History of the Catholic Church from 600 to 1600, Ecclesiastical epoch 1300-1600 · Century 16 · Part 1 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Of EMPEROVRS.
MAXIMILIAN I. was elected and crowned King of the Romanes An. 1486; and after the death of his father An. 1493. he was received Emperour without contradiction. In his infancy he ſo hardly learned to pronounce words, that it was thought, he was dumbe: but the greater difficultie he had of ſpeaking in his infancy, he was the more admired afterwards for his ſingulare eloquence: for beſides the vulgare language he could ſpeak perfectly Latine, French and Italian. In the firſt Diaete held by him An. 1495. at Worms it was decreed, that all the Electours ſhould erect publick Schools within their own bounds: and accordingly Frederik Duke of Saxon Publick Schools.began the Univerſity at Wittembergh An. 1502, and Joachim Marques of Brandeburgh began another at Frankford upon Oder An. 1506. In the yeare 1499. the Swiſers made wars in Auſtria: the Emperour ſubdued them with great honour. The ſame yeare Lewes XII. King of France entred into Lombardy, and after various accidents, by treaſon of his hired Swiſers, Charls Duke of Millane took him captive: there they agreed, that Lewes ſhall pretend no right to Millane. Immediately Lewes and the King of Caſtile made a League, and entred together into the Kingdom of Naples, and divided it betwixt them: they did not long accord: for in the year 1504 the Spaniſh expelled all the French. The Emperour would not medle with the affairs of Naples, becauſe he had made a league with Lewes; and at Spira aroſe a great faction of peaſants, proclaming liberty from Lord-revenves and all higher Powers, and tieths, and vowing to deſtroy all Princes: which had turned to the confuſion of Germany, if they had not been quickly danted with a great army: ſome of them were ſeverely punished. Iſabel Queen of Spain died An. 1504: then her only daughter Ieane with her husband Philip, ſon of Maximilian, were ſent for, to come from Flanders, and accept the Crown: they delay two years, and then went: Philip died, ſoon after his arriving; and Jeane was ſickly, and their ſon Charls was but a child: therefore Ferdinand King of Caſtile, Arragon, Naples, Sicily, Sardinia, Majorca, &c. and Brother of the fore named Iſabell was called to the governement of Spain, enduring the minority of the young King, and Maximilian accepteth the government of Flanders. At that time the Venetians were of great power, and therefore were envied by many. A league was made againſt them, by the Pope and the Emperour, and the King of France, to expel upon common charges, the Burgeſſes out of the Continent. Only Lewes came at the time appointed; and ſeeing that he had ſufficient forces, he did hazard to fight them: he ſlue 20000. took the Captains, and the reſt fled: he conquered many of their towns in the Continent; and though he had done all by his own power only; yet he quitteth unto the Emperour Verona, Vicentia, Patavium, &c. and unto the Pope Arimino, Faventia, Cervia, Ravenna, &c. and he reſerveth unto himſelf their part of Lombardy. So the Dominion of the Venetians was ſore weakned, and never of ſuch power again, howbeit by their power they have recovered what was given unto Maximilian. Pope Iulius was the firſt, who forſook the League: when he had ſuch towns, he feared, that if the Venetians were brought to ruine, his own eſtate might be in danger: for the Colledge have ſpecial care, that none be of greater power than the Pope: Wherefore Julius made peace with Venice, as is hinted before. Becauſe John King of Navar did aid King Lewes; the Pope knowing, that Navar at that time was in a manner diſ-peopled, gave it unto Ferdinand, who did invade it, albeit he had married his Brothers Daughter, he took Pompejopolis, and the Spanish keep a great part of that Kingdom until this time. About the years 1512. Maximilian made league with Henry VIII. King of England, and they both invade France, and in ſeverall parts prevaile. The Emperour was drawn back, to appeaſe a debate twixt the Eccleſiaſtical and ſeculare Eſtates: he was adviſed to reſtrain the avarice of Church-men, and in the Diaet. at Trevers they conſult how Pluraelity of Benefices diſcharged by the Emp. A coat without a ſeam.drunkennes and common ſwearing ſhould be punished: but theſe two grievous ſins could not be rooted up, ſaith Oſiander in Epit. Hist. Cent. 16. libr. 1. Cap. 16. Nevertheleſs by Imperiall authority the plurality of Benefices was for bidden, Faſci. rer. expetend. Pag. 170. In time of that Diaet, in preſence of the Emperour and all the Princes was opened the altar of the great Church of S. Peter; there in was found a coat without a ſeam: and that was called Chriſts coat. Some ſaid, it was but a device, to delude the Emperour and the Princes, and to conciliate ſome authority unto the Church and that See, ſaith Oſiand. loc. cit. The ſame yeare was another tumult at Spira: the Commons roſe againſt the Senate, becauſe they were burdened with ſo many taxes: they thruſt out the Counſellers, and ſet up another Counſell, and took the keies of the town into their own power. The Emperour interponed his authority, and eſtablishes the Senate. At that time Lewes XII. made peace with England, and marryed Marie Siſter of King Henry VIII. concluded peace with the Venetians by the meanes of two Senatours, whom hee had captives. Then Francis I. perceiving, that the Emperour in his olde age was inclined to peace, entred upon the Dutchie of Millain, and fought with the Duke till night: they ſtood both in arms all the night; in the morning the King carried it, and shortly had poſſeſſion of Millain An. 1515. The ſame yeare Ferdinand King of Caſtile died at Madril, and left Charls (then 15 years olde) his ſucceſſour: ſo the many Kingdoms of Spain were united. Maximilian was making readie to goe and recover Millain, and was hindered by the death of Ladiſlaus King of Hungary, and Bohem, Whoſe young ſon was eſpouſed to the Emperours Daughter. He appeaſed the tumults there; made peace with France, and employed the reſt of his time in miniſtration of juſtice, and reforming ſome abuſes and confuſions of the Empire, untill the year 15…9. when he died. He was a Prince abounding in vertues, and ſo bountifull, that if he had been Lord of all the revenues of the earth, he never wold have had treaſure; ſo couragious, that he could not be timorous; of ſingulare ſagacity and judgement, yet would alwayes aſk counſell of them, who loved him, and were able to adviſe: he loved learning, and was liberal toward them who were expert in the liberall ſciences. Pet. mexia. Then all the Electours made choiſe of Frederik Duke of Saxony: but he would not accept it, ſaith Eraſm: in Epist. Roffenſi Epiſc. dated An. 1519.