The last will and last confession of martin Luther's faith co[n]cerming [sic] the [principal…The last wil and last confession of martyn luthers faith co[n]cerming [sic] the [principal…

When Paul bishop of rome the third of that name did proclaim & appoint a general council to be holden at mantua in the year. 1537. at the fest of pentecost which within a while after he would have had at some other place and not at mantua / in so much that it was uncertain where he would or might best appoint it / in the mean time we thought surely either to be called unto the council together with other / or else to be condemned there uncalled / wherefore this labour was required at that time of me that should gather our whole doctrine in to certain special chapters and principal articles / that if the council should goo forward in earnest / all men might have a sure knowledge wherein and how far we would or could give place to the papists / and again in what sentence and mind we have determined fully with our selves to abide and remain constantly for ever. And up on this request I did gather these principal articles. set forth in this book / which I delivered to the whole number of them that have received our doctrine. And they all with one consent did receive and approve them / in so much as it was determined among them that ⟨image 3⟩if the pope with his part should ones dare be so bold as to hold a right free / and lawful council without any false fraud deceit or dissimulation / that than these articles with the confession of our faith should be offered up unto them. But the court of rome abhorreth so sore from a free council / and avoideth from the light so shamefully / that it hath made even them which stand on their side / utterly to despair of any general assemble / not only that this court of rome will never call any free council / but also that it will never be content to suffer gladly any council / to be had / with the which thing even they them selves are offended & discontent / as they have a good cause / and are sore grieved therewith / for as much as they perceive that the pope had rather all christen men to perish and go to the devil / and that all their souls should perpetually be damned / than to suffer him self / his carnals / bishops and shavelings to be reformed brought in to a right way or to oves cease his tyranny.

WHan Paul bisshop of rome the third of that name did proclame & appoynt a general councell to be holden at mantua in the yere. 1537. at the fest of pētecost which within a while after he wold haue had at some other place and not at mantua / in so moch that it was vncetten where he wold or might best appointe it / in the meane tyme we thought surely eyther to be called vnto the councel to gether with other / or els to be condemned there vncalled / wherfor this labor was required at that time of me that shuld gather our whole doctrine in to certen specyal chapters and principal articles / that if the councel schuld goo forward in ernest / all men might haue a sure knoulege wherin and how farre we wold or colud gyue place to the papistes / and againe in what sentēce and mynd we haue determyned fully with our selues to abyde and remaine constantly for euer. And vp on this request I dyd gather these prīcipal articles. set forth ī this boke / which I delyuered to the whole nomber of them that haue receiued our doctrine. And thei all with one cōsent did receiue and approue them / in so moch as it was determyned among them that