iustly But if Themperoure had accused vs of any crime as reason wold haue requyred that we could not haue confuted the same he shulde not haue neded to vse all these polycies and sollicite our fellowes to withdraw themselues from vs. For yf he coulde haue shewed our offence they wolde haue forsaken vs of theyr owne accorde and in a cause that had not ben good few wold haue a biden the commoÌ„ daunger Furthermore what tyme we with the rest gaue hym ayde two yeres synce against the Frence king he promised than that when that warre shulde be finished he wolde goe into Hongary hymselfe agaynst the Turke And nowe doe the Turkes inuade Hongary and the places ther aboutes with great force power as in dede it is reported of many doubteles therbe in those parties both at Offen and Pest great garnisons of Turkes But the poore mens liues of that countrie are neglected which are now cast vnto theyr enemyes as a praye and in the meane while they seke howe to make slaughter in Germanye and that all thynge maye swymme full of theyr blud that professe Chryst And seing it is so we trust surely that moste men will pitie and lament our case and wil not assist our aduersaryes whiche seke only to extinguish the doctrine of the Gospell as they haue donne in all others places of they re dominions and bring vs into extreme bondoge but wil be content for reasonable wages rather to followe oure campe than theirs wherin is the Romish Antichriste and his adherentes whose chyfe endeuour is thys that euen with the slaughter of all Germany they maye establish agayne and confirme theyr wicked and deuelishe doctryne And in asmuche as after muche intreatinge for peace beyng of no crime as yet coÌ„uicted we are enforced to warre to defend our selues from violence we trust that God will assist the treweth agaynst lyes and in thys hys cause wil be our hygh Emperour enseigne bearer againste the wicked deuises of the bishop Unto him verely doe we commit the whole matter and beseche hym to confounde the cruell counselles of blud thirsters and euer more and more to auaunce the maiestie glory of hys name The same daye they wryte to Iohn Marques of BraÌ„denburge And because he is bothe in the league of the Protestantes as by his owne letters can be proued and agayne in priuate confederacie

sufficieÌ„tly declared iÌ„ our bokes set forth of And his purpose was to maintain execute the decrees of the counsell for the accomplishement wherof he had longe before sollicited certen forrein Princes but fearing lest by this mean he should set in his top all that cleaued to religion he pretended an other cause and fained rebellion that he might withdrawe our fellowes and whan he had vanquished the chiefest myght after compell the residue to obey his commaundement And albeit that he and his brother thought to kepe maruelous secret this their subtill and craftie counsell yet through the singular goodnes of God it commeth to lyght dayly more and more For the Bishop himselfe by his Ambassadours declared to the Switzers the cause of the warre and copie of the league Wherby it is manifest that not they alone but al other that professe the same doctrine are in the lyke daunger that this is their indeuour to restore papistrie in all places Let all men iudge therfore how truly this matter was handled when lately in the conuention at Regenspurg they went about to perswade and coÌ„cluded also that for the appeasing of religioÌ„ they would vse lawfull and quiet remedies He tolde me hym selfe sayth the Lantgraue lately at Spier that he was in no league with the Byshop The same affirmed Granuellan This is verely that same fatherly mynde and affection This is that zeale and loue of peace wherof they speake so muche Did euer man heare of the lyke thing that he wold perswade the Princes quite contrary to that whiche he hath had so long prefixed in his minde We know right well what dutie the Princes owe vnto the Emperour and againe what he ought to perfourme vnto them For as we are bounden to hym so is he againe bounden also vnto vs And wher as our cause not heard he doth outlawe vs and seketh to put vs besides our laÌ„des and possessions in that he breaketh the bonde of the ciuile lawe wherby the patrone is bounden againe to his cliente Nowe where he chargeth vs with rebellion it is nothing and he him selfe knoweth that he doth vs wrong For euen for the same cause saith the Lantgraue he gaue me thaÌ„kes lately at Spier for that I haue omitted no diligence to appease religion But where he sayth that I prepared warre punyshed certen states by the purse I denie it not and there was iust cause so to do Neuerthelesse it is openly knowen how through the mediation of Lewys the Paulsgraue and Richard the Archbyshop of Treuers all this matter was quietly ended he him self also writing his letters all be it he had taken the matter displeasauntly yet for as muche as I had discharged mine armie signified that he required no more Again what time he spake to me of the same sixtene yeares synce at Auspurg I made my purgation in suche sorte before king Ferdinando Friderick the Paulsgraue and certen others that he was conteÌ„t and satisfied Wherfore he ought not to make that mattir any part of occasion of this warre And where as I restored Ulriche Duke of Wirtemberg at the intercession of George Duke of SaxoÌ„ and The Archbishop of mentz I was for that matter reconciled by composition which he ratified And after at Regenspurg vpoÌ„ his faith and assuraunce he toke away cleane and abolyshed al displeasure Now he speaketh also of the warre with the Duke of Brunswick but the cause therof we haue expressed in wrytting and after that in a moste frequent audience of the Empyre he him self being also present we declared more at large two yeares paste The Duke that tyme made answere but the Emperour refused to heare our confutation of the same And why wold he not heare and examine dewly the whole matter and by the aduyse of the Princes haue taken some ordre in the thing Certenly because he desyred ayde for the Frenche Turkyshe warre of a purpose he let it slepe and wold haue it put to gardens and herein we fulfilled his desire at Wormes were content that Frederick the Paulsgraue and his Cosin Iohn Simmer should kepe and gouerne the prouince by vs taken vntill such tyme as the matter should be lawfully decided and determined That done he assured vs that the Duke of Brunswick should also assent to the same and wryting his letters charged hym earnestly that he should obeye but he coÌ„temning his commaundement raysed warre against vs and was taken therin as it appereth by a wryting set forth by me and Duke Maurice Therfore did we nothing in this warre contrary to our dutie nothing against the lawes and herein we appeale to egall iudgement But here by it is to be sene what fauour he beareth to Religion For albeit that the Duke of Brunswick contemned his commaundement most rashely although at what tyme he heard of the sequestration he spake of Themperour many lewde and opprobrious wordes yet because he was a moste bitter enemy of our Religion he did althyngs vnpunyshed Where he sayth that we haue brought certen vnder our subiection it is farre otherwyse and we haue ofte made aunswere to the same This in dede may be wel verified of him whiche hath brought vnder his iurisdiction diuerse prouinces of the Empire and also Byshoprikes and against this present warre hath assembled nobles and gentlemen that he might al lure them to him for our distruction This verely we graunt that we haue receiued diuers into our tuition fidelitie that if they should be in daunger for the doctrine of the Gospell we should defende them And that we suppose to be our duty for God commaundeth to succour the afflicted And none haue more nede these many yeares nowe of helpe and defence than those that are taken for Lutherians But in other things that do not concerne Religion we defend them not no we haue always exhorted them to geue the magistrate their right and honour due He obiecteth to vs that we should haue exhorted som not to repare to the Assemblie But that is both vayne and absurde For where as our Ambassadours wer lately assembled at Wormes and he went to Regenspurge we commaunded theÌ„ that al other thinges set a part they should go also to that assemblie Unto all other assemblies of th empyre ether we haue comen our selues or always sent our Ambassadours Concerning that he sayth of the chamber and iudgement it hath ben ofte confuted heretofore Moreouer he maketh mention of an Heathen Magistrate to declare that we might not resist hym But we haue not only done our duty but also more than we ought to do haue geuen him more than euer our auncesters haue accustomed to our great losse and hinderaunce And that he hath no cause of complaint at all it shall appere by that we shall here recite A certen Ambassadour of the Frenche kyngs sent vnto hym lately by occasion fell in talke of this warre He saieth it is a very great enterprise that he taketh in

they wold or not The horsmen of Hongary are commonly called Hussares an exceadyng rauenous and cruell kynde of men Wherfore leuing their force also whan they were now passing out of their owne limites Sebastian Weittemulle general of the armie sending his letters the .xx. day of October proclameth warre to the Duke of Sarons people For that certen yeares past their Prince seased into his handes the Abbeye of Dobrilug and that he renouÌ„ced lately his fidelitie to the Emperour and his confederates breaking the league that was betwene the Bohemers and the house of Saxon. And albeit the thing requireth no declaratioÌ„ for as muche as he is outlawed by the Emperour yet lest any thing might appeare to be omitted he would for his discharge geue them this aduertisement About this tyme the Ambassadours of the Protestauntes assemblie at Ulmes for common coÌ„sultation to be had And wher as out of Saxonie came diuerse messages of the state of things there the Electour sending his letters the .xxvii. day of October chargeth his Ambassadours that were at Ulme to declare the whole matter to their Fellowes and require them to consider his case for asmuche as he hath spared no peryll nor paine that he might defende this higher part of Germany from distruction The counsellours of the warre a few daies past sent worde to the cities of Saxony that they should helpe hym But what they wil do he is vncerten and though they would yet feareth he greatly that they shall not be able to resist so great a multitude of enemies and that there is daunger lest or euer they be ready the enemy wyl haue inuaded his countrey These thinges therfore let them require of their fellowes first in asmuche as it should be a great grief and discommoditie for him in this extremitie to leaue any longer destitute his wyfe children people that they wold geue him counsell herein Moreouer that they would graunte him more ayde wherof the Lantgraue and the counsellours of the warre haue put him in hope already Finally that they do make no peace with the ennemy before he haue recouered that he hath lost Hereunto the Ambassadours aunswere franckly chiefly they intreate him that he would tary with the armie tyll the Emperour shall haue broke vp his campe for this wynter and shewe what daunger it should be if he now departed And if Ferdinando and Maurice doe him any wrong they promyse him ayde and say how ther is no doubt but his fellowes both Princes states wyll according to their league be faithfull and helpfull to hym and wyll conclude no peace before he haue recouered his owne And in case he thought good they would also in lyke maner as the Lantgraue and counsellours of the warre haue done signifie so much to Duke Maurice They trust also vndoubtedly that suche states as be of their coÌ„federacie in Saxony wyll doe their dutie herein The forsayd .xxvii. day of October Duke Maurice wryteth his letters from Dresda to the Prince Electour that what the Emperour hath commaunded hym to doe and in what peryll the matter consisteth he hath heard lately by the letters of the states of his countrey And now for so muche as the Emperour hath assured him and his people concerning Religion therfore is he determined to the intent that both the Emperour may be satisfied and that his ryght also may remayne vnto hym whole through the aduise of his counsel to fynde the meanes that his lande and prouince doe not come into the handes of straungers and this doth he both in his owne and also in his brother Augustus name denounce to hym And if in tyme to come he shall be agayne reconciled to the Emperour and kyng Ferdinando he wyll not refuse if they wyll suffer it that the states of his iurisdiction shall treate betwyxt them both for an order in the whole matter The selfe same wordes he writeth also to Iohn William the Electours sonne and warneth hym to see the letters adressed to his father conueyed to him In the meane whyle the Bohemers and Nussars make inuasion into Uoetiande the next cositrey of the Electours sleying spoyling burning and rauishing out of measure But the Bohemers taried not long for because as I sayd before they serued vnwyllyngly and at the eleuenth day of Nouember forsakyng their enseignes slyppe home euery man But the Hongarians such others as Ferdinando had hyred ioyne them selues vnto Duke Maurice who taketh by rendring first Swiccauie after Ecne berg and Aldeburg and for the moste parte all the Electours townes and sweareth them vnto hym sauing Gothe Isenack and Wittemberg The newes therof being brought into themperous campe styred vp great ioy and gladnes which the Emperour declared by a great peale of ordenaunce as is accustomed In these dayes the Emperour chaungeth his Campe againe for lyke causes as he did before and chouseth a more commodious and drye ground that he myght somwhat refresh the poore souldiours and releue them also with vitaile All others for the moste part counselled him that the souldiours might retire vnto places where they should wynter But he him selfe was of opinion to continew the armie in the field and maintaine warre All men for the moste part cried out vpon Duke Maurice whiche serued him so sknekyshely whome he oughte to haue honoured as his father who was in a maner the only authour of all that he had he to requite him with such vnthaÌ„kfulnes And ther came forth in his reproche and dispraise both libelles and verses moste bitter whiche charged him with falsefying his fayth with treason and moste ingratitude and so muche the more that he wold do nothing herein at the intreaty of neyther his wyfe nor his father in lawe That thing knowen he publisheth a wryting to purge him selfe and sheweth what maner of Religion is in his countrey what he hath promised the people and how for the furtherauÌ„ce of Religion he hath founded certen Scholes After he saith how the Emperour hath assured him and his people and not hym only but other Princes also concerning ReligioÌ„ and preseruation of the lybertie of Germany neyther is he of wyll that any thyng be done violently but that the cause maye in lawfull wyse be appeased accordyng vnto many decrees of the Empyre already enacted Wherfore he geueth credit to his promesse and letters by the ensample of those Princes whiche do now serue hym and doe not only at home but in the campe also and a warfare professe this Religion For suche as be familiar with hym and are dayly in his sight may easely knowe his mynde and in case they perceiued any such thyng without all doubt they would not tary with hym And where as the bishop aydeth him that is done for bicause the warre is attempted against theÌ„ that are the chiefest aduersaries of his errours and authoritie neither is it so muche to be considered what moueth him as what

