orderly determin'd and such a Council too the Emperor has formerly promis'd and it has been decreed upon weighty deliberation in many Diets of the Empire that the same should be call'd together in Germany For the Fountain from whence these Dissentions have been deriv'd was the overgrown Impudence of some Men who preach'd up things here call'd Indulgencies At which time likewise certain egregious Errors such as could not be dissembled were detected and expos'd And though Pope Leo condemn'd this Doctrin which laid open those Errors yet to this his condemnation they confronted the Testimonies of the Prophets and Apostles Wherefore they always thought a Council to be highly necessary wherein they might come again to a right understanding of the Cause that is wherein it might be made plainly appear what is Truth and what is Error And this was not only their own sense but also the judgment of all the other Princes and States because they plainly saw and confess'd that many things had crept into Religion which ought either to be taken away or reform'd and because they well knew what it was that Men did wish for and what was requisite for the Publick Good. But when the Pope had condemn'd this their Doctrin Decrees were made in the Imperial Diets in these very words viz. That a free and Christian Council should be conven'd either of all Nations in general or else of the German Empire only And the reason that they were conceiv'd in these very words was that the Cause might not be prejudg'd or over-rul'd either by the foresaid Sentence of the Pope or by the force and power of any Man whatever And that Judgment might be made of the whole Controversie not from the Pontificial Laws or the Opinions of the Schools but from the Holy Scriptures For if any Man's authority be so great as to overballance the Holy Scriptures and right reason who can doubt but that all their pains and endeavours will be in vain when plac'd in opposition to the Pope For 't is well enough known what Progress has been made that way in some past Councils where a Reformation indeed has been set on foot but by the Interposition of the Popes has still been wholly set aside It has therefore been for very weighty Reasons decreed that a Council should be held in Germany and this has likewise been approv'd of by the Emperor But these Proposals of the Pope do altogether run counter to the Decrees of the Empire which have pass'd the Seals both of the Princes and the Emperor For though he speaks of a Free Council yet who can doubt but that he has quite another Prospect since his great Endeavours are to bring over Kings and Princes to his side For was he willing it should be Free to what purpose would these Engagements be But since he is so very industrious this way 't is manifest that his design must be this to keep up and maintain his Power and Tyranny by the Authority of a Council that so no body may dare to reprehend these Errors and Corruptions or if any one be so hardy he may pay very soundly for it What others will do they cannot tell but their opinion is that these his Proposals are of such a nature and so contriv'd that they are apt to deter Men from a Council rather then invite them to it For who will ingage himself at this rate especially when it does not yet appear what is like to be the Order form Method of the Council When it is not yet known whether the Pope will not set up his own Authority as Supream there and whether he is willing the Controversie should be discuss'd according to the Holy Scriptures or according to those Traditions and Canons which are not confirm'd by any Testimonies from Scripture The Freedom of the Council is likewise in danger from that expression of his That it shall be manag'd after the ancient and received manner Now though they do not in the least reject those Decrees of ancient Councils which are consonant to the Holy Scriptures Yet they think that there is a vast difference between those Councils and these which have been held within their own Memory or somewhat before wherein the Pope and Humane Decrees have been advanc'd to an extravagant Pitch Therefore when he saies it shall be held after the wonted manner it is a captious expression and may include that there shall not be such a freedom of Votes as they desire and the Cause it self requires but that Judgment shall be giv'n according to his own Laws and that Power which he has arrogated to himself as it has been done in some of the last Council But such proceedings as these are so far from reconciling the Churches and extricating doubtful and afflicted Consciences that they will rather involve them in thicker Darkness and plunge them into a deeper Slavery Since therefore the Pope has not yet answer'd the desire of the Emperor and the other States their earnest Request is that the Emperor would consider the vastness of the Cause wherein the whole Christian Commonwealth is concern'd and endeavour that it may be justly and legally manag'd For this is his proper Province and he has Power by the