About the Reichstag itself and the actions and transactions concerning religion that took place there.
164 Emperor Maximilian I requires the prelate of the church at Herrenalb to attend an Imperial Diet at Augsburg scheduled for St. Catharine's Day (Nov. 25) 1517. Oct. 1, 1517.
The first day of the year was announced mostly at the instigation of the papists, in order to have Luther publicly declared a heretic. This document is dated October 1, 1517, but Luther did not appear in public until October 31. This Reichstag is postponed to the year 1518 (Tentzel 1,60).
Wür Maximilian, by the Grace of God elected Roman Emperor, at all times Merer of the Empire, in Germania, in Hungeren, Dalmatia, Croatia etc. We offer Our Grace and All Good to the Most Reverend Abbot of the House of God at Herrnalb. Our dear and dear Abbot, the princes, rulers and sovereigns of the Holy Roman Empire have described before you at the Imperial Diet in Maintz, out of the misfortunes which have befallen us and the Holy Roman Empire and which are still before us, as has been seen and warranted, and have therefore raised us out of our Lower Burgundian lands and invited us up to the Rhine, But the princes, rulers and sovereigns had still arrived in small numbers in our time, and yet the need appeared to us through great conspiracy, practices, and the actions of our and the empire's repugnant and disobedient rulers, and it became clear from day to day that we should not allow ourselves to be deceived for the sake of such a thing.
For the sake of necessity, conspiracy, practices and deeds, to wait out the same besides the action of the Imperial Diet, which is to be discussed and promoted, we have gone up to Swabia, have left our councillors and authorities in action with the princes, princes and sovereigns at Maintz, and through them have promoted and advertised our and the Holy Roman Empire's necessities and obligations, as is known. 1) However, because such our advocacy and solicitation could not take place or be successful, and therefore we had to turn our and the kingdom's necessities and obligations into another way, and allowed the princes, princes and sovereigns (to spare their persons and property) from the day at Maintz on, they wrote us a letter and reminded us of it, how they could not nor would not, before their departure, have thought 2) of what might give cause and possibility to our and the Holy Roman Empire's obligatory and otherwise pending grievous outrages in the German Nation, and that, if they did so, they would not be able to change their minds, except that they arose from two or three foundations or roots. Namely, from the rights, uniqueness, and security that they subsequently specified in two, namely twenty-eight hundred articles (therefore all things 3) and a number of the three pieces mentioned above), and therein stated what disgrace, insult, complaint, untruth, tail, schedules, checks and
1) The following, about a columne, is also found in Tentzel's "Historischein Bericht", Vol. I, p. 57 ff, but in a frequently different spelling. Tentzel says that the Emperor took this passage from the petition addressed to the Emperor by the German Estates from the Imperial Diet at Mainz.
2) In Walch's old edition: nachgedenckhen.
3) Tentzel: Causes.
The laws of the Holy Roman Empire, the princes and rulers of the German Nation, but also all lesser sovereigns, both religious and secular, widows and orphans, advertisers, travellers and merchants, for the sake of these three causes and shortcomings, are incumbent upon us alone, 1) where it is not to be seen, nor to be assumed and averted, that nothing else may result from it, than the destruction and ruin of the Holy Roman Empire, of all of its sovereignty and of the German Nation, and whereupon we are under the highest and most solemn command and are urged to do so, to take these things to heart, to exemplify and give us examples from past histories, to look at and consider the present situation, to advise and help, so that all these things may be seen to be done, and that they may be met and remedied in a proper manner, or at least turned to the least possible advantage, with a request as to what advice and help they may be able to give, so that no lack of property may appear or become apparent to them. etc., with further content of the 3) Electorate, Princes, Sovereigns and Administrations' writs, which we not only highly appreciate, but also have and still have much mercy on, in humble gratitude to the Almighty, so that his grace may be extended to our and the Holy Roman Empire's Electors, Princes, Sovereigns and Sovereigns, and princes and sovereigns to such early and necessary considerations and counsels, as well as to such kindnesses and faithfulnesses (so that we may have long been here, but which we have never been able to raise), and that his grace will confirm that, if he has thus interceded in you, such wills and kindnesses of ours as we bear in these matters, We have given the princes, princes and sovereigns notice by letter from this time on to the princes of Mainz, and have asked them, for the sake of the court, to rise up from Maintz by their councils and authorities and to go to Augsburg, since we have left our councillors behind us to take up such actions and to continue until they arrive, and a beginning may have been made, after the growing troublesome times, which we have had from the infidels, that the kingdom of hunger and afterward our inheritance must also be taken down to our principality of Austria, because of our other needy affairs, since we are now shortly to be transferred and advised, the may-
1) Tentzel: oblegen wärn
2) Tentzel: mynst büß
3) "the" is missing in Tentzel.
4) In the old edition: and.
(Although unwillingly and with difficulty, but according to the truth and truthfulness, credible information and intelligence about the Turkish attack they recently had on the king of Babilonia, how they completely destroyed him, exterminated him, and conquered all his land and power from him, They have also greatly exhausted the sovereign of Persia, pressed for the holy land of our Lord Jesus Christ with a mighty hand, obtained it and more for their will, and that from this it is no other matter and burdensome to care for and wait for, then when they have accomplished and executed their will in the same mighty places, they will get their sighing defiance into the imperial territory, and for the time being our mighty and tyrannical interventions and practices against Christendom (unless the matters are faithfully considered, and the same are met with unwarranted force and consolation) will be hard to resist before them, whereupon our Holy Father the Pope has also decreed for our holy Christian churches, and for this reason he requests our help and protection, as well as that of other Christian kings, Because we have been informed by our councillors of the day and the departure from Mainz, that the princes, rulers, sovereigns and rulers may not, out of their own authority, have been forced to come up to Augspurg, but have previously requested that they should not be misled and should comply with our councillors from Augspurg. Accordingly, in consideration and mercy of the princes, sovereigns, saints, and councils, the act, petition, and offer of the Diet of Mainz, as set forth in the foregoing letter of theirs, and in consideration of our good faith and willingness to do so, together with the unspeakable grievances and grievances which we, the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, and the common Christendom, have before us from all the above-mentioned men and words, and from the towers. We have therefore considered and accepted the necessity of a new Imperial Diet, which we hereby appoint for you and for other saints on St. Catherine's Day, that is, the fifth and twentieth day of the month of November, the ninth of July, in the city of Augsburg, both ours and the empire's, but we intend to spare your and other saints' persons and expenses as much as possible. We therefore recommend to you with all seriousness that you first and foremost secure your authority at the appointed Diet, with full authority and power, together with our and other Stendt councillors and authorities, who have been appointed above.
We have the right to consider and discuss the matters of the council and to agree and compare them until a decision is reached, and if between these acts we personally attend such a Diet and require you and others with your persons, which we will certainly do, then you personally will also hasten to take action against all hindrances, in such emergency acts, and to carry them out and perform them. And so, first of all, by your authority and following people, you personally do not refrain from such necessary actions, but prove yourself obedient and faithful to us and to the Holy Roman Empire, and also keep yourself in accordance with the actions of the curates, princes, sovereigns, and authorities, the actions and the actions (to be done to us in Mainz), and do not deny them, nor do you give anyone else cause for them to do so by your failure to do so. As we have graciously comforted and relied upon you for our needs and the needs of the Holy Roman Empire and the common Christianity, we will also consider and acknowledge this in all graces toward you. Given in our city of Baden in Austria on the first day of October, Anno Domini in the seventeenth, of our kingdoms of the Roman in the twentieth and thirtieth, and of the Hunger in the eighth and twentieth.
Ad mandatum Cesaree Majestatis proprium.
A. The imperial estates make great complaints to the emperor about the Roman court.
165. complaints of the German nation, with the means and counsel against them, to Emperor Maximilian, and the Emperor's edict. 1510 and 1518.
These complaints were handed over to the Emperor Maximilian at the Imperial Diet in Augsburg in 1510 and then brought up again at the Imperial Diet there in 1518. They were initially printed separately, then included by Flacius in his catsIoZus tostiniu vsritatis, p. 469. After him, t?rstisrn8 published them in the second volume rsruna Mrnmn, x. 373. 373. wolf in his lsation. rneworud., p. 202. gvldast has them latin in the eonstitution. ilnperiai., tom. II, toi. 119 and German in the "Reichs-Satzungen" Theil I, p. 215 under the title: "Oravawinu Asrmanions nutionis, Beschwerden der Teutschen Nation und des Heiligen Römischen Reichs wider des Pabsts zu Röm Geytigkeit und Tyranney, mit ihren Remedien und Avisen an die Kayserliche Majestät." In 1518 they are reprinted at Schlettstädt eurn lieeutia imperatoris NmxiirüHaui in otkeiuu LedmreriLNÄ ack iuererueuturu OermÄuiue et Dex Aoriaru. In Tentzel, Hist.
1) In the old edition: with
Report, Vol. I, p. 36 ff., the complaints are found word for word, the remedies in a detailed excerpt. Since Tittel's translation in Walch's old edition is very incomprehensible, we have inserted the better old translation of the first piece from Tentzel here, and improved the following according to his information.
Translated into German.
a. Ten complaints against the Roman See on the part of the German nation and the Holy Roman Empire.
I. That the popes of Rome think and entirely believe that they are not guilty of keeping their forefathers, in whose place they have taken the covenants, pacts, privileges, liberties, and letters, given by them, without any contradiction, in perpetuity, but act and do against them without hesitation, at any person's instance and request, whoever comes, even bad, by all kinds of dispensation, suspension, revocation, and the like.
2. that the election of prelates has often been rejected and overturned.
3) That the election of provosts, which some church capitulars obtained with large sums of money and bought for themselves, is violated; namely, Speyer and Basel, whose bull of freedom to elect a provost was weakened during the lifetime of the one who gave it.
4. that the great ecclesiastical benefices and dignities be reserved to the Cardinals and Protonotaries.
5) That expectativae gratiae, that is, letters of expectation of grace, are given without any number, and often their many about a position to be awarded. 2) Therefore, there is much strife, quarreling, and legalism every day, and much money and property is wasted, since not only are great expenses incurred in obtaining the letters of pardon, which never achieve their effect, but it is much more important for all parties to carry out justice. Hence the saying arose among some: whoever brings with him a letter of expectation of grace from Rome, should at the same time put a hundred or two [hundred] gold florins in the box, which he will need to carry out the right.