there be commaunded to remain till thei receiue further aduertisemeÌ„t The same was thought to be done for this inteÌ„t that through their meanes the Byshop might be wholy inclined to the kynges frendship and if he should fortune to dye for he was already foure score yeare olde an other myght be chosen that fauoured the kyng of Fraunce Howbeit some saide this was wrought thorowe the policie of the Conestable to get them out of the way that he might rule the king alone for they all in a maner wold be at the kinges heles whethersoeuer he went The Byshop had a litle before sent his legate into Fraunce Hierome Romane with a moste large commission to grauÌ„t many thynges whiche are forbidden also by the lawes and decrees of the counsell He created also Cardinall at the same tyme Charles of Guise the sonne of Duke Claudie Archebyshop of Rains in whom he knew the kyng delighted much Again the FreÌ„che king to purchase further amitie offreth in mariage his bastarde doughter about .ix. yeres of age to Orace Farnese the Bishops granchilde by his sonne The Emperour remouing from Hale cometh to Bamberge that being so nere he might be a greater terrour to the Bohemers and a strengthe vnto his brother Whilest he was here the third daye of Iuly he calleth an assemblie of the Empire and coÌ„maundeth that all mete at Auspurg the first day of Septembre the Princes them selues in persone the residues Ambassadours with full authoritie And saieth he was letted by the warres that he helde not a coÌ„uention at the kalendes of February last past as he had determined at Regenspurge But now that he hath the authours of trouble in his custody he would no longer differ but that the corrupt members of the commoÌ„ wealth may be healed And the consultacioÌ„ shal be of suche matters as should haue bene treated vpon at Wormes and a yeare synce at Regenspurge This conuention should haue bene at Ulme but for the infectioÌ„ of the plage the place was chaunged as before is also mentioned After from Bamberge he goeth to Norinberge As he there was he receiueth into fauour certen cities of Saxony and the .xvi. daye of Iuly he publisheth a wryting wherin he declareth what hath bene done with the Lantgraue and vpon what conditions he hath pardoned him And because that he is carefull leste that many should haply through ignoraunce worke violence to his landes and subiectes therfore at his request doth he straightly charge and commaunde all men to absteyne and if they haue any matter against him to trie it by the lawe In this self same tyme Duke Maurice sendeth for Melanchthon Pomerane Cruciger diuines of Wittemberge and receiueth them ryght gently at Lipsia and speaking muche of his zeale towardes religion committeth vnto them the order both of the church and Scoole also requiring them to procede after their wonted maner he appointeth them stipendes as they them selues wryte sendeth theÌ„ away not without great rewardes For Pomerane in a litle boke that he set forth after commendeth highly his liberalitie and gentlenes The Frenche kyng that succeded his father at the kalendys of Aprill the .xxv. day of Iuly cometh to Rains to be crowned And being receiued before the cathedral churche with thr ã€ˆâ€¦ã€‰ Cardinalles he is led to the hyghe aultar and after he had kissed there the relickes of saintes enclosed in gold said his prayers he goeth to supper After supper retourning and making his prayers againe whan he had confessed his synnes to a priest he departeth and goeth to bedde The next day he sendeth certeâ— of the nobilitie to intreate the Abbot of saint Remige that he would bring the boxe of holy oyle whiche they say came down from heauen After resorte to the churche those that are called the Douzeperes of Fraunce which are twelue in nomber The Byshop of Rains Landune Langres Beauuois Noion and Challon Than the kyng of Nauarre the Dukes of Uandome Guise Niuerne Mompenser and Anmalle These represented the Dukes of Burgundie Normandie and Guienne moreouer the Erles of Tolouse Flaunders and Champaine Of the Byshoppes were chosen two Langres and Beauuois also two Cardinalles to go fetche the kyng to the churche Whan they came into his chamber after certen prayers sayde they lift vp the kyng liyng on his bedde as the ceremony is and accompanied with a multitude of priestes leade him to the church and the Conestable beareth before him the sworde drawen The king what tyme he had prayed before the aultar was led by the Byshoppes to his seate And in the meane whyle tyl that boxe cometh the Archebyshop of Rains After he had finished the prayers conteyned in the boke of ceremonies sprinkleth with holy water the kyng and all the reste And whan worde was brought that the boxe was coming whiche in the absence of the Abbot the Prior of the monkes brought sitting vpon a white hambling palfrey and accompanied with the Monkes of hys order and the Noble meÌ„ that the king had sent for it as before is sayd the Archebyshop with the other byshops goeth to mete him at the churche dore with the crosse borne before him ther receiued of him the boxe deliuering hym a gage to restore it againe And whan he came agayn to the aultar the king rysing out of his seate doeth him reuerence After the Archebyshop goeth into the reuestrie and there being solemnely decked in his pontificalibus cometh forth and taketh his othe and fidelitie of him by the whiche after an auncient custome kynges are bounde to the churche Than is the king led to the aultar by two Byshops There putting on other garmeÌ„tes he kneleth downe and is girded with a sworde which he as thei terme it hath consecrated with many prayers After this the Archebyshop prepareth the oyle in a redines whylest the other priests synge their seruice prayeth softly with the kyng lying both grusselyng on the grouÌ„d Than he annointeth the kinges head breste and both shoulders and the elbowes of either arme in saying that accustomed prayers That done the kyng hath put on him new garmentes like a minister of the church and is annointed in the palmes of his handes After he layeth both his handes on his breste and putteth on hallowed gloues as they call them But the Archebishop putteth a rynge vpon his fynger and deliuereth him the Sceptre in his ryght hande And in the selfe same moment the Chauncelour calleth forth the Douzeperes In their presence the Archebyshop taketh froÌ„ the aultar the crown of Charles the great and whan the Peres haue touched it setteth it on the kinges head and bringeth the king into a roiall throne whiche is made in an higher place the whole company of Nobles followyng And there hauing ended his prayers kisseth him Likewyse do the Peres and Nobles making a great shoute and acclamation pray all God saue the kyng and to reioyce mens hartes the Trompettes blowe After is gold

For albeit that al papistry in a maner was therin established yet for asmuch as certeÌ„ things wer permitted to the contrary part they thought it first expedieÌ„t to make the bishop priuy Who after openet ã€ˆâ€¦ã€‰ themperor by cardinal Stoudrate these notes or any inaduersioÌ„s That a priest which hath takeÌ„ ordres shuld mary execute stil yâ— holy ministry was neuer hard of that the vse of receiuing the Lords supper vnder both kinds is abrogated nether hath any maÌ„autority to permit that liberty sauing the bishop of Rome the sinode that the folowers of the old religioÌ„ are not to be bouÌ„deÌ„ vnto these doctrins but if any Lutheranes wil forsake their opinions thei are not to be refused That of the .ii. masses ought only to be vnderstaÌ„d of the Lutheranes that the singing of Psalmes ought to be restored in al places that on holy daies they must celebrate the memoriall of the patrone of the church that suche as are priestes already or hereafter shal be muste abstayne froÌ„ Mariage that a spedy restitution of the church goodes and iurisdictioÌ„ must be made For the Robbery is manifest nether must they folow herein thordinary proces of the law but determin of yâ— thing that is euideÌ„t execute the matter by regal power WheÌ„ this ceÌ„sure was inferred tharchbishops of MeÌ„tz Treuers Collen vnto whoÌ„ it was deliuered answer theÌ„peror directly after the same sort especially vrge restitutioÌ„ declaring the same to be right necessary if christeÌ„ religioÌ„ shuld be maintained in places wher it is abolished shuld again be restored Moreouer the coÌ„mon peace caÌ„ not otherwise be established wherfore it is chiefli to be prouided that religious houses be wholy restored And in as much as the spoil extortioÌ„ is manifest they must go spedeli to work that gods seruice may withal spede be recouered Finally they desire him to take these things in good part with his protectioÌ„ to defeÌ„d the meÌ„bers of the church The .iii. other electors wer not of the same opinioÌ„ especially the Paulsgraue Duke Moris yet ether of theÌ„ had causes why they shuld not gainsai themperor The rest of the princes whiche wer for the most part bishops answer in like maner as did the iii. Archbishops As for the cities ther was no great accompt made of theÌ„ Themperour therfore at the Ides of Maye calleth all the States before him And in the preface speaking of his zeale towardes Germany saieth we perceiue by manifest arguments by the thing it self the neither the peace can be established nor law iustice ministred vnlesse the coÌ„trouersie of religioÌ„ the first appeased which hath now many peares sturred vp thempire muche grudge dyssention hatred discorde ciuile warres This hath bene verely the cause why by many coÌ„ueÌ„tions coÌ„fereÌ„ces we haue often sought a remedy But in the meane time not only in Germany but also into other natioÌ„s and people of ChristeÌ„dome hath this same coÌ„tageous infection pearsed in so much that ther appereth no more present remedy than a general couÌ„sel which at the leÌ„gth at your request we procured to be holdeÌ„ at TreÌ„t and moued you also at the beginning of this conuentioÌ„ to submit your selues to thauthoritie of yâ— same And that yâ— charge might be coÌ„mitted vnto vs in the meane seasoÌ„ to deuise some godly meanes wherby they might liue quietly the meane while in Germany which coÌ„teÌ„tatioÌ„ and coÌ„fydeÌ„ce of youres was vnto vs both thaÌ„ now also right acceptable What time therfore we gaue our selues wholy vnto this carefulnes demauÌ„ded your opinions we than perceiued not without the great grief of our mynde that the disagrement in religion was thoccasion of all the former euils And vnlesse it be foresene hereafter wylbe Wherefore we thought it not good to leaue the matter in that troublesome state vntyll the decree of the counsell but that it oughte to be broughte to some moderation especially sith that oftentimes new sectes did arise Whilest we were poÌ„dering these things certain of high degre nobility desirous of peace louers of the coÌ„mon weale exhibite to vs in wryting theyr opinioÌ„ coÌ„cerning religioÌ„ promise due obeisaÌ„ce We than receiuing yâ— wryting deliuered the same to certaine good learned deuines that they shuld among theÌ„ selues consider al things diligeÌ„tly which after they had perused it made report that yâ— same being wel vnderstand did not impugne the catholike religion and doctrine nor the lawes and coÌ„stitutions of the church two opinions only excepted wherof th one is of the mariage of priestes thother of the Lordes supper but said it was wel deuised to establish the concord of Germany which thing dousles vnto vs shuld be most of all acceptable for what more ioyful thing could happeÌ„ theÌ„ to se al states in mindes agreable follow one the same forme of Religion And seing it is eueÌ„ so we require such as haue obserued hitherto the lawes custome of the catholike church to their great coÌ„mendation that they perseuer in the same alter nothing as they haue promised vs heretofore And those also which haue chauÌ„ged their religioÌ„ we desire most earnestly to passe with thother states professe the same religion that they do or els to coÌ„fyrme their doctrine after the order of this boke in euery poynt to follow the steps hereof besides that to ordaine nothing but to stay within these boundes limites and neither by wryting nor preaching to attempt any thing to the contrary but obedieÌ„tly to atteÌ„d the decre of a general couÌ„cel that the same may be had as shortly as is possible we wil indeuor with al diligeÌ„ce now ar occupied in this thing wholy how to coÌ„ceaue a forme for the reformatioÌ„ of the clergie WhaÌ„ he had spokeÌ„ thus by his secretary as is accustomed he coÌ„mauÌ„ded the boke to be red Ther tharch bishop of meÌ„tz which occupieth the chiefest place amoÌ„g thelectors not seking what thopinioÌ„ of stats shold be ariseth vp as it wer in the name of al the rest geueth vnto theÌ„peror for so much trauel pain care diligeÌ„ce loue of yâ— couÌ„trey imortal thaÌ„ks in asmuch as thei haue already coÌ„mitted the thing to his fidelitie now paines hath beÌ„ takeÌ„ therin he saith it is reason that they should with most willing minds acknowledg thesame obey the decre This thaÌ„ks geuing did theÌ„peror take for a coÌ„mon assent coÌ„firmatioÌ„ after wold admit none excuse as I shall herafter declare coÌ„maundeth the boke to be set forth in print both in latin duch also The iiii day after he declareth to the stats with how much labor cost he hath restored peace vn to Germany because the thing it self requireth that it be also prouided for in time to come he supposeth it veri mete necessari some great treasure of money beleuied and in certeine places be kept the common treasurie that if it fortune at

