Ecclesias men. I assure you, I know it most certainly to be true, that there be many tical and great governors of the people, which this so ridiculous and foolish reason Affairs. above recited hath moved to the condemnation of my books. Unless I per Article. Luther's the sixth article. ceived (with tears I speak it) the anger of God sharp and fierce against us, in bringing us under subjection of such effeminate children, and such dregs of the earth, and vile refuse of all other people of the whole world, it would make me to burst for very grief and sorrow. My sentence is, and hath been this: That satisfaction, which the keys are able to dispense withal, standeth not by the law of God: for, if it did, then could it not be dispensed withal by the keys. If these bull-founders do charge me with any other thing besides in this article, they do nothing else but as they are wont to do: for what matter or marvel is it, if Antichrist do lie? VI. Contrition which is gotten by examining, remembering, and detesting our sins, whereby a man calleth to mind his years past in the bitterness of his soul, in pondering the greatness, the multitude and filthiness of his sins, the losing of eternal bliss, and the purchasing of eternal damnation: this contrition maketh a hypocrite, yea rather a man to be more a sinner.' Answer:-O the incredible blindness and brutishness of these Romish bulls! answer to This article is truly mine, and very christian; which I will not suffer to be wrested from me, for all the popes and papists in the world. For this I meant by that doctrine, that repentance is of no force, unless it be done in faith and charity; which thing they also would teach themselves, but that they do neither know nor teach, either what faith or charity is. And therefore, in condemning my doctrine, they condemn also their own, foolishly repugning against themselves in their own contradiction. I say, therefore, that he that teacheth repentance in such wise and manner that he hath not a greater regard to the promised mercy of God and faith in the same, than to this afflicting and vexing of the mind, he teacheth the repentance of Judas Iscariot; he is pestilent, a devil to men's souls, and tormentor of consciences. Read the books of these sophisters, where they write of repentance, and thou shalt see there no mention made either of promise or faith: for these lively parts of repentance they clean omit, and only do vex men with these dead contritions. But hereof we will hereafter treat more at large. The purpose of setting articles. But what should I here stand upon every article, seeing my books be abroad, wherein I have given a reason of all sufficiently, and more would have done, Luther in if mine adversaries also had brought to light theirs? For what foolishness is forth his this, that they think to answer me with this one saying, That they count all my sayings as damned? whereas I did write to this end only, that they should acknowledge their errors wherewith they have so long bewitched the people of God. Neither did I look that I should be condemned, who, understanding and knowing the same right well, have justified those things, which they have condemned before, with sufficient authority both of Scripture, and reason: neither looked I that they should tell me what they thought (for I knew all that well enough); but that which I sought of them, was, to know whether they thought right therein or not. Here looked I to be taught; and, behold, none of them all durst once put forth his head. Wherefore I see these asses nothing to understand either the things that I say, or yet themselves; but they be such blind buzzards, that they perceive not what it is that I seek in my books: for they dream that I have such an opinion of them, as though they had the truth of their side, when there is nothing that I less think to be true. For I, foreseeing that they had condemned all these things before, came forth, and showed myself as one not to be condemned, but as already condemned by them, to accuse their condemnation to be wicked, heretical, and blasphemous; and so openly to denounce them as heretics and erroneous, unless they showed some better reason and ground of their doings and doctrine; whereas they, on the other side, like foolish minstrels harping all on one string, have nothing else in their mouths, but we condemn that we have condemned;' proving, after a new kind of logic, the same thing by itself. O most idiot huddipeaks, and blockish condemners! Where is the saying of Peter, Be always ready to render an account of that faith and hope which is in you?' 1 Wherefore, seeing these ignorant papists, being thus confounded, do so flee (1) 1 Pet. iii. away from the face of the manifest verity, that they dare not once open their Ecclesiasmouths in defence of themselves or of their cause, and have blasted out with tical Affairs. much ado this timorous bull of theirs; I, being comforted with the flight of these mine adversaries, do account this their dastardly damnation, instead of a full justification of my cause; and so rebound again their own damnation upon their own