The Germans had twice before sued to Frederick the Emperor,1 to be a means to ease them of their manifold grievances, from the Church of Rome, and were repulsed: & now again, made the same suite to Maximilian his son: unto whom they delivered x. grievances,2 whereby the Germans had been long oppressed: showing also remedies against the same, with certain advisements, how the Emp. might avoid the popes subtleties. The grievances were these: 1. That the Bishops of Rome, do at the request of every vile person, withstand the covenants of their predecessors bulls, privileges, &c. 2. That elections of Prelates are oftentimes put back. 3. That election of Presidentships are withstood, notwithstanding the grants have been purchased before, to the Chapter houses. 4. That greatest ecclesiastical dignities, are reserved for Cardinals, and head Notaries. 5. That expectative graces, called Vowsons, are granted without number. 6. That yearly revenues are exacted without delay, or mercy: and oftentimes more extorted then ought to be. 7. That rule of Churches is given at Rome, to such as are more fit to keep mules, then to govern and instruct men. 8 That new pardons, with revocation of the old, are granted to scrape money. 9. That tenths are exacted, under pretence of making war against the Turks, when as no expedition doeth follow thereupon. 10. That causes, which might be determined in Germany, are indistinctly carried to the Court of Rome. After these grievances propounded, they subscribed the ⟨p. 395⟩remedies, and advertisements to the Emperor, whereupon the Emperor set forth an Edict against certain abuses of the Clergy.3 That none should have two Canonships, &c. Against the covetousness of the Clergy: concerning which reformation the Emperor required (as it seemeth) advise of Jacobus Selestadiensis, 4who wrote unto him concerning the matter.
The Germanes had twise before sued to Fredericke the Emperour,1 to be a meanes to ease them of their manifolde grieuances, from the Church of Rome, and were repulsed: & now againe, made the same suite to Maximilian his sonne: vnto whom they deliuered x. grieuances,2 whereby ye Germanes had béen long oppressed: shewing also remedies against the same, with certaine aduisements, how the Emp. might auoide the popes subtleties. The grieuances were these: 1. That the Bishops of Rome, do at the request of euery vile person, withstand the couenants of their predecessors buls, priuiledges, &c. 2. That elections of Prelates are oftentimes put backe. 3. That election of Presidentships are withstood, notwithstanding the graunts haue béene purchased before, to the Chapter houses. 4. That greatest ecclesiastical dignities, are reserued for Cardinals, and head Notaries. 5. That expectatiue graces, called Vowsons, are graunted without number. 6. That yéerely reuenewes are exacted without delay, or mercy: and oftentimes more extorted then ought to be. 7. That rule of Churches is giuen at Rome, to such as are more fitte to kéepe mules, then to gouerne and instruct men. 8 That new pardons, with reuocation of the olde, are granted to scrape money. 9. That tēths are exacted, vnder pretence of making warre against the Turkes, when as no expedition doeth followe therevppon. 10. That causes, which might be determined in Germanie, are indistinctly carried to the Court of Rome. After these grieuances propounded, they subscribed the ⟨p. 395⟩remedies, and aduertisementes to the Emperour, wherevppon the Emperour set foorth an Edict against certaine abuses of the Clergie.3 That none should haue two Canonships, &c. Against the couetousnesse of the Clergie: concerning which reformation the Emperour required (as it séemeth) aduise of Iacobus Selestadiensis, 4who wrote vnto him concerning the matter.
- 1Suite of the Germans to ye Emperor against ye church of Rome.Suite of the Germans to ye Emperour against ye church of Rome.
- 2Ten grievances.Ten grieuances.
- 3Edicts of the Emperor against certain abuses of the Clergy.Edicts of the Emperour against certaine abuses of the Clergy.
- 4Jacobus Selestadiensis.Iacobus Selestadiensis.
