A08486:9
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.
NOT without immortal praise, & everlasting renown are the acts and monuments of learned men, commended to posterity. For if life without literature is (as Seneca saith) a death or sepulture of the lively man, & the body (as Plato witnesseth) no body, but a sepulture, cohibiting the mind from his natural vigour: how much excelleth he (right honourable and my singular good Lord) in this frail estate, who with studies of humanity garnished, & with divine knowledge adorned, hath not only enriched his natural understanding: but also made the same almost equivalent to Angels, comprehending the glorious mysteries of the eternal Father, and his ⟨image 3⟩Son Jesus Christ. Among these, how much Martin Luther excelled, his holy works & profane monuments, besides the learned testimonies of many famous Clerks, abundantly declare. Reading therefore of late time, the history of his Life and Acts, set forth by the incomparable ornament of good learning Phillip Melanchthon: I was therein marvellously delighted, & eftsoons perusing the same. I was ravished with incredible desire to bestow sometime in the translation thereof. Many urgent causes moved me, whereof y• principal be these. First, his integrity of life, godly conversation, & zealous affection towards the propagation of Gods holy word. Secondly, his animosity professing Christ his Master, his learned conference with the temporal & Ecclesiastical Estates of Germany, & his contempt of all worldly felicity & transitory pomp, in respect of Christ his Master, whom he purely professed, and sincerely preached. Lastly, y• lamentable verses, & funeral Orations of divers, bewailing the loss of this pearl of Christianity, & the traduction ⟨image 3⟩of this present history into the German, French, Spanish & Italian tongues by certain godly persons exiled their natural country, and dispersed in sundry Christian Territories, where Gods word is purely preached, and all papistry abolished. By which it appeareth he was no less treasure and glory of his Country, spectacle and absolute Image of godly wisdom, then terror to all Papism, and such as builded the laud of their life, on the s•nde of ambitious seeking. My rude translation & simple travail, I dedicate unto your good Lordship, as to the very Patron and favourable Maecenas of all poor Students.