THE APOLOGIE OF FRIDERICVS STAPHYLVS COVNSELLER TO THE LATE EMPEROVR FERDINANDVS , &c. Intreating Of the true and right vnderstanding of holy Scripture . Of the tanslation of the Bible in to the vulgar tongue . Of disagrement in doctrine amonge the protestants .

Translated out of Latin in to English by THOMAS STAPLETON , Student in Diuinite .

Also a discourse of the Translatour vppon the doctrine of the protestants which he trieth by the three first founders and fathers thereof , Martin Luther , Philip Melanchton , and especially Iohn Caluin .

Matth. 24. Videte ne quis vos seducat . Take hede that no man deceaue you

Matth. 7. Ex fructibus eorum cognoscetis eos . Ye shal knowe them by their frutes .

Imprinted at Antwerp by Iohn Latius , at the signe of the Rape , with Priuilege . Anno. 1565.

REgiae Maiestatis Priuilegio permissum est Thomae Stapletono Sacrae Theologiae candidato vti per aliquem Tipographorum admissorum impune ei liceat imprimi curare & per omnes suae regionis ditiones distrahere librum inscriptum The Apologie of Fridericus Staphylus &c. & omnibus alijs inhibitum ne eundem absque eiusdem Thomae consensu imprimant vel alibi impressum distrahant sub poena in Priuilegio contenta .

THe blessed apostle S. Paul ( good Chri sten readers ) not without the instinct of the holy ghoste and a sure foresight off the troubles to come in Christes church , writeth vnto the Corinthians these wordes . 1. Cor. 11. There must be heresies , to the entent that they which are perfyt amonge you , might be knowen . In which waighty and graue prediction of the Apostle two things I see especially to be notised . The one for our comfort , the other for our instruction . For our comfort it is , that we be not dismaied or ouer much offended when we see in the holy profession of our Christen religion , heresies , sectes , and schismes to arise : that we forsake not therefore the field of our faith . 1. Cor. 9. Wherin we warfare to god and runne not as at an vncertain thing , and fight not as one that beateth the ayre , but runne to obtaine , and fight to winne the reward : that we let not go the holdfast of our hope Which we hold as the sure and stedfast anchor of our soule : Hebr. 6. but rather with the patience of Abraham , Rom. 4. We beleue in hope contrary to hope , continuing and cleauing stedfastly to the rocke of oure faith , against the which , Hel gates shall neuer preuaile . Matth. 16. For as we see by the verdit of the Apostle , There must be heresies . It is now sithen the time that the Apostle spake these wordes a thousand fiue hundred and odde yeares , Yet neuer was there aage sence that time but that in some part of Christendom heresies haue ben sturring . In the very first ofspring of the Apostles there lacked not such euil wedes amonge the corne of Christes church yet grene . 2. Tim. 2. Apocal. 2. Simon Magus , Hermogenes Philetus , Hymeneus , Alexander , Nicolaus , and such other are mencioned in holy writ to haue swarued from the faith and after the knowledg off righteousnes to haue turned back from the same . 2. Petri. 2. Beside holy writ we reade in the ecclesiastical histories of Ebion , of Cerinthus , of Marcion and diuers other planters of heresies in the Apostles time . After whom howe from age to age heresies being alwaies cutte of and destroied haue yet spronge vp again and flourished for a season as the venimous heades of Hydra . I remitt you ( to auoide prolixite ) to the writinges of Epiphanius , S. Augustin , Philaster and others , I reporte my self also to the Chronographies of Alexander Sculteti and such other : which deducting the estat of Christes church from the beginning hitherto , setting forthe in tables seuerally the Popes and supreme vicars of Christ , the Emperours , the generall and prouinciall councels , the heresies of al times , haue in no time nor age left vs bare the leafe of the heresies . The figure of this calamite in Christes church we see to haue gone before in the lawe of Moyses . For at what time the children of Israel had by the mighty hand of god entred in to the land of promis , chased oute Idolaters and were setled in quiet possession , yet god of a iust indignation conceiued against them suffring the Cananites to dwell amonge them pronounced by his Angell that he would not therefore cast Iud● . 2. those Idolaters out before them , to the entent they might haue them as enemies amonge them , and their gods should be as asnare vnto them . And thereby the children of Israel were tried as now the Christians are , they by Idolaters , we by heretikes . Though therefore his our present time be so entangled with schismes , seuered in sundry sectes , and embrued with hainous heresies as neuer at any time sence the first preaching off the ghospel : Yea and though it haue so ouerrunne the small plat of Christendom that remaineth , as euer any heresy did ( except that of the Arrians ) yet bicause we see the holy ghost suffreth it so to be , and warneth vs by the mouthe of the Apostle that is behoueth so to be , we must yelde to the prouidence of almighty god . and saie with the prophet Daniel . Dan. 3. We haue sinned with our forefathers . Yea thousand fold more then oure forefathers , and therefore no maruaile if the dreadfull wrath of god haue fallen vppon vs that we maye wel crie and lament with the prophet Hieremy . Hierem. 5 Consider and see o Lorde our confusion : our inheritaunce is turned to straungers . 1. Ioan. 2. Such surely as haue departed from vs but were not of vs : for if they had ben of vs : they would no doubte haue continued with vs .

