that he whiche is a Germain him selfe wil naturally for the coūtrie sake in so honest a matter be helpfull to an other Germaine that is in a maner oppressed and in daunger of his lyfe Besydes this intercession of his frendes Duke Fredericke deuised so with the Cardinall at Auspurge that Luther should not nede to trauayle to Rome but should come and pleed his cause before Caietane there Who comming thether in the begynnyng of October remayned there thre dayes before he spake with the Cardinall For after Duke Friderick was gone homewarde he was aduised by his frendes not to come in the Cardinalles fyght before the Emperour Maximilian had graunted him a saufe conduicte whiche obtayned he was gently receyued of the Cardinal who sayd that he would not contende with him in disputacion but frendly appease the controuersy And according to the Byshops of Roomes commaundemente he propoundeth two thinges first that he should come to amēdement and reuoke suche errours as he had published secondlye that from henceforth he abstayne from suche wrytinges as disturbe the trā quillitie of the churche Hereunto doeth Luther make aunswer that he is priuie to no errour but if he hath erred in any thyng he desyreth it maye be shewed him wherein There the Cardinall chargeth hym that he affirmeth in his questions howe the merites of oure sauioure Christe consiste not in the treasures of pardons whiche sentence saith he is against the decree of Clemēt the syxte Moreouer that vnto those that come to receiue the Sacramēt faith should be necessary wherby they myght be assured that their synnes were forgeuen neyther is this true sayeth the Cardinall Luther aunswered how he had read that decree of the Byshop shewed what his mynde is touching the same and where as mention was made of Thomas of Aquine he affirmeth that the authoritie of Scripture is to be preferred farre aboue hym Than the Cardinall extolling the Byshop of Romes authoritie preferreth him aboue all Scriptures and counselles recityng howe the coūsell whiche had determined the contrary was abrogated he condemneth also Gerson of Paris and the fauourers of his opinion Contrariwyse Luther denieth the authoritie of the byshop to be aboue the coūsell alledging emonges others the diuines of Paris to be of his opiniō After long disputacion where as they could not agree Luther asketh some deliberation The next day he retourneth And in the presence of the Secretary and certain other witnesses and foure also of the Emperours counsell he protesteth that he beareth all dew reuerence to the holy churche of Rome And if he haue spoken any thyng against the same he wyll not haue it ratified Howbeit for as much as he is admonished and commaundeth to forsake his errours and to abstayne from henceforth he supposeth that he hath spoken nothing that swarueth either from holy Scripture or the opinions of the auncient fathers the decrees of the byshoppes or also from ryght reason Yet will he not denye but that he may erre and be disceiued for so may euery man And therfore he committeth the hearing to the lawfull and holy churche referryng the whole matter to the iudgement of the same And not that only but he wil also rendre a reason of his doctrine in any place If this may not suffise he wil make aunswere in wryting to such argumentes as may be brought against him and will not refuse to stande in iudgement herein of the vniuersities of Germany and Paris The Cardinal charged him againe as he had done the daye before with the decree of Clement as though it made muche for him In fine he permitteth hym to deliuer vp a wryting theffect wherof was this What time he set vp his questions and after wrote an exposition of the same 〈…〉 had red the decree of Clement before but his mynde was not therewith satisfied For although it be established that the decrees of the Byshop of Rome should be aswell receiued as the voyce of Peter the Apostle Yet ought this so to be taken in as muche as thei be consonaunt to holy scripture and agreable to the decrees of the auncient fathers There is no doubt but the voyce of Peter is sacred and holy yet was he soore rebuked of Paule neyther coulde his doctrine be receiued tofore the consente of the Churche whiche was than at Hierusalem hadde establyshed it The wordes of all men may be hearde but all thinges must be referred to the wordes of Christ who only can not be disceaued That decrees is against sondrye places of Scripture and that was the cause whiche he at that tyme brought in the same question and afterwarde was not affraied to make an exposition to the same Euer synce that tyme he was fully resolued to stire vp no further disputation concernyng that matter but rather to heare the opinion of others but now albeit he had leuer be instructed of others especially of the Byshop of Roome Yet for as muche as he is constrained of necessitie to defende his owne he wyl proue and do the best he can to make the same decree and his questions to accorde Whan he had made this preface before him he goeth to the matter if selfe and by a certain expositiō made sheweth howe that decree maketh for his purpose but yet so as he would neither that the Bishoppes authoritie nor his owne estimation should be therby infringed After this he commeth to the seconde parte of hys accusation and alledging for his purpose many places of Scripture declareth playnly howe it is faith that maketh vs iust before GOD. Wherfore he desyreth him to deale fauourably with him shewe hym his errour For the force of thinges whiche he had alledged out of the scriptures was so muche that he beleueth them to be sufficiently groūded vpon their owne truthe whiche he can not forsake for so much as we ought rather to obey God then mē And therfore he requireth that may be released of the harde burthen of recantynge for he came not in to this contencion vpon any arrogancie or desyre of vayn glorie Yea he would wyshe for nothing more than that the truthe might be opened and that any man els myght bryng that were moore learned and godly her of he beseched him that he may not be cōpelled to hurt his own conscience The Cardinall receiued this wryting offered vnto him by Luther and whan he had red it estemed it lyghtly yet he promysed to sende it to the Byshop of Rome Than he vrged him muche to recant And vnlesse he so doe he threateneth him with the punishment appointed already by the byshop And also commaundeth him out of his sight and vnlesse he amende his maners to come no more in his presence After this threatening whiche was the .xvij. day of Octobre Luther wrote vnto him gentle letters ful of good wil and dutie For Caietane after he had thus chidden Luther sent him away wrought secretly with Iohn Stupice Prouincial of the Augustine
not to enter into any disputation with thee but to treate frēdly with thee and priuatly to admonishe thee touching thine owne profyt For the Emperour hath geuen them leaue so to do And fyrst it may be that counsels haue taught dyuerse thinges but not contrary And albeit they haue erred yet is not theyr authoritie so decaied herby that euery man may treade it vnder foote Thy bokes if it be not well loked to wyll styrre vp greate trouble For many interprete the same which thou hast written of Christen libertie after theyr owne affections to the entent they maye do what they lyste This worlde is nowe more corrupte than it hath bene here tofore And therfore men must worke more warely There be some of thy workes that can not be reproued but it is to be feared lest the Deuill in the meane tyme petswade thee to set forth others agaynste Religion and godlines that so thy bokes may be altogether condemned For those that thou hast set forth last declare ryght well how the tree is to be knowen by the fruites and not by the blosome Thou art not ignoraunt how diligently the Scripture warneth vs to beware of the noone Deuill and the fliynge Arrowe that enemye of mankynde ceaseth not to lye in waite for vs and many times vnder a Godly pretence intrappeth and leadeth vs awaye into errour Therefore thou oughtest to consider bothe thine owne saluation and other mens and it would become thee to foresee lest suche as Christ hath through hys death redemed from death euerlastynge beyng through thy faulte bokes and prechinges seduced from the Churche perishe againe the dignitie of the which Church all men ought to acknowledge reuerently For in all the world is there nothing better thā the obseruation of the lawes And lyke as no cōmō weale consisteth wtout lawes euen so vnlesse the moste holy decrees of our forefathers be reuerently kept there shall be nothing more troublesome than the state of the Church which should be most quiet and stable These noble and vertuouse Princes here present for the singular zeale they beare to the commō weale and for thy cause and wealth also thoughte good to admonisshe thee of all these thinges For doubtles if thou wylte perseuer thus obstinatlye in thine opinion and not relent the Emperour wyll bannishe thee out of the Empire and wyll forbyd thee to haue anye restynge place of Germany to the ende thou maiest the better consyder thine owne state Wherunto Luther replied For this your great good will and gentlenes most noble Princes shewed vnto me I gyue you most hertye thankes for certenlye I am a man of a baser sorte than that it shoulde beseme so noble men