MarginaliaDisputation at Berne in Heluetia.Actes of the disputation of Baden communicated vnto them, and that the variance about Religion still more and more encreased: assigned an other disputation within their owne Citie, and sendyng forth writynges therof, called vnto the same, all the Byshops borderyng nere about them, as the Byshops of Constance, Basill, Sedune, Lausanna, warnyng them both to come them selues, and to bryng their diuines with them, or els to lose all such possessions, whiche they had liyng within the boundes of their precinct. After this, they appoynted out certeine Ecclesiasticall persons of their iurisdictiō, to dispute, MarginaliaGodly lawes of a disputatiō.prescribyng and determinyng the whole disputatiō to be decided onely by the authoritie of the old and new Testament. To all þ^t would come thether, they graunted safe conduict. Also, they appoynted that all thynges there should be done modestlye, without iniurie and braulyng woordes, and þ^t euery one should haue leaue to speake his mind frely, & with such deliberatiō, that euery mans saying might be receaued by the notary & penned, with this prouiso made before, that what soeuer there should be agreed vpon, þ^e same should be ratified, & obserued through all their dominions: and to the intent men might come thether better prepared before, they propounded in publike writyng, x. conclusions, in the sayd disputation to bee defended of their Ministers, by the Scriptures, whiche Ministers were Franciscus Colbus, and Bertholdus Hallerus. The theames or conclusions were these.

Marginalia1.
Theames to be disputed.That the true Churche, wherof Christ is the head, riseth out of Gods word, and persisteth in the same, and heareth the voyce of no other.

Marginalia2.That the same Churche maketh no lawes without the worde of God.

Marginalia3.That traditiōs ordeyned in the name of the Church, do not bynde, but so farre forth as they be consonant to God word.

Marginalia4.That Christ onely hath made satisfaction for the sinnes of the world: and therfore if any man say that there is any other way of saluation, or meane to put away sinne, the same denyeth Christ.

Marginalia5.That the body and bloud of Christ can not be receaued really and corporally, by the testimony of the Scripture.

Marginalia6.That the vse of the Masse, wherin Christ is presented and offered vp to his heauenly father for the quicke and the dead, is agaynst the Scripture, and contumelious to that sacrifice whiche Christ made for vs.

Marginalia7.That Christ onely is to be inuocated, as the mediatour and aduocate of mankinde, to God the father.

Marginalia8.That there is no place to bee founde by the holy Scripture, wherin soules are purged after this life: and therefore all those prayers and ceremonies, yearely Diriges and Obites, whiche are bestowed vpon the dead: also Lampes, Tapers, and such other thinges, profite nothing at all.

Marginalia9.That to set vp any picture or Image to be worshipped, is repugnant to the holy Scripture, and therfore if any such be erected in Churches for that entent, the same ought to bee taken downe.

Marginalia10.That Matrimonie is prohibited to no state or order of men, but for eschewing of fornication, generally is commaunded and permitted to all men by the worde of God. And for as much as all fornicatours are excluded by the testimony of Scripture, from the Communion of the Churche, therefore this vnchaste and filthie single lyfe of Priestes, is most of all vnconuenient for the order of priesthode.

When the Senate and people of Berne, had sent abroad their letters with these theames and conclusions, to all the Heluetians, exhortyng them both to send their learned mē, and to suffer all other to passe safely through their countreys: MarginaliaThe letters & aūswere of the Suitzers to the Senate & people of Berne.the Lucernates, Vranites, Suitzians. Vnterualdians, Tugians, Glareans, Soloturnians,and they of Friburge aunswered agayne by cōtrary letters, exhortyng and requiryng them in any case to desiste from their purposed enterprise: puttyng them in remembraunce of their league and composition made, and also of the disputation of Baden aboue mencioned, of the whiche disputation they were them selues (they sayd) the first begynners and authors: saying moreouer, that it was not lawfull for any nation or prouince to alter the state of Religion, but the same to belong to a generall Councell: wherfore they desired them, that they would not attempt any such wicked acte, but continue in the Religion, whiche their parentes and elders had obserued: and in fine, thus in the ende of their letters they concluded, that they would neither send, nor suffer any of their learned men to come, nor yet graunt safeconduict to any others to passe through their countrey. MarginaliaEx Comment. Ioā. Sled. lib. 6To this and suchlike effect tended the letters of these Suitzers aboue named.

