History of the Catholic Church from 600 to 1600, Ecclesiastical epoch 1300-1600 · Century 16 · Part 2 · Chapter 2
CHAP II. Of EMPEROVRS.
CHARLES V. the nephew of Maximilian, and King of Spain, &c. was choſen King of the Romanes: he had the largeſt Dominions of any Emperour for many hundred years: he was crowned at Aken An. 1520. and held a Diet at Worms An. 1521. where unto Luther was ſummoned: there it was ordained, that Luthers books should be burnt, and himſelf be bannished out of the Empire: but of his Acts concerning Religion we will (God willing) ſpeak more hereafter. The Pope had been his Tutour, and the King of France was prevailing in Lombardy: wherefore the Pope and the Emperour made a League againſt France, and they drewe in Henry VIII. King of England with them. Charles began his warrsin Lombardy, but was not there perſonally: at the battell of Pavy Francis was taken priſoner, and carried to Madrid: afterwards he was diſmiſſed, and gave his two ſonnes in hoſtage, and marryed Leonor the Emperours Siſter, But Francis got from Pope Clement, a diſpenſation of his oath which he had given to Charles, for the performing of certain conditions after his liberty, and the rather, becauſe that Charles did aim with unſatiable luſt at the Empire, not of Italy only (ſaith Onuphr. in Clement VII.) but of whole Europe. When Charles heard of a League made againſt him by the Pope and the Princes of Italy and King Francis, he was not a little offended, and making the more haſt, ſent Charles Duke of Burbone Generall of his Army, into Italy, who did ſo prevaile, as is hinted before. Then in his Letters he challengeth Francis of the breach of his oath, as he often ſpoke thereof unto the French Ambaſſadours. The King ſent his Letters (by an Herauld) dated at Paris March 28. An. 1528. ſaying, By the talk, which thou hadſt with ſome of mine, I underſtand that thou braggeſt of certain things ſounding to my dishonour, as if I had eſcaped thy hands againſt my fidelity: now; albeit he who after the compact hath left pledges, is him ſelfe quitt from bonde, ſo that I am thereby ſufficiently excuſed; nevertheleſs in defence of my honour, I have written thus briefly unto thee: therefore if thou doeſt blame this my fact and departing, or ſayſt that I have at any time done contrary unto the duty of a Noble Prince, I tell thee plainly, Thou lieſt: for I have determined to preſerve my honour, while I have a day to live: therefore we need not many words: if thou haſt ought againſt mee, thou shalt not need heerafter to write more, but appoint the place and time, where we may fight hand to hand: If this thou dareſt not do, and in the mean time revileſt mee, I proteſt, that all the shame thereof belongs unto thee. The Emperour receiveth the Letters, and ſent another Herauld appointing the place. Francis would not accept the Letters, but conſidering the danger of his children and his former misfortune, ſought peace: it was concluded in Auguſt. An. 1529. At the ſame time Solyman was beſieging Vienna in Auſtria with 25000 Turks: he aſſaulted it 20. times: it was defended ſo viliantly by the Germanes under the conduct of the Palsgrave, that the ſeege was raiſed after a monethmonth, and Solyman returned, many Turks being killed or taken. Then Charles had peace everywhere, and went to be crowned in Italy: ere he came to Bononia (where the Pope lay) three Cardinals were ſent to demand, and take his oath of fidelity, that he would never prejudge the liberties of the Church. He anſwered, He would not refuſe that, ſo far as it should not be prejudiciall unto his own right; Meaning to recover Parma & Placentia, which the Church did then poſſeſſe, but was a part of the Dutchy of Millane. The Pope and Cardinalls loved not ſuch conditions, but they durſt not reſiſt. So on Febr. 22. he was declared King of Lombardy, and Febr. 24. he was crowned Emperour An. 1530. He reſtored the Dutchy of Millain to Francis Sfortia: he created Frederik Gonzaga Duke of Mantua, and by meanes of the Prince of