6. that the annals are strictly demanded without any delay and mercy (even if a bishop reigns only a few years and departs with death). At times, more than one is obligated to give is taken away, because of the new
2) Tittel: "before a collator". Tentzel: "over a ooHntnr".
The church in Mainz and Strasbourg is an obvious example of this.
7. that the governments of our churches be bestowed and given to the unskilled and unworthy at Rome, who are better shepherds to feed and herd donkeys than to govern and care for men.
8. that the old indulgences be revoked, suspended, and that new indulgences (with great murmuring and displeasure of the laity against the clergy) be granted and given to collect and raise money.
9. that the tithe is raised under the pretense of fighting the Turk, and yet no Turkish campaign follows.
(10) That the cases which could have been judged and ended in Germany (in which there are also learned and just judges) are brought before the See of Rome without any distinction, which the holy abbot St. Bernard also rejects and contradicts as unjust in his epistle to Pope Eugenius.
b. The remedies against the complaints of the German nation.
If it seemed advisable to their imperial majesty, the highest and most holy pope of the holy Roman church would have to be informed that it is difficult, even unbearable, for the German nation to suffer such great expenses and burdens from now on, to have so many annals to confirm archbishops and bishops, especially since they are supposed to be increased in some bishoprics and even doubled in some. For the Mainz see, as it is said, formerly had only 10,000 florins, and since an elected bishop did not want to give them there, and insisted firmly on this until his end, the one elected after him, who wanted to have the confirmation soon, did not want to resist the papal see, but offered the old sum, namely 10,000 florins. However, he was not able to obtain such confirmation, so he would also give up the 10,000 florins still in arrears from his ancestor. Thus he had to give 20,000 florins, which were undoubtedly entered into the chamber account (or register) in such a way that they were demanded from all archbishoprics up to our time, not only 20,000 florins, but even 25,000, because of new offices and new servants of the popes. Finally, 27,000 florins were demanded by the archbishop.
Bishop Jacob recently had to pay, as the ecclesiastical vicar of Mainz has told. Thus, in the life of a man, 25,000 (that is, 175,000 florins) of the mere archbishopric of Mainz came to Rome seven times for the confirmation of the archbishop. And since Archbishop Jacob held his see for barely four years, the lord Uriel, elected after him, had to pay at least 24 or 25,000 florins as well, of which he borrowed about half from merchants; to pay which he had to impose an assessment or subsidy on his poor subjects and peasants, some of whom have not yet paid off the previous tax or assessment because of the episcopal mantle purchased by the ancestor Jacob. And so our people will not only be oppressed and made beggars (as the most venerable Lord Bernardinus, Cardinal of St. Creuzo and recent legate, well knows), but will also be stirred up to rebellion and, as far as possible, to create freedom for themselves, and will talk at every opportunity about how they want to go along with the clergy.
2 The pope will also have to be reminded that the lands of the Germans have been devastated from time to time by many wars, and the number of the living has been reduced by frequent deaths. Thus the fields lie desolate here and there because of fewer buyers, and the customs duties have also been cut by all kinds of cases, and the mines exhausted, so that the income falls daily, of which the archbishops and bishops (who otherwise also have a lot to spend on honest and necessary expenses) may submit the annals to the apostolic see. At the end of his life, Archbishop Jacob said, not without reason, that his death would not hurt him as much as if his poor subjects had to pay a heavy tax again after his death because of the coat.
3 As a kind father who loves his children, and as a faithful and wise shepherd, let the pope deal more gently with his sons of the German nation, so that persecution does not soon befall all the priests of Christ, or most of them, like the Bohemians, fall away from the Roman Church. At least he would like to act less harshly when an archbishop or bishop has reigned only a few years, as happened with the Bamberg bishops, three of whom died within a few years. How did it go with many other bishoprics? because Germany (according to Aeneae Sylvii testimony) has more than fifty bishoprics; how with the abbots? some of which are confirmed in Rome. Assuming that in Germany there would be a greater income from goods, mines and customs,
Imperial Majesty and the other princes would need treasure and war costs against the enemies, especially the infidels, and to maintain peace in Germany and to let justice be done to everyone, for which the Royal Court of Appeal, which has been ordered quite sacredly at great expense, is extremely useful. Moreover, the imperial majesty needs money to restrain the rebels in the empire and to exterminate the disturbers of the peace and highwaymen, some of whom are not afraid to attack the churches, to plunder their goods, and even to attack and act mercilessly against the clergy.
Finally, our nation needs gold and money not only to rebuild churches and monasteries, but also for hospitals, foundlings, widows, childbeds, orphans, poor girls (so that they do not fall into traps), for the poor of the house, the elderly, as well as sickly persons, even those who are unclean in body, of whom Germany, unfortunately, has a great deal, which is also otherwise populous, because it is not averse to the female sex.
c. Funds for the imperial cities and welfare of souls.
1. If, by order of Her Imperial Majesty, it were obtained from the apostolic see (which the Archbishop of Mainz, Uriel, has obtained) that no one in imperial cities had canonries or vicarages in different churches of one city, but that all had theirs separately and distributed, There would be fewer disputes, the commonwealth would have more benefit, more learned persons useful to the realm and faith could be promoted, more masses could be read, and the entire church service could be conducted more freshly and commendably, as the examples of Basel and Speyer could be cited. For in both cities, according to a quite holy usage, no one can have several canonicates or vicariates in different churches. Therefore, religion and worship are in good condition everywhere. And it is incumbent upon the pope (according to Aeneae Sylvii testimony) to diligently see to it that God is honored and that hymns of praise and thanksgiving are sung to him.
It would also be very helpful for the countries and the salvation of the souls if the pope were to order invariably that in every college there be at least two prebends, which are not included in 1) the graces and 2) the blessings.
1) of sndjootÄk, that is, which the pope, according to his grace, could not confer or give a claim to.
The first two theologians, or one theologian and the other a canonist, could only be promoted.
3) And that competent people, that is, scholars of worldly wisdom, of Canonum or of spiritual law and of the Holy Scriptures, should go the sooner to the pastoral care, it would be expedient that by apostolic decree the monasteries and convents should give sufficient and certain benefits or revenues to the parishes which are incorporated or attached to them. For this is what a pope (as Aeneas considers it) must see to, that the Gospel of Christ, which is the best pasture for the soul, is preached to all in a pure manner, that all error and blasphemy are eradicated, that wars are stopped, and that theft, robbery, arson, murder, adultery, drunkenness, carousing, hatred and evil are done away with. Theologians and canonists seem to be more capable of imprinting such things on people's minds than stingy Roman courtiers. Yes, even learned theologians who are good at preaching can, through their speeches, better preserve and defend the honor and reputation of the pope and the most reverend cardinals.
d. Council or suggestions for her imperial majesty.
(1) As the kingdom of France has its pragmatic sanction (or public church settlement with the pope), after which it goes into forgiveness of the benefits, so the Roman Empire has the concordats of the princes, and imperial majesty is concerned that they be kept. Since then, however, they have seldom been broken by the Roman popes, and the auditores rotae (or assessors of this so-called Roman court) are said to have always spoken according to them. And if a courtier, by means of any papal exemption (dispensation), should dare to break the same, then the bishop or prince or council of the same place should at the outset defend him, and hold the Concordats in his face, and godly admonish him that he should not act contrary thereto, because such insolence could not be tolerated, and even Turks and Jews should keep faith. Which (Roman) courtier would be so foolish and subject himself to live in any city against the will of the bishop, prince or any other community?
2 Imperial Majesty could also easily learn in France through letters or envoys how the beneficia would be distributed there, and what the pope would have to say at such distribution. This could also be done in the Roman Empire.
that the insatiable avarice of the courtiers be curbed and restrained. If the excellent universities, especially the theological faculty in Paris, approve of the manner in which benefits are dispensed and forgiven in France, then everyone can believe that the imperial majesty and the German princes, if they act in accordance with it, will be safe and pardoned by God. For it is to be considered certain that so many and great prelates, teachers and honest men who live in France and at the University of Paris do not approve of anything that would be done against God and justice.
3. however, may imperial majesty see to it that the archbishops and princes do not separate themselves from them in this holy undertaking and do not make common cause with them because they fear the papal ban; for the people will not tolerate the common ban (interdict) for long.
4. let the Imperial Majesty also see to it or decree that the mendicant monks do not preach against them (their Majesty), as those who like to please the apostolic see, because they fear to lose their liberties or rights, of which it would be desirable that they rhyme with Christ and nature, although they would have long been justly authorized to preach against such avarice and such abuses.
5. may their imperial majesty also prevent the pope from ordering the electors to proceed to the election of a new Roman king, as against Frederick II, the landgrave in Thuringia, and William, count of Holland, have been elected at the pope's behest.
6. may their imperial majesty prevent that not the prelates of the church, especially the provosts, who have the duty to report to the pope.
May Her Majesty prevent our most holy Lord, the Pope, from releasing the subjects from obedience and inciting the surrounding peoples to fall into the lands of the Emperor or the Archduchy of Austria, which these people will otherwise do willingly under the pretense of obedience to the apostolic commandments.
8 Let also Her Imperial Majesty be mindful against the papal ban, which will probably not remain outside of our most holy Lord Pope.
(9) Let the Imperial Majesty also be concerned that the pope does not, by the most pointed little fingers, cause the poor simple-minded people to hate the pragmatics, and the simple-minded to hate the pragmatics, and the pragmatics to hate the pragmatics, and the pragmatics to hate the pragmatics.
He is building the church of St. Peter in Rome at great expense, and is also making armor and fortifications against the Turks in many places, and that he has never harmed anyone with his wars, because he is reconquering the lands belonging to the church or the inheritance of St. Peter, to which he is bound by official duty. Therefore, let the Imperial Majesty think about it and consult how to counter such Roman attacks (where necessary) with the wisest caution.
e. Conclusion and most obedient (faithful) exhortation to Imperial Majesty.
