A15880:165
The account reckoning and confession of the faith of Huldrik Zwinglius bishop of Zuryk…The accompt rekenynge and confession of the faith of Huldrik Zwinglius byshop of Zuryk…
The account reckoning and confession of the faith of Huldrik Zwinglius bishop of Zuryk the chief town of Helvetia sent unto Charles the fifth now Emperor of Rome, holding a counsel with the most noble princes, estates and learned men of Germany assembled together at Augsburg. 1530. in the month of July. Translated out of latin by Thomas Cotsforde. And imprinted at Geneva. In April. 1555.The accompt rekenynge and confession of the faith of Huldrik Zwinglius byshop of Zuryk the chief towne of Heluetia sent vnto Charles the fyfte nowe Emperoure of Rome, holdynge a counsel wyth the moost noble princes, estates and learned men of Germany assembled together at Ausburgh. 1530. in the moneth of Iuly. Translated out of latyn by Thomas Cotsforde. And imprinted at Geneua. In April. 1555.
printed by Egidius Van der Erve, 1555
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.
Wherefore most prudent Emperor, and ye other princes, lords of great power, and nobles of high estate, and finally ye learned Ambassadors and heads of common wealths, I pray and beseech you all, for Christ Jesus sake the Lord and our brother: for his mercy and righteousness sake: for his judgement sake: (before which, will ye nil ye you must all come and give a reckoning of your proceedings) wherein he shall render unto every one according to their deserts: from whom no counsel is hid: which by the Prophet threateneth woo to them that say,1 good is evil and evil good: and to the makers of wicked laws: which subverteth and overthroweth the devises and counsels of princes wickedly deliberating and ungodly decreeing,2 enacting, pronouncing, establishing and commaū ding any thing against God's will, yea (I say once again) I most humbly desire you all for his cause, that advanceth the humble and casteth down the proud, despise not the simpleness and baseness of me admonishing you so wise and learned men in the beginning. For fools, ⟨p. 59⟩Idiots and simple men have often spoken many things in due season.3 And the truth it self hath chosen to be published and preached of men of rude, simple and low estate.
Wherfore moste prudent Emperour, and ye other princes, lordes of great power, and nobles of hyghe estate, and fynally ye learned Embassadoures and heades of cōmon wealthes, I praye and beseche you all, for Christe Iesus sake the Lorde and our brother: for his mercy and righteousnes sake: for his iudgement sake: (before whyche, wil ye nyl ye you muste al come and gyue a rekening of your procedynges) wherin he shall rendre vnto euery one accordyng to theyr desertes: from whome no coūsel is hyd: whyche by the Prophete threatneth woo to them that saye,1 good is euell and euell good: and to the makers of wycked lawes: whych subuerteth and ouerthroweth the deuises and counsels of princes wickedly deliberating and vngodly decreyng,2