Laws to do it whenever Truth shall be obstructed by the Pope For care is to be taken that he may not be both Party and Judge at the same time Besides all People are set on tiptoes with the hopes of this Council and 't is the Subject of their most eager wishes and prayers that they may at last be deliver'd from the doubts and anguish of an afflicted Conscience and be set into the right way to Salvation For there have not been for many Ages such struglings about such momentous Affairs as there are now the occasion of which are those numerous Errors and Corruptions which long before our time have broke into the Church Now if the general expectation shall be thus made frustrate and such a Council as has formerly been promis'd cannot be obtain'd we may easily imagine what a surprising sorrow and affliction it will strike upon the minds of Men. Moreover if the Pope shall refuse to come to a fair Judgment of things it is much to be fear'd that both the Church and State will be agitated with more dangerous Tempests than ever But since all the States of the Empire have in all their Diets decreed for a regular Council they cannot doubt but they will stick to their Principles and kick in pieces those Snares which the Pope is preparing for them They likewise expect the same things from the other Princes For this Engagement which is now working is altogether full of trick and design and 't is impossible that Men should ever make a true and right judgment of things unless all their minds be kept free and unbiass'd But if he be resolv'd to go on and to have a Council after his own way they will then commit the whole Affair to God
Lower Saxony and forced them of Meckelburg Lunenburg Anbalt and Mansfeld to pay it Another part of his and the Bishop's Forces having beat Albert and taken Schweinfurt as I have said they Treated Rotenburg an Imperial City and the County of Henneburg very severely and seemed resolved that if they did not contribute to the Expences of this War which they pretend did belong to all they would levy it by Force but by the Interposition of others this difference was Composed and no Force was made use of About this time Charles Duke of Savoy who as I have related above was stript of the greatest part of his Territories died leaving as his Heir Philibert his Son who had served many Years as a Soldier undr the Emperor Ferdinand King of the Romans published an Edict commanding his Subjects not to change any thing in the Celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist and that according to the old Custom they that received the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper should content themselves with one of the Spectes the Bread only But the Princes the Nobility and Cities having often before Petitioned him in this Business did now by a Letter very humbly desire that according to Christ's Command and Institution and the custom of the ancient Church which they backed also with many Reasons they might be allowed the partaking of the whole and entire Eucharist The King answering this Letter the twenty third of June from Vienna said he did not in the least suppose when he published that Edict that it should be made by them the Subject of a Dispute and Cavil For said he my only design was that the People in my Dominions should remain in the ancient and true Religion and in the Obedience of the Catholick Church out of the Communion of which none can be Saved and that they might receive this most excellent Sacrament according to the Laws and Customs of the Church and that they might not be perverted from that duty they owe both to the Civil Magistrate and the Church either by the perverse Opinions of some Men or by a certain over great Curiosity or Pride He said this was the only intention and design of that Edict and that he had not in it commanded any new thing but had required only the continuance of an ancient Institution which has been brought down to me from hand to hand by my Ancestors the Emperors Kings and Dukes of Austria and which has to this Day been diligently observed by me as becomes a Christian Prince and which I have heretofore frequently commanded my Subjects to continue in And therefore I did not in the least suspect that you would attempt any thing against the tenor of this Edict who so earnestly contend that in all other things no change may be made and that you may enjoy your Laws and Rights without Violation For certainly this is a new thing and of late taken up by you upon some Opinion which you argue so largely for as if it befitted you to judge of my Commands who am your principal and highest Magistrate and as if that ought of right to be allowed you which some of you of late years have of their own Authority privately assumed to themselves and usurped contrary to the Canons of the Church and against my Will. But then it being as you say a grave and difficult question as you your selves aver I will think further of it and in due time I will return such an answer to it as shall shew that I am very