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 âœš 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 â§ 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 TreÌ„t and the Emperour saith he will deuise that it be there recommeÌ„ced so shortly as may be Which thing whaÌ„ 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 theÌ„ 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 geueÌ„ 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 whoÌ„ IhoÌ„ 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 teÌ„th 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 conuenieÌ„t 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 FrauÌ„ce 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 whaÌ„ his wife had eftsones ben an huÌ„ble 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 geueÌ„ knowledge to theÌ„perour of their coÌ„ming the Germain couÌ„sellours were out of the way which serued TheÌ„pe in those affaires thei were byd follow to ColloÌ„ In that mean time that bishop of Strasburg seÌ„ding 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 writteÌ„ 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 recoÌ„ciled 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 maÌ„ must render vnto God an accoÌ„pt 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 sacrameÌ„ts ministred as it is deceÌ„t 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 coÌ„maund that holy daies fasting daies be kept wil suffer nothing to be done either in sermoÌ„s or other places that may be any offeÌ„ce 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 coÌ„science 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 amoÌ„gst vs we besech you in the hartiest maner that we can to graunt our requestes to suffer vs in this religioÌ„ vntil the tyme of the counsel Which shal be both a most thaÌ„keful 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 theÌ„ 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 FlauÌ„ders On the borders of BrabaÌ„t he dischargeth all those forces that he brought with him from Auspurg I haue spoken before of the iudgemeÌ„t of the chaÌ„ber 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 coÌ„mauÌ„ded that they shuld perseuer in the doctrine of the catholike church or els to be remoued froÌ„ that place There began Henry the Duke of BruÌ„swicke to coÌ„mence suite against the ProtestaÌ„tes for the former war what time he was expulsed He had in dede conditioned whaÌ„ 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 LaÌ„tgraue The meÌ„ of CoÌ„staÌ„nce lately outlawed wher as they were in great perplexitie sawe no way how to saue theÌ„ selues flee vnto that last refuge and geue theÌ„ 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 propouÌ„deth 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 demauÌ„deth of them what is the somme of their coÌ„mon treasure that their gunnes with al their fourniture be brought into an accompt He coÌ„maundeth 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

heafter shal be sayde The Bishop whiche was euer accompted to be of a mylde and a quiet nature was not thought to haue done this so muche of his owne accorde as through the instigation of others that were about hym whiche affirmed that this occasion of recoueryng his iurisdictioÌ„ was not to be neglected sayd moreouer that vnlesse he were earnest in that matter he might feare theÌ„perours displea He vsed for his chief doer in these cases Christofer Welsinger a Ciuilian who sometime was student in the vniuersitie of Wittemberge Againe the clergie of the head church of Strasburg had for their aduocate Iohn Tischel a doctour of that ciuile lawe In the last boke is mention made of Wuolfgange Prince of Bipounte how after the decre of ReligioÌ„ was enacted he was sent for to Auspurg Whome the Emperour had pressed with soÌ„ dry letters that he should obeye the decree And for so muche as he had referred the matter to the Byshoppes the Emperour demaundeth of hym whether he wyll ratifie the decree And whether he wyll displace the ministers of the churche that wil not obeye the same Wherupon he writing his letters to themperour in Frenche repeteth in fewe wordes what was done in the somer before at Auspurg And saieth howe at his retourne home he set forth vnto the people that part of the decree that concerned holy daies and fasting daies coÌ„maunding the same to be obserued Howe he hath also red ouer diligently oftener than once the decree of ReligioÌ„ and graunteth that therin are many thinges which are consonant to his faith by the which he loketh for eternal saluation And that ther be many things also which differ much from the same Neuerthelesse he hath charged the preachers ministers of the churche to way euery thing diligently after to declare vnto him how they suppose the thing may be instituted But where al they with one voice affirme that they can not allowe the same in al thinges with a quiet conscience he thought it not his part to compell them to worke against their conscience Wherfore he required the byshops that they them selues wold take some order in it But what thing they haue aunswered he hath certified heretofore being in good hope that nothing more of him shuld be required But now saith he in as much as you wil haue a direct answer most mightie Emperour I wyl say what myne opinioÌ„ is And first as concerning the religioÌ„ rites ceremonies which haue bene certen yeres obserued within my dominioÌ„ verely I was borne brought vp in the fame as I haue also shewed you before Cesar eueÌ„ vntil this day neuer heard any other kind of doctrine moreouer I haue bestowed my study paines therin so farre forth as my wyt is able to coÌ„ceaue it appereth plainly to be agreable vnto Gods worde For this must I nedes confesse seing I am asked the question least I should both hurt myne own coÌ„science litle regarde my saluatioÌ„ This is the coÌ„sideratioÌ„ also why I can not approue yâ— decre otherwise most willing ready after that maner exaÌ„ple of mine auncestours to do any thing for Howebeit your highnes whiche is the supreme Magistrate maye determine herein what shall seme good vnto you It is wholy at your pleasure This only I beseche you that I be not constrayned to doe against myne owne iudgement nor yet the people that be vnder my dominion As touching the ministers of the churche I desyred you in my last letters that they might tary through your licence for the christening of chyldren and visityng of the sicke chiefly tyll others were substitute in their place Notwithstanding if you shall commaunde them to departe immediatly not abydyng tyll others come albeit thesame shal be a great grief and hynderaunce to the people yet shal it be done accordingly For many of them are gone already and in those thinges that may or ought to be perfourmed I know that all loialtie obeysaunce must be shewed you What time in the dominions of Duke Maurice there was a great apparence that Religion should be altered the ministers and preachers of Lubeck Luneburge and Hamburge compiled a boke wherin they confuted at the full the booke and decree of Auspurge Wherof the chief authour was Iohn Epine Moreouer the doctours of Maydenburg Nicolas Amstorfe and especially Matthie Flacie borne in the citie of Albone in Slauonie Nicolas Ganles bende them selues earnestly against the diuines of Wittemberge and of Lipsia and in many little bookes set forth do reprehende them as though they should deale dissemblyngly and shoulde through their indifferent or meane thynges set open a waye to the Romish Religion Finally they place this as a generall Rule that all rites and ceremonies al though they be of their owne nature indifferent be no longer meane thynges whan force an opinion of holines and necessitie byndeth men and whan occasion of wickednes therby is geuen This Flacie had bene certen yeares Phillippe Melanchthons schollar but in this contentioÌ„ he went to MagdeÌ„burg setting forth a boke afterwarde wherin he declareth the cause of his so doing Furthermore they of Hamburge addressinge their letters to them of Wittemberge especially to Melanchthon doe recite what they call indifferent or meane thynges and declare in what cases they ought to be admitted desyryng them also to wryte what thynge they would haue comprysed vnder that name to the intente men maye haue some certen thynge to followe and not to wauer in theyr myndes and least that name of indifferent thynges geue occasion to sondrye errours whiche may crepe in by lyttle and lyttle Unto the which epistle MelanchthoÌ„ maketh answer amoÌ„gst other thinges sayeth how some boÌ„dage is to be borne withall so it be not annexed to wickednes The Archebyshop of Mentz in the beginning of May holdeth a counsell prouinciall The decrees wherof he setteth forth in a boke afterward Lykewyse do the Archebyshoppes of Treuers and Collon who hath also a large prouince That booke amonges other thynges establysheth for confession that no maÌ„ be admitted to the Lordes supper vnlesse he be first confessed Of the hallowyng of Salt water and other thynges which through exorcismes and praiers are prepared as they say for the vse of faithful men Of the Reliques of the inuocation and adoration of Saincts of Pilgrimages of prayers for the dead of pourgatory of fasting and choyse of meates of the canonical houres as they terme them of the tremblable misteries of the Masse Unto this Synode came Maurice Byshop of Eistet The residue sente Ambassadours But that ordynaunce of hallowyng and consecratyng aparteineth to many matters Euery seuenth daye whiche is called the Sonday whan there be many people in the churche the priest exorciseth as they terme it first Salte after Water And whan he hath mixed the salte and the water together he sprincleth the people withall And this sprinklyng is thought to geue health