An other lesson in the wordes of the Apostle for our instruction is this , that heresies therefore are suffred to be , to the entent that they which are perfect amonge vs might be knowen . For by heresies the churche as gold by the fire is tried , and as the riuer or sea by trouble and tempest casteth his froth and filth awaie ( the pure water keping his bondes and course ) so the churche in time of tribulation and stormes of heresy voideth awaie the foule and vncleane membres of her , The duty of a Christen man in time of heresy . the sounde and faithful remaining vnder her roufe and abiding in the receaued faith and belefe . For in time of schismes and heresies the part of euery good Christen man is , to do as the good souldyars in the campe when a ciuil sedition ariseth , or as the quiet passanger when the sea stormeth : for euen as the true and faithfull souldyars in such a case runne all vnto their Capitain and General , looking to be of him directed where , howe , and when to strike , and as the wise and sober passanger when the tempest and storme disordreth the passage , suffreth quietly the master to rule the sterne , medling not with that he hath no skill of : right so when preuy rebells or open apostatas of Christen religion sowe seditious schismes and preache hereticall doctrine , troubling thereby the quiet and settled consciences of true and vpright beleuers , euery Christen man , especially such as are of the laye and inferiour sorte , ought to cleaue vnto their heades and rulers in Christ his church medling not with the determination of any point called then in controuersy : but looke to be directed as they haue allwaies ben by their catholike pastours and ouerseers to whom they are commaunded by the Apostle to obey and submitte them selues : Heb. 13. truly no lesse then the souldiar to his Capitain or the passanger to his master .

Therefore oure Sauiour biddeth the people to beware and Take hede of false prophets , Math. 7. ● . Ioan. 4. nor to beleue euery spirit , but trie and discern whether they be of God or no. But this lo howe maye it be ? Howe shal the ignorant and laye man trie false doctrine from the true ? It hath ben put in to mens heads of late yeares that euery man for this purpose ought to reade holy scripture , and thereby to trie and discern truthe from falshood . It were perhaps to be wished ( if it had so pleased God ) that as holy scripture is the true triall thereof , so it were open and euident to all men that seke the triall therein : Scripture hard to be vnderstanded . Lib. 2. de . doctr. Christi . Cap. 6. but what haue lerned men iudged in times past of holy scripture ? Many things , saieth S. Augustin , are darke in scriptures , and it hath so ben prouided of God to the entent that our pridemight be tamed by trauail and our knowledg not cloyed with facilite : which quickely contemneth that easely hath ben lerned , In Ezech. Cap. 45. In like maner S. Hierom. All prophecy or interpretation of scripture contayneth the truthe in darcknes and obscurite , to the entent that the scholers and lerners within may vnderstande , but the rude people set without may not knowe what is saied . Orels we shall cast precious stones before hogges iff we open the treasure of holy scripture to euery man . In anchorae tu . Epiphanius likewise . The Scripture , saieth he , telleth all truthe : but we haue nede of good intelligence and perceiuerance to knowe God and his word . There is in the ghospell , Lib. 7. in Leuiticum . saieth Origen , the letter that killeth : for the destroying letter is not only in the olde Testament , but also in the newe Testament to him that vnderstandeth not spiritually that which is saied . Tertullian speaketh yet more vehemently hereof . I am not afeared , I●praescrip . haeretico●um saieth he , to saie that the scriptures them selues haue ben so disposed by the will of God that they mought minister matter vnto heretikes : seing that I reade that heresies must be which without scripture coulde not be . This is the iudgement of the lerned fathers who haue trauailed more in holy scripture then any new preacher of oure time , and yet can espie no greate facilite in it , but rather do complaine of the maruailous difficulte thereof . 2. Petr. 3. And doth not S. Peter write plainly that in the epistles of S. Paule Certain thinges were very harde to be vnderstanded which the vnlerned and inconstant depraued euen as other parts of scripture to their owne destruction ? Doth not S. 2. Cor 4. Paule write that The ghospell is vailed and couered from those that perish ? Ioan. 5. Are we not commaunded to serch holy scripture ? doth not this serching importe a diligence and difficulty more then laye men can either attend vppon or attaine vnto ? Act. 8. The Eunuchus vnderstode not the prophet , vntill the Apostle had expounded it vnto him , And Christ after his Ascension opened the vnderstanding off his disciples that they might vnderstand the scriptures . Luc. 24. And thincke we oure selues able to vnderstand all that we reade ?

