A08486:233
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.
The cause y• moved me to publish this letter here, is to testify y• if Zuinglius had been more ambitious, then he was sincere & godly, he might have had preeminent estate, & abundance of wealth. ⟨image 90⟩For not only the Pope wrote unto him, but also to Francis Zuiggien to practise with Zuinglius, to lean to the Apostolical sea, & maintain that part. At a certain time I prayed Francis to tell me what the Pope promised for the same. He answered: certainly all save his Papistical chair, or Apostolical sea. Even now the Gospel began to flourish, and was esteemed of the greatest part, for a heavenly truth, namely of the Senate of Zurick, and of the Council of the. 2. hundred, wherefore Zuinglius began to study to reduce things to a better state & to proceed orderly. They altered first those things which empesched the propagation & advancement of the Gospel. The number of Priests and Monks were grown in tract of time to a more huge multitude, then need required, for matter of religion. It was then ordained by the Senate, through the persuasion of Zuinglius: that the number should be abridged & reduced to few, & those necessary for the service of y• Church, provided that none should be deprived or expelled their benefice, but enjoy ⟨image 90⟩the revenue of the same, during their life, & deceased, none to be substitute in their place. The three orders1 of Monks were spoiled of their religious attire, and put all together in a place, whence they might go forth as oft, and when they thought good without any contradiction, either to marry or to apply their study. If any would not savour y• sweetness of the Gospel, they had liberty to go and do where & what they would, in such sort, as none had his conscience charged. The ecclesiastical revenues were employed upon the ministers of the Church, y• professors of good learning, the rest of the priests & Monks and on the poor. There were found among these young men of great expectation, and purely affectioned to the study of piety. Such were reserved in hope to serve the church, & were nourished through out the whole signory of Zuricke, and after were employed as need required. Zuinglius also a zealous man towards sacred & good learning had builded the foundation of a school, which had not been infer our to any, if death had not dissolved