almoste finished whan themperor had no great neade of the Frenesians seruice he declared plainly how he bare the bishop no great good will For euen than his lieftenants in Lumbardy fixed their eies and mindes to surprise Placence and not long after were procured certain murtherers whiche slue Peter Aloise in his chamber and before the Townes men heard of the murther committed souldioures were brought in which in themperors name did take the Castel And if themperor were not priuy to this act it had yet ben reason that after the death of bishop Paule he shuld haue restored the City to the churche of Rome but he hathe not onlye not restored the same but hath also gone about to take Parma from his sonne in law and euen than was in hand with the same deuise whan the Bishop yet liued in so muche that Paulus beinge sore vexed in his minde to thinke vpon such vnkindnes departed out of this life Afterwarde wer murtherers takeÌ„ at Parma which spake it of theyr own mind that Fernando Gonzage had waged them to slay Octauius whan he therfore was brought into this distresse whan he saw how they of whome he loked for healpe and also his father in lawe laye in wait to take from him bothe landes and life also he requireth his aid and succor which he could not deny him so humbly crauing the same âœš The xxiij Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the reigne of the Empyre of Charles the fyfte â§ The Argument of the xxiij Booke The fathers of Trent enter into matters and graunt safeconduit to come to the Counsell The French king accordeth not to the same pea he disswageth the Swisses from goinge thither a composition was made with them of Maidenburge vnder certaine conditions The most part of the Cities in Germany send to the Counsell The ambassadours of the Duke of Wirtemberge might not be there harde Duke Maurice hauing for the last time sent ambassadours to the Emperoure for the deliueraunce of the Lantzgraue and obtaining nothinge but delaies secreatly is resolued to make warre The Monke Bishop of Uarady by whose meanes king Ferdmando had taken Transiluania is slaiue Themperor in his letters which he sendeth to appease the Archbishops assureth him self of Duke Moris who to make fayre weather sendeth his Ambassadors to the Counsel with whome thothers ioyned and make request for a safeconduit for theyr deuines and aboue all that those which are of the contrary parte be not iudges in the Counsell But obteining nothing they departe vpon the brute of the preparation to warre that theyr Prince would make The fathers of the Counselare at discorde and after that newes came of the takinge of Auspurge they fled al Crescencethe Popes Legate fel into so terrible a feare that he admitteth no consolation at his death DUke Moris for the pacification assembleth the states of his dominion and about th end of Septembre coÌ„maundeth them to repaire to Wittemberge Thither also they of Maidenburge send ambassadours as it was couenaunted which the tenth day after return home at the conuoy of Marques Albert. I haue showed you before howe Duke Moris by his letters required that the deuines might haue safeconduit from the whole counsel to the Emperor therfore commaundeth his Ambassadoures to preferre the matter to the fathers and bryng it to passe Wherfore when the .xi. day of Octobre was commen ther was a sitting wherin was fyrst rehearsed the exposition of the doctrine of the corporall presence of Christ in the Sacrament of thanckes geuing of the manner of the institution therof of transubstantiation as they call it of the worshipping and adoration of this Sacrament of reseruing the hoste and cariyng it about to the sicke of the preparation that a man may receiue it worthely After al christians are forbiddeÌ„ to beleue or teach any otherwise than it is here decreed Than were the Cannons recited Wherein all those theames were condempned which I said before were collected oute of Luthers workes and others Notwithstanding to gratify the Emperour they leaue foure of them vndiscussed Whether it be necessary to saluation and commaunded by Goddes lawe that all men should receiue the Sacrament vnder both kinds Whether he that receiueth but one taketh les than he that receiueth both Whether the Church hath erred in ordeining that only Priestes shoulde receiue vnder bothe kindes and not the residue Whether the sacramente oughte to be ministred vnto children also Touchinge these theames before the Synode shoulde determine any thinge they saied how the Protestantes desired to be heard and to haue safeconduit graunted them where therfore they haue longed greatlye hitherto for theyr comming and are in hope that they will returne to the auncient concord of the Church they graunt them safelye to come and safely to retourne And differ the determination of these questions to the fiue and twenty day of Ianuary that they may be fore that day repair thither and declare what they haue to say theÌ„ will they treat also touching the sacrifice of the Masse because the argument is like These thinges did they read openly in such sort as if theyr aduersaries had made request to be heard in these thinges only wheras they neuer thought of any suche matter For besides Duke Moris no man once moued the Emperoure and hys sute was framed after an other sort as before is said and the matters were much more waighty that they would haue propounded But for what intent the thing was thus pronounced a man may make a coniecture but nothinge can be affirmed How be it of two thinges the one muste neades be For either the request of Duke Moris was coldlye and slenderlye preferred vnto them or els haue they vsed the matter craftely and negligentlye which thing is more like to be true by the safeconduct that they sent For where Duke Moris would haue had the selfe same assuraunce for his men that the Bohemers had in time paste They wrote the safeconduite with a few wordes and very negligently setting to neither signe nor seale publicke How it was lawful for all the Germaines indifferentlye to repaire vnto the Counsel and of matters to be treated there either in the full assemble or with certain commissioners to propound confer and reason what they shal thinke good either in talke or wryting without contumelious wordes and reproches and after wheÌ„ they wil to depart and return home for this consideration the counsell grauÌ„teth theÌ„ safeconduit as farforth as to the same apertaineth Moreouer it shal be lawfull for them that as wel for their sinnes past as hereafter to be committed although they be most heinous and sinell of Heresy they may at their owne pleasure chuse iudges for them selues The same eleuenth day of Octobre before mentioned they made certain lawes vnder the title of reformation whiche concerned theyr iurisdiction After was an other session decreed the xxv of Nouembre wherein shoulde be

what they wyll doe herein he coÌ„maundeth 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 theÌ„ 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 propouÌ„deth 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 certeÌ„ thinges also are plucked away alienated froÌ„ thempire Howe meanes are deuised that thautoritie of electing theÌ„perour may be takeÌ„ from theÌ„ in coÌ„mon 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 theÌ„ 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 ProtestauÌ„tes warre such as serued their Lordes according to their dutie were punished by the purse such as in the same war remained in theÌ„perours 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 ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ 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 theÌ„ 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 coÌ„quered 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 noÌ„ber being augmented they may preuayle by the nomber of voices Howe foure yeares past was ordeyned the iudgemeÌ„t 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 FrenchemeÌ„ 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 natioÌ„s 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 FrenchmeÌ„ 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 goldeÌ„ letters and layd vp in an holyer place And verely not without iust cause For during that league of amitie the coÌ„mon wealth of either nation was in dede moste florishing And certenly the force of Germany was thaÌ„ so great that it prescribed lawes not only to the Hongarians Bohemers PoloniaÌ„s and Deanes but also to the Italians

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 condeÌ„ned as I said of rebellion treason And albeit there were great suspicioÌ„s the he had geuen the king poison yet was he nothing at al examined for that matter Nor in the senteÌ„ce pronouÌ„ced against hym any meÌ„tion 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 disputatioÌ„ 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 commendatioÌ„ 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 commaundemeÌ„t 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 dauÌ„ger 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 couÌ„cell to his auntes daughter Quene Mary that she should gouerne with mercy and not alter Religion nor marie without the Realme For what dauÌ„ger 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 coÌ„maunded 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 coÌ„position 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 conditioÌ„s 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

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

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 inteÌ„t 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 spraÌ„g vp of the ordinary magistrate hath bene alwayes condeÌ„ned Secondly that the sacrileges which they by the space of these .xxx. whole yeres haue coÌ„mitted 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 notwithstaÌ„ding it is forboden to haue any coÌ„pany with them Moreouer that thei might place in the colleges churches of archbishops of other prelates wicked ministers to set forth dotestable condeÌ„ned 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 religioÌ„ to reuolt froÌ„ 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 coÌ„science free But when any departeth from the commoÌ„ 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 noÌ„t doe it with a saufe conscience but they wyll desyre ayde of the ProtestauÌ„tes 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

the power of the counselles and churche to propounde or commaunde any newe doctrine besides the same whiche is left vs by the Prophetes of Christ and his Apostles That they speake of the consecrating of ministers to be fonde and worthy to be laughed at For that folishe and histrionicall annointing maketh nothing for the purpose Finally their wryting to be full of rayling opprobrious wordes but this they committe to God and would only aunswer the thynge in fewe wordes When this was the state of thinges king FerdinaÌ„do whom both partes had requested that he would shewe some waye as before is sayde about the beginning of Auguste sendeth Ambassadours to the Electours certen other Princes with this message howe to obeye the Emperour his brother and to further the common wealth he came to Auspurge the third KaleÌ„des of Ianuary not without the losse and hinderaunce of his owne affaires Againe when he was come thither how he was driuen to tary long because fewe or none were come before he could propounde any thing For the matter was differred tyll the nonas of February Than firste he declared the causes of sommoning the sayde assemblee But in consultations to haue had wonderfull delayes and not before the tenth Kalendes of Iuly was there any aunswere made hym and that but of one only point of the deliberation that is to witte of the peace in Religion and that selfe same aunswere not of one mynde but diuerse and contrary He verely fearyng this longe before had admonished them diligently that they woulde haue bene present at the counsell them selues If they followed his aduise herein the matter in his opinion might haue bene brought to an ende wyshed for Upon the other parte whiche concerneth the publique peace they doe nowe consulte but because it is to be thought that it can not be dispatched in a short tyme. Againe for bicause the state of his countries requyred his presence for as muche as the Turkes semed to attempte new matters and threaten sore notwithstanding that he treateth with them for peace Moreouer for as muche as nothing can be done or determined to any pourpose vnlesse they be present them selues therfore he thinketh good that the counsell be differred tyll an other tyme and that nowe a decree be made after this maner For as muche as through the absence of the Prynces nothynge can be determined they are agreed that all treatie be differed tyll the nexte assemblee the begynnynge whereof to be made at Regensburge aboute the Kalendes of Marche of the yeare followyng There the Princes them selues to bee present that they may together with the Emperour or with hym determine and ordeine those thynges wherof they haue nowe consulted and hereafter shall doe In the meane season the pacification of Passawe to remayne in full strength And for as muche as it conteyneth this fyrst that in the counsell of the Empyre should be treated whether that by a generall or by a prouinciall counsell of Germany or els by the conferrence of learned men the cause of Religion ought to be appeased Secondly that the thynge be done by the common couÌ„sel of al states not without the ordinary power of themperour Therfore he whiche loueth peace and concorde hath determined at the next assemblee to exhibitie a certen booke compiled for the reconciling of suche matters as are in controuersie but in it to be none intrapping and to be made only for this ende that the discorde shuld growe no further and that the offences might be mitigated Moreouer to thintent that they them selues may the better determine whether by the meane declared in the boke the dissention may be taken vp or whether that an other way must be sought for Therfore he requireth them to take this proroging in good part and that to the next counsell they would come them selues after his example who for the coÌ„mon welthe sake hath bene nowe so longe tyme out of his prouinces And that he hath chosen the place at Regenspurge for bicause for the imineÌ„t dauÌ„ger of the Turke he may not depart far out of his owne countrie Let them aduertise him therfore what they wil do herein to the ende he may be certen that the matter shall not be forslowed that with vaine expectation the better part of the time do not passe away as it hath heretofore oftener than ones These requestes hearde the most part of the Princes thought it not good that he should departe before the peace confirmed For al Germany to be in great expectation of this matter And since they agree nowe better in voyces than euer they did before this time they beseche him that he woulde make an ende before his departure To the intent verely that in the next assemblee they might with so muche more expedicion take order and determine of Turkishe matters which yet remained As touching the boke which he wold exhibite many of them sayde howe the like would come of that as chaunced to the other boke whiche seuen yeares paste was wrytten also of Religion and set forth For yet it is freshe in memory with what rayling wordes it was taunted For where it was set forth and priuileged by the Emperour to haue made a coÌ„corde there arose occasions therof of many offences and dissentions When Ferdinando had heard these of his Ambassadours about the eight Kalendes of September the daye before the kalendes of the same moneth he declareth what his opinion is of the wrytinges of both partes to him exhibited and amongest other matters that chief poinct that concerneth byshops that in case they chaunge their Religion they should forgo their office and goodes also by his wyll and with many wordes moueth the Protestauntes that they would assente to the same For this coÌ„dition sayth he taketh from you nothing but doth this only that when a byshop forsaketh his order and departeth from the olde Religion his benefices and promotioÌ„s may neuerthelesse remaine in the same state wherin they were instituted whiche thinge is both agreable to the ciuile lawe and also to the lawes of the Empire and to the pacification of Passawe Whiche sayeth by playne wordes that those whiche followe the olde Religion as well of the state ecclesiasticall as ciuile not to be molested in their Religion Ceremonies goodes possessions rightes priuileges but that they should inioye all these thinges quietly without the interruption of any man I can not se therfore how this condition can be denied them whiche apperteineth to the ende that we spake of that is that they may inioye their thinges quietly Whiche in dede can not be if they should release this condition For so should it come to passe that suche as happely forsake and relinquishe the holy order and auncient Religion would kepe styll neuerthelesse their office goodes and possessions neyther should it be lawefull for their colleges in the meane time to trie the lawe with them in this case And this inconuenience wil come also