This then being so howe shall the laye and vnlerned man perfourme the commaundement of the ghospell bidding him , To beware of false prophetes and to discern the sprits whether they be of god or no ? Math. 7. 1. Ioan. 4. Euery secte nowe a daies chalengeth the worde of god and the right vnderstanding thereof . The Catholike likewise by prescription out of memory standeth in possession thereof and will not be brought from it for all the bragges the heretike maketh . Howe then shall the vnlerned man hearing bothe tales conclude with him selfe which to folowe ? Were it not nowe good readers much to be wished that some clere and euident doctrine were taught , by what meanes and howe the holy worde of God maye rightly be vnder standed , and the false prophets , preachers , and protestants of oure time might be auoided ? Truly as the sauegarde of the soule passeth all worldly interest , so euery Christen hart ought aboue all thinges tender the same : and with all diligence possible procure spedy remedies for the pestiferous venim off heresy which crepeth on like a cancre , 2. Tim. 2. and corrupteth the whole estat of our saluation .

Hauing therefore sene and perused a certain booke of Fridericus Staphylus , writen first in the Allemain tongue , and after translated in to Latin , wherein he first teacheth the vnlerned laye man howe to beware of false and wrong interpretation of holy scripture which is no lesse necessary then the reading off scripture it selfe , secondarely detecteth certain false translations of the Bible by Luther in to his mother tongue : laste of all declareth the maruailous dissension and variaunces of the Lutherans in their doctrine and chiefest articles of our faith ( which is a most euident argument of the sprit of dissension ( the diuell him selfe ) speaking in them and a clere proufe of hereticall doctrine , for the truthe is but one ) I haue thought good to translate the whole in to our mother tongue , trusting in almighty God to profit hereby many a Christen soule of my dere deceined countremen which ( as God is my witnes ) was my only respect in this smal labour .

The first part of this booke is a very necessary lesson for the vnlerned laye man . The contents of the Apologie . For without the true and right interpretation of holy scripture such as the church teacheth he can haue no right faith , and so hazardeth his soule and euerlasting life which he ought aboue all worldly respect tender and procure . For as our Sauiour saieth , What auaileth it a man to winne the whole worlde and lese his soule ? Lucae . 9.