much concern'd for the Salvation of my People But in the mean time I expect all manner of submission from you and that you should not in the least act any thing contrary to my Edict To this Letter the States made a reply in Writing also to this Effect What we have so often said most serene Prince concerning the Command of our Saviour we now again repeat for he instituted his Supper in clear and perspicuous Words that it might be received by all in the self same manner as he prescribed And it is not lawful for any mortal Man to change or alter his Institution and Prescription This was also the ancient custom of the Church and that which is now used crept in by insensible degrees as we can demonstrate For the Council of Constance confesseth that it was so instituted by Christ Seeing therefore this pertains to the Salvation of our Souls certainly neither Curiosity nor Pride have put us upon it And upon this very score we the rather hope that you will direct your future deliberation by the Commands of Christ and his Apostles and the practice of the ancient Church and in no wise oppress our Consciences which just request we make to your Majesty by all that is sacred by the Glory of God and by the Salvation of our Souls We acknowledge that by the Will of God you are our Supream Magistrate and we do this with the utmost willingness and we say that there is nothing which you may not or ought not to expect from us but in this one thing we desire you would spare us In the Diocess of Wurtzburg in Franconia there is a Monastery called Nenstadt the Abbot of which John Frisius falling into the suspicion of Lutheranism was cited the fifth day of May to appear within six days after at Wurtzburg and answer to such things as should be then enquired of him The Interrogatories then administred to him were Whether it be lawful to Swear Whether a Man is bound by his Vow Whether it be lawful to make a Vow of Poverty Chastity and Obedience Whether such Vows oblige Whether Matrimony or Celibacy doth best become the Ministers of the Church Whether there is one true and Apostolical Church Whether she is perpetually governed as the Spouse of Christ by the Holy-Ghost Whether she does always decree what is true and Salutary Whether the Church is to be deserted for the Vices and Errors of some Men in it Whether she upon the account of the Head the Vicar of Christ may rightly be called the Roman-Church Whether all the Books of both Testaments which the Canon has are lawful and true Whether the Sacred Scriptures are to be interpreted according to the Sentence of the Holy Fathers the Doctors of the Church and the Councils or according to that of Luther and such others Whether besides the sacred Scriptures there be not need of other Traditions such as those of the Apostles and others of the same Nature Whether the same Faith Authority and Obedience is due to these Traditions which is due to the sacred Scriptures Whether the civil Magistrate is to be obeyed in Politick or Civil Affairs and the Ecclesiastick in Sacred or Holy things Whether the Sacraments of the Church are Seven Whether Children are to be Baptized Whether Baptism ought to be administred in the Latin Tongue Whether Salt Oil Water Characters and Exorcisms ought to be made use of in
Soldier they fell into discourse about the present state of Affairs and of the Reports brought to the Emperour When Solmes began to tell him what sort of Rumors were dispersed all over Germany of the Emperour he denied all affirming no such thing to have ever entered his thoughts that he was so great a lover of Peace that to the prejudice of his own Affairs he was now going to the Diet of the Empire nor did he doubt but should the Landgrave come to him he would be kindly entertained and that it was his opinion that by all means he should come for in so doing since perhaps he intended not to be at Ratisbonne he might justifie himself and party know the Emperour's thoughts from his own mouth and freely discourse of publick Affairs nay and that by that means also all the suspicion and distrust raised by rumours and reports on both sides might be mutually removed but that if he desired a Conference he would do well to come with a small Attendance and by that generous and frank proceeding shew how much he relied upon the Emperour's Honour and Integrity So soon as the Landgrave had understood this from Solmes he writes to Naves February the twentieth and to remove all suspicion he partly declares what was done at Franckfurt and then tells him that there had been a Report raised of the Emperour as if he intended a War and that amongst other Commanders he had sent Orders to Albert Marquess of Brandenbourg to raise about a thousand Horse but that the Count of Solmes had upon his relation assured him that it was a false Rumour and that because Granvell also wrote the same thing he would rather trust them than the flying Reports of the Vulgar for he and his Allies were in very good hopes that the Emperour would by no means recede from the Acts