heads. For how could they more condemn themselves, than while they (fearing to be found themselves culpable of heresy, if they should be driven to give account of their doctrine) do flee to this miserable and desperate refuge, will agly to shut their eyes, and stop their ears, and to say I will not, I damn thee; I hear thee not, I allow thee not?' If I should have played any such mad part, how would they (I pray you) have triumphed against me? This dastardly fear, declareth what cowards they are. Wherefore, not to burden the reader with any tedious prolixity of matter in prosecuting every article, I here protest by these presents, that I confess all these things here condemned by this miserable Bull, for pure, clear, and catholic doctrine, whereof I have sufficiently given account in my books which be ex tant abroad.1 Furthermore, I will also that the said my books, being extant abroad, shall be taken as a public accusation against these wicked sophisters and seducers of the people of God; so that unless they shall give an account of their doctrine, and shall convict me with good ground of Scripture, I do here, as much as in me lieth, denounce them as guilty of errors, heresy, and sacrilege; admonishing, desiring, and in the Lord exhorting, all them that truly confess Christ, that they will beware and take heed of their pestiferous doctrine; and not to doubt, but that the true Antichrist reigneth by them in the world amongst us. And if any shall contemn this my brotherly admonition, let him know that I am pure and clean from his blood, and excused from the last judgment of Christ: for I have left nothing undone, which christian charity did bind me to do. Finally, if there be no other way whereby I may resist these babbling and trifling condemners, the uttermost and last which I have I will give and bestow in the quarrel; that is, this life and blood of mine. For better it were for me a thousand times to be slain, than to revoke one syllable of these articles, which they have condemned. And now, as they do curse and excommunicate me for their damnable heresy, so I again likewise do curse and excommunicate them for the holy verity of God. Christ, who is only the judge of all, judge and determine this matter between us, whether of these two excommunications, his or mine, shall stand and prevail before him! Amen. In storying the life of Luther, it was declared before, how the said Luther in the beginning, being rejected first by the cardinal Cajetan, appealed from the cardinal unto the pope. When that would not serve, neither could any tolerable submission of Luther to the pope be received, but that the pope with his cardinals, contrary to all equity and conscience, would needs proceed against him, and against the express truth of God's word, thinking by mere authority to bear down the verity as he had used before to do: Luther, following the justness of his cause, was then compelled to appeal from the pope to the next general council, and so did, as before you may read; which was two years before the pope's bull against Luther came out. The tenor of this appellation, before omitted, I thought here to exhibit; whereby the reader, considering the great change of religion and state of the church which since hath ensued, may also perceive the true original cause and occasion how it first began; by what order and degrees it after increased; what humility and submission, first on (1) Note here good reader that amongst these articles certain there be, which, because they seemed somewhat to bear with the pope and his pardons, Luther, coming after to a more knowledge that the pope was Antichrist, confesseth himself in his assertions, that he utterly calleth back the same; not revoking them as the pope would have had him, but rather aggravating them against the pope. tical Ecclesias Luther's part were showed; and, again, what insolency, wrong, and Affairs. violence, of the pope's part, were declared. And further, whereas pope Leo, in his bull above prefixed, seemeth to pretend certain conditions of favour, charity, and money offered to Luther in the beginning, how false and vain that is, by this present appeal may appear.', THE TENOR AND FORM OF THE APPEAL OF MARTIN LUTHER That forasmuch as the liberty of appealing is provided for a remedy to relieve the oppressed from injury and violence of the superior, it was therefore lawful for Martin Luther so to do; especially being manifold ways injured and molested by the see of Rome, and other the pope's confederates, as he, in the said appeal declareth. For at first, whereas he, modestly disputing of the errors and abuses of the pope's pardons, did somewhat withstand the impudent raving and blasphemies of them that came about with the pope's pardons, to poll and rob the people, he was therefore openly railed upon and defamed by them in their public sermons to be a heretic, and, consequently upon the same, accused to pope Leo for a heretic, by Marius the pope's proctor and others. Then was obtained of the pope a commission to cite up the said Luther to appear at Rome before the cardinals, by Hieronymus, and Sylvester