The second parte is a good admonition for al such as are not sene in the tongues to beware of newe translations of holy scripture falsely forged for a vauntage . Our english bibles sette forth these last yeares lack not such foisting in of false termes . In the epistles of S. Paule as ofte as the worde Idoll is founde in the greke and latin text , so ofte they turne it Image as though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in greke , idolum and imago in laten or idol and image in english were all one . When God saieth in holy scripture . Genes. 1. Let vs make man according to our image , will these men saie that God hath an idoll according to the which man was made ? and howe be they not ashamed to call couetousnes worshipping of images when that S. Paule calleth it idolorum seruitus , Ephes. 5. that is , seruice of idols bicause the couetous man maketh his mony his idoll ? But this shift serued them to digge vp againe the olde carren heresy of the I conoclaste , image breakers , condemned in the seuenth generall councell and second off Nice , and to throwe downe images out of churches setting in their places their owne and their wiues , as in some parte of Germany it is practised . Likewise to take away the sacrament of holy Orders , Epiphanius li. 2. cōtrea har. & August . ad Quoduult . and to renewe the olde heresy of the Arrians and the Pepuziani denieng priesthood aboue a thousand yeres past , as the Sacramentaries and zelous Lutherans do now , for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in greke and presbiter in laten , they turne allwaies elder , not priest , as though euery presbiter in S. Paule were an elder . 1. Timo. 4. then Timothe was no lawfull bishop being but young and farre from the accompt of an elder , onles by these mens doctrine a bishop may be younge , but the priest may be only an elder . And these men marke not that this worde priest is the very proper etimology of the worde presbiter . For of presbyter in laten cometh first the frenche worde prebstre and the dutche worde priester . Oute off which two languages we ( as in thousands of other wordes ) shortning yet more the terme , haue made of prebstre and priester , priest . So for churche they turne allwaies congregation , and that of a very wicked intent , meaning thereby to disanull the authorite and estimation of Christes churche , making it to be euery peltinge congregation of priuat heretikes : or as iff that which we call the churche , were nought els but the stones and morter it is made of . But as touching the corrupted text of our common translation nowe vsed , it is beside our purpose to make any speciall note thereof : and in our Discours we shal haue occasion to specify some other places of more importaunce : As for these false and hereticall foistinges of Luther here noted by Staphylus , though in the common translation of our countre ( thanked be God ) they are not readen , ( one excepted ) which when I come to the place , I shall in the margin note you , yet it may serue to the Lutherans of oure countre for a most euident argument of the sprit of Antichrist speaking in Luther , and of a wicked and detestable archeheretike . For what is more conuenient for Antichrist , or more proper for an archeheretike , then to corrupt gods holy worde , and geue vs in stede of it , his owne poisonnous and hereticall worde ? Neither may the sacramentaries of oure conntre thinke that this toucheth not them . For they are of Luthers broode no lesse than the other : Beside that their master , Caluin , is not behind hand for his part , as in our Discourse we shal by occasion declare vnto youe in diuers textes and passages of holy scripture by him corrupted .