and Decree of Spire especially seeing there was no cause why he should That as to the Conference whereof Solmes spake to him in his Name he was not against it but that he must first acquaint his Allies with the Matter of whom he would be willing that some though but a few were present thereat We told before how the Emperour had appointed a Conference of learned Men to be held at Ratisbonne and commanded all to be present by the beginning of December but he prorogued it afterward to the thirteenth of the same Month. Upon the Emperour's account came thither Peter Malvenda a Spaniard Eberard Billick a Carmelite Frier John Hofmester an Augustine Frier and John Cochleus Divines George Loxan Caspar Caltentan George Ilsinger and Bartholomew Latome Witnesses and Hearers which number the Emperour had encreased for before there were but two appointed as hath been said From the Protestants came Bucer Brentzen George Major Ethard Snerfius Divines Volrat Count Waldeck Balthazar Gutlingen Laurence Zouchey a Lawyer and George Volchemere Witnesses The Papists had Ambrose Pelary a Dominican and the Protestants John Pistorius Martin Frecht and Vitus Thierry supernumerary The first of January came Maurice Bishop of Aichstadt appointed President of the Conference by the Emperour and some days after Frederick Count of Furstemberg his Colleague At length on the twenty-seventh day of January the Conference began and the Presidents having premised a few things relating to their own persons the burden imposed upon them and the delay exhorted the Divines that in so weighty and so holy a Matter they would not be swayed by passion but act sincerely having before their eyes the Fear of God and a respect to Unity and Concord lastly they promised Diligence Fidelity and Uprightness They afterwards told them that it was the Emperour's command that the Confession of the Protestants exhibited heretofore at Ausbourg should be handled in this Conference omitting the three first Articles Of the Trinity the Incarnation of the Word and Original Sin for that the former two were not controverted and that this last had been sufficiently debated already But that the other Heads of Doctrine should be handled in order to wit Of Justification the Remission of Sins the fulfilling of the Law Faith Good Works Merit the Sacraments Purgatory Praying for the Dead the Worshipping and Invocation of Saints Relicks Images Monastick Vows the Single Life of Priests the Distinction of Meats Holy Days Ecclesiastical Traditions the Church the Power of the Keys of the Hierarchy and the Authority of the Pope Bishops and Councils These things thus stated the Protestants who saw what kind of Adversaries they had to engage with desired that all their Conference and Acts might be taken in Writing by Clarks and Publick Notaries that the Emperour and Princes might understand the whole Matter and the Arguments and Probations of either side But the Presidents on the other hand alledged that that would be too tedious and that it would be enough that the chief Points were only set down besides they would have nothing that pass'd to be divulged and appointed the Forenoon for the Conference After much debate it was agreed upon that two on each side should take in Writing all that was said that the Acts should be put into a Chest to be kept secret and communicated to none unless the rest were present The Presidents allow this to be done provided it were the Emperour's pleasure from whom they had no Instructions as to that Matter The Protestants also accept the same Conditions yet so that they may have liberty to acquaint their own Princes with what it concerns them to know and what they may desire to be informed of by them This order being taken then Peter Malvenda a Parisian Divine on the fifth day of February began and having made a long preamble in the commendation of the Emperour he largely handled that Point of Doctrine concernine Justification and in a very scholastick manner too But Bucer interrupting told him that was contrary to the Law of the Conference and the Method prescribed by the Emperour that their Doctrine the Confession of Ausbourg lying before them he should out of that Book pitch upon the Chapter of Justification and if he had any thing to say against it either refute or object in order However he went on and concluded ascribing much to Man 's Free Will and affirming that Man is not justified by Faith alone but by Hope and Charity also Next day Bucer shew'd that five Years before the Article of Justification had been adjusted in the Conference of Ratisbonne and declared what the Emperour and the rest of the Princes and States at that time decreed concerning it which he desired might be recorded then observing the Order prescribed by the Emperour he repeated the same Article and divided it into four Heads That a man is not justified before God through his own Works or Merits but that he is freely justified through Christ by Faith when he believeth both that he is received into Grace and that his Sins are pardoned