Orange he conquered Florence, and gave it to Alex. Medices. Then he wentunto Germany: in the Diet at Ausburg he cauſed his brother Ferdinand to be declared King of the Romanes, not without oppoſition of the Duke of Bavier & of the Proteſtants. An. 1532. Solyman returned into Styria: Charles waites him at Vienna: yet ſent ſome horſe men againſt Caſon a Turkish Captain with 15000. men plundering the Country. Caſon was taken, and many ſouldiers were ſlain: wherefore Solyman returned now the ſecond time with shame. Charles then goeth into Italy to talke with the Pope concerning the Generall Councell: thence he ſailed into Spain An. 1533. After two years he relieved 22000. Chriſtian captives, and wonne the Kingdom of Tunis from the Turks, and rendered it to King Alzaten Muleaſſes, who had been expelled by treaſon of his own ſons. He returnes into Italy, and again talkes with Pope Paul concerning the Councell: and went into Spain: thence he returnes into Germany An. 1541. When he was at the Diet in Regensburgh, he heard of the loſſe of Tunis again, and went thether, and loſt a great part of his army to his diſcomfort, and returned into Spain in November. Of his buſineſs with France, and with the Proteſtants in Germany, it followes in the next Chapter. His victory at Smalcald was his ruine: for upon no condition would he grant liberty unto John-Frederick Electour of Saxony, and the Landgrave: therefore Maurice ſon of Henry ſucceſſour of the Popish George Duke of Saxony, and ſon-in-law to the Landgrave, though a Proteſtant, yet had followed the Emperour in and after theſe warrs; and therefore was honoured with the title of Electour) now ſeeing that the Emperour aimed not (as he had oft profeſſed) at wonted and civill obedience only; did entreat for liberty unto his father-in-law. Charles dreameth of ſecurity, as if Germany could not ſtirre any more, and would not remitt any part of his will. Wherefore Maurice by the advice and with the aid of Albert Duke of Brandeburg raiſeth an army quietly, and approacheth to Iſpruc: when Charles was informed of it, he ſets the Electour at liberty, leſt Duke should Maurice have the honour of his delivery, and himſelfe fleeth with his Court by night into Italy: he climbeth the Alpes with torch-light. After all his travels he had not a foot of ground in Germany, but the Nederlands. After his departure within few hours Maurice took Iſpruc, and was Maſter of all the baggage belonging to the Emperour and his court An. 1552. but touched nothing appertaining unto the burgeſſes. It came to paſſe, that King Ferdinand & Duke Maurice concluded a peace at Paſſaw, and ordained a Diet to be held at Ausburg. It was delayed two years: and albeit Maurice was killed by the before-named Albert, yet all diſcords for religion were commodiouſly compoſed in Septemb. An. 1555. liberty was granted unto the Proteſtants; the Landgrave was reſtored; but liberty was not permitted unto bb. and clerks, to retain their Benefices, if they left Popery Pe. Soave hiſto. Conc. Trid. Charles would always hold up the Councell: but when he ſaw, that his fortune was changed, and his hope of a new Monarchy was gone; nor would his brother Ferdinand, nor the Electours condeſcend to the ſucceſſion of his ſon Philip in the Empire; he laieth aſide all care of the world, he reſignes his inheritance unto his ſonne (reſerving 100000 crownes to himſelf and family) and quiteth Auſtria and the title of Emperour unto his brother Ferdinand (to uſe his own words, as Pe. Mexia recordeth) as if himſelf were dead, he tetiereth into Spain, lived in the monaſtery of S. Juſt two years, and died as humbly, as he had lived gloriouſly. All that ſpace he read diligently the Books of Bernard, and with confidence would argue thus, I am unworthy to attain the Kingdom of heaven by my merites, but the Lord my God (which hath a twofold right unto it, by inheritance, and by meritt of his ſuffering) hath reſerved the one title unto himſelf, and hath given mee the other: by this gift I will