MarginaliaRemedies agaynst the foresaid greuaunces. IF it shall seeme good vnto the Emperours maiestie,  

let it be declared vnto the Byshop of Rome, how greuous and intolerable a thyng it is vnto the Germaines, to suffer continually so great charge and greuaūces, to pay so great Annates for the confirmation of the Byshops & Archbyshops, and especially in such Bishoprickes whereas the Annates by successe of tyme, are enhanced, and in many (as it is sayd) doubled.MarginaliaThe archbishops Palle of Mentz what it costeth. For the Archbyshops sea of Mentz   (as it is sayd) somtyme payd onely x. thousand floreines: which summe, when as one which was chosen there, refused to geue, and so continued euen vnto his death, he which was afterward elect, beyng desirous of confirmation fearyng to withstand the Apostolick sea: offred the old summe of x. thousand floreines: But notwithstandyng, he could not get his confirmation, except he would pay the other x. thousand, whiche his predecessour before hym, had not payd.

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By this meanes he was compelled to pay. xx. M. floreines. Which beyng enrolled in the register of the chamber, hath bene exacted of euery Archbishop since, vntill these our dayes: and not onely. xx. M. but also. xxv. M. for their new offices, & new seruauntes. At last the summe drew to xxvij. M. floreines, which Iames the Archbishop of Mētz was compelled to pay, as his commissarye did reporte. So by this meanes, in a litle tyme, there was vij. tymes xxv. thousand floreines payd out of the Archbyshopricke of Mentz,  

vnto Rome for the confirmation of the Archbyshop. And when this Archbyshop Iames had kept the Archbyshopricke scarse foure yeares, the Lord Vriel was elect after hym, who was compelled to pay at the least xxiiij. or. xxv. thousand floreines.MarginaliaThe popes palle dearely bought. Wherof a part he borowed of Marchaunts: but to satisfie and pay them agayne, he was forced to exact a subsidie vpon his poore subiectes and husband mē, whereof some haue not yet satisfied and payde the tribute for the Byshops Palle: so that by this meanes, our people are not onely tormented and brought to extreme pouertie, but also are moued vnto rebellion to seeke their libertie by what meanes soeuer they may, greuously murmuryng agaynst the cruelty of the Clergy.

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The pope also should be admonished, how that, through diuers and sundry warres and battailes, the lands of Germany lye desolate and wast, and through many mortalities, the number of men is diminished, so that for the scarcenes of husbandmen, the fieldes, for the most part, lye vntilde, the toles are, by diuers meanes diminished, the mynes consumed, and the profites dayly decay, whereby the Archbyshops and Byshops should pay their annates vnto the Apostolicke sea: besides ther otheir necessary and honest charges:MarginaliaThe people polled for the popes Palle. in somuch that not without iust cause, Iames þ^e archbyshop of Mentz  

beyng euē at the poynt of death, sayd that he dyd not so much sorrow for his own death, as for that his poore subiectes, should be agayne forced, to pay a greuous exaction for the Palle. Wherfore let the hygh Byshop, as a godly father and louer of his childrē, and a faythfull and prudēt pastor, deale more fauourably with his childrē the Germaines, least that persecution happen to ryse agaynst the Priestes of Christ, and that men folowyng the example of the Bohemians, do swarue from the Church of Rome.

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At the least, let him be more fauourable, as often as any Archbyshop or Bishop happeneth to rule his Church but a few yeares: as it happened to the Byshops of Bamberge, wherof iij. died within few yeares.MarginaliaAboue 50. byshoprickes in Germany. The like also might happen by other byshoprickes, wherof (as Æneas Syluius witnessed) there are in Germany to the number of 50. besides Abbots, wherof a great number are confirmed at Rome.

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And admitte that in Germany there were greater profite and reuenewes rising of the ground, mynes and toles: notwithstandyng the Emperour and the other Princes, should lacke treasure and munition of warre agaynst their enemyes, and specially the infidels, and to preserue Germany in peace and quietnes, and to minister iustice vnto euery man: for which purpose, the Councell of the chamber beyng most holyly instructed and furnished with great cost & charges, doth chiefly serue. Besides that, the Emperour hath neede of treasure, to suppresse the rebels in the Empire, to banish and driue away theeues and murtherers, wherof a great nūber are not ashamed to spoyle Churches onely, and to robbe them of their goodes, but also to assayle the Clergy themselues. Finally our nation and countrey of Germany, hath neede of great riches and treasure, not onely for the repayring of Churches & Monasteries, but also for hospitals, for children that are layde out in the stretes, for widowes, for women with child, for orphanes, for the mariage of the daughters of poore men, that they be not defloured, for such as haue neede and necessitie, for the old and weake, for the sicke and the sore, wherof (the more is the sorrow) Germany is fully replenished and filled.