to take suche paines for me But as concernynge the Counsels I do not reprehende all but chiefly that of Constaunce and haue iuste cause so to do For Husse defyned the Churche to be the fellowshippe of Gods electe bothe this and that saying of his he beleued the holy Churche they condemned also more worthy them selues to be condemned for he spake bothe truely and like a Christen man Therfore I will suffer any punishement yea spend my life sooner than I will swarue from the manifest worde of God for we muste rather obey God then men touching the offence that connneth by my bookes I neyther can nor ought to eschewe For the offences of Charitie and of faythe differ much wherof that which consisteth in life and maners must in anye wyse be auoyded but thother whiche cleaueth to Godes worde is not to be regarded for the trewth will and commaundemēt of the heauenly father must be accomplished though the whole world should be offended The Scripture calleth Christ himselfe the stone of offence And the same appertayneth also likewise to all suche as preach the Gospell I knowe that we ought to obey lawes and Magistrates and so haue I euermore taught the people also my writinges do sufficiently beare witnes howe muche I do ascribe to the dignitie of the lawes But as touchyng the decrees of the churche there is an other consideration to be had For if Gods word were taught sincerely if the Bishops pastours of the church did their dewtie like as Christ his apostles haue ordeined it nede not to impose vnto mēs mindes consciēces that heauie intollerable burthē of mens traditiōs Moreouer I am ignorāt not how the scripture admonisheth vs to refrain our own affectiōs which thīg is truely spoken I wil be glad to perfourme it neither will I do any thinge obstinately so that I may onely professe the doctrine of the gospel Whan he had sayd thus he was cōmaunded to depart Whan they had consulted of the matter Ueus amonges other thinges began to perswade him to submitte his writynges to the knowledge of the Emperour and the princes content saith he I wil neuer seme to refuse the iudgemēt of Cesar and the states of thempire so it maye be done by Scripture and Gods worde whiche maketh so much for me that vnlesse the same do reproue my errour I can not forsake mine opinion For Paule commaundeth not to beleue an Aungel comming from heauen if he bringe an other doctrine Wherfore he besecheth the Princes that he might kepe a saufe conscience which if by theyr mediation to the Emperour he mighte obtayne he was content to do any thing Then said the Marques of Brādenburge Wilt thou not geue place except thou be conuict by Scripture No in dede saieth Luther or els by manyfest reasons Wherfore when the counsell was broken vp the Archbishoppe of Treuers toke him a parte and began to admonishe him againe but it might not preuaile The next day also he moued him to commit the iudgement vnto Cesar and to the senate of Princes without conditiō But it was in vaine At the after noone the Bishoppe and certeine others required him at the lest to submitte his workes to the nexte generall counsell He agreeth therunto so that the matter be handled by the Aucthoritie of Scripture After this the Archbishop in priuate talke with him alone demaunded of him what remedy would helpe this greuous disease He sayde the best counsell is that Gamaliel in tymes past gaue to the Scribes and Phariseis and not to contende with God In fyne when he coulde not preuaile he letteth him depart gently and sayd he would deuise for him that he should retourne home by saufeconduicte And not longe after commeth Eckius the Lawier and saieth vnto him For asmuche as thou hast refused the admonishmentes of Cesar and the Princes the Emperour from hence forth will do as to his office apperteineth and now commaūdeth thee to depart hence immediatly graunting thee one and twentie dayes for thy retourne looke what promise he made thee the same wil he kepe vnbroken charginge thee moreouer that in thy retourne home thou styrre vp no people by the way neither by word nor writing On this wise beyng suffered to depart
I doe vnwisely sayeth the Lantzgraue to reason of so weightie matters my fellowes beyng absent notwithstanding by cause the matter is not handled to any preiudice I wyll procede I suppose that Themperoure made the decree of Spier for a good inteÌ„t and where the aduersaries of the same were then content to suffer it and so promised they maye not nowe go backe with theyr wordes Agayne inasmuch as we gaue Themperoure stronge ayde agaynst the Frenche kinge we truste surely that the thyng that was then agreed vpon and confirmed with seales shal not be broken Moreouer there is nothyng that ought to let a prouinciall counsel For we professe the same faythe that the Apostles the counsell of Nice Athanasius did and oure diuines are agreed vppon the chiefe and principall articles ther was in dede a controuersie amonges them coÌ„cernyng the lordes supper but the same is nowe appeased for there is none but confesseth that the body and blud of Christ is there truly receyued There be anabaptistes Dauidians and I know not who besydes whom in dede we doe punnish Therfore is it not nedeful that foreine nations shulde be present when these thinges shal be determined neuerthelesse if they gaue themselues to the knowledge of the trueth it were chieflye to be wished for That certen meane opinions shuld be establyshed that by men of honour I doe not greatly resist but I thinke that caÌ„ hardly be donne with out diuines but if the sincere preaching of the gospel and the whole supper of the Lord and the marriage of priestes might be permitted as in tyme paste Paphuntius perswaded in the counsel Nicene I suppose a concorde might be establisshed I know no place where men be constrayned to come to oure religion we do not suffer a contrary and a sondry doctryne in the selfe same place but we compell no man kyll no man nor spoyle hym of hys goodes And in case men of our relygion myght remayne harmeles in your dominioÌ„s and might haue theyr Churches seuerally assuredly I coulde be contente for myne owne parte to suffer youres to haue theyr Churches in lyke case with in my rule and dominion but for asmuche as you wyll not graunt to the same we desyre also to haue oure doctryne equiualente Therefore looke what I sayde before of the decree of Spier and the prouincyall Counsel of Germanie the same doe I take to be best now also If there bee any man sayeth Granuellan in all the worlde that loueth peace assuredly it is Themperoure who indede for the Bishop of Roomes pleasure wyll not swarue one heare breadthe from equytye He hath kept also the decree of Spier not without the greate offence of the other partye and also of the Bisshop â—ea Nauius and I doe sustayne no smal displeasure for the same cause In a Counsell prouinciall I cannot see who shuld be Iudge For al men doe not vnderstand the scripture after one sorte And because that in the Conference of learned men there appereth smal hope doubtles som other meanes muste bee founde Some Articles are indede accorded but agayne there be moe yet in coÌ„trouersie Moreouer those that be accorded Bucer doth interpret more largely than the thyng it selfe permitteth and yf they shoulde nowe reste here it were easy to iudge what wolde be the state of Th empyre at the lengthe I lyke it righte well sayeth the Lantzgraue that you saye howe Themperoure hangeth not of the Bisshop his sleue And wolde God he myghte brynge the Bisshop to hys dutye In tymes paste Bisshoppes of Roome did honour Themperour as theyr supreme Magistrate And now Emperours ar bounden to them by an othe In all controuersies Gods woorde oughte to be chyfe iudge whyche is not obscure so that che minde of men wolde frame themselues accordynglye For it sheweth vnto vs synne prouoketh vs to repentaunce and amendemente of lyfe and preacheth vnto vs Chryste who hathe taken a waye the synnes of the worlde in whose name also God the Father is to be called vpon that he woolde graunte vs hys holye spiryte Uerelye thys faythe and Doctryne hathe euer been and styll remayned in the Churche as the Lordes Prayer the Crede of the Apostles And dyuerse Songes beesydes accustomed in churches doe instructe vs of the benefite of Chryst neither must we here consyder what the greatest multitude weneth but what the trewthe is For at Ierusalem also what time diuerse of the Apostles and disciples wolde haue had the heathen people that had receiued the Gospel circumcised Peter and Paule Iames and Barnabas were of a contrary opinion the errour of the residew shewed did abrogate that yoke of the lawe At the whyche tyme the greatest parte of that congregation gaue place and obeied the iudgement of a few that were in the right We verely doe not prescribe other nations but couet only that the Germanes might agree within themselues to treate of meane waies I could be coÌ„tent so that they swarued not from the decre of Spier concernyng the establisshment of the peace and lawe and in other thynges it is to be sene what may be establysshed by Gods woorde and what maye not But I wold haue also my cosen and frend here the Paulse graue who hathe ben at many assemblies and knoweth muche of matters past to speake hys opinion herin Then he speaking of Themperours good will and disposition sayeth howe the conference had