A22612:362
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.
❧ Of the wedlock of priests. ❧
❧ Of the wedlocke of preestes. ❧
Notwithstanding the great infamy which goeth abroad of the filthy single life of priests: yet nevertheless or adversaries dare •at only defend the bishop of Romes law, under the wicked cloak and false pretence of the name of god, but also they dare exhort the emperor and the princes, that in nowise they should suffer the wedlocks of priests, to the great shame and infamy of the Roman empire, for so they speak. What more unshamefastnes hath ever ben read in any history, then is this of our adversaries? For the arguments, which they use, we shall rehearse afterwards. Now let the wise reader consider what shame these vile wretches have, which say, that wedlock doth engender shame and infamy to the empire / as who should say, that the church is greatly garnished and renowned by the open infamy of those ungracious and prodigious kinds of lechery, which do burn among these holy fathers, which outwardly do counterfeit and pretend the sadness and virtue of Curius, but in corners live most viciously and voluptuously. Yea and a great part of those things may not be so much as named with honesty, which these men cease not to do with great boldness. And these their prodigious voluptuousness and lusts they desire to have defended with your most chaste right hand (most noble Emperor) whom even certain old prophecies do call the king with the chaste face. For it appeareth very well that this was spoken of you, pudicus facie reign ⟨image 164⟩bit ubique. The chaste in face shall reign every where. They desire, that contrary to the law of god, contrary to the law of all nations, contrary to the canons of the councils, ye should pull in sunder and break matrimonies, that ye should ordain grievous & sore punishments against innocent men for cause of wedlock, that ye should kill priests, whom even the Barbarians do reverently and religiously spare / that ye should drive women & fatherless children into exile as persons outlawed and banished. Such sort of laws they offer unto you (most good and most chaste Cesar) which no barbarous nation, be it never so cruel and beastly could find in their heart to hear. But for as much, as in these your gracious manners, there can be no filthiness or cruelty: