A08486:132
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.
The Archbishop enquired of him what he would do, if certain articles were taken out of his books to be submitted to the general Council. Luther answered: So that they be not those, which the council of Constance condemned. The Archbishop said I fear they will be the very same: but what then? Luther replied: I will not nor I cannot hold my peace of such,1 for I am su•e by their decrees the the word of God was condemned. Therefore I will rather lose head and life, then abandon the manifest word of my Lord God.
The Archbishoppe enquired of hym what he would do, if certain articles wer taken out of his bookes to be submitted to the generall Councell. Luther aunswered: So that they be not those, which the councel of Constāce condempned. The Archbishop sayd I feare they wyll be the very same: but what then? Luther replied: I wyl not nor I cannot hold my peace of suche,1 for I am su•e by their decrees the the woord of God was condempned. Therfore I wyl rather lose head and life, then abandon the manyfest word of my Lord God.
Then the Archbishop, seeing Luther would in no wise submit the word of God to the judgement of men, gently bad Luther farewell, who at that instant prayed y• Archbishop to entreat the Emperors Majesty to grant him gracious leave to depart. He answered: he would take order for him, and speedily advertise the Emperors pleasure.
Then the Archbishop, seing Luther would in no wyse submit the word of God to the iudgement of men, gently bad Luther farewell, who at that instant prayed y• Archbishop to entreate the Emperours Maiestye to graunt hym gracious leaue to depart. He answered: he would take order for hym, and speedelye aduertise the Emperours pleasure.
And within a small while after, the Archbishops Official, in the presence of the Emperors Secretary, who was Maximilian's Chancellor, said ⟨image 42⟩unto Luther in his lodging, by the commandment of the Emperor: that syn•e he had ben• admonished diversly of the Imperial Majesty, the Electors, Princes, & Estates of the Empire, and that notwithstanding he would not return to unity & concord, there remained that The Emperor as advocate of the Catholic faith should proceed further. And that it was the Emperors ordinance, he should within .xx. days, return securely under safe conduct, and be safely guarded to the place whence he came, so that in the mean while he stirred no commotion among the people in his journey, either in conference or Sermons.
And within a smal whyle after, the Archbishops Offical, in the presence of the Emperours Secretarye, who was Maximilians Chauncelour, said ⟨image 42⟩vnto Luther in his lodging, by the cō maundement of the Emperour: that syn•e he had ben• admonished diuersly of the Emperial Maiesty, the Electors, Princes, & Estates of the Empire, and that notwythstandyng he would not return to vnity & concord, there remayned that Themperour as aduocate of the Catholike faith shuld procede further. And that it was the Emperours ordinaunce, he shoulde wythin .xx. dayes, returne securely• vnder safeconduct, and be safely garded to the place whence he came, so that in the meane whyle he stirred no commocion among the people in hys iorney, eyther in conference or Sermons.
Luther having understanded this, answered very modestly & Christianly: Even as it hath pleased God, so is it come to pass, the name of the Lord be blessed. He said further, he thanked most humbly the Emperors Majesty, & all the Princes & Estates of the Empire, that they had given to him benign & gracious audience, and granted safe conduct to come & to return. Finally he said: he desired ⟨image 43⟩none other in them, then a reformation, according to the sacred word of God, and consonancy of holy scriptures, which effectually in his hart he prayed. Otherwise he was prest to suffer all accidents for the Imperial Majesty, as life and death, good fame and reproach, reserving nothing to him self, but the only word of God, which he would constantly confess, to the latter end, humbly recommending him to the Emperors Majesty, and to all the Princes, and other Estates of the sac•e• Empire.