at Regenspurge was well and to muche purpose begonne And if it were renewed and the articles already accorded no more decided he thinketh they myght come to some tollerable agrement in the rest Themperoure sayeth Granuellan desyreth acoÌ„corde verie muche as hath ben ofte repeted And excepte that be establysshed it will surely redounde to the dammage of the publycke weale And albeit Themperour hath not thus muche profyt by th empyre albeit he hath not hys health also yet for the loue of Germany hathe he taken his iorney He hath taken no secret counsell eyther with the French king or with others neyther commeth he to craue ayde but to prouyde generally for all men Bothe Fraunce Englande leuie great force of men whiche is greatly to be suspected Moreouer TheÌ„perour hath to doe in Spayne by reason of the death of hys Daughter inlawe Yet all these thynges set a part he goeth to the assemblie But yf no Princes come thither what shall he doe there alone There is much calling and crying on hyn to refourme thinges and yet wyll they not come to the place appoynted for consultation Therfore it should doe well my Lordes speaking to the Paulsgraue and the Lantzgraue if you whiche are two of the chiefest wolde goe thyther Albeit sayeth the Lantzgraue that Themperoure hathe no greate reuenewes out of Thempire yet in asmuche as he hathe ayde alwayes thence agaynste the Turke agaynst the Frenche kynge and others And for that the dignitie of Thempire getteth hym great authorytie amonges other kinges and that he
the Austen Freres desiring hym to cause them to be sent to the byshop of Rome And he him self in the moneth of Iune wrote vnto Leo the tēth partly complayning of his pardoners whiche through their owne auarice abused his auethoritie And partly purging him selfe knowing for a suertie that they had complayned on him for the same matter but affirmyng that they did hym wrong For he was inforced by reason of the fonde Sermōs bokes of the Collectours to set vp certain questiōs only for the matter of disputation whiche he woulde now more playnly declare beseching him to geue no credit to sclaunderous reportes alledging that Duke Fredericke the Prince electour of Saronie was a man of suche wisdome honour that in case suche thinges had been true that his aduersaries reported of him he would not haue suffered his countrey to beare such an infamie And that the vniuersitie of Wittenberge was of lyke consideration and so submitted vnto him both all his workes and his lyfe also not refusing death if it should seme good vnto him For whatsoeuer should procede from him he would take as an oracle that flowed from Christe him selfe Amonges others of Luthers aduersaries Iohn Eckius wroote a little booke against him at the same tyme. To the whiche Luther aunswereth that he neyther bringeth Scripture for hym nor any thinge out of the auncient Doctours but certein dreames of his owne receiued of scoolemen by an vnallowable euill custome After Eckius one Siluester Prierias a freer Dominicke master of the holy palace as they terme it wrote against him a dialoge with the preface to Leo the tenth right stoutelye saying that he woulde proue whether Luther be so inuincible that he can not be confuted or vanquished For if he can answer this thē wil he set forth greater thinges with moste exacte diligence Then speaketh he vnto Luther exhorting him to amende and before he commeth to his disputation he propoundeth certain Themes that the Byshop of Rome is head of the whole churche and that the churche of Rome is the firste and chiefest of all others and can not erre in matters of faythe and religion Neyther that the generall counsell can erre where the byshop of Roome is present Moreouer that the holy Scripture taketh all his force and authoritie of the churche and byshop of Rome as of a moste certain rule And he that beleueth other wyse to be an heretike This foundation ones layd he beginneth to debate the matter Afterward doth Luther make answer to the same boke And in his preface to this Siluester saith that he wōdreth at his questions rather than vnderstādeth the same Then takyng of him example for the defence of his cause putteth forth also certen themes but suche as are taken out of holy scripture wherin he sheweth that we ought not to geue credit to euerye doctrine of man but to way euery thing exactely and to embrace that thing only whiche is consonaunt to goddes worde And none other doctrine to be receiued but that which is left vs by the Prophetes and Apostles although it haue neuer so goodly an apparence Neuerthelesse thautoritie of those writers whiche were next after them to be allowed but for the rest to be well ware what they wryte And as concerning the indulgences that it is not lawfull for the Collectours to inuente anye newedeuise herein but to followe in the same the order of the Canon law After this he obiecteth that he alledgeth no testimony of scriptur but reciteth only the opinions of Thomas of Aquyne who treated in a maner of al things at his pleasure without thauthoritie of scripture Wherfore he reiecteth both affirming that he doth the same not onely by the commanndement of saint Paule but of S. Austen also Emōgs the Ciuilians it is commonly sayd that it is not lawfull to pronounce any thyng but after the prescript of the lawe Much lesse in diuine matters ought that thing to be suffered that is spokē without the testimony of scripture It is S. Paules precept that suche as be appointed to instruct the people should be furnished not with Syllogismes or sondry decrees of men but with holsome and sounde doctrine lefte vs by godly inspiration But for so muche as many haue contemned this precepte great blyndnes hath been induced and an innumerable sorte of vnprofitable questions hath flowed ouer the worlde What tyme he hath thus made his waye he commeth to the confutacion and aboute th ende therof sayth howe he is nothinge affrayed of his manasinge wordes which are set forth for a brauery For albeit he shuld dye therfore yet Christe liueth and is immortall vnto whome all honoure is dewe And therfore if he list to come to a further trial in this matter he must fight with stronger weapōs or els his authour Thomas and he are lyke to goo by the woorse Againe this Syluester writeth Luther an aunswer and saythe it deliteth him muche that he submitteth hym selfe to the iudgemēt of the byshop of Rome wyshing also that he spake it with his harte vnfainedly Luther had charged him with ambition and fllatterie but he purgeth him self therof as muche as he may And defendeth right stoutly the doctrine of Thomas affirming it to be in suche sorte receiued approued by the churche of Rome that it ought to be preferred aboue all other writinges And blameth him sore that hath spoken of so worthy a man so vnreuerently accomptyng it an honour to him selfe to be called a Thomiste Notwithstanding he sayeth howe he hath red other mens woorkes also whiche shall hereafter appere After this preface he setteth forth a little booke wherin he cōmendeth exceadinly the aucthoritie of the byshop of Rome in so much that he clerely preferreth him before all counselles and decrees affirminge that all the strength of Scripture dependeth vpon his authoritie This Thomas comming of a Noble house gaue him self wholy to learning And leauing Italy went first to Collyn and after to Paris and proued best learned of al men in his time wryting diuers workes in the whiche he treated of matters of diuinitie and Philosophie He was a blacke frere the disciple of Albertus Magnus Whan he was dead Iohn byshop of Rome the .xxii. of that name made him a sainct about fifty yeāres after he lefte his lyfe He was a great mainteiner of the byshop of Romes authoritie For he attributed vnto him the supremacie ouer all other byshops kynges and churches vniuersall with both Iurisdictions aswell sacred as ciuile affirming it to be a necessary thyng vnto saluation that all men be subiect vnto him that he hath full authoritie in the churche and that it appertaineth to him to call counsell and to confirme the decrees made there Moreouer he sayeth howe men may iustlyappeale from any generall counsell Finallye he ascribeth vnto him all thinges onely this he excepted that he can not make newe articles of