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 thaÌ„ 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 theÌ„ if both the gouernment and possession of landes and goodes should be left vnto them whiche should both forsake and impugne their ReligioÌ„ 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 ignorauÌ„t 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 coÌ„fession 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 opinioÌ„ had now ben brought to a good ende But why we should not admitte that coÌ„dicion 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 coÌ„demne 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 incoÌ„uenience 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 religioÌ„ 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 commaundemeÌ„tes 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 ReligioÌ„ 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

ministers of the church vpoÌ„ scholes other good vses they shal not be troubled for the same nor sewed in the law therfore but such goodes to wit those which do not beloÌ„g to the states of thempire or to others that be subiecte to thempire the possession wherof the clergie had not at the time of the pacification of Passawe nor after also shall remayne as they be are coÌ„prised in this peace Neyther shall it be lawfull for the iudges of the chamber imperiall to graunte out any proces or decree any thing against them for vsurpinge the same goodes That the ecclesiastical iurisdiction be not exercised nor take place against the ProtestauÌ„tes ReligioÌ„ faith rightes lawes and ecclesiasticall ministerie But remayne in suspence and stayed and moleste them in nothing tyll the controuersie be throughly ended and taken away But in al other matters that concerne not Religion ceremonies lawes and ministerie let it be of force and be exercised after the olde custome and lawe Againe that the goodes customes rightes remaine whole to all the state ecclesiasticall yet so that they in whose iurisdictioÌ„ such goodes be lose no part of their politicke law which they had before this coÌ„tention in religion Moreouer that of these selfsame goodes the necessary ministeries of the churche parishes scholes almouses hospitalles for the poore sicke people as they were founded in times past the so they be now also established mainteined without any respect had of what religioÌ„ they be to whose vse the almouse or sustenauÌ„ce is imployed And if there fortune any strife or contention to arise by reason of this sustenauÌ„ce or that measure therof that bi the coÌ„sent of the partes arbitrers be chosen who viewing the thing within the space of half a yeare shall determine make an estimate howe much ought to be decided bestowed vpon suche vses ministeries In the meane season til the matter be decided that that thet whose part it is to geue suche ayde be not molested in their possession but loke what they were wont to geue bestowe in tymes past let theÌ„ geue now also till the matter be determined In October and Nouember was a Parliament holden in Englande many supposed that they would haue there treated of the coronation of king Philip but nothing was propouÌ„ided The Quene motioned for the restoring of abbey landes for as muche as the Pope vrged the same But many Noble men and gentlemen doe possesse theÌ„ Wherfore nothing could be brought to passe The Quene her selfe in dede whiche with al she coulde do restored to the clergie the first fruictes teÌ„thes of benefices during the tyme of this ParliameÌ„t certen biting libelles were sowen abroade in London wherin were some thinges to whet the people against the Spaniardes some other that might haue withdrawen the Quenes minde froÌ„ king Philip. When inquisition was made nothing could be tried out Before the end of the parliament the Byshop of Winchester Chauncelour died of the dropsie In whose place was substituted Doctour Heth Archebishop of Yorke which had bene in tymes past with the Archebyshop of Cantorbury in Germany and thought rightly of the pure doctrine About the nones of NoueÌ„ber the wife of Iohn Friderick the Lantgraues daughter died of whose mariage is spokeÌ„ before FrauÌ„ces Uenerie Duke of Uenise for that he had not handled him selfe well in the vytayling of the citie and set more by his priuate profit thaÌ„ by the publique was displaced What time themperour had geuen ouer all his gouernmeÌ„t in the couÌ„tries Philip his sonne sendeth his Ambassadours to the chief Princes cities of Germany signified to theÌ„ that same and offereth theÌ„ his good wil amitie At the same time also the Ambassadours of king FerdinaÌ„do sollicited the Princes of Germany that for as much as a moste present dauÌ„ger hanged euer by the Turke who required al Transyluania to be geueÌ„ him a couÌ„trie of nature most stroÌ„g fertile ful of horsemeÌ„ they wold at the day appointed be present them selues in the couÌ„sel of the Empire to consulte for the common wealth He helde also a couÌ„sel of his subiectes for the same cause in that whiche assemblee they of Austriche required that religioÌ„ might be permitted theÌ„ fre But the king differred them to the couÌ„sel of thempire that should be next at Regenspurg also toke order that they shuld be before him at Uienne at the Ides of Ianuary the next yere The Marques Marignane diyng at Millan the Cardinall of Trent is sent into Lumbardy by the Emperour or king Philip his sonne to haue the gouernment there And the Duke of Alba is made viceroy of Naples On Christmas day the Pope after his maner createth newe Cardinalles amongest others Iohn Gropper Counsellour to the Archebyshop of Collon of whome often mention is made in the fourmer bokes Than also Reinold Poole when of a Cardinall deacon he was made a priest as they call it began to singe Masse For this is not law full for Deacons by the Popes lawe In the beginning of the moneth of Ianuary throughout Saxonie Meissen and Boheme were horrible tempestes thondering and lightening and thonderboltes whiche dyd muche harme euery where but especially in churches In the same moneth at Uirodure whiche is a towne in Swicerlande two mile from Zuricke in the night about suppertyme fyre bursting out of one of the towres of the church cracked so that all men came running to queÌ„ch it When they came thither ther was no flame twyse this happened one tyme after an other to witte the fourth daye of the same moneth and the .xiiii. daye Certen men of the townes of Heluetia being moued by the Pope go afterwardes to Rome not without the great suspicion of many Kyng Philippe beginning his newe gouernmeÌ„t whiche he had receiued of his father with great pompe and solemnitie the .xviii. day of Ianuary entreth into Andwerpe the chief towne of that couÌ„trey In the meane tyme there is great persecution and burning in Englande About the Ides of Ianuary thaÌ„bassadours of the prouinces of Austriche assemble at Uienne as was appointed There the king with an oratioÌ„ graue long declareth in how great dauÌ„ger they stode all of the Turke now iminent and therfore doth admonish them that so sone as may be they would helpe hym with men mony that his great outragiouse crueltie might be repressed Then they that are of that lower partes of Austriche saye how thei were coÌ„maunded of theirs that thei shuld treate first of Religion Therfore they recite what they haue done in the selfsame cause by the space now of .xiiii. yeares how oft they haue intreated put vp supplicatioÌ„s what maner of proclamations he hath set forth contrary to their expectatioÌ„ Again for as muche as hitherto say they al couÌ„selles against the Turke are taken in vaine not only as yet he could

not be repressed but also his violence hath so farre proceded that hauing taken in Hongary and Slauonie many townes Castels Fortes he hangeth now ouer that neckes of vs it is doubtles to be thought that this is the manifest vengeaunce of God whiche plageth vs for sinne and afflicteth vs for that we amende not our life and so in dede afflicteth vs that vnlesse his worde be receiued the amendement of life followe the losse not only of lyfe and goodes but also of eternall saluation is like to insue For although the whole worlde toke armure against that ennemie yet so long as it shall remayne in that state of lyfe there is no hope of victory but rather of destruction and slaughter as it is euident to haue chaunced some tyme to moste florishynge kyngdomes We treated of the same matter also in the laste assemblee and prayed you that we myght not be compelled to do any thyng against our conscience But you referred the matter to the counsell of Regenspurg How be it you may coÌ„sider most mightie king howe greuouse it is to them whiche thyrste for the health of their soules to be differred to a tyme vncerteÌ„ For in the meane time the mynde is in angwishe and in this angwyshe and perplexitie many thousandes of meÌ„ ende their life Doubtles the worde of God whiche through our Sauiour Iesus Christe is opened to vs should be the only rule whiche the church ought to followe And in case any thing coÌ„trary to gods worde haue crept in although it be grounded of great antiquitie it must be reiected For God wil be honored worshipped as he him selfe prescribeth coÌ„maundeth not as men wene and fayne But with how horrible greuous plages he reuengeth the neglecting of his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t the obseruation of meÌ„s traditions both the Empires of fourmer time do shewe also the freshe and domesticall calamities of people next vs declare Therfore after moste diligeÌ„t searche there appereth to vs none other remedy than that those manifest errours and deprauations brought long since into the churche being caste away the pure doctrine may be receiued and frely preached to gether with suche administration of the Sacramentes as Christ him selfe did institute for to departe tourne away from the worde of God so manifest and so plaine we may not as we haue ofte shewed you at other tymes For firste we must seke for the kingdome of God Whiche being done God assisteth vs with his spirite and gouerneth our counselles and doinges To the ende therfore that he would deliuer vs from al these daungers that he would be the counseller of the warre and enseigne bearer that he may assiste vs in battel discomfite thennemies force in moste humble and earnest wyse we beseche your highnes euen for the death of Christe for our saluation and for the last iudgement that we shall abyde for as muche as this thing apperteineth to the perpetuall felicitie of you and your children and al your Realme that we which are spotted with no secte may by your leaue and permission remaine in the pure and sincere Religion vntyll a free generall counsell and that we may inioye the same benefite of peace whiche in the laste assemblee of the Empyre you haue made with the fellowes of the confession of Auspurge For seyng we be all Baptized in Christe we beseche you that our State and condicion be not worse than theirs nother that you woulde denye vs the thynge whiche you haue graunted to diuerse other of your Prouinces but that you woulde call in those Proclamations of yours sette forth concerning Religion and woulde delyuer vs from thys carefulnes wherwith we are bounde Moreouer we beseche you that you woulde set forth by proclamation that the ministers of the church that teache after the wrytinges of the Prophetes Apostels after the same maner as before is said doe minister the Sacramentes be not molested nor yet suche schomaisters Neither that they be imprisoned nor banished before they shall pleade their cause before a lawful iudge If you thus do as we trust you wil in this extreame daunger there is no doubt but God will rewarde the same moste aboundantly also the states of the Empire will sende you more ayde than they haue done hitherto And we likewise will not be behinde with our dutie but with moste willing mindes will bestowe geue what so euer shall apperteine to the coÌ„mon defence preseruation of our couÌ„trie and wil throughly satisfie your demauÌ„des so muche as shall lie in our power and habilitie to do At the selfsame time the Ambassadours of themperour and the Frenche king had met And where the controuersie coulde not be finished by a peace the fift day of the moneth of February they take truce for fiue yeares by Sea and lande as well in Flaunders and those partes as also for Italy and all other places Euery one kepeth the possession of those thinges whiche he hath gotten in the tyme of the war Themperour excepteth the exiles of Naples Scicilie He compriseth the Pope in the first place as doth also the Frenche king afterward euery maÌ„ his frendes allies as the maner is The same truce not long after the king caused to be proclamed both throughout Fraunce and at Metz also but the Emperour somwhat later in his couÌ„tries A brute went that the Pope toke it in snuffe that this truce was made and went about afterwarde to perswade the Frenche king to breake the same Others thought coÌ„trariwise that it was made chiefly through his aduise that he might make warre against the Lutherians Touching prisoners nothinge could be concluded in this truce amongest whome the chiefest were the Duke of Arescot a Bourgunnion and MonmorauÌ„ce the Conestables eldest sonne takeÌ„ thre yeres before at Terwin When they of Austriche as I sayde before had on this wise the day before the Kalendes of February put vp their supplication to king Ferdinando in wryting the king the eight day after aunswereth and speaking first of his good wyll towardes the common wealth and of the common calamitie and miserie of times and of Gods wrath whilest I consider saieth he and way mine owne state and place diligently whilest I thinke howe I haue euer from my yought hitherto followed the preceptes of the christen and catholique churche after the maner of my progenitours of whome I haue receiued this Religion and discipline as it were deliuered by hand I do surely finde that I may not assent to you in that whiche you require Not that I would not gladly gratifie my people but for that I see it is not lawful that I should be preiudiciall to the Christe church shoulde alter the lawes of the same and the holsome decrees at my pleasure where I must rather heare it as Christ coÌ„mauÌ„deth How beit for as much as I know by long experieÌ„ce what occasion of great euils this bitter contention about Religion