Her Imperial Majesty will be able to do nothing more holy, more pleasing to God, nothing more worthy of praise in eternal times, than to moderate such great complaints and extortions of the German nation, to thereby remove the causes for the laity to persecute the clergy, to take the parishes (some of which Aeneas holds of such high income as Italian bishoprics) out of the jaws of the (Roman) courtiers, who cannot preach, advise nor comfort, that it strengthen the worship, curb the avarice and excesses of the courtiers, and preserve the laymen's right of patronage in both the appointments of canons and the appointment of clergy in the ordinary months; that it also provide for the best of many children in Germany, of noble and bourgeois families, who study divine and secular subjects at universities from their youth; that they also attain spiritual prebends outside the Roman court, without such highly burdensome plagues and costly, even shameful, legal disputes, which can help the Roman Empire with counsel and action and the entire Church with their prayers. For it is no small cause why France flourishes so, that it has so many great and excellent learned people. If the emperor will curb this godlessness, and set Germany, which is pressed with such heavy interest, in former freedom, if he will open the way to prebends for learned and righteous people, then he will justly be called by all a savior of Germany and her freedom, and a right father of the fatherland at all times, He will bring glory to himself and benefit to Germany as if he had acquired a country by the sword, and the country will owe the same gratitude to Maximilian as it does to all those who long before brought the empire from the Greeks to the Germans and ruled in it.
k. P. Rasteriscus to Mr. Jakob Wimpheling, Lieentiate of Holy Theology. )
Greetings and Hail! I send back to you, most honored sir, with this my faithful table companion, the contents of the Pragmatica, which you copied very cleanly and faithfully, together with the most wise Instruction for Imperial Majesty. May the faithful God grant that our sharp-sighted and prudent eagle [that is, the Emperor] may also tear it off from the highest pinnacle (that is, the Pope), just like the Prince of the Lilies [that is, the King of France], and keep it, so that henceforth the benefit robbers do not completely devour and ruin the whole of noble Germany. In fact, I cannot praise the matter other than highly profitable and divine, and in truth I praise your diligence and the Roman imperial majesty's zeal for the common nature of Germany most highly. We have (especially in these pernicious and for us troubled times) not considered it necessary to do anything of this or to add to it. I will bring back Aeneam Sylvium from Germany's mold as soon as possible, either myself, or send him back to his master with a faithful messenger. I wish [you] to live always most happily, and to use your, although shabby and rough, Rasteriscus (that is, mine) to all your liking honestly. In haste, because this my room mate, a righteous, pious man, whom I command your kindness in the best way, talked into me to continue. Dec. 1, 1511.
g. To the Most Serene Roman Emperor, Major of the Empire, Maximilian, Jacobus Regius.
Since I recently heard that Your Imperial Majesty is getting ready to travel to Rome, I have written to their secretary, Johanni Collauro, to remind Your Imperial Majesty of some things that will add to their high honors and Germany's prestige, in order to obtain them from the Holy Apostolic See and bring them back. For I think that they can obtain everything, since Your Majesty will visit and speak to Pope Julius II himself.
1) This document is related to what Tentzel, Vol. I, p. 44 reports: The emperor sent on September 18, 1510 his secretary to Jakob Wimpheling, professor at Strasbourg, with the crown of France pruAmabieu sanctions, from which the latter drew the best, and with an instruction (as Rasteriscus calls it in Freher) sent it back to the emperor on November 1.
2. Among other things, I have specially informed the secretary, Johannes Collaurus, that your ancestor of most charitable memory, Henrich, Roman Emperor, endowed a prebend (which is therefore called the royal prebend) in the Strasbourg church, which infallibly all successors in the Roman Empire had to forgive, and should have to forgive, as your Imperial Majesty still today possesses two similar prebendaries, which her ancestors established in the church at Speyer by their own, the same right of forgiveness (or patronage). How, however, the Roman king obtained such a right in the Strasbourg church (if not through an interregnum), and how it fell to the provost there, I cannot know at all. However, many believe that their imperial majesty could easily regain the same right of patronage from the pope in both months according to equity, that from now on, for God's honor and the church's best, a learned and righteous man, whom your majesty knows, but not NB. a slave of beasts (such as horses and dogs), or of the cook, nor even a whore-keeper or boy-abusing lecher (sodomite), who knows neither scholarship nor godliness, be appointed. For your Majesty and all your successors in the Roman Empire know the lives and gifts of the people much better than they can be known to other such benefactors.
3. But it has pleased me also this [as] most pleasant and pleasing to God, salutary to souls, and most praiseworthy to Your Majesty in particular, if she would bring forth from the Holy Apostolic See, with whom such abuses are to be rebuked, by an irrevocable law, that henceforth no one of lowly origin or wholly unlearned, who, contrary to divine and "natural" law and contrary to the most holy canons, has two or three priesthoods under one roof, three or four prebendaries or canonships in different foundations, which lie within one wall or border of the Roman Empire, or so many fat parishes by some dispensation (soon would have said dissipation or waste), received from the popes, may possess them, since each canonry or parish church may honestly nourish a licentiate or doctor of one or both rights and of the holy divinity, that each one may have enough in one, and live happily thereby. I do not believe that Your Majesty God could accomplish anything more pleasing and more useful to Germany, not to mention that in this way pious young men, who in the higher schools have earned their inheritance with a lot of effort and out of love for the study of God, can be educated.
The church would be better off if they could receive a portion of the spiritual salary, support their fellow heirs in the paternal inheritance for the common good, serve Christ and pray for the welfare of the entire Roman Empire and the emperor. In this way, competent teachers of the holy Scriptures and the holy Canonum could be appointed in all churches, and more easily reach the prebends, and other learned and virtuous people would also come to the inheritance of Christ; there would be no need to wish for the death of others and to wait for it, and there would not be so much quarreling and right-wingedness, with the greatest damage to property and assets in all of Germany, nor so much fraud. The innocent would not be so plagued by those who can do nothing but quarrel, take, complain and plague. Then those who can best move their neighbor or endure the longest in proceedings would not be able to cheat and deceive so much under the pretext of privilege, preference, first place, or regressus, and under the cords of instruments written by their own servants, and the youth, who should put their trust in scholarship and virtuous works, would not have the opportunity to wander about so much, nor be led around with legal disputes. The spiritual state would not stand in such confusion, nor would some, who were not fit for any work pleasing to God or useful to our faith, be disgracefully left to occupy many apartments (stalls) and positions in all churches belonging to an imperial state; and thus the parishes, which are occupied by strangers (barbaros) and sometimes hirelings, would be much better served with scholars, and the divine service would not diminish, and the intercessions for souls would not be omitted; the holy dwellings (places) would not remain empty, the wills would not be destroyed, there would be less loss of letters and deeds of the churches, the freedom of hospitality would not be in decline, the alms, the houses and other church buildings would not perish, the goods and lying grounds would not be alienated; there would not be so much displeasure and grumbling among the people against the priests, because of a few, most stingy and insatiable oppressors. And I am not the first to wish that the priesthoods become many. For Francisco Petrarch, an honest man, also disliked such impiety, who was allowed to write to Urban V in the following form: I have heard that you (the pope) have put a stop to the former ambition, which was cruelly increased by the former license, and that you are capable of doing so,
with one or a few benefits, according to each one's learning and virtue. For what is more disgraceful than that some, who, moreover, have attained to it by evil arts, should burst with abundance, while others, who are much better, should perish from time to time from hunger and want? And the wise Gregorius Nazianzenus applauds with these words: It is a great disgrace to our religion and doctrine when the priesthoods are granted more by ambition and favor than by respect for gifts or skill. And Franciscus Picus, the noble prince, in his address to the Lateran Concilium, complains that the churches and temples are commanded to lions, sodomites and wolves.
(4) Your sacred Majesty will already know many other things, in accordance with her great wisdom, which will urge your Imperial Majesty to seek the cessation and moderation of such avarice from the Holy Apostolic See. May our Lord God graciously grant His help and assistance to Your Imperial Highness for the blessed government of the Empire and the spread of the Christian religion.
h. Maximilianus, Emperor.
As we have hitherto honored the highest shepherd of the church and the entire clergy, according to the example of our most beloved father, Frederick III, Roman Emperor, we have also graciously given absent clergy and prelates large revenues of the dignities and parish churches from our country's borders, which we also, if they were lacking due to human weakness, gladly wanted to cover with the imperial mantle with our ancestor Constantino. But since so much results from our charity that the divine service decreases, since divine praise, hymns and masses should rather increase through it: It is incumbent upon us, who have been unworthily elevated to the throne of the Roman Empire, among other things, to see to it that, in addition to the business of war and peace, we see to it that the churches do not perish, that religion does not fall, nor that the divine service is diminished, and that the departed souls, who have done good to the churches and priests from their wealth, are not helped too late, contrary to their last will. Which, unfortunately, we have evidently seen and still see, that it stems from some unspeakable avarice, which cannot be justified by any human being, and which, in conjunction with this, has led to the death of the departed souls.
The church service is destroyed, the last wills of the benefactors are destroyed, and the souls of the departed are saved more slowly from purgatory, the buildings fall down, the churches come down, the freedom of the church is violated, the letters and deeds are lost, the freedom of hospitality and alms are weakened, the inheritance of the parents and the goods of the commonwealths disappear through frequent mobs of such miserly people; clergymen, too, who because of their learning and virtues would be well worthy of benefices, and with their prudence could promote the best of the churches physically and spiritually, are repelled from the prebends, prevented from them, shamefully plagued and unjustly led around with legal disputes, give the laity annoyance, and arouse and increase their hatred and grumbling against other honest priests: For this reason we exhort and request, on account of the office of imperial majesty, out of love for the growth of the divine service and out of zeal for the common good, that from now on no one who has a canonry or vicarage in one of our cities and in the Holy Roman Empire hold another prebend in another church of the same city, if he does not want to cede the first one within a year's time to a capable person who is useful to the church; nor, in order to obtain benefits, disgracefully harass or lead another around by unjust quarrels or prolixity; nor falsely pass off as such a servant someone who has not been properly among his appointed attendants or friends (according to the Concordats of the Princes and Settled Points of the German Nation), to the detriment of the proper assigning persons (Collatorum); nor seek to deprive the laity of the right to grant, or to burden small prebendaries, especially where there are parish churches, with interest, nor use any fraud, cunning, false instruments, bribed witnesses or even concealed simony to obtain the benefices and bulls; nor seek to obtain a recourse (or reinstatement, recovery) or anything else contrary to the sacred canons, against law, equity, honor and reason, under penalty of the vice of offended majesty and our severe punishment, in which not only those who thus offend against God and all honor, but also all their assistants, patrons and contributors, who give their advice, help, shelter and loans, and all messengers, runners, negotiators, intercessors, notaries, guarantors, and other persons, shall be punished.
The people, lawyers and other friends are to be forfeited, that they suffer due punishment for such misdeeds and contempt of this order of ours. From Inspruck [1510]. 1)
Appendix.
