A08486:80
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 the first, I can do none other than recognise those books to be mine, which lastly were named, & certainly I will never recant any clause thereof. In the second, to declare if I will wholly defend or call back any thing comprised in them. For as much as there is question of faith, and the salvation of the soul, and this concerneth the word of God, which is the greatest and most excellent matter that can be in heaven or earth, and the which duly we ought evermore to reverence. This might be accounted in me a precipitation of judgement, and ⟨image 28⟩even so a most dangerous attempt, if I would pronounce any thing, before I better advised. Considering I might recite something less then the matter importeth, and more then the truth requireth, if I did not premeditate that that I would speak. The which, two things would set before mine eyes this sentence of our Lord Jesus Christ, where by is said Who so ever shall deny me before men, I will deny him before my Father. I require then for this cause, and humbly beseech the Imperial Majesty, to grant me liberty and leisure to deliberate, so that I may satisfy the interrogation made unto me, without prejudice of the word of God, and peril of mine own soul.
In the first, I can do none other thē recognise those bookes to be myne, which lastly wer named, & certaynly I wil neuer recant any clause therof. In the secōd, to declare if I wil wholy defend or cal backe any thing comprised in them. For as much as there is question of faith, and the saluacion of the soule, and thys concerneth the woord of God, whych is the greatest and moste excellent matter that can be in heauen or earth, and the whych dulye we oughte euermore to reuerence. Thys myght be accompted in me a precipitacion of iudgement, and ⟨image 28⟩euen so a most daungerons attempt, if I would pronounce any thing, before I better aduised. Considerynge I might recite something lesse then the matter importeth, and more then the truth requireth, if I dyd not premeditate that that I woulde speake. The which, twoo thynges would set before myne eyes this sentence of our Lord Iesus Christ, where by is sayde Who so euer shall denye me before men, I will deny hym before my Father. I requyre then for thys cause, and humblye beseche the Emperiall Maiestye, to graunt me libertye and leasure to deliberate, so that I maye satisfye the interrogacion made vnto me, wythoute preiudice of the woorde of God, and peryll of myne owne soule.