Prieras, his mortal enemies, whereas he could by no way appear without manifest danger of his life, both by the way, and also in the city of Rome. For the consideration whereof, duke John Frederic, prince elector, and the landgrave, entreated for him to have his cause indifferently to be heard, and to be committed to two parties that were equal, and not partial: yet, notwithstanding the earnest suit of these princes, the contrary labour of the cardinals, who were his capital adversaries, so prevailed at Rome, that the cause of Luther was still detained in their own hands; and, contrary to all indifferency, was Cardina committed to the hearing of the pope's legate then in Germany, called 'Cardilis Sancti nalis Sancti Sixti;' who, being no less enemy against Luther than the others, and notwithstanding that Luther obediently appeared at his call, and with humble protestation submitted himself to be answered by the Scriptures; and referred himself to the judgment of the see of Rome, and of four universities, to wit, Basil, Friburg, Louvain, and Paris; yet, contrary to all equity, showing forth no Scripture nor reason, rejecting his gentle protestation, submission, and honest offer, with all other his requests and suits, he would needs forthwith have him to revoke his errors, threatening and menacing him most cruelly, and commanded him no more to come in his sight. Sixti, an enemy to Luther. Luther Whereupon Luther, being thus proudly rejected of the cardinal, made his appealeth appeal from the said cardinal to pope Leo, being better informed. from the cardinal to the pope. This appellation also being contemned of the pope, who would neither come to any agreement, nor take any reasonable condition, nor show Luther his errors by the Scripture, nor yet refer the matter by learning to be decided, but would needs per force proceed against him by mere authority and oppression at Rome, Luther then, seeing there was no other refuge or remedy for his own defence, and seeing, moreover, the truth of God's word to lie underfoot, by might and authority oppressed, so that none durst almost confess the same, and that the poor flock was so nursled in errors and vain opinions, to the seduction From the of their souls: for these, and other such causes, he, being necessarily thereunto compelled, commenced this appeal from the pope misinformed, to the next the next general council that should be, calling for the help of the public notary, and general council. testimony also of sufficient witnesses, requisite in that behalf accordingly. pope to (1) The copy, as it was drawn by the public notary, and exhibited, commenceth in this form here following. In nomine Domini, Amen. Anno a nativitate ejusdem, 1518, indictione sexta, die vero solis, vigesimo octavo mensis Novembris, pontificatus sanctissimi in Christo Patris et Domini nostri Domini Leonis, divina providentia Papæ, Decimi anno sexto, in Notarii publici testiumque infra-scriptorum, ad hoc specialiter vocatorum et rogatorum, præsentia constituta, &c. The Death of King Henry the Eighth, with the manner thereof. Henry And thus closing up this eighth book with the death of king Henry A.D. the eighth, I will now (the Lord Christ assisting me with his grace) 1547, proceed next to the time and reign of king Edward his son, after that first I shall intermit a few words touching the death of the said king Henry his father, and the manner of the same; who, after long languishing, infirmity growing more and more upon him, lay from St. Stephen's day (as is above mentioned) to the latter end of January. His physicians at length, perceiving that he would away, and yet not daring to discourage him with death, for fear of the act passed before in parliament, that none should speak any thing of the king's death (the act being made only for soothsayers, and talkers of prophecies,)' moved them that were about the king to put him in remembrance of his mortal state and fatal infirmity; which when the rest were in dread to do, Master Denny, who was specially attendant upon him, boldly coming to the king, told him what case he was in, to man's judgment not like to live; and therefore exhorted him to prepare himself to death, calling himself to remembrance of his former life, and to call upon God in Christ betimes for grace and mercy, as becometh every good christian man to do. Although the king was loth to hear any mention of death, yet perceiving the same to rise upon the judgment of his physicians, and feeling his own weakness, he disposed himself more quietly to hearken to the words of his exhortation, and to consider his life past; which although he much accused, "yet," said he, "is the mercy of Christ able to pardon me all my sins, though they were greater than they be." Master Denny, being glad to hear him thus to speak, required to know his pleasure, whether he would have any learned man sent for to confer withal, and to open his mind unto. To whom the king answered again, that if he had any, he would have Dr. Cranmer, at his who was then lying at Croydon. And therefore Master Denny, asking the king whether he would have him sent