If these reminders, useful not only to the kingdom but also to the church, were read in advance, which serve for peace and harmony among one another, they could also be added among many others, and the pope be notified of the fall and collapse of the houses and other buildings belonging to the churches and priesthoods: that e.g. one has been absent for more than thirty years from a parish of our fatherland, which until now has been devoted to the popes, and has gathered and received much and great income in portatis, or sent things that I need their words, and yet, to teach the congregation entrusted to his pastoral care, never ascended the pulpit, nor built anything ornamental in the house, as witnessed and shown before everyone by the miserable rooms of three servants of the sanctuary, which the least brother or shepherd would hardly consider enough for himself; Nor did he do the least thing more to the daily donations and gifts, or only donated a common memorial of his name; nor did he bequeath the least booklet in his will to the book room of the parish churches, or order alms to be distributed to the poor. To this one could also add that an unskilled and foreign Roman courtier, who is as badly suited for singing, sacrificing (reading mass) as a tame or wild donkey, as his well-known and good friend always called him, living in laziness and idleness, can thus gather more priesthoods in all kinds of ways, than a basic scholar, who is well suited for the promotion of the divine service, in disputes and for all council and defense of the Roman church. Furthermore, that a becker or cook, whore-keeper or knave, yes, with honor to report, a sodomite, who has rich prebends and parishes, thus enjoys and devours more of Christ's inheritance than probably the most diligent and faithful governor of a populous large parish with his most vigilant assistants, Yes, even chaplains, who in turn assist the same assistants, when they have much to do in administering the sacraments and hearing confessions, even in the canonical hours, masses and vigils (Metten) Absingung and in
1) This is the year given by Tentzel, Vol. I, p. 43 f.
to give a helping hand. Such assistance and relief will hopefully always be provided in our fatherland by six chaplains, after the right to grant such chaplaincies out of the kindness of the Holy Apostolic See has been transferred to the mayors of our commonwealth, who from now on will not entrust them to anyone who does not personally have their seat to await the service and fulfill the last will of the founders. It also seems to serve imperial intentions very well what the most venerable Bishop Erhard in Liège recently reminded in a most Christian way in the Princes' Assembly in Augsburg Anno 1518. 1)
166 Erhard von der Mark, Bishop of Liège and Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, writes to Emperor Maximilian I and the Estates assembled at the Diet of Augsburg in 1518, in which he describes the intolerable abuses of the Roman Court and humbly asks that they be stopped.
From Kapp, Nachlese nützlicher Reformation-Urkunden, Theil II, p. 409.
Translated into German by J. F.
1. To the most holy imperial majesty, the most reverend and high-born princes, lords, prelates, orators of the cities, and all the estates of this respectable imperial assembly, it is brought with due reverence and willing obedience, in the name of both the most reverend in Christ the Father, Lord Erhard of Marka, bishop of Liège and prince of the holy Roman Empire, as well as the entire clergy serving God under him and the holy Roman Empire: that, although many salutary things had previously been decreed in the Constance and Basel Assemblies concerning the granting of certain benefactors and the election of clerical persons to be regularly employed, nevertheless, for the sake of one and other things standing in the way at that time, none of these things had yet been observed and put into practice. The French clergy, after the end of the assembly at Basel, entered into a book certain points in accordance with the general law and the sayings of the Holy Fathers, which at their request, under the title of the pragmatic sanction, were confirmed by their King Carl the Seventh with the French 2).
1) This is the following document.
2) In the old edition: "at the Bituricis".
It freely distributes the sees of the Kingdom of France and of the Delphinate, which become vacant every month, and also arranges the canonical election freely, properly and properly. And because perhaps at that time the pope was worried that something like this might arise among the Germans, he not long afterward sent Johannes, Diaconus of S. Angeli, to the church.
and Cardinal a latere, to Germany to Frederick the Third, Roman King, of Godly memory, and to other spiritual and temporal princes, lords, prelates and orators of the cities of the Holy Roman Empire, where the treaties made by you, Highborn Princes, and your German nation, were confirmed by the Roman bishop, with the approval of the entire Cardinal College, whereby this nation, although it had rendered as much service to the Holy Roman Church as the French, was nevertheless satisfied that it could also only grant its monasteries on a rotating basis, one month at a time; as these and other circumstances are more extensively expressed in the Bull issued on this subject, the originals of which are diligently preserved with the Supplicants. And since the Germans have held such treaties sacred and unbreakable three times, because they are subject to international law, and such treaties have been confirmed by the apostolic see, as has been reported before, everyone knows how they were held on the other side.
2. for there has undoubtedly come out of hell one of the worst furies, which Paul, 1 Tim. 6, 10. Greek ψίλαργυρίαν^, avarice.
or greed for money, as a root of all evil, and which has completely taken over the minds of those people who are generally called Curtisans, to such an extent that they seem to think day and night of nothing else than how they can prevent, ridicule and overthrow the proper appointment and canonical election in a thousand ways, and, as people who are otherwise soft and despondent, extort money from the Germans as barbarians. For there are so many pardons to be conducted under many and various adventurous names that a whole day would not suffice to recount them all. However, we want to tell a few, which we got to know with our constant danger, lightheartedly. Therefore, the Exspectanzgratien, the Commenden, 3) in which one can get to the Regularstiften,
3) Luther explains this word in the writing "An den christlichen Adel deutscher Nation", Walch, St. Louis edition, vol. X, 291, tz 50.
arise. Furthermore, the reservations, which are of equal weight, or which bring in several thousand ducats, by which these brave hunters and money cutters, as sons and descendants of Nimrod, fish away whole monasteries, provostries, decanates, personatus, offices, canonicates, prebends, likewise parochial churches, in great quantity, and leave churches without prelates, servants and sheep of Christ without shepherds. This is not contradicted by the C. de nulla, nor by the Constitution Execrabilis, which also circulates among the Indians outside the clergy. For it holds the prerogatives and privileges with the most detrimental, strongest, most violent, unusual and such clauses, which neither the astute Chrysippus, nor the cunning Scävola could grasp, as which lie deeply buried and hidden in the heart box of the pope. We pass over those gratuities with diligence that have been devised to steal the private pens made for old and sickly persons, and easily give occasion for another to long for death. Next to that, new acts of charity come out of this workshop from one hour to the next, which are also granted to the servants of the Cardinals.
3 New confidences and secret friendships are also established, which extend even to those who have hardly ever appeared before the papal table. New protonotariates, new clerics in ecclesiastical matters, are introduced over the seventh number; the number of caplains is uncertain, except for those indicated on the epitaph. Every year new services are raised, although no one, as they say, is served by them; the annals or half of the revenues are made heavier and larger from day to day; the pens of the papal servants, even of those who have been dismissed from office and have died in the fatherland, are drawn to the Roman court as reservata, contrary to the express content of these contracts. However, the entrance and departure fees, the indulgence fees, and the auxiliary fees shall also be suspended by law in the simple monasteries, with the clause on resignation or death, even if they have not benefited either the ecclesiastical or the secular state, for all months. Is it not now in the day that by these inventions those, who should draw them in the proper way, are deceived? Thus, from an abuse of this freedom, some worldly wise men (philosophatri) of lions, whom they call artistas, have undoubtedly, by their all too much rude begging and pleading, although with the greater loss, as they say, of their many years of accumulated fortune, brought about the unheard of fullness of the lion.
The power to distribute monasteries of the otherwise not unknown members of this holy realm has recently been acquired by the dioceses of Liège and Utrecht, so that it seems as if the ordinary conferment has completely disappeared in all places.
4 For every ten years they demand two endowments from every collatoribus, be they of any kind, and be they as important as they want. They also undertake to squeeze two church foundations out of all monasteries, churches and collegiis that have something to give, at the same time, through the church censures accumulated in their letters, since hardly ever have so many foundations stood empty every ten years under a proper collation, which would have been much better served if they were provided with righteously learned men, who were capable of presiding over their office and creating benefit, rather than with such shrewd heads. Incidentally, the monasteries, against their knowledge and will, which were given away by godly kings to respectable and venerable monasteries, are often incorporated into other collegiis, monasteries and dignities. And since so many prelatures, honorary offices, churches, chapels, altars, which cannot be named nor counted, weigh down the conscience of the Roman Court, it attaches some of them to a more glorious priesthood for life, as if then the care to be taken for the pasture of Christ's sheep would cease, or the papal and truly divine bull would itself administer the offices and services incumbent upon it in various churches. For God does not allow Himself to be mocked, who knows that people's thoughts are vain. One sets aside titles of honor that dispute with each other, and makes one devour the other. How much strife and contention arise from day to day. For hardly any priest of the order grants a chaplaincy, lest every sycophant come here, disturb the owner, accuse him at court, fabricate a petty cause. The Roman court fights on both sides for a little money, and investigates the matter to our greatest expense, even if the whole estate should go to it. Finally, the dispute is settled and the sycophant, or false pretender, is reserved half of the income for his annual salary. This too is considered nothing special, that all the income of the priesthood, which is called standing, immovable (fixi), is given to one at court for salary; but one leaves him only the mere title with the incidental emolumentis for food and drink. And a wretched man is still raised by the hope that nowadays the payments, important as they may be, can be paid without simony for cash.