manifestly mayneteyne the cause of Pflugius through the suite of hys frēdes the matter was vtterly lyke to brede ciuile warre For eyther of them had their mē vp in armure but through that mediation of the Lautzgraue it was appeased This was the beginning of the displeasure betwyxt them whiche after increased in tyme wrought a deadlye wounde to Germanye as shal be recited in place And certenly many men marueiled at Maurice that he would be so earnest and bitter agaynst him that brought hym vp and whome both he and his father may thanke for all theyr good fortune But certen of the coūsellers that were with Duke George were thought to haue set forwarde this matter whiche neyther loued Religion nor yet the Prince Electour Whan the decree was made and all men prepared thē selues to the warre Luther set for the a booke in the vulgare tongue an exhortation to the warre whiche he dedicated vnto Philip the Lantgraue And after hathe declared the cause why he wrote of the contrary argument in his yong days the to warre against the Turkes were nothing elles but to resiste God whiche vseth hym for a scourge to afflicte vs whiche sentence Leo the tenth had amonges other thynges condempned for the Byshop of Rome so ofte as he mynded to procure a masse of monie out of Germany vsed euer this collour to gather it for the Turkishe warre and had shewed all the reasons that moued hym than and amonges others that a Christen man ought not to reuenge nor resiste euil but to suffer all thynges according to that saying of Christe of leauinge thy rote and agayne that the Emperour is not to be excited vnto warre as the head of Christendome Protectour of the churche and defendour of the faithe For the tytles are false and vayne glorious and iniurious to Christe who allone can defende his churche and the iniurie is the more for that certen kynges and Prynces are moste bytter ennemies to his true doctrine and therfore concludeth that the Turke is not to be warred vpon or resisted for the diuersitie of his religion but because he robbeth and spoyleth and maketh vniust warr and bringeth in with him most shameful examples of lyfe By a cōparison made he proueth that the byshop of Rome is nothing better thā the Turke for as he by his Alcorane so hath the Byshop by his decreetales quenched the doctrine of the Gospell That whiche he doeth by force the same doth the byshop by his curse but thei both worke reproche vnto matrimony abide punishment for the contempte of Gods lawe which ordeined holy matrimony what time god geueth thē ouer to their filthy lustes that they burne in most detestable desires worke most wickedly against the order of nature Finally speakig of the turkish power he admonisheth thē not to be carelesse in warfare but to knowe how thei haue to do with a moste fierse ennemy These and diuerse other suche lyke thinges he treateth of in that first boke but now what time the state of thēpire had at the request of thempe king Ferdinādo decreed war he cōpiled an other worke as I said a warlike exhortation or sermon to th entēt that such ministers of the churche as followed the warres myght haue some forme and order howe to teache and exhorte First therfore sayth he that men may vnderstande what is to be thought of the Turke the Scripture speaketh of two houge and cruell Tyrantes which shall destroy Christendome before the laste daye of iudgement one through false doctrine of whome prophecied Daniel and after him Paule this is verely the Byshop of Rome And an other by power and force of armes that is to saye the Turke of whome Daniel in the seuenth chapter speaketh Those therfore that wylbe christians let them plucke vp their hartes and loke for no peace and quietnes nor pleasaūter life frō henceforth For that miserable tyme which he prophecied of before is now come but let vs comforte our selues with the comming of Christe and with our finall deliueraunce whiche immediatly after those afflictiōs shal appeare and let vs knowe for certentie that al the woodnes and malice of the deuyll is powred wholy vpon vs by the Turke for neuer did Tyrante practyse suche crueltie as he doeth After he expoundeth the seuenth chapter of Daniel whiche is of the foure beastes cōming out of the Sea declaring that the Turkishe Empire is there described For this is that same litle horne whiche sprang vp betwene those ten hornes of the fourth beast And albeit it is wonderfully increased yet can it not be that it should be in power like to the Romaine Empyre for the Prophet doeth there describe foure Empyres only which should succeade in order and the last to be the Empyre of Rome therfore shall there be none other that may be cōpared in greatnes to the Romayne And for asmuche as Daniel did attribute vnto him three hornes only whiche he should plucke of from those ten his violence from henceforth shall not proceade muche further for those three are plucked of long synce Asia Grece and Egipt whiche beinge three of the greatest prouinces in the Empire the Turke now possesseth with in the whiche limites the Prophet hath included him wherfore there is good hope that from henceforth he shall possesse no prouince of the Empyre And where he is nowe so busy in Hongary and also readye to inuade Germany this is the last acte of the tragedy for it may bee that he shall inuade those countries but he can not thynke that euer he shall haue them in quiet possession as he hathe Asia Grece and Egipt for the prophecie is playne and manifest After this he treateth of all the other partes prouokyng them chiefly to repentaunce and exhorteth them all to be ready and wylling to obeye the Magistrate commaunding vnto this warre and not only to employe their goodes herein but also to serue with their bodies The prisoners also whiche eyther be nowe in the Turkes handes or hereafter shal come into the same captiuitie he comforteth with many perswasions and admonisheth them to be well ware of that fayned and pretensed Religion of the Turkes for he heareth saye howe many that haue professed Christ doe of their owne accorde falle into their Religion for that it hath a certen shewe of vertue and holines and that they suffer this bondage patiently and serue their maisters faithfully though thei be prophane and wicked neyther that they runne away from them or fordo them selues for vnpatientnes and lothsomenes of that estate but to beare alwayes in memory that same which Peter and Paule wryte of the dutie of bounde seruauntes but what tyme they shal attempte warre against the christians to hasarde their lyues rather than to serue vnder thē for they be murtherers and make warre against the sainctes as Daniell sayeth and shead innocent bloude therefore muste they chiefly beware that they be not partakers
of her husband But whan Ulrich Duke of Wirtemberge hard of the misery of Brentius all be it he him selfe was in great daunger yet gaue he relief secreatly to him and his family Furthermore the Cities of Sweuia following all for the moste parte the Emperoures authority promised to accomplish his commaundement Wherfore the preachers euery where remoued out of diuers places least they should commit any thing vnworthy their profession Andreas Osiander for this cause leauinge Norinberge wente into the lande of Prusse Spire and Woormez had but ether of them one which fled also to saue them selues William the Earle of Nassowe suffred Erasmus Sarcerius to depart for the same cause Moreouer the Duke of Wirtemberge in whose country were garrisons of Spaniardes euery where as hath bene saied whan the commaundement came from the Emperour caused the Boke setforthe to be recited in the Pulpit and commaundeth that no man do any thing to the contrary and if any man wil say Masse he geueth them liberty and chargeth his subiectes that they disturbe no Priest and putteth awaye those Ministers of the Church which would not allow the boke Amonges whome was Erardus Schueffius The Emperoure by Granuellane and the bishop of Arras moued the Duke of Saxon captiue to obey the decree and followe the doctrine of the Boke setforth And albeit they assaid him with fair promises and shewed him some hope of deliueraunce yet he perseuered constante in his opinion And the laste yere saithe he amōges the condicions whiche the Emperoure propounded this was wrytten also that I shoulde approue the decrees that shoulde be made by him and by the Counsell concerning Religion but whan he perceiued that I coulde not be induced through the terroure or feare of any pearill to assent he released the same condicion and after that neuer moued any thing to me concerning religion Whiche certenlye I toke than in steade of a great benefite and being cased hereof as of a most waighty burthē al the other conditions which the Emperoure at his pleasure determined on my parson and all my goodes I suffered the more easelye and with the better wil trusting that from henceforth I shoulde be permitted to kepe my Religion free but now for so muche as he vrgeth me againe and commaundeth me to subscribe I do heare protest that I was so brought vp in my youth and after by the reading of holye scripture so confyrmed that I do beleue this doctrine to agree throughly with the wrytinges of the Prophetes and Apostles neyther can it be conuicted of any erroure For the whiche cause verelye bothe my father I and certaine other Princes exhibited in times past a confession of the same doctrine comprised in wrytinge and referred it to a lawful counsel considering therfore that God hathe illuminated me with the knowledge of his word it is not lawfull for me to forsake the truthe knowne vnlesse I woulde purchase to my self euerlasting dampnation Wherfore if I should nowe admit thys decree forasmuch as the same dothe in manye and moste waightye places dissent from the holy scripture I should condempne the doctrine of Iesu Christ which I haue professed hitherto And in word and speach should allowe that I know to be naughte and wicked But what thinge els were this than with painted and glosynge wordes to delude the deuine Maiesty and the Emperoure also Than the which thing what more wickednes can be committed For this is that same sinne against the holy ghost wherof Christe hath so diligently warned vs which shall neuer at any time be forgeuen And seinge it is so and that my conscience is tied with these bondes I most earnestly and for the mercy of God which he gaue vnto mankinde through the oblation of his sōne