bringeth I haue doubtles with my brother that Emperour bene now these many yeares wholy occupied that they might come to a composition And therfore hath the matter bene atteÌ„pted in many counsels of the Empyre certein conferences of learned men and through our mediation hath bene begon once or twyse the counsell of Trent But where as the treatie came to no good effect that can not doubtles be imputed to vs neither is it vnknowen by what diuises and craftes the matter was than hindered Now where you require that the pure doctrine and the benefite of the peace newly made for Religion may be grauÌ„ted you Like as heretofore I haue kept backe no man froÌ„ the true Religion so will I not also do it hereafter Again you are as well comprised in the same peace as are the people of other Princes For this is the meaning of the same decree that the people shall followe the Religion of their Prince And it is permitted to temporall Princes to chose whether ReligioÌ„ they will for that the people ought to be content with the choise of the Prince but yet so for al that that such as shal not like that Religion whiche the Prince hath chosen may haue fre libertie to sell that they haue and go dwell in an other place without any hinderaunce or blemishe to their estimation whiche seing it is so your dutie is to perseuer in the olde and catholique Religion which I professe That the Gospel should not be purely taught after the exposition of the Apostels Martyrs fathers whiche the churche hath receiued I was neuer against The Lordes supper although it were instituted whole yet was it in the olde churche also distributed vnder one kynde as it may be declared at large Therfore it was not altered first in the time of the counsell of ConstauÌ„ce but that custome had lasted many ages before Wherfore you may easely thinke how it is not lawful for me by my priuate authoritie to chaunge or abolish that lawe receiued and approued by generall counselles especially at this tyme when both now lately peace is geuen to ReligioÌ„ and in the next assemblee we must treate further for a reconcilement In the which treatie doubtles I wil seke to the vttermoste of my power that dissention may be vtterly takeÌ„ away But if that can not be done thaÌ„ wil I take such away as may profit both your wealth and your soules health also And to the intent you may vnderstand my good wil clemencie towardes you I wil in dede staye restreine that part of my proclamatioÌ„ that coÌ„cerneth the Lordes supper but yet vnder this conditioÌ„ that all sectes forsaken you do alter nothing of the lawes ceremonies of the churche but tary for the decree of the assemble of the Empire next coÌ„ming The ministers of the churche and scholem aisters so that they followe this order also shal not be molested as also before this time I suffered no man against right to be iniuried Seing therfore I beare you this good wil my truste is that you will desire nothing furthermore and for as muche as the publique necessitie vrgeth it shall become you to consult for the common wealth and to geue that behoueth Wherunto they make aunswer the .xii. daye of February And where in the cause of all other moste weightie whiche conteineth perpetuall felicitie and especially apperteineth to the saluation of him and his children they can obteyne nothing thei she we how they are moste hartely sory And where as say they moste mightie kyng you say that this wonted distributing of the Lordes supper was in oulde tyme receiued in the churche that same may be aboundantly coÌ„futed by holy scripture and also their errour detected that haue perswaded your highnes herein But where you say the meaning of the late decree made at Auspurg to be that the people should applie them selues to the Religion of their Prince Uerely for as much as a fewe yeares paste and longe before this decree we haue with common consent exhibited to your highnes supplications concerninge Religion it were lawfull for vs also in case we would dwel in the same aunswer to sell our goods and flitte with our wyues and children to some other place But what discoÌ„moditie were herein agayne how heuie and sorowfull newes this would be to the people who seeth not When verely they shal heare that they whiche after the custome of their elders haue bene euer more ready to spende their bloud and lyfe for the preseruation and dignitie of the house of Austriche must nowe forsake their moste swete natiue countrie so many yeares inhabited and inriched by their fore fathers Therfore we admit not nor ratifie the same aunswer in this behalf but as we haue done oft heretofore for the honour of God we beseche you that you woulde permitte vs to haue that incoÌ„parable treasure of Gods worde and suffer vs to haue no let in this matter For if the condition of the cause were suche that the whole blame should be to you ascribed doubtles we could be coÌ„tent lyke as in other thinges so in this case also to obey you willingly But since that euery man must render an accompt of his owne dedes since there is no difference of persones with God and for bycause the ende of this lyfe is euery moment at hande neither is there any thing more vncerten than life we can not but with earnest suite and labour requyre this thinge of you Wherfore we beseche you that we may haue sufficient warrauntise herein Hereunto the kyng the fourth daye after I suppose sayeth he there was no iust cause wherfore you should not be satisfied with the fourmer answer I permit that as the Apostels haue set it forth as the martirs and fathers approued of the churche haue taught and expounded the scripture it be nowe taught also I pray you what more require you herein For since God hath promysed to his churche the holy ghoste saluation is not to be sought els where You saye you are defiled with no secte of the whiche sorte be many now adayes as anabaptistes Sacramentaries Zwinglians Schnemfeldians and such other lyke This in dede is very well But if the doctrine be set at libertie and be not included within certen limites as before is sayde howe long suppose you that it wil continue pure When euery man for hym selfe wyll bragge of Goddes woorde and saye it is subiect to no creature but to God alone nor will admitte the iudgement of no man as we see it happen in many places where all is ful of trouble whylest euery maÌ„ doeth stifly mainteine his owne opinion the authoritie of the churche vtterly contemned And for as much as in your fourmer wryting you recite the laste decree of the Empire somewhat otherwyse than apperteineth therfore haue I declared how it is to be taken not that I would haue you to go dwell els where Againe to take froÌ„ you all

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 loÌ„g 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 iustificatioÌ„ 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 RegeÌ„spurge 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 mediatioÌ„ 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 FrauÌ„ce into Germany his matter was heard the causes of thempire differred till the moneth of Aprill The Archebishop of Cantorbury already condeÌ„ned 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 atteÌ„tiue at the leÌ„gth 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 haÌ„d 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 garmeÌ„t so brought him forth amonges the people to be laughed at But many hauing coÌ„passion of his vnworthy chauÌ„ce could not kepe theÌ„ froÌ„ 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 BauariaÌ„s sollicited Albert their Duke coÌ„cerning religioÌ„ 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

house of Lucenburg 406 The battaile of Cressie eodem The Frenche kynges aunswere to the intercessours 407 Themp. letters to thintercessours 408 Their aunswere to themperour eodeÌ„ The Ambassadours commentaries intercepted 409 The aunswere of Strausburge 410 The death of Bernard Archebishop of Colon. 412 The duke of Saxon goeth home to his owne house eodem The Emperour goeth with his armie toward Loraine 413 TheÌ„perorentreth into Strasburg eod The spoyle of the souldiours eodem The death of Caspar Hedio and Andrewe Osiander eodem The Emperour besiegeth Metz. eodem The batterie of Metz. 414 The Duke of Brunswik driuen out of his countrie eodem The duke of Guise defended Metz. eod The Frenche kinges writyng against the Emperour 415 The Emperours letters of aunswere to Marques Albert. eodem The armes of Electourship eodem The Cardinall Lenoncourtes ambicion eodem The father and the sonnes contend for inheritaunce 417 Terwen raced eodem The Ladie Iane of Suffolke maried Guilford Dudley 418 The Marques maketh war i Sar. eodeÌ„ The spoilyng of Albert. 419 The complainte of Duke Moris vpon Marques Albert. eodem The marques answer to duke Mo. 420 The Bishop in his absence inuade his countrie 421 The great crueltie of marques Al. eode The death of good kyng Edward eodeÌ„ The vertues of Edward the sixt eodem The wonders before Duke Maurice death 422 The death of Orace Fernese eodem The blasphemie of the lieutenanÌ„t 424 The ladle Iane. eodem The lady Mary proclaimed quene eodeÌ„ The Duke of Northumberlande condempned 425 Thomas Palmer knighte professeth the doctrine of the Gospell eodem The constancie of the Archebishopp of Cantorburse eodem The bishops caried to prison 426 The Popishe religion restored in Englande eodem The Turkishe naute taketh the Iland of Corsica 427 The FreÌ„che king atteÌ„pteth Cam. codeÌ„ The bloode of Innocentes gainfull to many 428 The Duke of Brunswickes letters to the Duke of Saxon. eodem The Duke of Brunswicke is reconciled to the duke of Saxon. eodem The Turke hanged his sonne Mustapha 429 The Archebishop of Cantorburie and others condempned eodem The Godlie lawes of good kynge Edward repealed 430 The duke of Norffolke forsaken of his menne eodem The duke of Suffolke 431 The Ladie Iane and her husbande beheaded eodem The duke of Suffolke beheaded eodem The godly ende of IhoÌ„ Frederick codeÌ„ The godlines of his wife 432 The Lady Elizabeth committed to the Towre eodem The slege of Senes eodem The death of Wiat eodem Thassemble of Auspurge 433 The death of Char. duke of Sanot 436 The letters of king Ferdinando to his subiectes of the lordes Supper eodeÌ„ The states make aunswere to the kinges letters eodem The Abbot of Newstat accused of Hereste eodem The Frenche kyng inuadeth the Emperours countries 437 The Frenche kynges letters 438 The Emperour giueth to his soonne the dukedome of Millane eodem The Cardinall giueth the Lordes absolution 439 The Emperours letters against Marques Albert. eodem Themperiall counsel of Auspurg 440 The ministers exiled out of Boheme 442 The Towne of Cassell taken by the Frenchmen 449 The letters of the princes of Saxon to the Emperour eodem The archbishop of Metz dieth 450 The death of Pope Iuly the third eodeÌ„ Theâ— of Senes render theim selues to themperour eodem The secte of Iesuites eodem The trauaile of Cardinall Poole to make peace betwene the Emperour and Frenche kyng eodem The Emperours letters to the States of the Empire 451 The duke of Alba sent to Millane eodeÌ„ The Emperours mother dieth eodem The Frenche kinges Proclamacion again condeÌ„ned of thinquisitors 452 The Lucernates require of the Swisses the doctrine of the Gospell eodeÌ„ The Naute of the Kyng of Denmarke 453 The Spanish Flete intercepted by the Frenche kyng eodem The controuersie about the lordes supper is renued by the Bremers eodeÌ„ The aunswere of the Parliamente of Paris by the kynges Proclamacion of Lutherians 454 The meting of princes about the LaÌ„tzgraues matter 455 Themperour Charles giueth the gouernement to his sonne Philip. eodeÌ„ The office of the Archbishops 456 The aunswere of the Protestantes to the writyng of the Papistes 457 The bishops which chaunge their religion should lâ—se their promocioÌ„ 459 Thecclestastical lawes shal not be exercised against the Protestantes 461 The wife of IhoÌ„ Frederick dieth eodeÌ„ The ambassadours of Austrich require of Ferdinando that true Religion male be permitted vnto them 462 Truce taken betwene the Emperoure and the kyng of Fraunce 463 The aunswere of Ferdinando to the Ambassadours of the house of Austrich eodem The Emperours Sigismonde burned Husse eodem The Ambassadours aunswere to Ferdinando 464 The aunswere of Ferdinando eodem The bishop of Treuers dieth 465 The Duke of Pruse professeth the confession of Auspurge eodem The Archebishop of Cantorburie burned for Religion eodem The Pope was displeased that peace was graunted to Religion 466 The Duke of Arestat brake out of prison eodem The Cardinalle of Auspurge purgeth hymself by writyng eodem The Cardinall of Auspurge addicte to the olde religion 468 The good will of the Cardinall of Auspurg toward the Duke of Wittenberge eodem The loue of the Cardinall of Auspurg toward the Germaines 469 Twelue burnt at Stratford bow eodeÌ„ The marques of Barden receiueth the Gospell eodem Themperour goeth into Spaine with bothe his sisters 470 VV. WHy the Bisshoppe of Rome is extolde 3 Whiche are properlie called Sacramentes 24 Who is aucthour of single life 35 What nedeth gold in the churche 47 What is true confession eodem What thyng Rebellion is 58 Wee are all blinde in our owne cause 61 Who be the aucthours of dissencion 81 Uergecius the Popes ambassadour 86 Upon what condicions the duke of Saxon will come to the assembly 103 Warres in Swiserlande 104 Whereof sprang the dissencion in Religion 110 Wilâ—e Marchauntes 120 Uergecius message to the Duke of Saxon 121 Uergecius spake with Luther 122 Who wrote against the Anabaptistes 131 Uergecius sent to the Emperour 138 Who ought to be at the Counsell 150 Why Innocentes be in perill 151 Whereof cometh contempt of the clergie 155 Who ought to be made bishop eodem Unlawfull to giue benefices by legacis eodem Why Cardinalles wer first made 156 Uergecius his oracion 176 Why the Protestantes desire a Counsell 177 What moued Luther to write against Papistes eodem Willyam Farell 192 Warre betwixte England and Scotlande 196 William Countie forsaketh the FreÌ„ch kyng 206 Whether we shal knowe eche other in the life to come 232 What Counsell the Protestauntes desired 237 What profite hath the Emperour out of Germanie 239 Ulmes reconciled to the emperour 273 Unreasonable tormente is a perillous matter 283 Wittenberg rendered 286 Wittenberge a Towne of Electorship 287 Uogelsburge apprehended 312 Uogelsburge coÌ„stancy at his death 312 Workes of superogacion 313 Whilest the Masse is set vp in Germanie it is put doune in England 317 Uiolence is not to be vsed in Religion but reason and truthe 318