The third part of the booke is an euident and sensible detection of the abhominable schismes of these protestans ( what soeuer smothe countenaunces they beare to the world ) not only profitable for the laye and vnlerned common people , but right worthy to be read , waighed and considered of the rulers and higher powres : to the entent that seing euidently before their eyes the horrible schismes , diuision , and disordre , that these protestants haue caused in Christendom , and do foster vp and brede daily , where they may haue their full swaie and course , they may thinke vpon some spedy remedy for the restitution of vnite and agrement amonge them , and the church of Christ from whence they haue parted . And truly by the example of this confusion in Germany ( where heresy hath had his free course in a state of liberty these fourty yeares and more ) we may see as in a glasse the like inconueniences to be feared amonge vs , if it should continew many yeares ( which God of his tender mercy forbid ) as also it would ere this haue showed it selfe amonge our protestants at home , if worldly policy had not refrained their vnruly liberty . Disagrement in doctrine among our protestans . And yet amonge the pretended bishops of oure countre it is well knowen that some allowe the order of priesthood , as the ciuill Lutherans do at Wittenberg , some preache openly that all men and wemen are priestes , as the Illyricans do in Saxony and all the flocke of the zelous Lutherans . Againe some in the matter of the blessed Sacrament are very Zuinglians , as the Apologie and their articles at the laste Conuocation declare : some yet and that not the smallest starres of the realme , Caunterbury . Chichester . Glocester . Rochester . are in that point Lutherans , as the trouble of certain of them after the ende off the last parlement witnesseth . Notwithstanding ( according to the counsell of Melanchthon in his booke against Fridericus Staphylus they pretend outwardly agrement and vnite amonge them selues , to the entent that like the people of Creta ( whereof such protestans are called Syncretisantes ) they may with more ioyned force sett vpon their common aduersaries the Papistes , and ouercome them the sooner . The late suppressed abhominable booke of Bernardinus Ochinus the Apostata , Peter Martirs companyon lately printed , defending stoutely amonge other straunge heresies the pluralite of wiues ( which began to be openly practised in Polevntel the Kinge banished him thence ) may geue vs to vnderstand , what ioyly newe doctrines and heresies the scholers of Peter Martir which are not fewe , nor of the basest sorte in our countre , woulde plant and preach amonge vs , were it not that matters being not yet ripe , nor thouroughly settled , they were like to marre all the game , if they kept not wel their countenaunces . Where in they folowe wel and wisely the counsell of Nicolaus Amsdorffius , which he writeth in his booke entituled Publica confessio purae doctrinae euangelij & confutatio praesentium Suermerorū . In the which complaining that Brentius and the masters of Wittenberg being at a conference and diet helde at Wormes would not condemne Zwinglius and Osiander whose doctrine vtterly repugneth to their Confession of Augspurg , In the yeare . 1557. he writeth these wordes . In this doing they haue departed from the Confession of Augspurg although they pretend to remaine in it , they haue also caused dissension and taken away all meanes of agrement , for if they would ( as we doe ) condemne the errours of Zuinglius and Osiander , then might we al agre together against the papistes . These be the very wordes of Nicolaus Amsdorfius a famous Superintendent amonge the Lutherans well and truly obserued of our protestant preachers and Ministers . And is this the pure worde of the gospell , so to beare two or rather twenty faces in one hood ? For although amonge our protestants bicause of the estate of our countre ( where not whatsoeuer listeth them is lawfull also to sett forth ) there semeth in this newe religion an apparent vniformite of doctrine , yet they vary not only amonge them selues , as we haue before touched , but also from their owne doinges . The order of communion now practised in England differeth as much from the first order of communion vsed in King Edwardes time , The difference of the present communion from the first . as the Lutherans do from the Zuinglians , and as the Illyricans do now from the Melanchthonistes . For the first bothe allowed the real presence in the Sacrament as Luther did , and vsed also many olde ceremonies of Christ his church as the Melanchthonistes , and the ciuil Lutherans do yet in Wittenberg in Misnia in Franconia , at Norimberg , at Vlmes ( where passing by of late we sawe in the churche the holy Roode , and aultars of stone yet standing ) in the Dukedom of Wirtenberg , at Breslaw at Briga in Silesia and in many other places . The last and present order off communion denieth the reall presence , as Zuinglius , and Caluin do , and reiecteth the ceremonies of the Masse , as the Zuinglians and Caluinistes do in the fiue Cantons of Suitzerland Basil , Zurich , Berna , Schafusa and Clarona , at Geneua in Sauoye , in Scotland and emong the seditious rebelles in Fraunce . Now Luther in his litle confession De caena Domini condemneth Zuinglius and his complices for heretikes . Tomo . 6. fel. 60. So do Nicolaus Amsdorfius in the booke aboue alleaged , and Nicolaus Gallus in his booke intituled . Theses & hypotyposes etc. Likewise Melanchthon condemneth Illyricus and his felowes as in diuers writings , of Illyricus it is to be sene . By the iudgement then of Luther , of Melanchthon , and of all the ciuill Lutherans , yea and by the iudgement of all the ghospellers in Kinge Edwardes time , and of the stinking martirs of that age , our communion now practised in England is hereticall , and against the pure doctrine of the ghospel . It were ouer long to recite here all the variaunces in doctrine amonge our protestants . I remitt you to the daily experience which you may see better at home then we which are abrode . And thus much of the argument of this booke . What remaineth then for our part to do , but as S. Paule commaundeth vs that we be Solliciti seruare vnitatem spiritus in vinculo pacis , that is , Ephes. 4. carefull and diligent to kepe vnite off minde in the bonde off peace , being one body and one minde , as we be called in to one hope and vocation ? For there is but one lorde , one faith , one baptim , one God , and father of all , that we hence forth be no more children wauering and caried aboute with euery winde of doctrine by the wilynes of men , and craftines laying waite to deceaue vs . It is truly a world to see what labour and toile , what posting and running , what paines and charges , men sustaine for their right in temporall traihe , in worldly commodites and present pleasures , which we haue renounced in our baptim , which with care being gotten with sorow is kept , and yet soone loste , and how colde , negligent , and careles we are , aboute the true and sincere worshipping of God , which we haue promised and professed in our baptim , and which only hath his sure , certain , and euerlasting rewarde . We spare no labour , no coste , no trauail for the one , we moue not a foote , nor will not departe from a peny for the other . but nodding and sleping in wilfull ignoraunce , fuffer our selues to be lead by the noses with euery tinkard and cobler prating in pulpets , and planting poisonnous doctrine . If rebells arise ageinst their Prince , they are with all spede possible and force brought downe again . Well and worthely . And shall we winke at the rebelles of Christes holy worde and his church ? The thefe that robbeth and pilleth our temporall riches , is hanged : and worthely . and will we not labour to espie oute and auoy de heresies which bereue vs of the treasure of eternall life ? If we be thus recheles and careles for our saluation , we perish worthely , and the plage of god vppon vs for our deserts . if we will not wittingly be deceiued but haue a care of our soule helth , and think vppon the life to come , let vs in this perilous ti mes of schismes , and abundance off iniquite harken to such as can teache vs to discerne the true and right in terpretation of gods worde , from the peruerted persuasions of heretikes . let vs beware of such guides in matters of conscience , as stick not to corrupt the very text of gods worde , against all honesty and conscience . Let vs behold for the better assurance of our Catholike faith , which is but one , the horrible schismes of the Lutherans , Sacramentaries , Anabaptistes , Cōfessionistes , and other amonge them selues , all the which are here liuely and expressely sette forth by Fridericus Staphylus . and we shall I trust gladly kepe our selues vnder the wing of our mother the Catholike church and geue no more eare to euery new forged fantasie of seditious schismatikes .

