A22612:76
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 bishops of Rome would na• have dispensed therewith / for it is not lawful for man to disannul a bond / which is all together of the law of god. But so hit is that the bishops of Rome have prudently judged an equity & a favourable interpretation to be had in this obligation and bond / and therefore we read that they have dispensed many times with vows. The history of the king of Aragon which was darreyned and called again from the monastery / is known well enough. and examples of our time ben apparent and open. Moreover wherefore do our adversaries amplify and extol the bond or theffec•e of the vow / and make so mich busyness about it / when in the mean season of the self nature of the vow they speak not one word / how it ought to be in a thing possible / and how it ought to be willingly / freely / and with deliberation conceived?* But how perpetual chastity is in the power of man / it is not unknown. And how few be there which do freely & deliberately vow? Maidens and young men before they can judge be persuaded & enticed to vow / yea and sometimes also they be constrained. Wherefore it is not equally done to dispute so straitly of the bond / when all men will grant that thing to be against the nature of a vow / which is not freely / but suddenly & rashly taken. Many canon laws do annul vows made before the age of .xv. years / for before that age there appeareth not to be so much ⟨p. 26⟩judgement in a person to determine upon a perpetual life. Another Canon granting yet more liberty to the weakness of man addeth mo years / inhibiting a vow to be made before the age of .xviii. years. But whether of them so ever we follow / certes the most part hath a very lawful and just excuse / why they should forsake their monasteries / because they vowed before those ages. Finally yea although the violation and breaking of the vow could be reproved: yet it shall not forthwith follow that the marriages of such persons as have against their vow married ought to be dissolved and broken.2 For saint Augustine denieth that they ought to be broken .27.9.1. capt. Nuptiarum. Whose authority is not light I although other men afterward thought other ways. But though God's commandment of marriage may be thought to deliver many from their vows: