not in suche humble wise as before: and therwithall gathered thē selues in the publicke places of þ^e Citie, to fortifie the same, albeit as yet without armour. The same euening the Senate sent thē word, þ^t at their request they graūted, that those Senatours, although remainyng still in office, yet should not sitte in counsaile, what tyme any matter of Religion should come in talke.

MarginaliaReligion in Basill, defended by the commons.By this aunswere the commons gatheryng that the whole state was ruled by a few, tooke thereat grief and displeasure, protestyng openly that they would take counsaile by them selues hereafter what they had to do, not onely in cases of Religion, but also in other matters of ciuile gouernement, and forthwith tooke them to armour, kepyng the towers and gates, and other conuenient places of the Citie with watche and warde, in as forcible wise, as if the enemie had bene at hand.

The next day the Senate requiryng respite to deliberate, was cōtented to committe the matter to them, whō þ^e cōmons before had sent as suters vnto thē. Which offer þ^e Citizens did not refuse, but w^t this condition þ^t those Senatours, which were guilty, should in the meane season follow their pleey as priuate persons, vpō their own priuate costes and charges: the other which defended the publicke cause for the behoufe of the posteritie, should bee mainteyned by the publicke charges of the Citie. This þ^e Senate was glad to graunt vnto, with some other like matters of lighter weyght, to appease their rage.

MarginaliaGods handy work in throwing downe Images in Basill.It happened the very same day, that certeine of the Citizens, such as were appoynted to go about the Citie for the vewyng of thynges, came into the hygh Churche, where one of them thrustyng at a certeine Image with his stafe, eftsoones it fell downe and brake. By the occasion wherof, other Images also in lyke sorte were serued after the same deuotion. But when the priestes came rūnyng to them, whiche semed to be greatly offended therewith, they because they would not passe their cōmission, stayde their handes and departed. It folowed vpon this, that when woorde hereof was brought to the Citizens, whiche stoode in the market place, and the matter beyng made worse to them then it was: they incontinent discharged out iij. hundreth armed men, to rescue their felowes in the Churche, supposing them to be in daunger. MarginaliaImages throwen down at Basill.Who commyng to the Churche, and not findyng their felowes there, and all thynges quiet, saue onely a fewe Images broken down, they likewise, lest they should haue lost all their labour, threw downe all the other Idols and Images, whiche they found there standyng, and so passing through all other Churches in the Citie, did there also the lyke: and when certeine of the Senate came forth to appease the tumulte, the Citizens sayd, that which you haue stand about these iij. yeres, consultyng and aduising whether it were best to be done or not, that shall we dispatche in one houre, that frō henceforth neuer more contention shall grow betwen vs for Images: and so the Senate permitted them free leaue, without any more resistence: MarginaliaXij. Senatours displaced at Basill.and xij. Senatours were displaced from their order, albeit without note of reproche or dishonesty. MarginaliaMasse put downe at Basill.Also a decree the same tyme was made, that as well within the Citie of Basill, as without, through all their iurisdiction, the Masse with all Idols should be abandoned: and further that in all such matters and cases as concerned the glory of God, and the affayres of the publicke wealth, besides the number of the other Senatours, ij. hundreth & threescore of the Burgers or Citizens should be appointed out of euery warde in þ^e Citie, to sitte with thē in coūsaile. These decrees beyng established, after they had kept watche and warde about the Citie iij. dayes & iij. nightes, euery one returned agayne to hys house, quyet and ioyfull, without any bloud, or strocke geuē, of anger wreked but onely vpon the Images.

