MarginaliaThe Lāce knightes of Berne & Zurike forsake their league w^t the Frēche kyng.warres, folowyng therein the example of the Tigurines, whiche before had done the lyke, and were contented onely with their yearely pension that the kyng payeth to euery page of the Heluetians, to kepe peace.

Marginalia* Victory of the Gospel. an. 1528* The day and yeare whē this reformation with them began, from Popery to true Christianitie, they caused in a pillar to bee engrauen with golden letters, for a perpetuall memory to all posteritie to come. This was an. 1528.

MarginaliaReformation of Religion in
in Strausburgh.After that the rumour of this disputation, and alteration of Berne, was noysed in other Cities and places abroad, first the Ministers of Strausburgh encouraged by this occasion, began lykewise to affirme and teach that the Masse was wicked and a great blasphemie agaynst Gods holy name, and therfore was to be abrogated, and in steade theerof, the right vse of the Lordes Supper to be restored againe. Which, vnles they could proue by the manifest testimonyes of the Scripture to bee true, they would refuse no maner of punishment. On the contrary part, the Bishop of Romes Clergy, did hold & mainteine that the Masse was good and holy, wherupon kyndled a great contention on both sides: whiche when the Senate and Magistrates of the Citie would haue brought to a disputation, & could not, because þ^e priests would not condescend to any reasoning, therfore seyng they so accused the other, & yet would come to no triall of their cause, the sayd Magistrates commaunded them to silence. MarginaliaThe Byshop of Strausburgh to þ^e Senate.The Bishop in þ^e meane while ceased not with his letters & messengers, dayly to call vpon þ^e Senate to perseuere in the auncient Religiō of their elders, and to geue no eare to those new teachers, declaryng what daunger and perill it would bryng vpon them.

MarginaliaThe Senate of Strausburgh replyeth to the BishopThe Senate agayne desired hym, as they had done oftentymes before, that such thynges, which appertyened to the true honour and worship of God, might be set forward, and all other thynges whiche tended to the contrary, might be remoued and taken away: for that properly belonged to his office to see to. But the Byshop still dryuyng them of with delays, pretended to call an assemble for the same, appoyntyng also day and place for the hearing and discussyng of those cōtrouersies: where, in dede, nothyng was performed at all: MarginaliaThe Byshop of Strausburgh complayneth to the Councel of Spires.but with hys letters he did often sollicitate them to surcease their enterprise, sometymes by way of entreatyng, sometymes with manacyng wordes terrifying thē: and at last, seyng he could nothyng by that waye preuayle, he turned his sute to the assemble of the Empyre, whiche was then at Spires collected, entreatyng them to set in a foote, and to helpe what they could, with their authoritie.

MarginaliaThe message from the Councell at Spires, to the Citie of Strausburgh.They ready to satisfie the Byshops request, sent a solemne Ambassie to the Senate and Citizens of Strausburgh, about Decēber, þ^e yere aboue sayd, requiryng thē not to put down þ^e Masse: for neither it was (sayd they) in þ^e power of þ^e Emperour, nor of any other estate to alter þ^e auncient religiō receaued from their forefathers, but either by a generall, or by a prouinciall Councell, whiche Councell if they supposed to be farre of, at least that they woulde take a pause till the nexte sittyng of the Empyre, which should be w^t spede, where their requestes beyng propounded & heard, they should haue such reasonable aūswere, as should not miscontent them: for it was (said they) against all law and reason, for a priuate Magistrate to infrynge and dissolue those thynges, which by general consent of the whole world, haue bene agreed vpon: and therfore good reason required, that they should obteyne so much at their handes: For els if they should obstinatly procede in this their attempt, so with force and violence to worke, as they began, it might fortune, the Emperour their supreme Magistrate vnder God, and also Ferdinādus hys deputie would not take it well, and so should bee compelled to seke such remedie therin, as they would bee sory to vse. Wherfore their request was, and aduise also, that they should wey the matter diligently with them selues, and folowe good counsaile: who in so doyng, should not onely glad the Emperour, but also worke that which should redowne chiefly to their owne commendation, and safetie.

