A08486:195
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.
In this broil, Erasmus of •otero•ame came to Basil, of purpose to have his Annotations upon the new1 Testament imprinted, & to accelerate the same, he required Ecolampadius to aid him. As he plainly confesseth he was aided of him, naming Ecolampadius a perfect and true divine, and an excellent mirror of holiness in life, and in the knowledge of the three tongues. He was graded Doctor through the impo•run•tye & coaction of his friends, who judged his parsonage worthy to be garnished with such a title, the common people much applauding the same. It was high time the lord should be served of such a Minister so instructed, and ready, & therefore the Canons of the great Church in Augsburg, sent for him to preach there: but the harvest of the Lord was not yet ripe, and the Evangelical corn not white enough to receive2 the sith, considering the life of the common people, was as perverse as the Ecclesiastical Ministers contagious & corrupt, that the same refused the hand of the Physician, which moved him to determine his departure▪ ⟨image 66⟩Two miles distant from Augsburg, there is a Monastery consecrated to S. Alton, wherein dwelleth • Convent of Monks, of the order of S. Brigid, who were bruited to live more religiously & holily, then other. Ecolampadius having diligently observed their manners, desired to be admitted one of that order, and required liberty for his studies and faith, the which he testified with these words: Albeit with .vi. hundred oaths I should oblige my self, I will not keep covenant, if it happen I may supply the office of a Preacher abroad. The Monks allowed the condition, and showed their privilege, by which it was permissive to any to have egress and preach, if heresies began to bu• g•n3 in any Country. Al this pleased well the Bishop of Friguen, who highly esteemed and reverenced this holy man. But I (as much as I could conveniently) resisted this his attempt fearing the event, as in deed it came to pass, that he should not find there the repose he desired for his studies, neither opportunity to serve his neighbour, and the Christian Church.