ALthough we suppose not the cōtrary, but that both by true certificat & common rumor you haue heard of the indifferencie of our cause and good handling therof: yet for that more credite is commonly geuen to that the eye seeth then to that the eare receaueth: we thought good to presēt vnto you the naked truth of such thyngs, which the popes successiuely haue put forth, and forged against vs. To the perusing and consideration of whiche my case and letter, I besech your gentlenes amongest other tymes of laysure, you wil spie out some fit and conueniēt tyme therfore. And all other whatsoeuer that shal haue desyre to heare princes coūsels and affayres, let thē in lyke sort attentiuely consider. First, whether our predecessours haue bene destitute or not of godly zeale, iuste dealyng and righteousnes: or whether we may not lawfully reuenge our selues being so much prouoked, of such euils and iniuries as haue bene wrought against vs. Secondly, let them consider whether Christes vicare dothe follow Christes steps or not, and whether Peters successosurs do follow his example or not: & also, by what law, equitie, and right, that sentence which they haue pronoūced against vs, may be maintayned and allowed. As also what name thei may iustly geue it, and whether that may be sayd to be a sentence which is geuen by an vnsufficiēt iudge or not. For, although we acknowlege that the lord hath geuē ful power in spiritual things vnto his church: that whatsoeuer the same byndeth in earth is bonnde in heauen, and whatsoeuer the same looseth, is also loosed: yet we read neyther by gods law nor by any law of man that we ought of duetie to be subiecte vnto hym or that an empire ought at hys pleasure to be transformed and transposed: or that he may geue any such sentēce or iudge them to punish princes temporally, and depriue them of theyr kingdoms. For why, although our consecration belongeth vnto him by ryght and custom (as he chalēgeth) yet our deposynge and depriuynge doth no more belong to hym then doth that presumption belonge to anye other prelate of other realmes whiche doo consecrate and annoynt their kyngs, as the custome and maner is. Or purcase it were so (we nothyng hindered therby) that he had such power: Hath he that power to the intent to reuenge hymself vpon whomsoeuer his malicious mind consenteth, and whythout all equitie and lawe to bringe them vnder hys iurisdiction: He hath proceded of late against vs as is sayde, but not by the order of accusation: for so much as neither was there anye sufficient accuser, neyther went there out any inscription or proces before. Neyther yet by denunciation, for so much as ther lacked a lawfull denouncer: neyther yet by way of inquisitiō for that there went before it no manifest accusation. But he peraduenture will say, that all thinges that he layeth agaynst vs were manifest and notorious, but that doo we deny, and nothing to be notorious but that, which maye by a sufficiente number of witnesses approued and tryed. For so may euery iudge hymselfe (contemnyng the order of law) affirm what he list to be notorious & thus cōdemne whom he list. There were againste vs (as well it may be sayd in councel) certain false wytnesses although not manye: of whome, the byshop of Calin was one, whose nere kinsmā or nephue (by our lawes condemned for treason to bee hanged) maketh also to vs an infestiue enemy. With such like effect prosecuting the rest of hys epistle which for breuitie sake I omitte.

This pollicie vsed the pope to vexe and disturbe both the country of Germany and the whole Empire, & not so only, but also vtterly to destroy and subuert the same: by the ruinous decay whereof, the pope and his prelats thought to make vp their mouthes. And thus whylest that Germany was now newlye agayne deuided, some taking part with Fridericke the emperour, and Conradus Caesar hys sonne and other nobles and princes of the empire: MarginaliaAl together in hurly burly through the popes malicious mind.some with those that shoulde by the Popes procurement be the electours of the new Emperour: othersome, w^t neither of both, as mē not mynding or tending the publique vtilitie, but to serue their own purposes, armed thē selues: And thus was the publick peace and quiet broken and disturbed, and altogether in tumult and hurleburlye. For whylest the one part laboured by all force to retayn the dominion by publique and common consent first to him cōmitted: the other part inlike sorte indeuored them selues with all their force and power to vse and occupye the same, according to the decree of the bishop of Rome, and to take it from Frider. and thus great conflicts grewe on all parts.

MarginaliaGermany spoyled by Ciuile discention through the popes only practise against the Emperour.By these ciuill warres, Germanye suffered no litle calamitie: In euerye place was man slaughter and murder, the countryre spoyled, the townes and villagies set on fire and brent, the churches and temples violated and robbed, wherein the husbande men had put theyr goods & substance: houses were pulled down, the goods deuided, and euery mās cattel driuē away. To cōclude, in thys turmoyle and contention of deposing & chusing another Emp. in this factiō of princes, in this liberty of wearing armour, in thys lisēce of hurting and sinning: The impudent boldnes of diuers priuate soldiours, & especially of such as wer the horsemē thē counted the better sort of souldiers, was so great: & their vnbridled & vnsatiable desire in robbing, spoyling, & taking of booties, catching and snatching al that came to hand, so much: that nothinge coulde be sure and in safety that anye good man enioyed. MarginaliaThe robbers and rebels chased out of Germany.Wherefore, a lyttle before the death of Wilhelmus the kynge. 60. Cities and townes, which were belonging to Ludouicus Palatinus Duke of Boioria and Rhenus, and to Otho hys son, and other princes, whose names Auentinus in his. 7. booke of the Annales of the Boiores maketh mēcion of: ioyned them selues in a leage for the expelling of these rebels and repressing of their so great iniurious rapines and slaughter of men. Of which armye, the said Ludouicus beyng capitayne, chased and draue the whole route of them to the vttermost partes of Germany, and puld downe and ouerthrew theyr castels and fortresses, and euery other place where they had intrenched them selues.

MarginaliaThe fideliti of Otho to the Emperour.Otho Boius yet notwithstanding, keepeth his promise and faith most constantly made before to the emperour Fridericke and Conradus his sonne. Wherupon, Philipus Iuuauēsis, Albertus, and others, callyng a councel at Mildorsus (by the Popes commaundemēt) sent for Otho vnto them, vnto whom they opened the Popes pleasure and commaundement. To all which when he had heard, Otho answered: MarginaliaThe aunswere of Otho to the Legates.I cannot maruell at some of you inough, that when as heretofore you perswaded me to leaue and forsake the part I tooke wyth the bishop of Rome, whom ye your selues affirmed to be Antichrist, and that I should take part with the emperour: why that you your selues wyll not keepe your fidelitie and promise made to those good Princes: And sayd that he perceaued in them a great inconstancy and leuitie, both in their wordes and deedes which now call that wycked, vniust, & violent wrong, but lately þ^t they thoght equal, iust, and right. He said further, that they were ouercome with pleasures, corrupted with superfluitye, wonne with bribes, gaping for honour and estimation: and that they neyther regarded honesty, godlynes, nor theyr duty and office, but studied how to make discention and commotions, and longed after warre and bloodye battell.

He sayd farther, that for his part he would obey God and his prince to whom he had sworne fidelitie, and that he naught estemed the fayned holines and detestable practises of such prelates: He sayd he beleued in Christ and would trust in his mercy, and that he beleued how those whom they cursed and gaue to the deuil, were in greatest fauour with God. MarginaliaOtho excōmunicate for turning from the pope to take the Emperours part.How be it, and notwithstandyng these prelates tooke in good parte this expostulation with him, & semed to bear Otho no malice or grudge for that he had sayd, but to be desirous of peace and vnitie: yet not long after, Otho was cursed as black as al the rest, and counted as bad as was the best.

Albertus the popes champion now in Germany playeth not rex onely amongest þ^e citizēs: but also bethought hym of a mischeuous deuise agaynst Conradus Cesar