up in the Market-place and there and about the Church keep Guard 'till the Council break up These are for the most part sent for out of the Country to be ready against the day of the Session though the Town also supply a good many When they are come into the Church Mass is said that being over the Decrees of the Council are read and then a day appointed for the next Session Then also if any Ambassador have ought to say he is heard But by reason of the many various and most cumbersom Ceremonies that are used in every thing the day is far spent before their Business is over and then the Legate returns home in the same Pomp as he came The Pope's Legate takes the first place in the Council next to him the Cardinal of Trent then the Legates Collegues and after them the Electoral Archbishops On the left hand sit the Ambassadors of the Emperour and other Princes And the middle Benches are filled by the Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates taking place according to the Seniority of their Consecration September the second Subjects were given to the Divines to be discussed and that they might give their Opinions of them that so they might be decided in the next Session Now in giving their Opinions this method was prescribed That they should insist upon the Holy Scriptures Apostolical Traditions received and approved Councils and the Authorities of the Fathers that they should use Brevity abstain from unnecessary and superfluous Questions and avoid all Jangling and Contention As to the Order it was thought fit that the Pope's Divines should speak first and then the Emperours and so of the rest The Pope's Legate also for the finding out of the Truth and the confuting of false Opinions as they said gave them leave to read all sorts of Books There were a great many Divines present Spanish Italians and Germans whom the Pope Emperour and his Sister Queen Mary the Governess of the Low Countries had sent besides those whom the Electors of Cologne and Treves and some Spanish and Italian Bishops also brought with them All things were to be examined by them and no Man who had not the Title of Doctor as they call it was permitted to speak But in favour to the Bishops of Cologne and Treves John Gropper a Civilian and John Delph a Divine but under Doctors Degree were admitted And because in some former Sessions in Anno 1546 and the year following new Canons were made concerning Original Sin Justification Free-will and the Seven Sacraments in general and particular Decrees made concerning Baptism and Confirmation it was resolved That all these standing in force they should proceed to other things and in the first place to the Sacrament of the Eucharist Then Points were assigned to the Divines with these Instructions that they should search and try if they were Heretical and to be condemned by the holy Council And these Points were gathered out of the Books of Luther Zuinglius Bucer and other Protestant Writers Now in this manner do the Divines handle the matter They all meet daily in the Legate's Lodgings and there for several hours and in the order we mentioned every one discourses of a Point without any interruption yet so that they still submit all they say to the Judgment of the Church of Rome for none of the Protestants were present This place is open indifferently to all Men. The Pope's Legate and generally all the Fathers are there but none speak except the Divines and their several Sayings and Opinions are marked down by Clerks When they have all discoursed which then was done commonly in a Months time the Bishops meet at the Legate's Lodgings and examine the Opinions of the Divines registred by the Clerks Then some of every Nation are chosen out of the whole number that then are present who having weighed all the Opinions out of them frame that which they call a Doctrine what ought to be determined and believed in every point Afterwards they Condemn in few words but with a severe Censure the contrary Doctrine and Errors as they call them And at length all these things are reported to the whole Assembly When they are fully agreed a publick Session is held as we said before where the Decrees are read aloud and then the Bishops are asked if they approve them To which they severally answer with a Placet And so then some Divines tell their Opinions of the several Points but the Bishops only and with them a few Mitred Prelates have the power of Determining What is so decreed they command to be reverenced as Sacred and Holy and call them Canons These things indeed are acted publickly but they who are more intimately acquainted with the Affairs of Rome say That all the Decrees are already framed at Rome by the Pope's order and sent in due time to the Legate that the Divines in their Reasonings may follow that Form and Prescript for the Pope maintains several of them and many Bishops also there And it is a jocose Proverb used by some That the Holy Ghost comes ever now and then from Rome to Trent in a Cloak-bag because the