pray and beseche that the Emperoure would not take in displeasure this my refusal For where as I do reteine the doctrine professed at Auspurge I do it for my soules health and setting all other thinges a parte do imagine howe after this miserable life I may be made partaker of the life and ioy euerlasting I heare say moreouer howe it is reported to the Emperour by diuers as though I nothing regarded religion but sought for a vaine glory and what thing els I know not I beseche you what thing coulde happen to me in this worlde more to be wished for especially being thus grose of bodye then liberty then to retourne to my wife and children than quiet and rest at home And I take God to witnes and than will also what time he shall take an accompt of vs all for our doinges that I respected nothinge els than that throughe the true worshippinge of God I might enioy the inheritance of the heauenly kingdōe Which thing I hartely desire that the Emperour would certainly beleue and be fully perswaded of me In all other thinges my will hath bene alwaies ready to gratify him and euer shal be and the infidelity and promesse which I haue made him that will I kepe as becommeth a iuste man and borne of noble parentage Furthermore I beseche him to remit all displeasure and at the lengthe to deliuer me from this continuall captiuity That I be not reported the first of all other Princes that should lead his life with him prisoner Where he perseuered thus constant and immouable they began to hādle him somwhat more hardly and toke from him his bokes of Scripture and was commaunded on daies forbidden to abstaine from fleshe The same preacher also whome by the Emperours licence he kept vntil this time whan he sawe present daunger hanginge ouer his head he chaunged his apparel and conueied him self awaye priuely At the same time came abrode out of the Emperoures court letters which the Lantzgraue was saide to haue wrytten to the Emperoure In those he saieth he hath commaunded his wife and coūselloures that they should fulfil all the reast of the conditions and satisfy such as complaine for the warre past Againe he saieth how he hathe the boke wrytten of Religion And albeit there be manye thinges which he doth not wel vnderstand and the which he cānot affirme by the scriptures yet for somuch as they ground their thinges of antiquitie and authoritye of holy fathers he will not make him self wiser then they and doth both allow that wryting and wil deuise also that his subiectes shall obserue the same After this he offereth him his faith and seruice whether he shall warre with the Turke or with the Bishop of Rome or any forain kinges or with the Swishes or els wil vse him in Germany but he besecheth him for the loue of Christ and all saintes that he would lay awaye all displeafure and set him at liberty For now hath he bene deteyned prisoner a whole yeare and suffred punishmente inoughe and is brought to extreme misery Moreouer for a further assuraunce he will geue his two sonnes pledges vntill he be fullye satisfied And whatsoeuer way
do nothyng but that might stande with his honoure In all other thynges throughe Gods helpe he would do as shoulde become a Prince of the Empire and an obdient childe of the church What tyme this answere was geuen them After some deliberation they began to recite howe many thynges the Byshoppe of Rome had done and suffered that Luther mighte at the length retourne into the right way but that he hath kepte no parte of his promyse And that it lyeth not nowe in the Archbishoppe of Treuers to here the matter for so muche as the Bishoppe of Rome hathe taken to him selfe the same to whom onely it apperteineth to be iudge in suche causes the conclusion of theyr talke was that they said how they must procede according to the Bishoppes decree And so not longe after they burned Luthers workes Aleander was an Italian borne right skilful in the Hebrew tonge he was sometyme a Reader in Paris commynge to Rome he grewe in estimation and was first made Archebistoppe of Brunduse after that Cardinal To the same degre of dignitie came also Carracciolus When Luther vnderstoode this he calleth forthe all the studentes of Wittenberge and in the presens of many learned men he burneth the Byshop of Romes law and the decree lately published openly the tēth day of Decembre And the next day in his lecture admonisheth al men that regarde theyr saluation to beware of that Bishoppes kyngdom Afterwarde he set forth a boke wherin he sheweth the causes why he burned the Canon lawe First that it hath bene an olde custome obserued at all times that naughtie and Pestilent bokes should be burned a testimony wherof is yet in the actes of the Apostles Moreouer that it concerneth his dewtie that is baptised in Christe whiche is a professour and an open teacher of holye Scripture to impugne wycked doctrine and to teache men that is holesome and to plucke out of mēs mindes false and erronious opinions And that the same apperteineth also to many others And although that they bryng letted eyther through ignoraunce or for feare of perill do not that they oughte to do yet can that be none excuse to him vnlesse he do his dewtie Moreouer the Bishoppe of Rome and all his rable are so obstiuate and shamelesse that not onely they wyll heare no good admonitions but also condempne the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and compell men to committe open Idolatry Furthermore he supposeth howe these booke burners haue no commission to burne his bookes no more than had the Diuines of Collen and Louain of the Emperour Finally for as muche as his workes beyng burnt and the brute therof spread abroade ouer all countreis many will growe to be weaker and doubtfull supposynge they were not caste into the fyre withoute cause therefore dyd he seynge his aduersaries past all remedy burne theyr Bookes also that he might therby erecte confyrme the mindes of men Wherfore he besecheth all men that laying a syde thambitiouse and proude titles of his aduersaries they would looke nerer to the thinge that is howe wicked and pestilent opinions are conteyned in those bokes of the Law Which thinge that it maye be the better perceyued of innumerable he hath gathered a fewe thynges whiche belonge to the reproche of almightie God to the iniurie of the ciuill magistrate and to the establisshing of their owne tyranny to the numbre of thyrtie places whereby he sheweth that he had iuste cause to burne them Than prouoketh he them to shewe the reasons wherfore they burnt his workes And the cause why fewe or none haue in diuerse ages past attempted anithing agaynste the tyrannye of Antichrist he saieth hathe bene for that the Scripture hath prophecied howe he shoulde destroy his aduersaries and haue the kynges to assist him Seyng therfore that the Prophetes and Apostles haue tolde vs before of suche tyrrible thynges to come it is easye to consydre howe greate it behoueth hys crueltye to be For so commeth it to passe ordenarily in worldly matters that of the best begynnynge of thinges procedeth the worste ende Whiche after he hathe proued by diuerse examples he inuergeth agaynste the Citie of Rome whiche beyng indewed of God with many benefites and ornamentes is vtterly gone out of kynde and with her contagion hathe infected a great part of the world that this the Byshoppes ordinaūce is agaynst the lawes agaynst good customes nether is he to be suffered for that he fleeth from lawful iudgement for that he affirmeth him selfe to be aboue all lawes and iudgementes I tolde you in the fyrste Boke how Syluester Prierias wrote agaynst Luther whan he had answered him sharpely Ambrosius Catarinus an Italian toke in had to defende him setting forthe a booke of the dignitie of the Bishoppe of Rome to the whiche Luther aunswereth at large and interpretynge certen places of Daniell teacheth that the Byshoppes Tyrrannye is there paynted out and proueth that suche thinges as he hathe prophecied of the kyngdome of Antichriste do altogether concerne the See of Rome After this was Catarinus made Archbyshoppe of Cossent The thirde Booke of Sleidanes Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and the common Weale during the Empire of Charles the fyfte ⧠The argument of the thirde Booke DUke Fridericke obteyneth letters of safeconduict for Luther to come to Wormes there to defende his opinions and writinges before themperor and the other states and perseuereth constantly although themperor threateneth him wyth banishment and the Pope had cursed hym in the Bulle of the Lordes supper And the Prynces seuerally soughte to peruerté him The counsell of Constaunce was set before his eyes vpon which occasion mention is made of Wyclese of Iohn Hussc and of ʒ ischa a Bohemer the Sorbonistes condempne Luthers bokes Whilest the Pope and the Frenche kynge made a league with the Swisses ʒ wmglius diswadeth thē from takyng Pensions of thē Luter beyng exiled by letters patentes auoydeth The kynge of Englande writcth agaynst him Pope Leo dyeth Adrian succedeth Solyman the greate Turke hathe luckie successe in Hongary Commotions in Spaynè themperor couetyng to appease them after he had treated wyth Englande goeth thyther The Byshoppe of Constance persecuteth ʒ wynglius Troubles at Wittenberge The Annabaptistes aryse for the which there is an assemble at Norinberge The Pope sendeth thyther letters and Ambassadours The Turke taketh the Rhodes ʒ winglius hauyng set forth hys doctrine by certeyne Articles is assayled by the Papistes but in fyne the Ghospell is receyued at ʒ uricke DUke Fridericke accompaniynge the Emperour to the assemblie at Wormes had obteyned that Cesar sayde he would call for Luther and heare his matter whiche Luther vnderstanding by the Dukes letters wrote agayne aboute the latter ende of Ianuary that he was exceadyng glad that the Emperor would vouche saufe to heare this matter which in dede is a common cause And that he shal be content to do any thing that he may do with a