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MarginaliaThe Emperour aduertised of the subtill practises of the pope, and popishe prelates. LEt the Emperours maiesty foresee  

and prouide, that the begging Friers do not preach against his maiesty, which are wont to complayne gladly vnto the Apostolicke sea, fearyng to lose their priuilegies, which I would to God, were aswell grounded vpon Christ, as they are vpon profite. Let the Emperours maiesty also beware that the Pope do not giue commaūdement vnto the Electours, to procede to the election of a new kyng of Romains, as he dyd agaynst Fredericke the second, when as the Lantgraue of Thurin, and William Earle of Holland, were elect by the commaundement of the Pope. Let the Emperours maiesty also feare and take heede of all the Prelates of the Churches, and especially of the Presidentes, which by their othe are bounde to aduertise the Pope. Let the Emperours Maiestie also feare and beware that the Pope do not take away from his subiectes, their obedience, and prouoke the people bordering vpon him, to make inuasion into the Emperours dominiōs and Archduchy of Austrich: which those men, vnder colour of shewyng obedience vnto the Popes commaundement, be ready to do.

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Let the Emperours Maiesty also take heede of the Apostolicke censures, from which the pope will in no case refraine. MarginaliaThe popes pretence of building S. Peters church in Rome. Finally let the Emperours maiesty diligently forsee & take heede, that the pope do not persuade the people with moste subtill argumentes, contrary to the pragmaticall sanction,  

excusing himselfe, and getting the good will of the simple, alledging that w^t great costes & charges, he will repayre þ^e Church of Saint Peter in Rome, & build in certaine places, against the Turkes, and recouer agayne the landes and patrimony pertainyng vnto the Church of S. Peter, as he is bound by his office. Therfore, let your maiesty diligētly forsee and deliberate, how through your most wise and discrete counsaile, if neede shall require, you will aunswere to those subtilties of the pope.

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MarginaliaA supplication or exhortation to Maximilian Emper. for redresse of the church. YOur maiestie can do nothing better,  

nothing more acceptable, or more worthy eternall remembraūce, then to moderate the great exactions and oppressions of the Germaines: to take away all occasion frō the laytie, to persecute the Clergy: also to take away the benefices out of the hands of courtisans,   which can neither preach, comfort, nor counsaile any man (of which benefices, as Æneas Syluius writeth, some are equall to the Byshoprikes of Italy) to encrease Gods honour & worshyp: and so to bridle the auarice and vngodlynes of those courtisans,   whereby your maiestie may the better prouide for the childrē of many noble and famous men and Citizēs in Germanie, which beyng brought vp from their yough in the vniuersities, learnyng both the Scriptures and other humaine letters, may without vnquyet vexations, and most sumptuous charges and contentions, aspire to the Ecclesiasticall promotions: who by their counsaile & prayers, may be helpes vnto the whole Church: For there is no small occasion, why the realme of Fraunce should so florish, hauing so many notable learned mē in it. If the emperour would abolish this impiety, and restore Germany vnto their auncient libertie, which is now oppressed with greuous tributes, and would make way for learned & honest men vnto Ecclesiasticall promotions: then might he truely and perpetually be called of all men, and in all places, the restorer of Germany to his auncient libertie, and the father of his countrey, and should obtayne no lesse glorie therby vnto himselfe, and profite vnto Germanie, then if he had by force of armes, subdued any prouince vnto them: And so shall Germany render no lesse thankes vnto the said Maximilian, then vnto all the rest, which hauyng translated the Empire from the Grecians vnto Germanie, haue reigned many yeares before.

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Hereafter ensueth the copy of a certain letter of the Emperour Maximilian, geuen out in maner of a decree or commaundement, agaynst certaine abuses of the Clergy. Wherunto we haue also annexed the aunswere of Iacobus Selestadiensis,  

vnto the Emperours letters, wherin he seemeth also to haue sought aduice for the remedy of the like abuses: which we thought good here not to be omitted.

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MarginaliaA decree of Maximilian Emperour. WE, according to the example  

of our dearely beloued father Fredericke Emperour of Rome, reuerencyng the