Pope sent Letters with his Orders and Instructions by Post from Rome September the fourth Count Heideck came to Magdâ—burg and Duke Maurice sent by him the Conditions of Peace formerly proposed so moderated that they resolved to proceed in the Treaty In the mean time there was a Cessation of Arms which was afterward also prolonged for many days as shall be said hereafter The French King now at variance with the Pope published an Edict wherein having enlarged much upon the injury done him by the Pope upon the cause of the War of Parma and why he had taken Octavio into his protection he commands under a most severe penalty That no more Money be for the future carried to Rome for since Money was the Sinews of War what madness would it be with his and his Subjects Treasure to maintain and strengthen the power of his Enemy That it was the proper Office of the Popes to take up the differences of Princes and that did Paul III. who being almost worn out by Age made a long progress to Nizza to make the Emperour and his Father friends but that Julius took a quite different course who having lately called a Council which was indeed very necessary to the publick had stirred up a War against him on purpose that he might exclude all the Church of France which was one of the chief and that so no lawful Council might be had wherein the Errors and Faults both of the Head and Members might be reformed This Edict of the King 's was published at Paris the seventh of September when a few days before another Edict of his and a most severe one too was published against the Lutherans which partly confirmed the former Decrees of that nature and partly where they seemed not smartly
determined For of the chief Points two only remained the Lords Supper and Marriage All the other Heads of Doctrine were already determined The Fathers of Basil decided all things by the holy Scriptures and the Writings which agreed with them But these would have it to belong only to them to interpret the Scriptures nor would they admit of that place of the Decree of Basil by the Ambassadours restored as we said before and changing the Words of the Decree determined that the Traditions also of the Apostles were to be followed in all doubtful and controverted Points and whensoever they wanted a Testimony of Scripture they bragg'd of Traditions handed down to them from the very Apostles as was oftner than once observed in the Disputations of the Divines And this also was the reason that when on the thirtieth of January the Protestant Deputies received the safe Conduct from the Imperial Ambassadours they declared That by Apostolical Traditions they only understood written Traditions of the Apostles which were subjoyned to the Second Part of the Bible the New Testament or the History of the four Evangelists We told you before that the first of May had been appointed the day of the next Session But Affairs being now in a desperate Case the Fathers that remained met and by reason of the Dissentions and Quarrels of Kings and Princes prorogued the Council for two years time and longer if Peace were not made This was done the twenty ninth day of April and by this time the Pope had agreed with the French King. Within a few days after the Emperours Ambassadours departed also But the Legate Crescentio was sick and stayed behind He being frightned by a Vision in the Night as it is said began both to be ill and to despair of Life notwithstanding all his Friends and Physicians could do to comfort him Nor was he mistaken in his Judgment For his Distemper increasing he died at Verona And this now was the end of the Council at this time which being with great hopes renewed thought of nothing less than of retrieving Popery and setting it shortly upon its Legs again There were present at it besides the Popes Legates and the Cardinal of Trent threescore and two Bishops and of these eight Germans five and twenty Spaniards two Sardinians four Sicilians one Hungarian the Bishop of Agria all the rest were Italians But of Divines there were forty two and of them nineteen Spaniards twelve Germans and Flemings I intended to have past in silence the occasion of the Legate Crescentio's Sickness because it was suspected to have been invented by some out of malice But seeing it hath been so reported by his Friends and Servants who waited upon him and sometimes comforted him on his Sick bed I thought sit to subjoyn it He had been very busie all day March the twenty fifth even till night in writing Letters to the Pope but then rising to refresh himself when his Work was over it seemed to him that a black Dog of extraordinary bigness with flaming Eyes and Ears reaching almost to the ground entred the Room and made streight towards him but afterwards slipt away under the Table When he came to himself again after the great fear and amazement that the sight struck him into he called in his Servants who were in the Outer-chamber and bid them bring a Candle and beat out the Dog But when no Dog could be found neither there