money. Therefore, our pastor, after selling all the household goods and gathering money from all sides, frees the pen, which is weighed down with large sums of money to be paid out. This is the way to empty our coffers. Thus the German money, to which even the shoulders of Atlas are not equal, flies over the Alps, to the amazement of nature itself. Those who have experienced it know how much money the overmatched annuities and the use of the pallium eat up for the Germans; although Pope Leo the Other, according to Platinum's report, forbade to give the least for it, and King Louis, whom the Roman Church otherwise placed in the number of the saints, likewise denied this by a royal order. Finally, consider for yourselves, most godly princes, how far religion and worship have been degraded by the robbery and theft of these monasteries. For even a simple ass-kicker, not to say a lottery boy and court orator or rabulist, understands that one has much to thank such noble and brave men in Germany with all justification. They are only shepherds in appearance, who neither with words nor works feed the flock of Christ, which care and office they entrust to their poor wage-servants with a penitential carene. But as is generally seen, they are not concerned with the sheep themselves and their salvation, but rather with pulling the wool over their eyes. They eat the sins of the people, for whom they neither pray nor sacrifice; honest and righteous priests, on the other hand, let them go begging to the detriment of the spiritual order. In your schools, people are lax, indolent and disgruntled, because unworthy people take away their well-deserved wages in front of their mouths. Mass offerings and other sacrifices of praise, which were instituted by your ancestors at great expense, have ceased, and the godly hands of the benefactors cry out for vengeance, depriving these money cutters of their so desired refreshment. If you, O most Christian emperor, and you, most devout princes, prelates, lords, venerable elders, wise heads of cities, have come together here for common benefit, we call for the sake of the German nation's common, not to say supplicants' private offense, which seems to be important enough, we appeal for help, and humbly ask you to enable our most holy Lord Pope Leo the Tenth, through your joint letters, to prevent this and other intolerable abuses, with which a large book can be
out of fatherly love and vigilant loyalty to the shepherds, and to insist on the unbreakable observance of the treaties formerly established with the apostolic see, as we have thought above, may not arise, as you have all requested and desired from the bottom of your hearts, with the further decree that if his Holiness should desire to draw up and establish with you some other treaties more beneficial both to the said See and to your nation, he would communicate them to your distinguished assembly, otherwise you would be held above the common law and the statutes and decrees of the holy fathers. We do not doubt that he who is so kind by nature and instructed in good arts from his youth, who therefore knows very well what St. Gregory wrote to the bishop of Arelat, Vigilium, and said: As we hold over ours, so we also hold over the rights of any church. Far be it from me that I should offend what I have decreed with my priests in any church, because I do not mean well with myself when I do violence to the rights of my brethren. We do not doubt, I say, that the so long desired pope will give a desired answer to your so holy and blameless request.
167 Emperor Maximilian I's order, given at Augsburg July 2, 1518, to hold the Concordats of the German Nation in the Liège Diocese.
Ans Kapp's "Nachlese," Theil II, p. 417.
Translated into German by J. F.
Maximilian, by the grace of God chosen Roman Emperor and King in Germany, Hungary, Dalmatia, Croatia, Archduke in Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Brabant, Count Palatine, to the venerable Erhard, Bishop of Liège, ecclesiastical prince, our beloved, and to all and every collatoribus of the monasteries located in the diocese of Liège, our imperial grace and all good beforehand.
Because we well recognize that the treaties of the German nation, which were entered into and made between the apostolic see and the now said nation by our then most beloved Lord Father, Frederick the Third, Roman Emperor, have in many and various ways in this diocese of Liège, with your permission and approval, especially by the multiplication of the treaties of the German nation in the diocese of Liège.
The Holy Roman Empire and the German Nation are in danger of being violated and invalidated by the following abuses: the abolition of the apostolic pardons, reservations, unions, incorporations, appointments and powers of appointment, extended acquaintances, inaugurations, resignations and irregularities, and other abuses of this kind, to the greatest prejudice and detriment of the Holy Roman Empire and the German nation, but we want to remedy and counter this so dangerous storm and the rights of the Holy Roman Empire and said nation detrimental consequence, according to our imperial duty, in good time: We order you all and every one of the aforementioned, as well as all other princes in the Holy Roman Empire who have their territories or offices in the aforementioned diocese, and enjoin you by our highest disgrace and punishment set below, that you, as soon as you have received this letter, you shall without delay remove as unlawful owners all and any who, in prejudice to the ordinary collators and the treaties of the said nation, have invaded the monasteries of the said diocese, or have allowed others to come into their possession; those who have been duly legislated upon, and who have entered, as it were, through the door of the sheepfold, and have sought out the lawful and canonical possessors, and have made answerable to them of such revenues by your tithe takers and payers, and others, they may have names as they please, in a real and effectual manner, and for the rest, let no one, be he of any standing, office, or honor, as he pleases, by virtue of certain letters, or of the aforesaid apostolic pardons, or of other letters, even those issued, issued by us, or extorted by force, although it has never occurred to us to approach anyone in favor of the treaties and concordats, to accept him as an independent foundation, or to take the liberty of accepting him, of conceding possession, or of speaking about the revenues. If anyone should dare to act contrary to this imperial decree and will, let him know that he has thereby deprived himself of all the privileges and liberties granted by the Roman Court and contained in the Corpore Juris, and shall be punished by imperial excommunication and confiscation of his property. What punishments, if you should be guilty of them, which is far away, we want to demand them from each of the above-mentioned, by virtue of our power, and have the present edict duly executed. In witness whereof we have made this letter and caused it to be kept with our attached seal. Given in our imperial city, July 2, 1518,
of our empires, the Roman in the thirteenth, the Hungarian but in the 39th year. Sealed by the king, and thus by the emperor's own order. Renner.
B. The papal legate is denied his request for money for the Turkish war.
The report of Achilles Pirminius Gassarin that the estates of the empire did not want to allow either the priestly tithes or the further collection of the indulgences to continue.
From Cyprian's Urkunden zur Reformationgeschichte, Theil II, p. 40.
Translated into German.
The more praised emperor started to hold a great imperial diet, attended by six princes, in the month of Julius, whereupon the tithes, so far imposed on the priests in the German Empire, and other extortions of money from the mob through the letters of indulgence, were completely refused to the Lord Thomas de Vio Cajetan, Pope Leo of the Tenth (who soon after was truly overcome from the Scriptures as the Antichrist and was quite clearly revealed to the whole world) Cardinal Tituli St. Sixti. Sixti, has been completely denied.
169: Raynaldus' excerpt from a speech delivered by the Cardinal Legate Thomas de Vio.
Speech in which he asks the Germans for money for the Turkish War.
From the uuuul. nun. 1518, toio. XX, no. 85 sqq. Translated into German.
The new and unusual name of the tenth, twentieth, or fiftieth part should not frighten you; they would be frightening to me, too, which I gladly confess, if they only occurred. But since they are not to pay the fiftieth, twentieth and tenth part, but only to deposit it in a safe place and with the condition that, if it is not needed at the appointed time for the campaign, the money will be returned to those who have deposited it, you will consider it something godly and holy, and not unpleasant for any Christian man.
So let them refrain from fearing, since there is nothing to fear; and from saying that this procession is only a pretense to dazzle the people, so that the insatiable desire for money will not be so obvious. We, they say, are the Turks whom they want to chase away and drive out of the country; the whole procession is aimed at us. Be calm, and first see how unnecessary and superfluous your fear is; hear how innocently and honestly one deals both with the first confirmed and with all peoples; we do not want to hold the office of treasurer or collector and have the money in our power. The pope does not seek yours, who is willingly and abundantly to distribute what is his among you. But why should we bother to show what the pope's mind is, since it is worth the effort to prove it ourselves. Find out for yourselves, and all those who are so afraid will find out, that all the gold and money that has been contributed is in such a safe place that neither the collectors nor the custodians will receive any of it, but that the entire sum will be used for the benefit and promotion of this procession, or will be returned to those who have given it. We are by no means trying to lead the German treasury to Italy, but the pope wants the German soldiers to be paid from the money received, and he wants the slightest fraud to be committed. Because you also clearly see that the Christian communities, religion, empire, temples, cities, are coming to your protection, they call to you for help and prostrate themselves at your feet. If you abandon them, you Germans will abandon yourselves, if we all stick to Maximilian's flag and expect protection from nowhere but the Roman Empire, even if it concerns your cause as well as that of other countries, since Germany borders on the Turkish Empire before others. For if the Turkish fleet can pass more easily through Italy, the Turkish infantry, on which all luck in war depends before it makes an incursion into Italy, must head for Germany; we would deny that Carinthia, Styria, Croatia, and Hungary would be front walls of Germany.
It is impossible to express how much the most gracious Pope Leo cares about this matter: he cannot refrain from these thoughts day or night; he does not deal with anything else over the table; he has a heartfelt desire to sacrifice not only what is his, but even himself, even blood and life for the Christian religion and the German Empire. Only one thing is left,
that this imperial council announces the war campaign against the Turks and brings it to a conclusion. The Roman Church is waiting for this. All heads and members of the Christian community are looking to this most noble assembly. If nothing is agreed now and the matter is postponed until another meeting, all our hopes will turn to water. Be careful that such a postponement does not give the enemy the opportunity to make peace with the Persians and other neighboring powers, but that it does not bite with the German princes and bring the Christian nation into the greatest misfortune.
Consider for yourselves that this great assembly is the foundation on which the whole work of the procession rests; and if you hesitate long, other Christian princes will undoubtedly withdraw their hands and hearts from it and speak: If Germany, who is most interested because she gets her glory from the honor and majesty of the Roman Empire, who is also responsible for protecting the church, gives a negative answer and postpones the conclusion of one assembly to another, what shall we do? we will follow her example. And so, your delay will bring about the downfall of the Christian community, which is far away. As an excuse, many will plead the freedom of the absentees and say: "We have taken an oath to our church not to do anything that would harm its well-being without its knowledge; we have no authority to interfere with absentees; we first want to consult with them and present the matter at the next convention. That is, with your permission, as much as to say that we do not want to. No one asks you to do impossible things; to break the loyalty that one has to keep even to one's enemies is something we make up our own conscience about; we seek nothing but what concerns you and is within your power, namely to take a decision on a war campaign against the Turks, to think of a way to raise money without doing injustice to anyone; and finally to take a voluntary oath from those who are present that they will help faithfully and honestly so that the above-mentioned will be carried out. This does not conflict with the keeping of your oath and your duty; it does not exceed the limits of your possessive power; nor does it oppose the freedom of the absent. Therefore, remove delay from the way, for it is generally harmful and dangerous.
From this it was clear and obvious that the pope did not proclaim the holy war in order to extort money from the Germans, because he had
He did not want to send a penny to Italy, but rather that the German people should contribute to the preservation of their nation by a joint resolution of the German council; On the other hand, those who advised against this war allowed themselves to be taken in by the vice of avarice out of a mere impiety to the detriment of the Church, by refusing, as first indicated, to contribute any money to the glorious work to be undertaken and carried out for the restoration of religion, But by no means did Pope Leo try to enrich the Mediceans with the German money and to buy them new principalities for it, since he himself had in mind to advance with a hundred armed ships before Constantinople and had already sent envoys to various kings.
17V. Answer given by the princes of the German Empire to Cardinal Cajetan and other papal legates at Augsburg in 1518.
This answer came out under the following title: responsio principum Germaniae, data reverendissimis dominis legatis sanctissimi domini nostri Leonis X. et ceteris oratoribus in August. Vindeli- cor. 1518 per eruditissimum dominum Richardum Bartholinum Perusinum, capellanuin reverend. cardina! Gurcensis in litteras relata. 1518. quarto.