Luther hauing vnderstanded thys, aunswered very modestlye & Christianly: Euen as it hath pleased God, so is it come to passe, the name of the Lorde be blessed. He sayd further, he thanked most humbly the Emperors Maiesty, & all the Princes & Estates of the Empire, that they had geuen to hym benigne & gracious audience, and graunted safeconduct to come & to returne. Finally he said: he desired ⟨image 43⟩none other in them, then a reformacion, accordyng to the sacred woorde of God, and consonancy of holy scriptures, whych effectually• in hys hart he prayed. Otherwyse he was prest to suffer al accidentes for the Emperiall Maiesty, as lyfe and death, good fame and reproch, reseruing nothyng to hym selfe, but the onely woorde of God, whych he would constantly confesse, to the latter end, humbly recommending hym to the Emperours Maiestye, and to all the Princes, and other Estates of the sace Empyre.
The morrow after which was the .xxvi. day of April after he1 had taken his leave of such as supported him, and other his benevolent friends, that o•t•n times visited him, and broken his fast, at ten of the clock, he departed from Worms accompanied with such, as repaired thither with him. The Emperors Herald Caspar Sturme followed and overtook him at Oppenhim being commanded by the Emperor to conduct him safely home. (⸫)
The morrowe after whyche was the .xxvi. daye of Apryll after hee1 had taken hys leaue of suche as supported hym, and other hys ben•uolent friendes, that o•t•n tymes visited hym, and broken hys fast, at ten of the clocke, he departed from Wormes accompanyed wyth suche, as repayred thyther wyth hym. The Emperours Heraulde Caspar Sturme followed and ouertooke hym at Oppenhim beyng commaunded by the Emperonr to conduct hym safely home. (⸫)
Confirm (O God) in us that thou haste wrought, and perfect the work that thou haste begone in us to thy glory. So be it.
COnfyrme (O God) in vs that thou haste wrought, and perfect the woorke that thou haste begone in vs to thy glorye. So be it.
THE Scholars assembled to hear the Lecture of the Epistle to the Romans, Phillip Melanchthon recited publicly, this that followeth, at nine of the clock before noon, advertising he gave this information, by the counsel of other Lords, for that the Auditors understanding the express truth (for so much as the lords knew certainly Fame would bl•we slanderous blasts every where of the death of Luther) should not credit flying tales and false reports.
THE Scholers assembled to heare the Lecture of the Epistle to ye Romaynes, Phyllip Melācthon recited publikly, thys that foloweth, at nyne of the clocke before noone, aduertisyng he gaue thys informacion, by the counsayle of other Lordes, for that the Auditors vnderstandyng the expresse truth (for so much as ye lords knew certainly Fame woulde bl•we sclaunderous blastes euery where of the death of Luther) should not credit flying tales and false reportes.
My friends, ye know that we have enterprised to expound Grammatical lye the Epistle to the Romans, in the which is contained the true doctrine ⟨image 44⟩of the Son of God, the which our Lord by his singular grace hath revealed unto us at this present by the reverend Father, & our dearly beloved Master Martin Luther. Not withstanding we have received heavy news, which have so augmented my dolour, that I am in doubt if I may continue henceforth in scholastical profession, and exercise of teaching. The cause wherefore I commemorate this thing, is for that I am so advised by other Lords, that ye may understand the true sequel of things least your selves blaze abroad vain •ales of this fatal chance, or give credit to other fables, which commonly are accustomed to be spread every where.
My friendes, ye know that we haue enterprised to expound Grammatical lye the Epistle to the Romaynes, in the which is contayned the true doctrine ⟨image 44⟩of the Sonne of God, the which our Lord by hys singular grace hath reuealed vnto vs at thys present by the reuerend Father, & our dearelye beloued Maister Martin Luther. Not withstanding we haue receiued heauy newes, which haue so augmented my dolour, that I am in dout if I mai continue hencefoorth in scholasticall profession, and exercise of teachyng. The cause wherefore I commemorate thys thinge, is for that I am so aduised by other Lordes, that ye may vnderstand the true sequele of things least your selues blase abroade vayne •ales of this fatal chaūce, or geue credit to other fables, which cōmonly ar accustomed to be spred euery where.
