A22612:429
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.
For it is evidently known how much hypocrisy there is in abbeys / how great ambition / how great covetousness / how much blindness and ignorance / and how much cruelty of every unlearned fool / how great vanitie in sermones / how greate craft in imagining often times new ways to get money. And there be other vices also besides these, which I list not at this time •o rehearse.1 And where as in old time abbeys were the schools of Christs doctrine, now they be grown out of kind, as it were from a golden kind to an irony kind, bringing nothing else but mischief and destruction. The richest monasteries only find and nourish an idle multitude, which there under false pretence of religion, fill their bellies, and play the cormorants upon the common alms of the church.2 But Christ teacheth ⟨image 199⟩us of the unsavoury salt, that it is wont to be cast out and trodden under the foot. wherefore religious men with these manners sing their own destiny. And besides all this there is another token now, which is, that they be every where the causers and counsellors of putting good men to death. These murders, (no doubt of it) god will shortly revenge and punish. Neither do we here accuse all religious men, (For we suppose, that every where there be some good men in monasteries which think but measurably of humane ceremonies and services, and which do not allow the cruelty, which hypocrites exercise and use).
For it is euidently knowen howe moch hipocrisy there is in abbeys / how greate ambition / howe greate couetousnes / howe moche blyndenes and ignoraunce / and how moche crueltie of euery vnlerned foole / howe greate vanitie in sermones / how greate crafte in imaginyng often tymes newe wayes to get money. And there be other vices also besydes these, whiche I lyst not at this tyme •o reherse.1 And where as in old tyme abbeys were the scholes of Christis doctrine, nowe they be growen out of kynde, as it were from a golden kynde to an yirnye kynde, bryngyng nothynge els but myschiefe and destruction. The rychest monasteries onely fynde and norysshe an ydle multitude, whiche there vnder false pretence of religion, fylle theyr bellyes, and playe the cormorauntes vpon the comon almoyse of the churche.