Germany bare of money and keptmen in great bondage which they said plainely they would no longer suffer but in case they were not reformed with spede they wold seke a redresse theÌ„ selues Concernyng the tribute of the Clergie thus it was Amonges other meanes to gather vp money this was one that Byshoppes and other spirituall parsons shoulde paye to the Byshoppe of Rome after the rate of the benefice a certeine summe of money commonly called fyrste fruites and tentes Some do ascribe this deuice to Iohn the .xxij. others vnto Boniface the .ix. The preteÌ„se was fayre and goodly that ther might be Treasure ready at all times against the Turkes and Saracenes And for as much as at that time the aucthoritie of the Bishoppes of Rome was growen great and estemed holy it was easely graunted Englishmen only refused to pay namely for theyr smal benefices This continued till the counsel of Basil where it was put downe brought vp againe by Eugenius the fourth who made that counsell frustrate and so hath continued euer syns but yet not with out much repining For in the yere of our Lorde a thousande and fine hundred what time the Emperor Maximilian held a counsell at Ausâ—â—rge about the Turkishe warre it was decreed that Ambassadors should be sent to Alexander the sixt that he should aide the common wealth And geue those yerely reuenewes vnto this vse that were graunted for the same purpose But tharchebishops or Metropolitanes receane of him a certein signe of honor and dignitie made of Flaxe wolle they call it a Palle For the which they must paye a great piece of money to the Byshoppe of Rome and that in a short space For he maye admit none other Byshoppe till he haue receiued his Palle whiche he weareth alwayes at Masse but before it be deliuered to him he must take his othe to owne him his faith and obeidience And the sixte day of Marche the Princes at Norinberge set forthe a writinge of the thinges before mentioned charging all men to obserue the same vnder a great penaltie whiche decree was published in the Emperours name For he had establisshed the Senate and iudgement before he retorned into Spaine And Fridericke Countie Palatine was his deputie in that assemblie About this tyme were taken at Bruxels two Monckes of S. Austens order Iohn and Henry Hogostrate a Frere Dominicke had theÌ„ in examination They were asked what they beleued They made answere howe they beleued the bokes of the Olde and New testament and the Crede of the Apostles that conteined the Articles of our faith Againe whether they beleued the decrees of the Counsels and of auÌ„cient fathers Such of them as are agreable to the Scriptures Whether they thinke it deadly synne if a man breake the decrees of the fathers and of the Bishoppe of Rome It is only ascribed to Gods commaundementes to condemne or saue WheÌ„ they perseuered herin they were condemned to dye But they gaue thankes to God that they should suffer for the glorie of his name When they were brought forth to suffer all men marueyled to beholde theyr constancie so were they burnt the fyrst day of Iuly But before they wer executed they were disgraded which thing is done vnto priestes onely For beynge condemned Heresye by an Ecclesiasticall Iudge he hath put vpon him an albe and a Uestement and deliuered into his handes a Chalice with wine and water also the gilt Patent with a singing Cake And so knelyng vpon his knees the Bishoppes deputie taketh from him the thynges before named commaundynge hym that he shall no more saye Masse for the quick and the dead And with a piece of glasse he skrapeth his fingers in ioyninge him that he neuer herafter halowe any thing After he taketh the rest of the thinges from him with certein curses ioyned therunto Whan he is exempted thus out of the numbre of Priestes he is also put from the rest of the ordres by the which he came vnto priesthod Then he is he torned naked and decked againe with a laymans apparell and so deliuered to the magistrate whom the bishoppes chaunceloure entreateth that he wold determine no harme against his life nor body for they vse this Ceremony lest they beynge holy men shoulde seme to be the Aucthors of death or bloudshed Whan the decree of the Empire made at Norinb was of many taken diuersely of some also coÌ„temned Luth. Writinge his letters to the Princes doth aduertise them that he hath read it reuerently with great pleasure First where they coÌ„maunde the gospell to be taught after the interpretatioÌ„s approued by the church some in dede vnderstaÌ„d it to be after the accustomed maner of Thomas of Aquine DuÌ„se suche others as the Bishops of Rome haue allowed but he taketh it to be mont of more auÌ„cient writers as Hilary CypriaÌ„ AusteÌ„ such others And yet not so much credit to be giueÌ„ vnto theÌ„ nothing like as to the scripture Thus he doubteth not but they meÌ„t it so doth he take it which is the cause that certen of the chiefest nobilitie wold not subscribe to it nor suffer it to be proclamed in theyr couÌ„treis Secondly where bishops should appoint mete meÌ„ to be present at sermoÌ„s which should geue gentle admonition if any thing were a misse he saith the decre is good but that the Bishops though they wold can not obserue the same for that they waÌ„t learned men haue no other but suche as haue learned nothinge elles but sophistrie And where they prohibite that no bookes be printed before learned meÌ„ appointed therunto haue first perused theÌ„ he wil not be against it so that it coÌ„cerue no bokes of scripture which in no wise oughte to be inhibited Finally where they haue decreed that priestes which mary wiues or forsake their order shal be punished according to the Canon law that to be to ouer hard a thig For as they coÌ„fesse if the gospel be preached sincerely thaÌ„ must the CanoÌ„ law be much qualified Afterwarde he bewalleth the miserie frowardnes of our time that in so clere a light of the gospel that extreme law that prohibiteth mariage is not abolished which hath geuen thoccasion of so many great euils yet are they much to be praised which are content with the punishmeÌ„t prescribed in the Canon law but such as wold kill the priestes that marie or leaue their ordre after they haue by prison all kind of punnishement tormented theÌ„ are greatly to be abhorred Wherfore he besecheth the Princes that for so muche as theyr aduersaries will not obeie the decre which they mighte and ought to obserue the pore priestes might be pardoned for that thinge â—ech not in their power to performe for euery man hath not the gift of chastitie and the vowes made be foolishe After this he set forth a boke of ordeining of ministers to the Senate of Prage and ioyneth with it a writynge wherein he
so in dede and for so muche as they theÌ„ selues haue furthered his enterprise cleane against the Emperours coÌ„maundement therfore must he see for hym selfe howe he may recompence himself for the domage receiued and therfore renounceth their league and amitie The Emperours armie after Turwen was ouerthrowen marching from thence into Artois in the moneth of Iuly toke the Castell of Hesdine by assaute There was slayne Oratius Farnese the Frenche kynges sonne in lawe There were manye of the Nobilitie taken amonges whome was the hyghe Mareshall of Fraunce Marchian that dwelleth in the foreste of Arden The newes of the battell in Saxonie was brought to the Empuâ—y within a very fewe dayes Who after the .xxii. daye of Iuly aunswereth Duke Ericke of Brunswicke whome Marques Albert had sent as before is sayde Howe he is not a little sory that the displeasure is growen so farre for he had muche rather that all this controuersie had bene appeased and vnles it be so he feareth least it wyll come euyll to passe not only to the Empyre but also to Marques Albert especially since that so many of the chiefest States doe set in fote herein and haue made a league Therfore his aduise and request is that with al spede they laye downe theyr weapons and deuise some meanes of concorde If the Marques be so content he wyll deuise that the contrary parte shall surcesse also and distrusteth not but that he shall perswade them And he earnestly desyreth that he refuse not so to doe For otherwyse the case standyng as it doth nowe he can not vse his seruice least he should increase the suspicion that is reysed already Whiche doubtlesse vnto hym that hath nothyng derer than the peace and tranquillitie of the Empyre should be very greuous and displeasaunt About the begynning of the moneth of Auguste Augustus Duke Maurice brother commyng home out of Denmarke a fewe dayes after consultyng with his Counsel taketh an othe of all the people and amongest others of the Wyttembergians to be true to hym and to his heyres males and if