for, "I will first," to talk said the king, "take a little sleep; and then, as I feel myself, I will Cranmer. advise upon the matter." his The king death chooseth with cometh to After an hour or two the king, awaking, and feeling feebleness to Cranmer increase upon him, commanded Dr. Cranmer to be sent for; but the king.. before he could come, the king was speechless, and almost senseless. Notwithstanding, perceiving Dr. Cranmer to be come, he, reaching his hand to Dr. Cranmer, did hold him fast, but could utter no word unto him, and scarce was able to make any sign. Then the archbishop, exhorting him to put his trust in Christ, and to call upon mercy, desired him, though he could not speak, yet to give some token with his eyes or with his hand, that he trusted in the Lord. Then the king, holding him with his hand, did wring his hand in his as hard as he could; and so, shortly after, departed, after he had reigned in this land the term of thirty-seven years and nine months, The leaving behind him three children, Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth. Moreover, forasmuch as mention is inserted in this place of the good inclination of king Henry, in his latter days, to the reformation of religion, by the occasion hereof it cometh also to mind, somewhat (1) Some persons had already suffered as traitors for foretelling the king's death. See Lanquet's Epitome of Chronicles in the year 1541.-ED. king's children, VIII. 1547. tween and the duke of Suffolk about r. P 66 Henry likewise to add, by way of appendix, touching the talk between the. archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, the duke of Suffolk, and A.D. Charles Brandon, as concerning the king's purpose and intent conceived against the bishop of Winchester, Stephen Gardiner, in that Talk be- he could never allow any reformation in religion in this realm, and Cranmer especially being offended with this, that men should use in their talk, "the Lord," as well as our Lord." The said duke said unto the said archbishop, "We of the council had him once at a good lift, Winches- and should well have dispatched him from his authority, if the king's majesty our master had stayed himself from admitting him to his presence; as then his highness was content that we should thoroughly have sifted and tried him. "It was, my lord," quoth the duke to the archbishop, "at that time when Gardiner's secretary was attached and suffered for defending the pope's authority. For then I, and certain of the council, having conference with the king's majesty for that matter, his highness was fully persuaded, that the bishop's secretary, being in such special favour with his master, would never stand so stiff in defence of the bishop of Rome's usurped power and authority without his said master's both advice, knowledge, and persuasion. For already (quoth the king), he played but a homely part with me, when he was ambassador to the pope concerning my cause of divorce. And therefore (quoth the king to me), send for him, my Winches lord, incontinently; and, by assistance of two or three more of the king sent council, whom you think good, let him be committed to the Tower, to answer to such things as may be objected against him.' ter by the to the Tower. cometh to "This communication was in the evening, so that we purposed to have executed the king's pleasure and commandment the next morning. Howbeit our talk was not so secret, but that some of his friends of the privy chamber (where he had many friends then), suspecting Privily the matter, sent him word thereof; who incontinently repaired to the the king king's presence, and finding some matter to minister unto the king, The king his highness said to the bishop, We do marvel that your secretary Winches hath thus notoriously offended against us and our laws. It is surely thought that you are not all clear in this offence, but that you are of the same opinion with him; and, therefore, my lord, be plain with me, and let me know if you be that way infected or no. If you will tell me the truth, I will rather pardon the fault; but if you halt or dissemble with me, look for no favour at my hand.' layeth to ter's charge. Winches ter con fesseth his popery. King nature to "With this monition Winchester fell down upon his knees, and besought his majesty for mercy and pardon, manifestly confessing that he had long time been of that opinion with his said secretary; and there bewailing himself, promised from that day forward to reform his opinion, and become a new man. Well (quoth the king) this way you have of me, that which otherwise you should never have obtained. I am content to remit all things past, and pardon you upon your amendment." The next morning I had word how the matter was handled; Henry's whereupon I came to his highness and said, Your majesty hath pardon prevented our commission, which I and others had from your grace, that con- concerning my lord of Winchester's committing to the Tower Wot you what (quoth the king); he hath confessed himself as guilty in this matter as his man, and hath, with much sorrow and pensive them fess their fault. |