On the thyrd day, which was Ashewensdaye (as the Popes ceremoniall Churche doth call it) all the wooden Images were distributed among the poore of the Citie, to serue them for fire woode. MarginaliaEx farrag. Epist. Eras.But whē they could not well agree in diuidyng the pray, but fell to braulyng among them selues, it was agreed that the sayd Images should be brent all together: so that in ix. great heapes all the stockes & Idols there, þ^e same day were brent to ashes before þ^e great Church doore. MarginaliaAshewensday at Basill, a day of all pastyme.And thus by Gods ordinaūce it came to passe, that the same day, wherein the Popes priestes are wont to shewe forth all their murnyng, and do marke mens foreheades with ashes, in remembraūce that they be but ashes, was to the whole Citie festiuall & ioyfull, for turnyng their Images to ashes, & so is obserued & celebrate euery yere stil vnto this present day, with all myrth, playes, & pastymes, in remēbraunce of the same ashes, MarginaliaA true Ashwensday of Gods owne makyng.which day may there be called a right Ashwensday of Gods own makyng. The men of Zuricke, of Berne, & of Solodure, hearyng what busines was at Basill, sent their Ambassadours to be a meanes betwene thē, but before the Ambassadours came, all was ceased and at quiet.

All this meane space, the Emperour and the Frenche kyng were together occupied in warres & strife. MarginaliaGods prouidence to be noted for the successe of the Gospell.Whiche as it turned to the great dāmage and detriment of the Frenche kyng, who in the sayd warres was taken prisoner by the Emperour, so it happened commodious and oportune for the successe of the Gospell: for els it is to be thought that these Heluetians and other Germaines should not haue had that leasure and rest, to reforme religion and to lynke them selues in league together, as they did. But thus almighty God of his secrete wisedome disposeth tymes and occasions, to serue his will and purpose in all thynges Albeit Ferdinandus the Emperours brother, and deputie in Germanie, remitted no time nor diligence to do what he could in resisting the procedynges of the Protestātes, as appeared, both by the decree set forth at Ratisbone, and also at Spires. In the which Councell of Spires Ferdinandus, at the same tyme, whiche was the yeare of our Lord. 1529. had decreed against the Protestantes in effect as foloweth.

MarginaliaThe decree made at Spyres by Ferdinandus.First that þ^e Edict of þ^e Emperour made at Wormes, should stand in force through all Germanie, till the tyme of the generall Councell, whiche should shortly folow. Also þ^t they which already had altered their religion, & now could not reuoke the same agayne, for feare of sedition, should stay them selues and attempt no more innouatiōs hereafter, till tyme of the generall Councell. Item, that the doctrine of them, whiche holde the Lordes Supper otherwise then the Churche doth teach, should not be receaued, nor the Masse should be altered: and there where as the doctrine of religion was altered, should be no impediment to the contrary, but that they whiche were disposed to come to Masse, might safly therin vse their deuotion: agaynst Anabaptistes likewise: and that all Ministers of the Churche should be enioyned to vse no other interpretation of holy Scripture, but accordyng to the exposition of the Churchedoctours: other matters that were disputable, not to be touched. Moreouer that al persons and states should kepe peace, so that for religiō neither the one part should inferre molestation to the other, nor receaue any confederates vnder their protection and safegarde: All which decrees, they which should transgresse, to be outlawed and exiled.

Vnto this sittyng at Spires first the Ambassadours of Strausburgh, were not admitted but repelled by Ferdinandus, because they had reiected the Masse: and therfore the sayd Citie of Strausburgh denyed to pay any cōtribution agaynst the Turke, except they with other Germaines, might bee lykewise admitted into their counsailes. MarginaliaThe decre of Spires resisted by the Protestantes.The other princes, whiche were receaued and not repelled, as the Duke of Saxonie, George of Brandeburgh, Ernestus, and Frāciscus Earles of Luneburgh, Lantgraue, Anhaldius, did vtterly gaynstand the decree, & shewed their cause in a large protestation written, why they so did: whiche done, MarginaliaThe name of Protestantes, how it first beganne.all such Cities whiche subscribed and consented to the sayd protestation of the princes, eftsoones conioyned them selues in a cōmon league with them, wherupon they had their name, called therof Protestantes. The names of the Cities were these: Argentina, or Strausburgh, Noriberge, Vlmes, Constance,