none remain to retourne to the fidelitie of Iohn Fridericke and his chyldren in case he obey the Emperour and obserue the compactes of fourmer yeares if not that than they be obedient to the Lantgraue This done he is saluted Prynce Electour and calleth an assemblee of his States to appere before hym the xx daye of Auguste The .xvii. daye of that moneth was a marueilous great earthquake in the towne of Mesen Whan all were assembled at Lipsia at the daye very many Duke Auguste bryngeth in question fyrste whether he should ioyne hym selfe to the newe league of kyng Ferdinando the Prynces and Byshopes and to prosecute his brothers warre against Marques Albert. Secondarely if he should forsake the league how he ought to auenge his brothers death Finally by what meanes he may compounde with Iohn Fridericke For he in his absence sendyng letters to the nobles required that the dignitie of Electourshyp and his possessions that were taken awaye myght be wholy restored to hym The effect of the consultatioÌ„ and counsell was that he should obserue peace with both and that the Electour of Brandenburg should treate a pacificatioÌ„ And hereof an order was made although king Ferdinando by Henry Plauie Chauncelour of Boheme had treated earnestly with Duke Auguste concerning the league In this conuention the Duke of Saxon sending againe an other Ambassade demaundeth his owne and that with sharpe wordes the same did the States of his dominion but that was in vaine And Auguste sayed howe he was not bounde so to doe and that he would sticke to those compactes and conuenauntes which the Emperour had made whan he was takeÌ„ but yet would he not refuse all treatie During that same assemblie Henry Duke of Brunswicke desyred ayde of Duke Auguste against Marques Albert whiche hyred new bandes of soldiours After the death of Duke Maurice the Duke of Saxon sent th one of his soÌ„nes Iohn William into Brabant to the Emperour that he might be restored And in a maner about the same time the nobilitie and states of his dominion sent thyther Ambessadours also in the absence of Duke Auguste that the Emperour wold accept their Prince as by them commended The Duke of Saxon had sent Ambassadours also to kyng Ferdinando and to the kynge of Denmarke about the same matter In the meane season the Bishop of Wirtemburg besegeth Schninfurt which was kept with a garrison of Marques Albert as before is sayd And the Byshop of Bamberge and the Norinbergians whan they had a whyle beseged Collebach leading away the power ioyne theÌ„ selues to Counte Plauie whiche layed batterie to the towne Hosie belonging to the Marques In these monethes were .ix. burnt at Lions whan diuers of them had bene in pryson a yeare and more Articles were propounded to them al of the presence of Christes body in the Lordes supper of Purgatory of the Masse of priuate or auricular Confession of Ceremonies of praiyng to the virgin Mary and other that be dead of the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome of Free wyll of Iustification of workes of the authoritie of the churche and of Byshoppes of Monasticall vowes of choice of meates of vnction and confirmatioÌ„ and of Images And they aunswered to euery point constantly and after one sorte seuerally alledging the testimonies of Scripture Whylest they were in pryson with their letters they comforted not only one an other but also their frendes and other churches and wrote euery thing as it was done What tyme Lewys Marsake one of the prysoners being a maÌ„ of warre alledging many things out of the holy Scriptures the inquisitours that were preseÌ„t demaunded of him whether it were his part to read the bokes of Scripture and asked him how he knewe these thinges to be the Gospell The kinges liftenaunt also sayd there were onely but two Euangelistes Matthew and Iohn For the other two and Paule also had as it were sowed together certen fragmentes and patches And if it were not that the Doctours of the churche did attribute to Paule that authoritie he wold set no more by his Epistles than by Esopes fables And whan Marsake inferred agayne that there were Godly testimonies of the vocation and office of S. Paule especially in the .i. chap. of the Epistle to the Galathians That maketh nothing for the matter saith he for he beareth witnes of him self Unto those that suffer with hym the hangeman put an haltar about their neckes as the maner is But Marsake whome the iudges coÌ„mauÌ„ded to be led without a bande about his necke sayed vnto theÌ„ is their cause better than mine Why wil you not geue me such a chaine also Why will you not dubbe me knight of this noble and excellent order alluding to the accustomed maner of kinges who at what tyme they wyll honour and auaunce their frendes they make them knightes of their owne order and geue them a
him most humblye by theyr letters and alledginge manye teasons that they might he permitted to receiue the whole Supper of the Lorde according to the commaundement and institution of Christe and custome of the primatiue Churche Unto these letters of theyrs the xxiii of Iune the king ausweringe from Uienne I had full little thought saith he that you would haue called in question that proclamation of mine and haue found cauillations therin For I mēt only that my subiectes should perseuer in thauncient and true Religion and obedience of the Catholicke church without the which no man can obtain saluation and that they should receiue this sacrament the chiefest of all others after the law and custome of the church and neither through the corrupt opinions of certain or for curiosity and pride also should swarue from that duty which they both owe to the church and also to the Magistrate This is verely the mind and effect of the same proclamation nether is it any new thing that I commaunded but an old ordinaunce which hath ben brought as it wer by hād vnto my progenitors Emperors kings and Dukes of Austrich and to me also whan I began to gouerne the common wealth was deduced and vnto this time by me diligently as becommeth a Christen Prince obserued and at sondrye times to my people also inioyned that they shoulde remayne in the same Wherfore I supposed that you would not haue attempted any thyng against this my proclamacion which in all other thinges do contende that there should be no alteraciō and that your lawes and liberties myght remaine vnto you whole For certenly that you do is a new deuise and lately of you conceaued by a certayne opinion and now also reasoned at large as though it were lawful for you to iudge of my commaundementes whiche am your chiefe and supreme magistrate or as though the same ought of ryght to be permitted you which certen yeres now diuers of you of your own accord contrary to the lawes of the church and my will haue taken vpon you priuately to vsurpe But because the question is harde ful of difficulty as you also affirme I will doubtles thincke more therupon and whan time is make such answer that it may be well perceiued that I do not tender a little the saluation of my people but in the meane time I loke for al obediēce of you and trust that you wil do nothing against my proclamation Unto this the states afterward answer again by wryting And the same say they that we haue oft times spoken before of our sauiour Christes commaūdement most puissant king we now repete again For he did institute his supper with plain and manifest words that after the same sort that he him self prescribeth it might be receiued of al men nether is it lawfull for any man mortall to alter hys institution It may be proued also that this was the manner of thauncient Churche and the same that is vsed now a daies to haue crept in by little and little For euen the counsel of Constance graunteth that the same was so instituted of Christ Wher therfore thys cōcerneth our saluation certainly neither curiosity nor pride hath moued vs here vnto Wherby we truste the rather that you will refer your consultation to the commaundement of Christ and his Apostles and consent of the primatiue Church and will not that our consciēce shuld be burthened which thing that it might please you to do we besech you for the honor of God and the glorye of his name and for oure own saluation We do acknowledge you and that moste gladlye to be our high Magistrate geuen vs of God and there is nothing in this world but that you both may ought to loke for at our hāds if it lie in vs to do But in this one matter we desire you to be fauorable to vs. In the byshop of Wirciburges dominion ther is an Abbay of Mōkes called Newstat The Abbot therof Ihon Frise after he came in suspition of Lutheranisme the fift day of May he is cited to come the vi day to Wirciburge and to answer vnto certain interrogatories And the questions were these Whether it be lawful to sweare whether anye man be bounden by his othe whether it be lawful to make a vow of Chastity pouerty and obediēce whether such manner of vowes do binde whether becometh better the ministers of the church mariage or singlenesse whether ther be one true and Apostolical church whether the same as the spouse of Christ be continually gouerned by the holy ghost whether she can alwaies discern true and holsom thyngs whether the same by reason of her head Christes vicar be called rightly the church of Rome whether all the bokes of both Testaments that be in the