A22612:427
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 abbey vows. ❧
❧ Of abbey vowes. ❧
With us, in a certain town of Turingia called Isenacū, more than thirty years ago, there was a certain freer of saint Francis order, John Hilten by name, which of his own company was caste into prison,1 because that he had rebuked certain very notorious abuses. For we have seen the works which he wrote, by which it may be well enough perceived, what manner doctrine it was that he taught. And they which knew him, report of him, that he was a gentle old man, & sad without any waywardness. This John showed before many things, which partly have come to pass all ready, and partly seem to be near at hand / which things we will not recite, least any man would interpret them to be rehearsed either of displeasure and evil will towards some person, or else of favour, and for the pleasure of some man. But in conclusion, when either by reason of age or of filthiness of the prison, he was fallen into disease and sickness he sent for the warden of the place to come unto him, that he might give him knowledge of his infirmity and sickness. When the warden inflamed with pharisaical hared against him, had begun to chide with him, and to rebuke him sharply for his doctrine, which seemed to be against the profits of the kitchen / than this John leaving the mention of his infirmity, and being inwardly sorry and sighing, said, that he was right well contented to suffer all those injuries for Christs sake. For he had neither written nor taught ⟨image 198⟩any thing that might appair or hurt the state of religious men / he only rebuked,2 he said, certain abuses notoriously known. But there shall another come (said he) in the year of our lord god. M.D.xvj. which shall destroy you, neither ye shall be able […] resist him. This sentence concerning the decay of the kingdom of religious men, and the number also of the years his friends afterwards did find also written in his works, among the annotations, which he had left upon certain places of Daniel. And though how much this saying is to be regarded, the proof of the thing shall declare: yet be there other signs and tokens, as sure and as undoubted as the gospel is, which threaten a change to come unto the kingdom of friars, & other religious persons.