As touching the Author of this booke Fridericus Staphylus , in his life time ( for within these fewe moneths he departed the worlde to the great grief of all good men ) he was a vertuous , lerned , and wise , Noble man . His vertu wel appereth not only in the feruent zele of gods worde and the truthe , for the setting forth of the which , he toke such trade of life as bothe empaired much the helth of his body , and procured also greatiosse of his substaunce ( as he writeth in the first part of this worke ) but also in the great patience and modesty that he vsed alwaies against his aduersaries writing pasquils , libels , and famous epigrams , against him , calling him Iudas , runneagat , traitour and so forth ( as the modesty of this new ghospel vseth ) bycause he forsoke their abhominable heresies after a thourough knowledge of them , and detected their iuggling deceites to al the worlde as especially he doth in this worke folowing . And this only were they able to obiect against him , which declareth well the innocency and vprightnes of his life , For as herein they spared no kinde of rethorike to exaggerat his departing from them ( which was a singular grace of God and most in him to be commended ) so if they had had better matter , it should not haue lacked the telling on their part . Smidelinus , one that of all other to his perpetuall shame and ignominy toke vppon him to encounter with Staphylus labouring to fasten vppon him some great blow of reproche and shame , at the lenghth for lacke of better aduauntage , In Apologia absoluta pag. 78. entuiteth him his naturall behauiour that he vsed commonly to loke downe to the grounde as he walcked , thinking he had thereby raught him a great rappe . Which how light a philip it is , euery wise man seeth . And that gre at ghospeller and doctour of Gopping had forgotte it was writen of our Sauiour that Non secundum visionem oculorum iudicabit He shall not iudge according to the eye sight . Esa. 1● . Truly it is no small argument of his innocency that his most aduersary could laie no greuouser matter vnto him .