nor in the next Chamber to it he became very pensive and so fell into Sickness as I said before It is reported also that upon his Death bed he many times cried out to those that were about him to beat off the Dog that clambered up upon the Bed. THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XXIV The CONTENTS Duke Maurice publishes a Declaration to all the States of the Empire entreating them not to hinder his Design but that all assist and declare for him Much to the same purpose there was another Declaration published by Albert Marquess of Brandenburg The King of France also declares himself the Protector of the Liberty of Germany and of the Captive Princes and so marching into Lorrain seizes Metz. After that be marches as far as Strasburg and from thence went to Hagenaw whither many Ambassadors and Deputies came to him to desire him that he would abstain from wasting the Country and put a stop to his Army The King removes his Camp and leaving Germany retreats again to Lorrain Duke Maurice with his associates possesses the passes of the Alpes and forces the Emperor to fly who a little before had set the Duke of Saxony his Prisoner at liberty The Princes by Proclamation at Ausburg restore all the outed and banished Ministers Whilst Duke Maurice is at Passaw treating a Peace Albert of Brandenburg uses great Cruelty against those of Norimberg and forces them to accept of a Peace many things both by Letters and Agents represented to the Princes who treat about entring into a League and by certain conditions things are softened They of Siena revolt from the Emperor who comes to Strasburg on his march to besiege Metz. WE told you before that in the last Diet of Germany the conduct of the War with Magdeburg was by the unanimous consent of the Emperor and the other States committed to Duke Maurice This War lasted a Year in which time the Duke who had the chief command of the Forces began to think of a way of setting at liberty the Landgrave his Father-in-Law since all the intercession he had hitherto made to the Emperor for that purpose had proved ineffectual Having therefore forced the People of Catzenelbogen to swear Allegiance to him made Peace with Magdeburg and sent an Embassie to Inspruck as hath been fully related in the foregoing Book he entered into League with the French King which was confirmed by Hostages mutually given and both thought fit to publish a declaration of the causes of the War that they might thereby win the favour and good-will of many Albert Marquess of Brandenburg had a great hand in making this alliance who for that end went privately into France to treat with the King. In the mean time the Soldiers as well those who had besieged Magdeburg as the Garrison that held out the City had their Winter Quarters in Mulhausen and the places thereabouts and did much damage to those of Northhausen and Erford When the Emperor demanded the reason of this from Duke Maurice who had the chief Command in the War he was answered that the outrages they committed was for want of their Pay for this was the pretext he used when in reality they were listed in his Service and had been secretly sworn to their Colours And the better to perswade at the same time he sent his Ambassadors to Trent who were to pass by Inspruck to procure a safe conduct for the Divines that were to come and to propound some other things
had and might err of the Dignity of Scripture and whether the Scriptures were to be preferr'd before the Church or did borrow their Authority from the Church Claud d' Espence a learned Man who desired very much the Church might regain her former Peace being Commanded by the Cardinal of Lorrain to answer Beza began with a Declaration that he had a long time wished that there might have been Conferences and said he had ever abhorred those Bloody Proceedings which had been used against those miserable Men. Then he said he wondered by what Authority the Protestants took upon them the Office of the Ministery and by whom they were Ordain'd and Instituted and that seeing the had received Imposition of hands from no body how could they be accounted lawful Ministers for it was manifest they had no Ordinary call And they must prove an Extraordinary Vocation by Miracles which they had not And thence he concluded they never came into the Church either by an Ordinary or an Extraordinary call As to Traditions if any Controversie arose about the Sense of Scriptures which could not be otherwise adjusted they must of necessity have recourse to the Fathers who had their Authority from their lawful and ordinary Call or Succession because upon them the Guifts of the Spirit were bestowed As it was written of the Levites whose Answers were not to be question'd That many things were setled by Traditions which were not written in the Scriptures As that the Father was not begotten That the Son was of the same Substance with the Father That Infants were to be Baptized That the Blessed Virgin continued a Virgin after she brought forth That the Decrees