Translated into German.
The Cardinal, titled St. Sixti, made his entrance into Augsburg with a rather Persian splendor, as befitted an emissary of the Roman court, for he was resolved either to return to Rome or to be met by the Emperor together with the German imperial princes when he entered Augsburg.
In order that the plea of the papists might be heard in the assembly of the imperial princes, a special meeting was held for this purpose. The papal delegates went there and were received in the second gate of the palace by Marquard von Stain, supreme commander of Bamberg, a brave and handsome man, who represented the emperor in this, as well as by the Cardinal of Mainz and other German princes. First of all, the papal letters and apostolic credits were read, in which the Roman Pontiff informed the German imperial princes of the great danger facing Christendom, and how much they were in danger.
that they needed the help of such considerable states of the empire. He also exhorted them to be concerned for their own honor as well as for the welfare of the whole Christendom, considering their power and the good hope they had everywhere. After various things had been said about this matter by both parts, the Cardinal of the title of St. Sixti gave a very delicate and appropriate speech to the princes assembled there, and after he first of all appealed for their goodwill and testified that they were good ambassadors, he presented the actual reason why they had been sent here; namely, because a particularly great danger was now imminent for the whole of Christendom. He tried to prove this from the many victories that the Turks had achieved for some time. He also took evidence from our own discord at that time, and exhorted the estates to undertake a campaign against the enemies of the Christian faith, because now there were more reasons to begin the war in an active way against this enemy than to keep it away from them in a defensive way. He took evidence from the prosperity, usefulness and religion, as well as from the power, bravery and good state of warfare in which the German Empire currently stood, to show that the estates were both obliged and able to do the same. He added that they would not be able to escape from this matter without the involvement of a disgrace, since the welfare of the whole Christendom depended on the present imperial assembly. In explanation, he cited the example of Emperors Henry and Otto, who had very often saved Christendom from being harassed by foreign enemies; and the closer Germany was to the Turks than Italy, the more zeal and vigilance they should reasonably show, so that they would not only look after and advise their own best interests, but also those of the general public. Finally, in the name of the Roman Pontiff, with many beautiful and thoughtful words, he exhorted the estates assembled at that time to peace and unity.
After the German princes had discussed this proposal together, they replied that they had understood the will and opinion of the Most Holy Father both from the credentials read to them and from the delicate and well-placed speech delivered by the Cardinal, and that they wished to make the necessary mature deliberations for themselves on this important matter.
The most reverend gentlemen envoys should already now give the Roman Pontiff the assurance in the name of the German imperial estates that they would contribute everything that could help His Holiness to defend and protect the Christian name. For in such an important matter they would never let themselves be lacking. With the next, however, they wanted to communicate a more circumstantial answer to this.
When the German princes of the empire had deliberated for a few days on what answer they wanted to give to the papal envoys (for so much time had passed), a speaker from the priestly college of Liège appeared in the prince's court and would have made a speech if he had not been forbidden to do so by the German princes, who at that time had various other annoying matters on their minds. However, they ordered him to put down on paper what he wanted to say and to hand it over in writing. As he had his speech 1) already written out, he handed it over immediately. But it contained nothing but invective and blasphemies against the Roman court. In it, he recounted all the intrigues, vices, knavery, mischief, and frauds that were encountered at the papal courts in those days. He testified that everything was fundamentally corrupt, that nothing good, nothing godly, nothing just and holy was found there anymore. This, however, and various other things were only mentioned and carried out because all legal claims to the benefits of the clergy had been taken away from them. The situation was now everywhere and in all things as the great thieves and swindlers in Rome wanted it to be. It had come to the point that one could no longer promise anything certain because of the many recourse, acceß and secret reservation in the ecclesiastical office. Expectations, revocations and thousands of other things were all the same, and it would not be long before the previous reservationes mentales would be transformed into reservationes pedales et tibiales 2). Yes, what was most intolerable was that the most stupid and wretched people, who possessed neither virtue nor learning, who had been educated only in the cattle stables or in the cookshops, and who had evil, depraved minds, would be elevated to the most important positions of honor.
1) This is the Document, No. 166.
2) that is, they would be turned into hand and foot cuffs.
in their, the Liège, order; therefore they most humbly requested and entreated the German princes to restrain the unruly outrages of the papal court henchmen; and as all this had been done without the foreknowledge of the very best and holiest Pope Leo the Tenth, they did not doubt that if the German imperial estates heard the complaints led by and to the colleges, those would be seriously punished who in such a way disgraced the Roman court before the world and deprived it of its prestige.
After this and various other pertinent matters had been read, the discussion to be held on the matter was postponed until the afternoon.
In the meantime, the papal letters that he [the Pabst] had given to his envoys were read. For since he had hitherto been accused by many partly of avarice, partly of arrogance, he endeavored to avert such accusations from himself, and to persuade the princes that it was so far from him that he should ever undertake anything out of ambition, that he would gladly leave the honor of defending the whole of Christendom to others, if they would only lay their hands earnestly on such protection. As for the accusation of avarice, he was accused of it improperly, since he had wished nothing else than that the German princes would announce war to the Turks, from which they would certainly have the greatest benefit.
(7) When the princes read this, they are said (as I have been assured) to have been very displeased about it; they also let themselves out harshly against those who scattered such seeds of dissension, since they now had to take care of public affairs rather than being able to decide what this one and that one wanted to bring up.
But this seemed to them, as the estates of the German Empire, to be the most indecent thing, since they were not afraid to write that the princes should be forced by force if they did not want to be moved by reasons.
Response:
9th When the princes wanted to communicate the answer that was to be given to the envoys of the pope, and which they had written in Latin, they thought it good to subject it to the assessment and censorship of the emperor before it was made public. However, as far as I can assume, it was neither accepted by the emperor, nor was it published.
The same was announced the following day in the following manner.
(10) When the envoys and spokesmen of the Roman Pontiff and the King of France, and on the imperial side the Bishop of Trieft and the Provost of Waldkirchen, had met and discussed among themselves the answer of the princes of the Empire, they went to the Emperor. The spokesmen of the King of Poland also met. And after the emperor and the others had organized a session, the bishop of Trieste spoke as follows:
Most Sublime Emperor!
After the princes of the German Empire had well and variously considered what had been presented to them by the most dignified envoys and spokesmen, they had well understood that what they had been asked to do about a campaign against the Turks was a very important and precarious matter. Considering that this matter was of the utmost importance and that more time was needed to consider it, they thought that they could not make an explicit statement about it now. But as soon as each of them would have returned to his hereditary lands, each of them would consult his estates, and what they would deem good would be announced at the next meeting, which, however, was to be scheduled before their departure.
11 The bishop of Trieste presented this briefly and delicately, and perhaps with more caution than our condition and that of the times required. For he did not bring along everything that he had written out and with which one already publicly carried oneself. Therefore, it will not be unhelpful if I communicate here what was actually written by him.
answer as it had been drawn up in writing.
Since the princes of the German Empire had many things to consider that could not be hurried because of the great importance of the matter, there were three causes in particular that could be sufficient to prevent an enterprise against the Turks, if not completely, then at least to postpone it somewhat.
The first is because the power of the enemies is so predominant that at least from Germany fifty thousand men of arms would have to be provided for a war against them. To which end the annual pay and an incredible amount of food would have to be found.
The army would have to pass through Thrace and Mösia, where there is no livelihood to be had and no booty to be taken. The Germans would therefore have to rely on their forces alone, and not on others, to settle their accounts. After various other things, which could reveal the greatness and difficulty of this matter, had been presented in many and emphatic words, he touched on the following points
3) On the other hand, also that very modest and delicate thing that caused the most stir among the common man at that time. This was a main obstacle, because the priests and monasteries could hardly be made to pay tithes, since in Germany no place could be found that was not filled with everyday complaints about this, since up to now the occupation of the ecclesiastical offices had been such that neither the concordats or treaties of the German nation nor international law had remained unoffended. The other nations, the French, Hungarians, Poles, Danes and Britons, enjoyed their liberties without any offence; the treaties and alliances which the Roman Pontiff had recently established with them were held sacred; only the Germans had to be the prey of everyone, even of the strangest people; It is so far away that the courts of the princes, the free imperial cities and ecclesiastical estates are free from the deceit and oppression of the Roman court, that rather all their rights and liberties are curtailed, invalidated, abolished and destroyed, and even the episcopal rights are not spared; hence the so-called patrons and rabulists have gained their wealth at the Roman court. Before one could attain something certain and become entitled to a small spiritual benefit, one had to go through various burdensome procedures, in which each one was set up only for money-making, so that because of terrible expenses and great effort, the church utensils and altar cloths often had to be moved and sold. And it would still be good, if only this would help. For in Rome new canon laws and statutes were daily being devised; and if everything was lacking, silence was not lacking, whereby all law and equity were overturned. Hence it had come about that the ecclesiastical goods were completely exhausted because of protracted processes or many expenses (without which nothing could be obtained in the present state); it was also no longer a secret that one was even ill-disposed against the pope there. For this purpose
4) Thirdly, the complaint of the laity was added, which made this matter even more difficult. They said freely and publicly that they would give as little as the twentieth or fiftieth part of their fortune for this purpose. And if the princes wanted to force them to do so, it would be the greatest injustice, since they had already been plundered in so many ways, and their sovereigns had been led around by the nose by the Roman court. They should count for themselves how much war tax they had already had to pay; but they had not started a war against the Turks with it, but had been in a scramble to seize the money they had collected. He also refers, not unreasonably, to the annals, which are said to have been intended for war against the Saracens and Turks from the beginning. He had good reason to ask where these astonishing sums of money had come from, and what had been done with the variously advertised plunders of ecclesiastical properties? So that such a thing would not happen with the tithes demanded from the clergy and the twentieth part from the laity, which has happened up to now, and that would become a custom or rather law, which necessity once requires, they would prevent their part with all their might, so that such impositions would not break down.
These, then, are the reasons why the German princes, in considering such an important and precarious matter, must take time for reflection, so that first of all the people may be soothed by an amicable presentation, and then everything may be arranged for the undertaking and execution of such an important matter with due deliberation.
C. What edicts have been drafted from the imperial deliberations) and from the imperial farewell.
171: The Pope and a commission assembled in Rome sent a letter to Emperor Maximilian I, telling him how to proceed with a campaign against the Turks throughout Christendom. 1517 and 1518.