His lerning well appeareth in this and other his workes as in his Absolut apology , his epistles and orations against Melanchthon , Flaccus , and other : where he showeth him selfe no lesse lerned Diuin , then eloquent oratour and expert of the tongues . But of his education in lerning and prospering in the same , of what estimation also he was amonge the protestants them selues yow shall vnderstand by his owne wordes , being forced to declare the same by the impudent reproches of Smidelinus his aduersary . In his Absolut apology writen in the yeare 1562. thus he writeth . Whereas Smidelinus obiecteth to me that I was Luthers and Melanchthons scholer , I denie it not , for I liued in the vniuersite of wittenberg ten yeares of my owne costes and charges studying there vnder Luther , Melanchthon and others . At that time also being a younge man rash and vnskilfull , I was infected somwhat with the poisonnous doctrine of Luther . Howbeit that was not so rooted in me , but that it was soone driuen out again . And that I neuer consented thoroughly to the fifte ghospell of Luther , many thinges do euidently proue . First that whereas the Masters off Wittenberg would nedes persuade me to procede Doctour amonge them , Staphylus refuseth to be Doctour bicause of the othe . I would neuer do it . And that only bicause I would not take the othe of the vniuersite and make open confession of my belefe in that place . And this Doctour George Maior who yet liueth can beare me witnes of . Secondarely bicause I would neuer take vppon me the Lutheran Ministery in any church : though fewe yeares past I haue ben required of certain Princes to high dignites : as to be Superintendent in sondry places : as at Augspurg , at Lubeck and at Brunsuick . Thirdly this may declare how litle I fancyed in my hart the doctrine of Luther , that being called and chosen of the Duke of Prussia to be a Reader in his dominions ( at Coningsberg ) and a Counseller , I caused in the write of my stipend this condition expresly to be put that I would be compelled to no religion or doctrine that in any point repugned with the doctrine of the primitiue , Catholike , and Apostolicall church , and of this my condition I am able to show iff nede shall require sufficient testimonies . By these wordes ye may see off what reputation and opinion of lerning and vertu this man was at Wittenberg , Augspurg , Lubeck and Brunsuick the most famous cytes of the Lutheran profession .

His wisedon and other noble qualites he well declared first in the seruice of a counseller to the Duke of Indefensione contra Musculum Prusia from whome he was forced to depart and that ( as he writeth ) to the losse of some thousands of marks , bicause like a worthy and faithfull Counseller he frely aduertised eftsones the Duke to beware of the cursed heresies of Osiander and his felowes . Secondarely in the like seruice vnder the Catholike and vertuous Duke of Bauaria , vnder whom he was in such credit that he was made ouerseer and Chauncelour of the vniuersite of Ingolstad iointly with the Bishop of Eistat . Thirdely for his wisedom , lerning and vertu he was of longe time and many yeares Counseller to the late most worthy Emperoure Ferdinandus . vnder whom he hath done noble seruice as well in the diets and conferences in Germany as in embassages of Liflande , Pole , and other countres .

As for the great labour , and diligence he bestowed to shift him selfe oute of the captious and contentious controuersies of this time ( wherein he was nouseled in his youth ) it may wel appeare in that ( as he writeth in the first part of this booke ) He emploied only the study of Diuinite and matters of Controuersie about two and twenty yeares : not medling in all that time with any worldly or ciuill matter . And what thinck you after so many yeares study and labour , after so great experience and lerning , was the chiefest argument and reason whereuppon he forsoke the Lutherans and claue vnto the Catholikes ? forsoth he declareth it in the very same place last alleaged : and it is right worthy to be noted . This saieth he , was the chief and principal cause why I actompted the diuers doctrine of Luther and his felowes to be hereticall and for such do vtterly forsake Why Staphylus forsoke the Luthe rans . it and detest it , this again is the cause why I esteme the doctrine in all Christendom ( which they call the Popedom ) receiued , to be the only true and holesom doctrine , bicause this doctrine is the Catholike and vniuersally receiued interpretation of holy scripture , but their doctrine is only their priuat opinion and their priuat deprauation of holy Scripture . This lowas the principall reason that drew this wise , lerned and vertuous man from the sectes of his Masters , Luther and Melanchthon : and brought him home to the perfect vnite of the Catholike faith . for he sawe by long experience that al the doctrine of the new ghospellers , was nought els but their owne traditions , their propre inuentions , and priuat imaginations : for ging vpon the worde of God such sence as them listed , and telling then the people that the same was the very worde of God : whereas the Catholikes folowed such sence and meaning of the writen worde as by the lerned fathers , continual tradition , and vniuersall consent of Christendom was receaued and allowed . And truly this only reason may be sufficient bothe for the vnlerned and deceaued protestants to reduce them home again to the Catholike churche of Christ , and to kepe also within the same such as by the grace of God , vertuous education , and good instructions haue not yet swarued from the same . Which I beseche almighty God it may so do .

