A08486:43
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.
But as he was wise, and followed not only profane judgements, which command the tender springs of •• changes to be suddenly oppressed: so taking in counsel the divine rule, and well deliberating thereupon which enjoineth obedience to the Gospel, and forbiddeth to resist the ⟨image 15⟩tried truth, and termeth it a blasphemy, horribly condemned of God, pertinaciously to repugn the truth. He did that many wise and godly would have done, he obeyed God, leaving unto him his divine power, he read diligently that that was written, and he would not abolish, that he judged to be sincere and true.
But as he was wyse, and followed not onelye prophane iudgementes, whych cōmaund the tender springes of •• chaunges to be sodeinly oppressed: so takyng in counsayl the diuine rule, and wel deliberating therupon whyche enioyneth obedience to the Gospell, and forbyddeth to resist the ⟨image 15⟩tryed truth, and termeth it a blasphemy, horribly cōdempned of God, partinaciously to repugne the truth. He dyd that many wyse and godly wold haue done, he obeyed God, leauyng vnto hym hys diuine power, he redde diligently that that was writen, and he would not abolysh, that he iudged to be sincere and true.
I know very well he made inquisition often times, what were the wise and learned mens opinions touching these things. I know he gently besought Erasmus (in that assembly which The Emperor Charles the fifth made, in the City of Cologne after his Coronation) freely to tell him his opinion, if Luther had erred in those differences, whereof he principally entreateth. Then Erasmus said, that1 Luther's opinion was good: but that he desired moderation of style in him. Whereof Duke Frederick wrote after grievously to Luther, exhorting him to temper the vehemency of his style.