From Goldast's 6o "8titut. imp., tom. II, p. 127. - The proposals belong to the year 1517, the emperor's answer to the year 1518.
Presented and considered at the Diet of Augsburg in 1518.
In the name of God, amen. Since the undertaking of important things is very well thought out, Her
But since, when good advice is taken, it must also be put into effect without delay, we have also put the considerations that must be made about a very necessary campaign against the Turks into a certain order and explained them in a few chapters. To wit,
1. whether it would be advisable to undertake such a war?
2) Whether it must be conducted in an insulting manner or only in a defensive manner?
What are the most important things that can resist and hinder such a war, or how to remove such obstacles?
4. whether the war to be started should be waged by all Christian princes at the same time, or only by some, and by how many or which ones?
5. what preparations should be made for this, and where the necessities to pay for them should be taken from: namely, first, how to propitiate God; second, where to get money; and third, where to get the soldiers. With regard to the money, it should again be considered in what way it can be collected, how much is required for this, and by whom the account for it should be kept. With regard to the troops, however, it would have to be considered: from which nation they should be recruited, and how many foot soldiers as well as cavalry would be necessary. This would be part of the deliberations on the preparations for such a war.
6 As for the conduct of the war itself, it would have to be considered, firstly, by which route one should go to meet the enemy, by sea or by land, or by both routes at the same time. Secondly, whether the army to be formed should be divided into two parts, a sea power and a land power, or whether it should be left together. Thirdly, what route the army should take on land or where it should be brought to the ships. Fourth, where the army is to assemble, and where it is to attack the enemy first or foremost. Fifth, what arrangements to make so that our army does not lack the necessary sustenance. There are two other external circumstances that are useful and necessary for the conduct of this war:
First, how that which is conquered or captured in this war, if God gives happiness and victory to it, is to be distributed among the Christian princes; who is to do the pronouncing, or whether the distribution of what has been conquered is to
Avoidance of all disputes should be postponed until after the end of the war.
Secondly, whether one of the infidel princes, who is afraid of the power of the Turks or believes himself to be dangerous to them, could be invited by us to take part in this war.
We have presupposed the main articles occurring in this investigation in their order; now let us make them again in such order and give our opinion about them.
The first chapter.
Whether such a war should be undertaken against the Turks, however.
There is almost nothing left to discuss on this point. It is no longer in our power and freedom, since our eternal and at the same time very powerful enemy has already made the greatest efforts, and will continue to do so in the future, to expel us from our lands and goods, and even to deprive us of our lives; just as he boldly and proudly lets himself be heard to say that now that he has brought the Orient under his control, he will turn with all his strength to the Occident, and will not rest until he has seized the whole of Christendom. Therefore, we must decide either to sacrifice our blood and lives to him voluntarily, or to let it come to the edge of the sword. Therefore, where there is extreme need, there is no room for far-reaching deliberation.
The other chapter.
Whether this war should be waged in an offensive or defensive manner.
There is also no doubt that among contending parties, the one who fights the other party hostilely is better off than the one who only tries to defend himself against an attack. For once it is a mark of greater courage and superior power to attack others than to expect the attack from them. The courage of the opposing party must always begin to grow more despondent the more one sees the one against whom one is to proceed hostile daring and undertaking. On the other hand, what is weak or uncertain on the enemy's side can best be recognized when the opportunity arises. And much of this will be discovered in the condition in which the Turks are standing, when our armies first come to the point where
The enemy's discoveries can be used for our good and to their detriment. Finally, those cities and peoples who have to think only of their own security have no time and means to organize that by which the enemy could be attacked in his own country. Such inconveniences are caused to the enemy when he is attacked in a violent manner, but they are averted from ours by this very means. Various other reasons could be cited as to why it would be more advisable to wage this war against the Turks in an insulting manner; but these can be easily guessed by everyone. However, two things must be kept in mind when starting such a war by insult. First, that the enemy is immediately attacked with such an army that can suppress him; second, that people are at hand and used in the war council who are familiar with the enemy's country and its entire condition. However, these and other things cannot be unknown to a prudent and vigilant commander.
The third chapter.
By what such a campaign can be hindered, or how such hindrances can be lifted.
The greatest obstacle to such an undertaking would probably be the disagreements and discord among the Christian princes, if there were already some of them or if they should arise in the future, which God, by His grace, wants to prevent. For the prevention of such a pernicious evil and the eradication of such a satanic weed, peace would, however, be desirable, all internal disputes would have to be put aside for at least one year, and after the end of the holy campaign, another six months would have to be added. Such a state of peace would have to be confirmed and assured by all princes of the empire in the most binding manner, and would also have to be increased and assured with the usual church censures, banishment, removal from the empire, deprivation of goods and liberties, in such a way that he who would interrupt this state of peace would be considered a public enemy of God and the Christian faith, but all other princes would be obligated to execute the set punishments and censures on him. If, however, new disputes should arise, they shall either be decided by the Roman Pontiff and the College of Cardinals, or the settlement of the same shall be postponed until after the end of the war.
It would also be more holy and salutary if a holy fraternity were established between the princes of the German Empire and the Roman Pontiff, and confirmed by both sides with a sacred oath, and also surrounded with the usual punishments and censures against those who would be tempted to break such a holy union; and all those who would join such a fraternity should commit themselves to persecute with all their strength those who would oppose it; and this fraternity could bear the name fraternitas sancto cruciato, the fraternity for a holy crusade.
The fourth chapter.
Whether the war should be waged by all the princes of the empire at once, or only by some, and by how many, or by which.
We read in the Acts of the Apostles that after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit the faithful disciples of Christ were One Heart and One Soul. If this great gift of God's grace were now to be encountered among the princes of the German Empire, not only would the divine will be evident from an expected victory, but the whole world would also be converted to His most holy faith, which we certainly want to expect from His grace. Now, a certain number of princes who are equal to each other in power does not seem to be necessary for a single army, but nevertheless, for the sake of all kinds of unforeseen human circumstances, it will be good that at least two princes who are equal to each other in power and prestige, who are also in a true friendship with each other through God's grace, command the army. There is also no doubt that His Sacred Imperial Majesty and the most Christian King of France, for many reasons that we do not want to mention now, because they are known to everyone, would be more suitable than anyone else to lead the army on land; And if the other Christian kings or princes were not personally necessary for this work, especially because of the remoteness of their countries, their active help and support in people and money would nevertheless be quite indispensable. And everyone should be willing and ready to pay them, since he is a noble part of Christianity, has to thank God in heaven for his royal dignity on earth, and at the same time protects his own welfare while defending the general welfare.
Accordingly, we consider that through such
The war will be waged happily if all the princes join together and under the leadership of two unanimous commanders. Just as these two powerful princes have already offered to do so, various other kings, princes and nobles have also sacredly pledged to contribute their utmost to such a holy campaign. And we hope that through the heart-guiding power of God the rest will also be moved to follow the example of their godliness and bravery.
The fifth chapter.
Of the preparations necessary for this war, and the means required for it, first of all:
Of Obtaining Divine Help.
As such a war requires great and manifold preparations, it will be important to see how we can be assured of divine support. For in God's hands are the borders and dominion of all worldly kingdoms. Without Him, nothing can be called strong or powerful. And even if we have to fear that he has been provoked to anger against us by our sins, if we take refuge in him with a repentant and penitent heart, he is still the same gracious and forgiving God who once looked upon the Ninevites, whom he had decided to destroy, with mercy and spared them because of their repentance. Just as He, for the sake of the sins of the princes and the people, once gave Asia, Greece, Thrace and Africa, along with many other countries, as a prey to their enemies, so we must call upon Him with all our hearts and ask Him not to inflict a similar calamity upon us. But the way in which God can be reconciled with us is to pray to Him day and night, to fast, to give alms, to sacrifice, and above all to bring Him a contrite, penitent and humble heart. For God is most pleased with this, since, according to the testimony of the prophet, He is not in need of our gifts and sacrifices. Therefore, our whole life must be changed, our hearts must be lifted up to God, preachers of repentance must be sent everywhere and among all nations to exhort people to repentance; the most distinguished clergy and prelates must be reminded to set a good example to others with words and works. If God has been reconciled and gracious to us in this way, He will also give us victory over our enemies.
The second is to raise the money needed for the war.
As for the money, which is the most indispensable part of the war, and how it is to be raised as well as preserved and administered, one has to consider first of all the size of this war and the great power of the enemy, which is certainly terrible because of the size of his empire, especially since it has been increased by the recent conquest of Egypt and Syria, which is certainly terrible because of the size of his empire, especially since it has been increased by the recent conquest of Egypt and Syria, to which must be added the great number of his troops and, as they say, the indescribable amount of money among them; Moreover, he has become proud and bold because of the manifold fortunes of war so far, that he thinks of all high and important things. Now, if an army is to be built that will either equal or precede him, a large sum of money will be required. But we thought that it would be sufficient to find a sum of eight times a hundred thousand gold florins. It will not be too difficult to raise such a sum of money. For if, first of all, the Christian kings and princes would make a considerable contribution from their customs duties to such a holy war, since this war concerns their own affairs; and if the enemy should gain a victory, which God would prevent, they would certainly lose far more than they spend on it. As it is said of this enemy that it is his custom to spare the common man, but that he is a sworn enemy of all princes and nobles. Wherever this enemy has ever gone, he has exterminated the princely houses, suppressed the nobility, and thirsted for their blood in a completely insatiable way. Therefore it is all the more advisable that the princes give up a portion of their revenues and customs duties, and thereby make both their own lives and their country secure; whereby we by no means prescribe a certain sum for them, but leave everything to their prudence and generosity.
The other two ways of collecting money depend partly on the clergy and partly on the laity. The clergy shall pay the tenth part of their income from each year; or, if it be deemed good, they shall pay the twentieth or thirtieth part from their lying grounds, according as their income is great; but what has been divested shall be considered as if different tithes had been taken from it.
would have been directed. Or (if it should seem better, and which should therefore be more carefully considered) one could bring all church goods into one estimate, but especially the goods and income of the monasteries, the cathedral and metropolitan churches, and let those flow an annual benefit from it, who are all time owners of it, as much as the maintenance, need and also moderate comfort of the same requires, but with regard to the difference of their persons and dignities, which accompany them; The abundance of all this, however, could be used for such a holy war. It will be necessary, however, that this assessment be arranged with the deliberation of prudent men according to certain degrees, so that those who have little income should annually give no more than the tenth part; those who have a little more, the fourth and third part; but those who have the most income, two-thirds or even three-fourths of their income. Finally, however, it should be seen that every clergyman has so much left that he can live in a comfortable and honnette way; the rest, however, could all be used for this. This should also be done by the clergy all the more inevitably, the more the possessors of the inheritance of Christ owe everything they possess to God, and their example will also inspire others to follow, so that they will gladly sacrifice what is theirs to God.