Reliques of the holy gost The Cardinall writeth to the Duke of Saronis Campegius oratioÌ„ to the Princes at Norinberge The princes aunswere The decre of Wormes repeted The pope is wel monied The Suises are offended with them of Zuricke Yeare for the Hoste The Marchaundise of the clergie The answer of them or zuricke Authors of Scismes Matrimonie lawfull for all men What nedeth gold in the churche What is true coÌ„fessioÌ„ Howe the yoke of the Papistes is to be shaken of The Bishop of CoÌ„stance maketh a booke in defence of Images Images breÌ„t at Zuricke The decre of Norinberge Suite betwixt the Bishop senate of Strauso Thomas Murner Campcgsus raileth agaiâ—â— holye Matrimony A decree of Papistes against gospellers The lamentatioÌ„ of Lut. The golden Rose sent to the kynge of Englande Erasmus boke of Free will A decree of the duke of Loraine Henry Zutphan The Emperor biameth the Princes Themperor defendour of the Romishe churche Lut. coÌ„pared with Mahomet The duke of BourboÌ„ besieged Marfelles The begynnynge of the rustical war The Papistes fight for their bely The coÌ„plaiÌ„te of them of Zuricke The cause of theyr hatred To serue foreine princes is vile The eraâ—t of the Papistes Ecksuc theÌ„ Popes champion The pouertie and boundage of the Swices The riches and libertie of the same The constaÌ„cie of them of Zurieke The FreÌ„che kyng taken prisoner The vnconstaÌ„cie of Clement The victors of themperâ—alles The coÌ„motion of the bulgare people Theyr demaundes The duke of Wirtemberge atteÌ„pteâ—â— warrs The fyrste slaughter of Bowres Another slaughter The great crueltie of the Bowres A most cruel maner of burnynge The warre of Bowres in Loraine The slaughter of Bowres The crueltie of the Archebishop of Treuers Geismer captaine of the Bowers The league of Swelane The Masse abolisshed at Zuricke Muncer a great anabaptists Muncer will haue a token ared of God He teacheth that all thinges should be common Muncer maketh gonnes Phifer his companion Phifers enterprise The death of Fridericke the noble duke of Sax. The princes make a power A seditious oration of Muncer The saith of Abraham obteined of god great benefites Muncer rai leth on the Princes A blouddy Preacher bloweth the Crompet Gods power appeareth in sewest men Iud vii .i. Sam .xiiii. and .xvii. Muncer disceaueth the people by the Rainebowe Fearein MuÌ„cers Campe. A messenger slaine agaist the lawe of Armes An exhortaci on of the Lantzgraue The madnes of the Munceriane The slaughter of the MuÌ„cerians Muncer is taken His cruell answere He is reproued of the Lantzgraue The vnreasonable laughter of Muncer At the houre of death he repenteth Lut. diswadeth theÌ„ from sedition ii Thess .ii. The dewtie of a good Magistrate How the Magistrate shold deale wyth the Papistes Gods wrath is slowe but yet sore Thauthors of rebellion are wythout excuse What thing rebellion is How wicked dominion is to be shaken of The best way to ouer threw the popes authoritie Lu. did more with that word thaÌ„ cold haue bene don by force of Armes It appereth by the Prophecies of Briget and others The Practise of the deuill The popishe kingdoÌ„ maie not long indure Preachers ought to be circumspect Theyr demaundes Huntinge Haukyng Fishyng prohibited Lut. answer to the Bowres The Bours vse Godlye titles Gen. 7 Gene. 19. Math. 26. Roma 13. We are all blind in our own cause The state of a magistrate wherin it coÌ„sisteth The Magistrate is as necessary as the seune to the worlde The law of nature aloweth a Magistrate The christiaÌ„ lawe Math. 5. The christeÌ„ profession is harde The nature of veritie The craftes of the deuill to oppresse the Gospel Aunswere to the demaundes of the bowers No maÌ„ may be kept from the Gospell Howe ministers shoulde be ordayned Tithes must be payde Christianitie taketh not away boÌ„dage Bondage is not let to christen libertie Luters office The false title of the bowers Psal 107. The Gospel is sclasidered with rebellioÌ„ The rasers of tumultes The part of a wyse man The dutie of a Magist The ende of tyranny Of Not Daniel and â—ob Luther bloweth the troÌ„pet against the boures Ther can be nothig worse then sedicioÌ„ Lut. to vehement TheÌ„perors letters to the princes of Germany An assemble called at Auf. Carolostadius writeth against Lu. Carolostadius maketh his porgatioÌ„ Faith ought not to vauer Luther maried a NuÌ„ne Luther and Zwynglius met at Marpurge The Popes letters to theÌ„ of Paris Faber driueÌ„ out of Paris The kynges letters for Faber The story of Pruse Lut. letters of submissioÌ„ to the kynge of England The chief point of Lu. doctrine The ende of the Papistes doctrine Luth. letters to George Dake of Saxon. Duke George hateth the Gospel Thomas wulley Cardinal a Butchers sonne A league betwene EnglaÌ„d FrauÌ„ce Godlines is not to be sought for in the court The peace of Madrice The lady Elenor The kynges sonnes are pledges Counsell at Spyres The Emperours letters The Turke inuadeth HuÌ„gary A league betwene the venetians Pope FreÌ„che kyng Against false Freers The noÌ„ber of holy days A decree for Religion The begynninge of the ProtestaÌ„tes league The kynge of Hungary slayne The Emperour maried a wyfe A disputatioÌ„ at Baden A Priest burnt Discorde in Hongary The FreÌ„che league agaist the Emper. The Popes benefites to the Emper. The Emperours aÌ„swer The kyngdoÌ„ of Naples A point of that lawe Rome is the treasure house of that whole worlde The Pope the Emper. are two gret lyghtes The Pope is a warrier A counsell promysed The frenche kyngs leters to the prynces of Germany The Empe. confuteth the letters An apologie for the freÌ„ch kyng The princes letters to the Emperour An assemble at Regensburg Iohn Fridmarrieth Sibille of Cleue Rome is sacked The king of Englande The begynning of Anabaptistes The FreÌ„che Armye The Duke of Baurbon conoempned at Paris Englande hath title to Fraunce Leonarde Cesar Hopocrisy of byshops The power of Bernes Lawes of their disputacion Theames or conclusions Prayers for the dead are superfluous Religion reformed The prebids departe Ambrose Blaures Religion reformed at Geneua The victory of the gospel The kinges of FrauÌ„ce EnglaÌ„d Amballade to the Emperour The FreÌ„che kings inuectiue against the Emper. He offereth the Emper. the combat The letters of Iohn Uaiuode to the states of the Empyre His Ambassadours takeÌ„ Kyng FerdinaÌ„do forsoke kyng Lewis FerdinaÌ„dos title to Hongary The duke of Saxon the Lantgraue prepare theÌ„ to warre Paccen beheaded The Emperours aunswer to the FreÌ„ch king Themper Heraulde came at Paris An assemble at Spires Lantrech be segeth Naples Contention about the Masse The papists forboden to preache The Ambassadour of the chamber imperiall to Strausbor The bishops letters The Masse put down at Stansbor Dissentid at Basil for religion They of Basill take armure Images put downe The Masse put downe Images breÌ„t on â—sh wednesday The assemblie of Spir. The papists iÌ„ SwicerlaÌ„d make leage with kynge Ferdinando The Ambâ— of Srausborough excluded The