Cannon be lawful and true whether the holy scripture ought to be expounded after the mind of the holy fathers the doctors of the Church counsels and not after thopinion of Luther and others of the lyke sort whether that besides the Scriptures ther is nede also of other traditions as be those of the Apostles and such other like whether the same faith aucthority and obedience oughte to be geuen to the same traditiōs as to the holy scripture whether we ought to obay the ciuill magistrate in politick matters in holy things thecclesiasticall ordinary whether ther be vii sacraments of the Churche whether children oughte to be Christened whether they oughte to Christen in the Latin tounge with Salt Oile Water Charactes and exorcismes whether that by baptisme be cleane putte awaye Originall sinne in such sort that concupiscence which remaineth loseth the name of the same sinne whether the breade be chaunged and consecrated into the body and the wine into the blud of Christ by the vertue of the wordes which the Priest pronounceth whether it do so remaine althoughe it be not by and by receiued whether the Sacrament being after this sort consecrated is to be worshipped whan either it is borne aboute for the honor of Christe or caried vnto sickfolkes or also be reserued in the pix whether Christ is to be worshipped vnder the forme of bread and wine whether Christ be wholly vnderneath either kinde whether the confession of sinnes do prepare a man to the worthy receiuing of the Sacrament whether Masse be a true and continuall sacrifice whether that the Cannon of the masse is to be reteined whether the Sacramēt of confirming is to be vsed whether ther be iii. parts of penaunce contrition confession and satisfaction whether the priest may forgeue his sinnes which hath not before confessed the same whether Priestes onlye haue authoritye of the keyes whether the soules of good men do loue vs whether they pray to God for vs whether we ought to pray vnto Sainctes whether sainets Holy daies oughte to be obserued whether the relikes of Sainctes oughte to be worshipped whether the soules of the godly not yet repurged be relieued
The Pope woulde bye Millan Philip created kynge of Spayne A league of themp the king of England against the Frenche kyng The protest ambassad to themperor Themp. viage againste the Duke of Cleaue They of Hildisseme are accused to the emperour Themperours letters to them of Collon The Popes letters to the clergie of Colion The French king fortifyeth Landersey The turkes Nauie arriueth in the prouince The Castell of Nice beseged Batchelaurs Abooke of Caluine againste the Sorbonistes A booke of the relieques of Sainctes Two Cities full of relicies Afalsereport of the Emperours deathe The Duke of Cleaue craueth pardon of themperoure CondicioÌ„ns to him imposed The daughter of Nauaris sent to the Duke of Cleaue Laundersey beseged The preachers of the gospel thrust oute of metz The sege is leuied at Nice Dissencion in Scotland The yonge Quene of Scottes affiaunced to Kynge Edwarde The king of Denmarke warreth vpoÌ„ theÌ„ perialles The duke of Cleaue renounceth the Frenche Leage The departure of the Frenchmen from LaÌ„dersey Duke moris County willyam forsaketh the Frenchking 1544. Thre eclipses of the moone A great Assemble at Spiere The causes of the turkes prosperitie The French king compared to the Turke The Protestantes oration to themperoure The Duke of Brunsewicke accuseth the Protestauntes The French ambassade to the assemble at Spier The French Herault euil receyued at Spier The ambassadors retorne by nighte The princes letters to the Pope The Popes aunswer The meane to heale the comon welth The princes letters to the Swisses The protestantes accuse the Duke of Brunswicks The tenure of his letters The Duke of Brunsewicke conteÌ„neth hys owne religion A straunge tale of the saide Duke An Image buryed in the sleâ—e of Eue. The French victory at Carignane The Duke of Sauoye accuseth the FreÌ„ch king The swysses aunswer the Princes letters Thenglishe Nauie inuadeth scotlaÌ„d The oration of the FreÌ„ch Ambassadours Holy men haue had leagues with men of a contrarye relygyon The duke of Saxon is set throughe with kynge Ferdinando The French king hateâ— of all men for the turks societie The states of thempire decree an aide against the Frenche Kynge A decree for relygion Of the chaÌ„ber Themperoures gentlenes to the Lantzgraue The duchye of Brunsewicke committed to theÌ„peroure Themperoures Iornoy into Fraunce barbarossue retourneth The deathâ— of the Duke of Lorayns The kyngs besegeth Bollogns The deathe of the Prince of Drenge Counte willyam taken prisoner Eperney brunte The feare flyghte of the Parisians Bollon rendred A peace concluded betwixte themperour and Fraunce The condicions of the peace Three moste myghty enemyes of Fraunce The Popes letters to the Emperoure The enemies of the romish church The Pope can abide no superiour Themperoure is the Popes eldest sonne Great princes swe for the Popes fauoure The creatyon of Cardinalies A counsel is called Luthers booke of the Lordes supper The clergie of Collon to the Arche Bisshop They appeale to the Pope and Emperour An Ambassade to the Kynge of Englande Peter brulie 1545. Brulie burnte at Tourney Hys examination A conuentioÌ„ of diuines at mellon The Articles of Lovayne Luther aunswereth theÌ„ of Louayne An AsseÌ„ble at wormes The ProtestaÌ„tes make aunswer The counsel of TreÌ„t vnlawefull The deuise of the popish Princes Grinian the French ambassadour The Ualdois The cruell sentence at Aygnes Iohn Myners The Cardinal of tournon Miners presidente of Aygwes He leuieth a power agaynste the Ualdois The merindolans flee into the woodes A lamentable departynge A soldioure geueth them warnynge A Captayne defendeth the women A cruell fact of Miners Cabrier yelded A terryble example of crueltye The Swisses intreate for the Ualdois A sharpe aunswer of the kynge The confession of the Ualdois doctryne The deathe of Lewes Duke of Bauier Cardinall Farnesius his coÌ„ming to wormes Themperours Ambassadour to the kyng of Poole The kinges aunswer to themperour The pope most desyrous of war A frere obseruaunte stireth TheÌ„peroure to warre Luthers boke against the Pope Luthers themes of thre gouernmentes The wylde beaste Luthers picture against the Pope Luther a prophet The ignoraÌ„ce of Grinian The deathe of Fraunces Duke of Lorayne The birth of CharlessoÌ„ns to kyng Philyp The Duke of Brunsewicke getteth monye of the FreÌ„ch kynge Themperoure taketh truce with the Turke The clergie and vniuersitie of ColloÌ„ against their Archebishop Temperourciteth the archebishop The Pope citeth the archebishop of Colon. The decre of Auspurg The frowardenes of the Duke of Brunswick The warrâ— of Fraunce England The Protestantes send Ambassadours into FrauÌ„ce and Englande The deathe of the duke of OrleauÌ„ce The armye of the Duke of bruÌ„swick The Lantzgraue goeth against him Duke Moris intreateth a peace A skirmishe betwirte the Duke the Lantzgraue The vanitie of the Duke of Brunswick A conflicte betwixte the Duke the LaÌ„tzgraue Duke HeÌ„ry and hys son yelde themselues The deathe of the Cardinall of Mentz CouÌ„te willyam deliuered The Lantzgraues letters to theÌ„peroure Themperoure to the LaÌ„tzgraue A treatie of peate beetwirt frauÌ„ce England 1546. The king of Englande warneth the Protestants of the daunger The Palsegraue ordeineth ministers in hys Churches A brute of war against the Protestantes Granuellan his aunswer to the Lantzgraue Sebastian Scherteline The Protestantes accused of conspiracie The Lantzgraues letters to Nauius The coll 〈…〉 quie of the learned meÌ„ at RegeÌ„spurg Maluenda treateth of iustification Bucers aunswer Pflugius amonges the Presidentes The colloquie dissolued Ambassadours to theÌ„peroure for the archebisshop of Collon Gonzage go uernour of Millane The Popes Legates in the counsell of Trente Preachinge Freers A bul of perdonnes The begynnyng of the counsell The oratioÌ„ of the popes Legates TheÌ„ was 〈…〉 g of Esedras and Nehemias A decree of the Sinode redde The seconde session of the Synode Luther chosen arbiter Luther is sicke Whether we shall knowe eche other in the lyfe to come Luthers last prayer The quiet departure of Luther Luthers birthe Luther sent to Rome Luthers eloquence in the Dutche tongue The inuincible constaÌ„cie of Luther The victory and conquest of the word Iohn Diaze a Spaniard Diaze goeth to Maluenda Fewe Spaniardes loue the Gospell Marquins excuseth Diaze His brother Alphonse coeth into Germany The traytorous mind of Alphonse Alphonse retourneth to Nuburge to kill his brother The murtherer killeth Diaze Cladius Senaclyus Themperours letters for a paracide TheÌ„peroure visiteth the Lantzgraue hys daughter The Lantzgraue commeth to theÌ„peroure The Lantzgraue to theperoure What counsell the Protestantes desyred Freers be disturbers of peace The boke of reformation at Collon The Archebisshop of ColloÌ„ is accoumpted vnlearned The ignorance of the people for lacke of teachyng A communication of the LaÌ„tzegraue and others Freers vile in lyfe and learnyng Diuines stubburne obstinate Themperoure ought to compell the Pope to do his dutie The ende of Scripture The beste thinges please sewest The mynde of the Pauls graue What profit hath theÌ„peroure out of Germany The Lantzgraue is arbiter beetwirte the Dukes of