A08486:121
A famous and godly history containing the lives a[nd] acts of three renowned reformers…A famous and godly history contaynyng the lyues a[nd] actes of three renowmed reformers…
A famous and godly history containing the lives a[nd] acts of three renowned reformers of the Christia[n] Church, Martin Luther, John Ecolampadius, and Huldericke Zuinglius. The declaration of Martin Luther's faith before the Emperor Charles the fifth, and the illustre estates of the empire of Germany, with an oration of his death, all set forth in Latin by Philip Melanchthon, Wolfgangus Faber, Capito. Simon Grineus, [and] Oswald Miconus, newly Englished by Henry Bennet Callesian.A famous and godly history contaynyng the lyues a[nd] actes of three renowmed reformers of the Christia[n] Church, Martine Luther, Iohn Ecolampadius, and Huldericke Zuinglius. The declaracion of Martin Luthers faythe before the Emperoure Charles the fyft, and the illustre estates of the empyre of Germanye, with an oration of hys death, all set forth in Latin by Philip Melancthon, Wolfgangus Faber, Capito. Simon Grineus, [and] Oswald Miconus, newly Englished by Henry Bennet Callesian.
London: printed by John Awdely, 1561London: printed by Iohn Awdely, 1561
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Luther answered humbly and modestly, he could not, neither would permit that men should say he would thunne the judgement of the Emperor, Princes, & supreme Estates of the Empire, weighing so slenderly their examination, that he was contented to suffer his writings most diligently to be read over, considered & judged of the simplest, so y• this were done, with the authority of the word of God, & holy scripture. And that the word of God made so much for him, and was so manifest unto him, that he would not give place, unless they ⟨image 39⟩taught sound doctrine, then the word of God. And y• S. Austen writeth, he had learned to give this honour only1 to those books, which are called Canonical, that he believed them to be true And as touching the other Doctors, albeit in holiness and excellency of learning, they passed, he would not credit them, unless they pronounced truth. Further, that Saint Paul had written to the Thessalonians, prove all things, follow that is good. And to the Galatians: although an Angel should descend from heaven, if he preach otherwise, let him •e accursed, and therefore not worthy to be believed. Finally he meekly besought them not to urge his conscience, fastened with the •andes of the word of God and holy scripture, to deny that same excellent word. And thus he con mended his cause and him self to them, and specially to the Emperors Majesty, requiring their help, he might not be compelled to do any thing in this matter against his conscience. And otherwise he would submit him self in all causes most obediently.
Luther aunswered humbly and modestly, he coulde not, neyther woulde permit that men should say he would thunne the iudgement of the Emperour, Princes, & supreme Estates of the Empyre, weying so s•lenderlye their examinacion, that he was contented to suffer his writings most diligently to be read ouer, considered & iudged of the simplest, so y• this were done, with the authority of the word of God, & holy scripture. And that the word of God made so much for hym, and was so manyfest vnto hym, that he woulde not geue place, vnles they