Wednesday last past, the. 17. day of February, Doctor Martin Luther sickened a little before Supper, of his1 accustomed malady, to say, the oppression of humours in the orifice or opening of his stomach, whereof I remember I have seen him oft diseased in this place. This sickness occupied him after Supper, with the which vehemently contending, he required secesse into an next chamber, & there he rested ⟨image 45⟩on bed two hours, whiles the pains increased, Doctor Jonah lying in his chamber, Luther awakened, & prayed him to rise, and call up Ambrose his Children's Schoolmaster, to make fire in an other Chamber. In that which being newly entered, Albert Earle of Mansfeld with his wife and divers other (whose names in these letters for hast, were not expressed) at that in stant came into his Chamber. Finally, feeling his fatal hour to approach, before. 1•. of the clock in the morning the. 18. of February, he commended him to God, with this devout prayer.
Wedensday last past, the. 17. daye of February, Doctor Martin Luther syckned a litle before Supper, of hys1 accustomed malady, to say, the oppression of humors in the orifice or opening of his stomacke, wherof I remē ber I haue senhim oft diseased in this place. Thys sickenes occupied him after Supper, with the which vehemētly contending, he required secesse into an next chamber, & there he rested ⟨image 45⟩on bed two houres, whiles the paines encreased, Doctor Ionas lying in his chamber, Luther awakened, & praied hym to ryse, and call vp Ambrose hys Childerns Schoolemaister, to make fyre in an other Chāber. In yt which beyng newly entred, Albert Earle of Mansfeld wyth hys wyfe and dyuers other (whose names in these letters for hast, were not expressed) at that in stant came into hys Chamber. Finally, feelyg hys fatal houre to approch, before. 1•. of the clock in the morning the. 18. of Februarye, he commended him to God, wyth this deuout praier.
My heavenly father, eternal & merciful God, thou hast manifested unto me thy dear Son our Lord Jesus Christ. I have taught him, I have known him, I love him as my life, my health, and my redemption, whom the wicked persecuted, maligned, and with injury affected. Draw my soul to thee. After this he said this that ensueth, thrice.
My heauenly father, eternal & mercyful God, thou hast manyfested vnto me thy deare Sonne our Lord Iesus Christe. I haue taught hym, I haue knowen hym, I loue hym as my life, my health, and my redempcion, whō the wycked persecuted, maligned, and wyth iniury affected. Draw my soule to thee. After thys he sayde thys that ensueth, thryse.
I commend my Spirit into thy hands, thou hast redeemed me God of truth. God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that all those ⟨image 45⟩that believe in him, should have life everlasting. John. 3.
I commende my Spirite into thy handes, thou hast redemed me God of truth. God so loued ye worlde, that he gaue his ouelye Sonne, that all those ⟨image 45⟩that beleue in hym, shoulde haue lyfe euerlastyng. Iohn. 3.
Having repeated often times his1 prayers, he was called to God, to the eternal School, and perpetual joys, in the• which he enjoyeth the society of the father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, all the Prophets & Apostles.
Hauyng repeated often tymes hys1 prayers, he was called to God, to the eternal Schole, and perpetual ioyes, in the• which he enioyeth the societye of the father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost, al the Prophets & Apostles.
Hennas, the conductor and Chariot of Israel is dead, who hath governed the Church in this last age of the world, for the doctrine of remission of since, and of the faith of God, hath not been comprehended by bumayne wisdom, but God hath manifested the same by this holy man, whom we have seen raised of God.
He•as, the conductor and Chariot of Israel is dead, who hath gouerned the Churche in thys lasle age of the worlde, for the doctrine of remission of synnes, and of the fayth of God, hath not beene compreheneed by bumayne wysedome, but God hath manifested the same by thys holye man, whom we haue sene raysed of God.
Let us love the memory of this man and the doctrine that he hath taught. Let us learn to be morest & meek. Let us consider the wretched calamities, and marvellous changes y• shall follow this mishap & doleful chance.
Let vs loue the memory of thys mā and the doctrine that he hath taught. Let vs learne to be morest & meeke. Let vs consider the wretched calamities, and marueilous chaunges y• shal folow this myshay & doleful chaunce.