And thus much hitherto of this present Treatise and the author thereof . Many other things there are which I would gladly aduertise the Reader of . But bicause we haue ( I feare ) ben ouerlong allready and the Author him selfe hath prefixed a long but a lerned and profitable preface and therefore not to be omitted , I wil here breake of , and after the ende of the Authors whole discourse , put for conclusion the rest of my meaning , aduertising in the meane season the reader of this one thing , that this our labour being an interpretation , and bound to the inuention of the Author , we haue not , ne coulde not vse the like eloquence as the free stile geueth : beseching the notwithstanding , gentle Reader , to take our paines in good part .

THen ( saieth Nicephorus of the time of Constantius Lib. 9. cap. 46. histor. his empire vnder whom the Arrians flourished ) new deuises were commended and increased daily growing to a straunge alteration , so farre that euery man setting light by all auncient lawes and ordonaunces , forged him selfe fresh of his owne . And yet their doctrine ( he meaneth the Arrians ) was not of all such receiued : but eche one imagined new opinions , heaping vp euer doctrine vpon doctrine . Then Aetius , Eunomius , Eudoxius ( eche one diuersly ) Vttered their blasphemies against Christ . Then Macedonius also blasphemed against the holy Ghoste .

Whereas you are This epistle was writen in laten by the author him selfe . ( most Reuerend Prelat ) as you forefathers were by orderly vocation placed as Patrone and protectour to this vniuersite of Ingolstad , sithen that also the right honorable Prince Albert Duke of Bauaria hath set me ouerseer and gouuerner of the same , it had becomed me long ere this time to haue offred vnto you my seruice : especially hauing certain matters committed to my charge , whereof I should before this time haue conferred with you . But whereas oure voluntarie deliberation by trouble of time was defeated , being constrained , not as I would but as I was forced , to yelde to necessite , and therefore must omitte the one , and do the other : Yet in this busines to be somewhat occupied , and in the principall by the waye to be doing , I haue not suffred suche leasure as at times happened , to passe withoute some frute of publicke commodite . Whereof hauing longe thought , it semed me , I coulde not by the waie more profitably be doing then if ( at what time other plaie or banquet ) I laboured vppon some such thing as might enforme the poore deceaued people , and not offend rulers and magistrats . And to this ende truly , these darke winter dayes as leasure serued me , I haue compiled this booke , framing my stile after a rude and simple sorte , that the vnlearned might vnderstande me , but letting passe no iote of the truthe , to cure and remedy the falshood . Although therefor the lerned by this booke shall not perhaps be much instructed , yet the good witte shall finde herein that is right worthy to be knowen . and truly in medecines the wise Phisician will not so much regarde that they be pleasaunt or fayre to the eye as that they be holesome .

This is therefor my meaning and the marke I shoote at , The intent of the author in this worke . that the good people may be admonished of their saluation and aduertised of the daungerous deceites of heretikes by whose crafte and guile we see the noble Romain empire much weakened and empaired euen nowe to fainte , and thousands of Christen soules other where daily to perish . But the deceites of these heretikes being spredd so farre and so diuersly in Christendom , that the vnlerned can not comprise them and the lerned scant espie them , it shall be inoughe for the people to lerne to knowe them selues to be people , that is to vnderstande that it is ynough for their parte to learne of the spirituall magistrat , howe to do their duty to God , and of the ciuill or temporall magistrat to learne their duty to their prince , and in all thinges rather to lerne then to teache , rather to obey then to commaunde .

For these two estates the spirituall and the temporall haue of God him selfe ben ordained , duly receaued of vs , confirmed and established by lawes : and haue serued vs as two walles by the which the power of the Romain empire hath ben in Germany stayed vp and continued all most these eight hundred yeares . And truly as longe as matters appertaining to God were by the spiritualty , and the common welthe by the temporalty gouuerned , and the lawes off bothe estates ordained were inuiolatly obserued , them Germany might contend in wisedon with the grekes , in stoutnes of courage with the Romanes , in godlines with all Christen nations : then it mought more surely of vs then of the Romanes be saied .

Then it could , when lawes ruled men , not men the lawes maintaine peace abrode , and reste at home : kepe out their enemie valiantly and gouuerne their people in all felicite .