All whiche notwithstandyng, the Lordes of Berne procedyng in their intended purpose, vpon the day prescribed (whiche was the vij. of Ianuary) began their disputation. Of all the bishops before signified (which were assigned to come) there was not one present. Neuertheles the Citie of Basill, Zurike, and Schafuse, and Abbecelle, Sangallium, Mullusia, with the neyghbours of Rhœtia, also they of Strausburgh, Vlmes, Ausburge, Lindaue, Constance, and Isne, sent thether their Ambassadours.

MarginaliaThe disputatiō beginneth.The Doctours, aboue mentioned, of the Citie of Berne, began the disputation. MarginaliaThe parte defendent.Where at the same tyme, were present Zuinglius, Oecolampadius, Bucerus, Capito, Blaurerus, with other moe, all which defended the affirmatiue of the conclusions propounded. MarginaliaThe parte opponent.On the contrary side of them which were the opponentes, the chieftaine was Conradus Tregerus a Frier Augustine, who to proue his assertion, when hee was driuen to shifte out of the Scripture, to seke helpe of other Doctours, and the moderatours of the disputation woulde not permitte the same (beyng contrary to the order before appoynted) MarginaliaThe popes doctrine cā not abyde the triall of the Scripture.he departed out of the place, and would dispute no more.

MarginaliaReformation of Religion in Berne.The disputation endured xix. dayes, in the end wherof it was agreed, by the assent of the most part, that the cōclusions there disputed, were consonant to þ^e truth of Gods worde, and should be ratified not onely in the Citie of Berne, but also proclaimed by the Magistrates in sondry other Cities nere adioynyng: MarginaliaMasses and Images put downe at Berne.furthermore that Masses, aultares, and Images in all places should be abolished.

At the Citie of Cōstance certeine thynges began to be altered a litle before. Where also, among other thinges, lawes were made agaynst fornication, and adultery, and all suspect or vnhonest company, MarginaliaThe popes clergy can not abyde to bee restrained frō fornication & adultery.wherat the Canons (as they are called) of the Church, taking great grief and displeasure, departed the Citie. MarginaliaAmbros. Blaurerus preacher at Constance.In the sayd Citie was then teacher Ambrosius Blaurerus, a learned mā, & borne of a noble stocke, who had bene a monke a litle before, professed in the monastery of Alperspacke in the Duchie of Wyttenberge, belongyng to the dominion of Ferdinandus. Which Blaurerus by readyng of Luthers workes, and hauyng a good wytte, had chaunged a litle before, his religion, and also his coate, returnyng agayne home vnto hys frendes, and when hys Abbot would haue had hym agayne, and wrote earnestly to the Senate of Constance for hym: he declared the whole case of the matter in writyng, propoundyng withall, certeine conditions, wherupon he was content (as he sayd) to returne. But the conditions were such that the Abbot was rather willyng and contented, that he should remayne still at Constance, and so he dyd.

MarginaliaReformation of Religion at Constāce.After this disputation thus concluded at Berne, (as hath bene sayd) the Images and aultares, with ceremonies, and Masses were abolished at Constance.

MarginaliaReformation of Religion at Geneua.They of Geneua also for theyr partes, were not behind, folowing likewise the example of the Citie of Berne in extyrpyng Images and ceremonyes. By reason wherof the Byshop & Clergy there left and departed the Citie in no small anger.

The Bernates after they had redressed with them the state of Religion, they renounced the league made before with the French king, refusing and forsakyng his warly stipend, whereby they were bound at his call to fede hys