A15877:8
The Reckoning and Declaration of the Faith
The reckoning and declaration of the faith and belief of huldrike Zwingli bishop of ziiryk the chief town of Helvetia, sent to Charles .v. that now is Emperor of Rome: holding a parliament or counsel at Ausbrough with the chief lords and learned men of Germany, the year of our Lord M.D.xxx. in the month of July.The rekenynge and declaracion of the fayth and belefe of huldrike zwyngly byshoppe of ziiryk the chefe town of Heluitia, sent to Charles .v. that nowe is Emproure of Rome: holdynge a parlement or counsayll at Ausbrough with the chefe lordes and lerned men of Germanye, the yere of our Lorde M.D.xxx. in the moneth of July.
printed by Richard wire, 1548printed by Richarde wyer, 1548
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 Preface of the Bishop to the Emperor.
¶The Preface of the Bysshop to the Emperour.
WE, which preach the Gospel in the Cities towns & villages of the christen congregations desirously looked & waited every hour most noble Charles, sacred (Caesar unto equity, righteousness & judgement) when (like as it was demanded of other) that of us also the account & reckoning of our faith which we have & profess should be asked for. And whyl•s we thus stood up ready to give this reckoning: •here came tidings, yea tidings rather then any certain truth, that many other churches had now all ready prepared the tenor and some of their faith & religion to offer it up unto you. But here now we are in great perplexity & doubt: for on the one part the love of the truth, & careful zeal and study for the common peace, do excite us to do the same thing which we see other men do. And on the other side, the hasty and so sudden occasion of your departing thence, doth feet us: for that we hear say also, that all things should be done swiftly & with great speed because of yours so speedy preparing to depart. Besides this we that ⟨image 5⟩be the preachers of the said christen city and country are scattered now so far a sundry through the towns and villages / that in short space we can not come all together to deliberate and counsel / what thing we might write most convenient unto your highness. A none after this / yet when we saw the confession of other men, yea and the confutation of their adversaries also, which not with standing they were yet prepared are any thing was demanded of them? I thought it expedient for me alone without any prejudice of my country men, with speed to declare and set forth the account form and reckoning of my faith & belief, for if in any other thing a man may be slack, yet verily here in this cause it requireth great speed, lest this matter through negligence omitted, we for our silence might have been suspected, or else for our negligence seemed to be proud and arrogant.