of General Councils should be valid and that they cannot err in Matters of Faith and that it cannot be shewn that any of the later Councils have corrected the former Beza replied that the Imposition of hands was no necessary note of a lawful Call The two principal were a due Inquiry into the Doctrine and Manners of the Person and an Election of them to the Ministery That they were not to expect Imposition of hands from the Bishops who opposed the Truth and persecuted those that Preached it And that Miracles were not always necessary to an extraordinary Call which he endeavoured to prove by Isaiah Daniel Amos Zachariah and St. Paul. In the next congress Beza spoke much about the Calling of the Protestant Ministers but in such a manner as tended more to the exasperating of the Prelates than the appeasing them so that these two days were spent in mere squabble without order and to no purpose There was then in France John Laines a Spaniard General of the Jesuits who came thither with Hippolito d' Este Cardinal of Ferrara sent by Pope Pius IV. as Legate to the King. This Laines being present this day at the Conference call'd the Protestant Ministers Monkeys Foxes and Monsters and said they were to be turn'd over to the Council call'd by the Pope Then he fell upon the Queen for medling in things that did not belong to her but to the Pope Cardinals and Bishops and he said it was not lawful whil'st a General Council was in being for the Queen to appoint by her private Authority a Conference here The Queen was much enraged at the Insolence of this Man but out of Reverence to the Legate suppress'd her resentment after this Day there were no more Publick Conferences but they Drew out three of a Side and endeavoured to form such an Exposition of the Lord's Supper as both Parties might agree in which in the End proved impossible to be done and so the Conference of Poissi ended which was the first Liberty that was granted to dispute the Established Religion in France and was blamed by some as a thing of ill Example and approved by others as the only means left to prevent the Storm which hung over their heads But it had not that effect so the Ministers and especially Beza who was invited by the Queen were honourably dismiss'd The Fame of this Conference being diffused through Italy and Spain Philip the Second was strangely surprized at it so the Queen sent Jacques de Monbron a Person of good Birth and Repute to excuse it That Prince would hardly be induced to hear the reason of it and turning him over to the Duke de Alva he blamed their fearfulness and advised them to return to the same Severities which had been used in the Reigns of Henry II. and Francis II. promising his Masters Assistance for the Extirpation of the Protestants Adding That the King had been solicited to it by the Catholick Nobility and People of France and that he could not neglect their Petition but he must be wanting to himself That he did not fear such vain reproaches as that with foreign Forces he invaded what was anothers because in this Cause the Spanish Forces were no foreigners when the Religion of their Ancestors was at the stake By this it appeared to the Court of France That there was a Correspondence between their Catholicks and the Spaniards and one Arthur Desier a Priest was taken much about this time near Orleans going into Spain with a Letter from some great Men to King Philip to persuade him to undertake the Protection of their Infant King and of the Catholick Religion which was in great danger to be ruin'd for which he was ordered to be Penance by the Parliament of Paris and committed to the Carthusian Monks to be kept a Prisoner for ever but afterwards he made his Escape This Sentence was pronounced against him the 14 th of July In the End of this Year one Jean Tanquerel a young Divine proposed as his Thesis in a Disputation That the Pope as Christ's only Vicar and the Monarch of the Church can by his Spiritual and Secular Power command all faithful Princes as his Subjects and if they disobey his Precepts deprive them of their Dignities and Kingdoms which being complain'd off to the King the Chancellor sent a Commission to inquire into it and Tanquerel being fled it was ordered that the Parritor of the Theological Faculty should make a Recantation of it in his Name in the School of the Sorbonne before the Dean and all the Fellows and Students of that Faculty in the Presence of the President of the Parliament of Paris the King's Counsel and Solicitor and for the future the Parliament forbad all such questions to be given And ordered the Sorbonne to send two of their Fellows to beg the King's Pardon This Decree passed the 2 d of December and was put in Execution ten days after The Pope had till now dreaded a General Council as tending to the abatement of his Power and on that score had delayed it till Cosmus Duke of Florence and the fear of a National Council in France prevail'd upon him to reassume that which was began by Paul III. continued by Julius III. and was at