A22612:101
The Confession of the Faith of the Germans
The confession of the faith of the Germans exhibited to the most victorious Emperor Charles the. v. in the Council or assemble holden at Augusta the year of our Lord. 1530. To which is added the apology of Melanchthon who defendeth with reasons invincible the aforesaid confession translated by Richard Taverner at the commaundeme[n]t of his master Thomas Cromwell chief Secretary to the kings grace.The confessyon of the fayth of the Germaynes exhibited to the moste victorious Emperour Charles the. v. in the Councell or assemble holden at Augusta the yere of our Lorde. 1530. To which is added the apologie of Melancthon who defendeth with reasons inuincible the aforesayde confesyon translated by Rycharde Tauerner at the commaundeme[n]t of his master Thomas Cromwel chefe Secretarie to the kynges grace.
Imprinted at London : In fletestrete, by me Robert Redman, dwelling at the sign of the George next to saint Dunstones Churche, 1536Imprynted at London : In fletestrete, by me Robert Redman, dwellynge at the sygne of the George nexte to saynt Dunstones Churche, 1536
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 Apology that is to say the defence of the confession of the Germans made by Philip Melanchthon, and translated by Richard Taverner at the commandment of his master, the right honourable master Thomas Cromwell chief secretary to the kings highness.
The Apologie that is to say the defense of the confessyon of the Germaynes made by Philip Melancthon, and translated by Richard Tauerner at the commaundement of his mayster, the ryght honorable mayster Thomas Crumwell chefe secretarie to the kyngꝭ hyghnes.
CVM PRIVILEGIO.
¶ Philip Melanchthon to the reader sendeth greeting.
¶ Philip Melancthon to the reder sendeth gretynge.
After that the confession of our princes was in open audience solemnly read, certain divines & friars prepared a confutation of our writing, which when the Emperors majesty had caused to be solemnly red in the assemble of the princes, he required them to assent unto it. But our princes hearing that many articles were there disproved which to renounce without grudge of conscience they could not, demanded that a copy of the confutation might be to them exhibited, to the intent that they might both see what their adversaries condemned and also refute their reasons. And in such cause which appertained to christen faith and instruction of the conscience, they thought that the adversaries would not have made it strange to exhibit their writing. But our rulers could in nowise obtain it, onles they would have bound them selves to most perilous and unequal conditions which they could not do except they would caste them selves into a manifest danger. After this, there was published a pacification in which appeared that our heads refused no burden were it never so painful so that it might be sustained without offence of conscience. But the adversaries obstinately required us to allow certain manifest abuses and errors, which thing when we might not do, again the emperors majesty required