MarginaliaThe Byshops of Hildesseme and of Strausburgh trauaile to kepe the Citie of Strausburgh in their old Religion.Besides the messengers thus sent from the Councell of Spires, the Byshop also of Hildesseme had bene with them a litle before, exhortyng them in the Emperours name, after like maner. Neither did the Bishop of Strausburgh also cease with hys messengers and letters, dayly to labour hys frendes there, and especially such of the Senatours as he had to hym bound by any feaulty, or otherwise by any giftes or frendshyp, that so much as in them did lye, they should vphold the Masse, and gaynstande the contrary procedinges of the other.

The Senate of Strausburgh in þ^e meane tyme, seyng þ^e matter did so long hang in controuersie, þ^e space now of ij. yeares, & the preachers dayly & instantly callyng vpon them for a reformatiō, and sute also being made to them of the Citizens: MarginaliaReformation of Religion at Strausburgh.assembled their great and full counsayle to the number of 300 (as in great matters of importance they are accustomed to do) and there with them selues debated the case, declaryng on the one side, if they abolished the Masse, what daunger they should incurre by the Emperour: On the other side, if they did not, how much they should offend God: and therfore geuyng them respite to consulte, at the next meetyng required them to declare their aduise and sentence, in the matter. When the day came that euery man should say hys mind, so it fell out, that the voyces and iudgementes of them, whiche went agaynst the Masse preuayled. MarginaliaThe Masse ouerthrowen at Strausburgh.Wherupon immediatly a a decree was made the xx. of February. an. 1529. that the Masse should be suspended and layd down, till tyme that the aduersary part could proue by good Scripture, the Masse to be a seruice auailable & acceptable before God.

This decree beyng established by the consent of the whole Citie, the Senate eftsoones commaunded the same to be proclaymed and to take full place and effect as well within þ^e Citie, as also without, so farre as their limites and dominion did extende, and afterwarde by letters certified their Byshop touchyng the doyng therof. Who hearing these newes, as heauy to his hart as leade, did signifie to thē agayne, how he receaued their letters, & how he vnderstode by the same, the effecte and summe of theyr doinges: MarginaliaThe Byshops pacience per force.all whiche he was enforced to digeste with such pacience as he could, though they went sore agaynst hys stomacke, seyng for the present tyme, he could no otherwise chuse: hereafter as tyme would serue, he sayd hee would see thereunto, accordyng as hys charge and office should requyre.

Thus how the Masse was ouerthrowen in Zurike, in Berne, in Geneua, and in Strausburgh you haue heard. MarginaliaReformation begynneth at Basill.Now what folowed in Basill, remaineth likewise to vnderstand. MarginaliaIoannes Oecolampadius.In this Citie of Basill, was Oecolampadius preacher (as is aboue signified) by whose diligent labour and trauaile, the Gospell began there to take such fruite, that great dissention there also arose among the Citizens about Religion, & especially about the Masse. Wherupon þ^e Senate of Basill appointed, þ^t after an open disputation, it should be determined by voyces, what were to be done therin. This notwithstandyng the Papistes still cōtinuing in their former purpose, began more stoutly to inuey agaynst the other part: and because they were so suffered by the Magistrate without punishemēt, it was therfore doubted by the commons, that they had some priuye mainteiners among the Senatours. Wherupon certein of the Citizens were appointed, in þ^e name of þ^e whole cōmons to sue to þ^e Senatours, & to put thē in remēbraunce of theyr promise: Whose suyte and request was thys, that those Senatours, whiche were the ayders and supporters of the Papistes, might be displaced, for that it did as well tende to the contempt of their former decree made, as also to the publicke disturbāce of the Citie. MarginaliaThe Popishe Senatours displaced at Basill.But when this could not be obteyned of the Senate, the commons, vpon the viij. day of February, the yeare aboue sayd, assembled them selues in the gray Friers Churche, and there consideryng with them selues vpō the matter, repayred agayne with their suite vnto the Senate, but