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

only againste whome if anye proclamation come forthe or if any decrees be made the matter is clearely out of doubt that the same oughte to be reiected and refused but of this sort is the decre made at Auspurge concerning religion Therfore can not we obey them that woulde make vs to receiue the same Mauger our heades and take from vs the lighte of the Gospel and setforth that Romish Idoll that they might draw vs into euerlasting damnation And seinge the case standeth thus ther can no rebellion of right be obiected vnto vs again euery maÌ„ may easely perceiue how vnlawful it is to worke anye violence against vs for in that are not we only assaied but this thing is wrought to th end that the professors of the true doctrine might vtterlye be extinguished that through our side mighte be wounded Christe him self and al godly people For we are al the members of Christe Wherfore such as defile them selues with so wicked a facte what thing els may they loke for but Gods vengaunce Touchinge the fortes and villages taken we haue spoken in our last former wryting neither is it neadefull to repeate the same For so sone as we shal be assured of peace we will restore them to the right owners Where also our enemies haue raised a brute as though there were vsed amonges vs an intermixed vncerten lechery it is a most impudeÌ„t lie Therfore we beseche you for the honor of God that ye do not defile your selues with innocent blud but pray God that he would confound the bloudy couÌ„sels of the wicked if it fortune to be war that they wold not deny them their aid After in the month of Aprill the ministers of the church setforth a wryting wherein they recite the confession of their doctrin and declare how it is lawful for the inferior magistrate to defend him self against the superior compelling him to forsake the truth and here they speke vnto and beseche themperor that he wold geue no credit to suche as incense him to practise vniust and wicked cruelty but that he wold first truly and duely examine the whole matter Finally they make earnest request that they may haue no war and if the thinge come so to passe they desire aid also of the inhabiters next them Of the trouble that I said fortuned in the head church at Strausburge the bishop made complaint to themperor but the Senate by an ambassadour sent declareth that ther was no fault in them wherfore themperour adressing his letters to the bishop commaundeth him to renue hys worke omitted to procede therin The bishop taketh firste assurance by othe of the Senate that ther shuld be no violence shewed nor any disturbance in theyr doing Thus at the length the clargy at the feast of Pentecost which was than the .xxiiii. of May began their matter again A few daies at the first the consuls certen other Senators wer ther in thother side of the Cathedrall church least any tumult shuld be raised And the clargy of the said church had inclosed that part of the chauncel as they go into the reuestry with grates of yron that no man could come nere At th end of May themperor departeth from Brussels with his sonne Phillip goeth to thassembly at Auspurge leading with him the duke of Saxon prisoner leauing the Lantzgraue at Machlin Not long after his departing thence ther was setforth a proclamation against the Lutheranes which was written both in French Flemish the .xxix. day of April and that was after this sort albeit saith themperor I haue alwaies indeuored that thauncient and true religion might within al my dominions be obserued albeit I haue bene euermore wholly bent that therrors sectes heresies which haue now these many yeres bensowen ouer al christendom might vtterly be abolished albeit that for the same cause I haue setforth soÌ„dry proclamations with most extreme penalties yet hearing saye not without the great grief of my mind that not only men of our own dominioÌ„ but also straÌ„gers which dwel within our prouinces occupy the trade of marchandise haue spread abrode thinfection of this mischief far and nere in such sort as it is doutles requisite to lay to this disease some corrasine or other sharp medicine make diligent inquisitioÌ„ after the offenders that the same plage maye be plucked vp by the rotes as in the last assemblies prouincial I admonished the states and gouernors that euery man for his part shuld diligeÌ„tly apply him self hereunto and stil remain in thold and catholick religioÌ„ Especially coÌ„sidering how it is openly sene of al men what tumultes commotioÌ„s this infection hath stirred vp to speake nothing in the meane time of the losse of saluation of soules Wherfore by thaduise of our most derely beloued sister and assent of oure nobles we make this new law straitly charge and commaund that no man whatsoeuer he be haue bie or distribute any bokes of Luther OecolaÌ„padius Zwinglius Bucer or Caluine or any other bokes set forth xxx yeres past without the names of the authors as in the registre of the deuines of Louain is furthermore conteined moreouer that no man kepe any Image or picture made in contempt or mockery of our Lady or other saincts nether that he cast down or breake any Image painted or pourtraied in the honor of any saint that no man open his house vnto priuy conuenticles wherin bothe erroures are wont to be sowen men and wemen rebaptised and also conspiracies made against the church and the common wealth that no man either priuely or apartly dispute of the holy scripture especially of hard and doubtfull matters or take vpon him thinter pretation of the same vnlesse he be a deuine aucthorised by some commendable vniuersity they that shall otherwise do shal be punished as seditious persons and disturbers of the common tranquility and if they be men they shal die with the sword and womeÌ„ shal be buried in the ground quick in case they wil forsake theyr error but if they will be obstinate they shall be burnt and theyr goodes confiscated whether punishment so euer they suffer Againe they shall haue none authority to make any will and whatsoeuer they shall do herein since the time they first began to infringe thys oure law shal be frustrate and take no place Furthermore we charge coÌ„maund that no man receiue into his house or aid with any thing such as he knoweth to be suspected of heresy but that he aduertise immediatly thinquisitour or gouernour of the place and shal suffer punishment if he do it not Such as not of obstinate malice but throughe infirmitye haue fallen into errour and heresies and yet haue not transgressed thys our law and haue done nothing seditiouslye but of their owne accord haue retourned to amendement and after they haue abiured be receiued again to grace shal after that haue no conference amongs them selues of matters

appertaining to faith and religion if they haue to suffer as those that are returned to their vomit he that being not conuicted but vehemently suspected of heresy shal be condeÌ„ned ether tabiure or to do open penance if the same man shal be after accused of heresye he shal suffer as one that is reuolted Unto such as be spotted with heresy and stained with like crimes shal be geuen none honor nor dignity nether shall they beare anye office in the common wealth Unlesse a man bring with him a testimoniall from the Curate of the Church where he dwelt last let him not be suffered to haue any habitation or dwelling For suche ought to be had for suspected That the gouernors of peace and all other oure Clients euery man in his prouince inquire diligently for such as shall breake this law and that they assist the inquisitoures and ecclesiasticall iudges so that those whiche be founde culpable maye suffer according to che fourme prescribed excepte they so do they shall suffer for it at oure pleasure Let the common Proctoure also know whether they do their duetie and if they shal be found negligent let him commaund them to come to iudgement and if it shall appeare that they haue offended let them either be depriued of theyr office or otherwise punished as shal be thought expedient Besides this let all Bishops Archdeacons and Abbots with such other like Prelates search with all diligence if any of the Cleargy be infect with this disease and punishe it extremely They that know any man defiled with this Pestilence or in what places the Heretickes lurcke and frequent let them presente them immediatly vnlesse they do so to suffer the same punishment that the others should The promotour if the accusation be not false shal haue the one half of his goodes Which goodes in dede shall not exceade the summe of vi C. crownes For whatsoeuer shal be aboue this soÌ„me the tenth part therof shal be alotted vnto him He that shal detect to thinquisitour priuy conticles although he were of theyr Counsell shall not be punished so that he thinke well of Religion and from henceforth refraine theyr company but he that shall present them being not of their followship shal be rewarded as before is said let the punishments that we haue appoynted be so executed accordingly nether shall it lie in any mans power to alter or mitigate the same which we perceiue is oftentimes done for the iudges that offende herein shal not escape vnpunished They that being accused of heresy and cited to appere haue fled and haue bene after outlawed whan they haue heard that the coÌ„panions of their offences be dead are wont to make sute that they may be suffred to make their purgation for so much as they suppose how the crime can no more be proued by this meanes it chaunceth that retourning again they sow abrode false doctrin and errors but that the same be in no wise done it is for the coÌ„mon profit Wherfore we coÌ„maund that ther be no place geuen to their requests but that al such as after they wer cited haue appered but sought to saue theÌ„ selues by fleing shal be accoÌ„ted for conuictes persons condemned They that shal make any sute for suspected fled banished or for Anabaptistes let them be taken for supporters of heretikes And that iudges gouernors receiue none such into fauor vnles it be ether by the permissioÌ„ of vs or of the Quenes sister Those that shal do otherwise shal be depriued of theyr gouernmeÌ„t That no printers or bokesellers do print sel or vtter any thing coÌ„cerning the scripture but by theyr aduise consent vnto whoÌ„ this charge is coÌ„mitted for so much as there is a register of bokes which thuniuersity of Louain hath reiected let the stationers haue the same haÌ„ged vp in their shops in opeÌ„ sight least after either theÌ„ selues or the biers plead ignorance again that they haue another register of al theyr bokes he that wil not obey shal lose an C. crowns Finally that no man take any children to teach vnles it be through the permission of the magistrat and the chief minister of the church authorised that he teach or instruct the youth in nothing but according to the form prescribed by the deuines of Louaine When this decre was proclamed many were sore astonied especially the high duch English marchants which occupy the traffick of marchandise in themperors townes countries especially at Andwarpe a great noÌ„bre Wherfore they wer of this mind that vnles the decre wer mitigated thei wold remoue to another place yea mani of theÌ„ shutting vp their shops purposed to depart for thauoyding of the daÌ„ger The Senate of Andwarp also thother citezens ther which saw what a woÌ„derful losse this wold be to theÌ„ wer in a great perplexity wheÌ„ thinquisitors came thither they wtstode theÌ„ withal theyr indeuor riding to the Lady regeÌ„t declare vnto her what a losse it shuld be not to theÌ„ only but also to the whole region if this decre take place Wherfore the matter was in the same city for the which the decre was chiefly made by reasoÌ„ of soÌ„dry natioÌ„s people there appesed for that time This decre being after traÌ„slated into the highe duch toÌ„g Matthie Flacie of whoÌ„ meÌ„tioÌ„ is made in the former boke setteth forth most sharply taÌ„teth Iselebie the Adiaphoristes as he termeth theÌ„ which assay to perswade the people as though religioÌ„ wer not impugned But the form of inquisition which they cal an instructioÌ„ conteineth a most ample authority For it is lawfull for them to cal before theÌ„ not only al priuate persons but the magistrates theÌ„ selues also and to compel them by an oth to answere to interrogatories to vtter what they know And the questions coÌ„cerning religion are in nombre xxxviii wherin such ar are presented or suspected be examined amoÌ„gs others whether they beleue the sacrifice of the masse to be auailable for the dead so that they may be deliuered hereby from the pains of purgatory whether they beleue that S Peter was prince of thapostles Uicar of Christ high bishop of the church of Rome and that those also are to be accoÌ„pted for which do lawfully succede in his chaire whether they beleue that it is lawful to forsake thobedience of the high bishop being nether heriticke nor Scismatick whether they beleue that Matrimony priuely coÌ„tracted is lawful whether they beleue the Lutherans Buceranes and suche others to be of the Churche The Cardinals of Fraunce remaind at Rome a certain space after that Iuly was elected and than they return home again Howbeit by the way wheÌ„ he was come now into Fraunce before he had sene the Kinge died Ihon Cardinall of Lorayne who had bene all his life time a most pleasaunt gest and companion with king Fraunces By this occasion Robert Lenoncourt Cardinall obtained the Bishopprycke of Mentz

And the kinges of FrauÌ„ce 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 coÌ„mmon 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 dauÌ„ger 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 whoÌ„ 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 couÌ„trie And they being of theÌ„ selues not able nor of power sufficieÌ„t to sustein such a charge alone haue desired the ayde of the king of FrauÌ„ce And he doubtles setting a part the displeasure of former yeares hath not only made theÌ„ 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 coÌ„pounde 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 thaÌ„ by his own priuate profites he would deny nothing to a Prince of his confederacie Wherfore if the woundes of the coÌ„mon 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 thaÌ„kes 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 satisfactioÌ„ 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 coÌ„cerning the coniuÌ„ctioÌ„ of FrauÌ„ce and Germany was to them right ioyfull and no lesse pleasauÌ„t to heare that the kyng preferreth the common wealth aboue his priuate coÌ„modities 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

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