claime it, and in this confidence I will never be ashamed: for the oil of mercy is not kept without the veſſell of aſſurance: this is the confidence of man, to miſtruſt himſelf, and rely upon God: to truſt in our own works is not faith, but unbelieff: ſins are remitted by the mercy of God, and we should believe, that ſin can not be forgiven but by him againſt whom we have ſinned, and who can not ſin, and by whom only all ſins are pardoned. In the end when unto his lingring ſicknes was added an hot fever, he held the croſſe in his armes, ſaying, Abide in mee, ô ſweet Saviour, that I may abide in thee. He took the ſacrament in both kindes, and repeating the ſame words, he rendred his moſt glorious ſoul unto God, who gave it. So Ja. Thuan. hiſt. Lib 21. and Pe Soave hiſt. conc. Tri. lib. 5. ſaith, After his death, Conſtantius Pontius was committed to priſon for ſuſpicion of hereſy, who was Confeſſor of Charles the Emperour in time of his ſolitarineſs. and in whoſe armes he died. This Pontius died in priſon, and Philip cauſed one to burn him in effigie, and uſed ſuch cruelty againſt his dead body: that many were amazed, and looked for no mercy from him, who had been ſo mercileſs to that man, whoſe infamy was not without the aſperſion of his dear father.
II. FERDINAND II. aſſembled the Electours at Frankford, and shewed the renuntiation of Charles: this was accepted, and he was received by them. He ſent for confirmation of the Romane Court: Ere the Ambaſſadour was heard, the Cardinals object, The Imperiall ſeat can not vaike but by death, or deprivation or eiuration: and the laſt two belong unto the Pope only: for as the Pope only can depoſe, ſo eieration can be made before him only: as for anything that had paſſed in Germany, it was done by hereticks, which have loſt their power: and therefore Ferdinand should purge himſelf in judgement, and do pennance, and ſend his Proctour with full power to renounce all that was done, and he should ſubmitt all unto the pleaſure of the Pope only. When the Ambaſſadour craved to be heard, the Pope ſaid, Charles could not renounce but in his preſence only, nor can Ferdinand accept without his conſent: therefore he muſt ſatisfie within three months for ſuch things as the Cardinals have to lay unto his charge. So his Ambaſſadour was not heard. Griſman advertiſeth the Emperour: who willed him to shew, that if he were not admitted within three dayes, he should make proteſtation, that ſeing he had waited ſo long, and could not be heard, to the dishonour of his Maſter, he will return, that the Emperour may adviſe with the Electours, what shall be moſt expedient unto the Imperial dignity. Briefly Ferdinand could not be confirmed at Rome untill Pope Pius 4. Thuan. hiſt Lib. 21. An. 1559. Ferdinand held a Diete at Ausburgh, where the Oratours of ſundry Nations vere preſent; and the Proteſtants did preſent their grievances, to wit, that albeit peace of religion was concluded & confirmed by ſubſcriptions & ſeales, yet the judges of the Chamber had enacted ſtrict lawes in mixt cauſes againſt them; and ſeing controverſies do depend on religion, they should be ſuſpended conforme to the Articles of peace; nor would the Popish Princes and Magiſtrates ſuffer their ſubjects freely to profeſſe the Auguſtan Confeſſion, nor ſuffer them to ſell their lands (as the Articles do permitt) that they may dwell in other territories, but they impriſoned them, or ſent them away empty. The other party wanted not replies. The Emperour appoints another meeting, when his Deputies shall hear both parties more fully. The Proteſtants were content, if a like number of Judges were choſen of both parties. At that time they petitioned, that liberty might be granted unto bb. and clergy: but it was not granted. Ferdinand was addicted to Popery, yet was not an enemy to Proteſtants. Ere he was Emperour he was continually for warrs, but afterwards he was deſirous of peace. He cauſed his ſon Maximilian to be choſen King of the Romanes An. 1561. and died An. 1564.