As for the laymen, they could, if they are of noble status. If they have hereditary and feudal estates in their possession, they may contribute the tenth part of their property to such a war. The others could be made to pay the twentieth part; but those who must seek the support of their lives by their trade and business should not pay more than their hand can manage and their food suffers. Indulgences will also be granted to those who attend such a cross or army march and defend the Christian faith. From these sources, if the war is conducted in an honest manner, a large sum of money can be raised. For faith is not a dead thing in the hearts of the faithful, and the heavenly fatherland is not always despised, but there are and will be many who will gladly buy eternal life for such a small price, if they otherwise recognize that one fights earnestly and without pretense for the honor of God.
This money can now, according to our understanding, be collected, preserved and calculated in the following manner. Once, that each full professor of a
The city and the diocese belonging to it shall appoint a priest and a chapter master of the collegiate church, who fear God and have a good name; furthermore, each diocesan of a city shall appoint a competent person for this purpose; and finally, each township shall elect one or two, either from its own resources or from the clergy, as they deem most useful.
These persons shall now send in the money in the manner previously instructed, and keep it either in a box or otherwise in a safe place, but in such a way that each has a special key to open it, and no one can get to it without the other; and they shall keep a written account of the whole sum in the most careful manner. And no one, be he of any rank or dignity, shall be subject to lay his hands on such money in an ecclesiastical manner, or to use it for any other purpose than the advancement of the costs of war, and that by avoiding excommunication and that surrender to the curse and wrath of Almighty God, of which he shall be absolved and absolved by none other than the Roman Pontiff, and only at the hour of death and after previous sufficient satisfaction. That such money shall be used only for the conduct of this holy war; and if by chance the war should not be continued, then such money shall be faithfully returned to those from whom it was collected.
But since the entire sum of money cannot possibly be brought in all at once, yet necessity demands that the army be paid its pay, it will be necessary to arrange a settlement with reputable merchants and moneychangers in each province so that they will take over the delivery of money to the army and also convert the incoming money into a cheap profit. And with this work, they will get heaven for their reward. It will also be necessary to assign to each merchant or moneychanger the provinces from which the collected money is to be delivered to them. This seems to us to be the best way to keep and administer the money. At the same time, however, it seems necessary to us that at least the third part of the entire sum be collected in cash right from the beginning, in order to promote the recruitment of soldiers the sooner. The rest could then be brought in with greater ease and paid out to the army in a previously determined manner.
From recruitment of the army.
The greatest strength of an army consists of foot soldiers and cavalry equipped with cuirasses; and in both kinds of armor the Christians do it before others. The foot soldiers, however, will be drawn from those nations that are accustomed to serve on foot and to keep battle order; among them are the Swiss, the Germans (who are therefore called national servants), the Spaniards and the Bohemians. Among them, many will have to be supplied with rifles, because the enemy has a large number of such warriors among his army, who are equipped with rifles. At least sixty thousand men of arms will be required; but the French and Italians will be best used as cuirassiers, and will likewise be needed to the tune of four thousand. Twelve thousand men of light cavalry will also be necessary, especially since the enemy will outnumber us the most in this kind of men. But we will have to choose people who are most accustomed to such warfare, such as the Spaniards, Italians, Dalmatians and Greeks. If such a land power, which has no lack of sustenance and is equipped with all the necessary armaments, is well led, it will be insurmountable, even with divine blessing. For the establishment of a sea power, however, the Venetians and Genoese from Italy, those from France who live in the province of Brittany and other regions, the Spaniards and the inhabitants of both Sicilies, as well as the kings of England and Portugal, will be able to equip a select number of ships and ships' people and oppose the enemy, as will soon be reported.
The sixth chapter.
What was to be discussed and accomplished with regard to the conduct of the war.
Regarding the necessary consultation on the war, which was the sixth point, the following is to be mentioned
First to consider whether to attack the enemy by land or by sea. However, a fleet at sea, and a powerful fleet at that, with all the necessary necessities, seems to be indispensable, especially since the enemy has already equipped three hundred warships and more vessels are being brought in every day, which, we assume, are to be used for the replacement of the cavalry. Therefore, it is now necessary.
that a naval fleet should also be set up to oppose it. For since half of the war must be fought at sea, we would be badly off if we lacked a considerable naval force. This alone would make us half as weak as the enemy. For in this way the enemy would have sole command of the sea. Moreover, without a fleet, the means of life would not be transferred to the army, or the shores, together with the cities lying on the shores of the sea, could not be sufficiently defended. Thirdly, we would lose a great deal of our prestige with the enemy and make him even more courageous and defiant against us if we wanted to wage war against him without having a fleet in the sea. Finally, we would be unequal to him in the entire war, and all our preparations on land would be in vain, if we did not make it our business to arm ourselves against him at sea as well. For this reason, however, a fleet is necessary, and one that must not be afraid of the enemy. It is true that we will not be able to equal them in the number of warships; nevertheless, it will be easy, at least not impossible, to muster a strong naval force against him in another way, namely in the following manner: A hundred warships can be brought together in approximately the following way. The most Christian king has many of them in the harbor of Marseilles, and he can provide at least twenty. If, in the same way, the Catholic king will be able to add eight more to the twelve warships lying ready in Sicily, it will not even be difficult for him to do so. The Venetians will be able to equip forty of them; and the Roman Pontiff, together with the College of Cardinals, will endeavor to put ten warships to sea. From the Genoese, however, we will receive thirty warships, as well as various other larger ships, which they call carachas or galeones. The kings of France and England will also be able to provide a large number of such ships. For they have recently had a large number of them built. The kings of Spain and Portugal will also be able to contribute a considerable number of such ships. However, each nation will have to maintain this fleet at its own expense, and in some cases a contribution will have to be made from the general tax and war chest. Now these ships, if they are in connection with the aforementioned warships with sailors from Spa-
If they are occupied from Biscay, Portugal, from Brittany in France, from Normandy, England and Italy, and if they are supplied with sufficient heavy artillery, they will not only equal the enemy's naval power in numbers, but will also be able to overwhelm or disperse it without any dispute.
As for the commanders of the fleet to be put into the sea, each nation would have to provide them from its own resources to the ships equipped by them. Those, however, to whom the command of the whole war would be left, and who would have an unlimited authority, would be the two kings of England and Portugal, both of whom, according to their known godliness, have offered themselves for it. If, however, the King of England should not be able to undertake this enterprise because of too great a distance, this entire naval power could easily be commanded by the King of Portugal alone.
Secondly, it would have to be considered whether the enemy should be attacked with combined or divided forces and armies; and there is no doubt that the unification of our people and the joining of their forces, especially in the countryside, would be the most beneficial. For a divided number generally shares courage and heartiness, which would by no means be encountered by an enemy who is swarming with people, and if he had his entire army together, a division of ours would be exceedingly disadvantageous. To that extent, our army will not shy away from the multitude of enemies, nor from the danger that arises during the battle. Next, it will not be advisable to attack the enemy here and there, but if we attack him or rather the enemy's capital, it will enhance the honor of our bravery and bring great benefit to the whole war.
Thirdly, it would have to be considered on which way and through which country the army should take its march. Now a threefold proposal would have to be made. It could go either through Germany and Hungary. It would be very convenient, however, if they had reached Hungary, because then the army could be taken by ship and easily launched on the Danube before Constantinople. But this would probably be too far for some princes and therefore inconvenient. Or the route through Dalmatia and Illyria, which is not far from the sea, could be taken.
is occupied by many areas that are difficult to cross, and is especially inconvenient for cavalry. The third way, in which all these difficulties would be eliminated, would be if the imperial and most Christian Majesties with their troops turned through Italy to Ancona and Brundusium, from where they would have a very convenient entrance into Epirus and Greece. They would be able to pass through these two friendly countries. From Ancona, the troops could easily be shipped across; and once a part of them had gone ahead, their commanders could easily follow.
Fourthly, it would have to be considered where the troops should hold their assembly point, and where they should attack the enemy lands first. The army serving on land could, as already mentioned, assemble at Ancona and Brundusium, but those serving at sea could gather in Sicily, reinforce themselves at the ports of Ancona and Brundusium, and turn with all their might to the enemy shores. In the enemy lands, however, the port of Durach 1) seems to be the most convenient for the arrival of the ships, although it is in the hands of the enemy. However, it will not be difficult to conquer it if our land and sea power approaches it, since the whole shore is safe and provided with various harbors, and the matter will not be so difficult if one takes people who are familiar with the country.
The first undertaking of the army would have to be directed either at the enemy army or at the conquest of the city of Constantinople. One must immediately go for the main one, and if this is beaten or defeated, the other one will be conquered all the more easily. But this would have to happen no differently than if those who know our and the enemy's forces judged that we were superior to them. If this were not the case, we would not even have to undertake a landing, but would have to be content with the possession of what we have. But we leave this to the wisdom and deliberation of the commanders themselves.
Fifth, as for the provisions needed for the army, it will not be difficult to obtain them if, as we thought earlier, our fleet exercises dominion over the sea. For the merchants will freely depart and arrive from Murcia, Apulia, Calabria, Neapolis and Sicily, and will be able to earn all kinds of livelihoods freely and unhindered.
1) "Durach" is Durazzo in Epirus, in ancient times Dyrrachium.
will be able to bring food to the sea. Those who live in Lombardy, indeed almost from the whole of Italy and France, will be able to bring all kinds of food to the sea by means of some rivers, but especially the Po, and from there it will be easy to transfer it to the other shore; but how it is then to be brought to the army is left to the good counsel of those who are present there. It will only be necessary to see to it that one gets in touch with honest merchants who are in good standing and who will arrange for the delivery of the food to the army for a nice profit; the title and the prestige of commissaries could also be attached to them by each local sovereign, so that they could carry on their business with all the greater vigor.
From some external points.
Of the above two external circumstances, and the first: whether a certain unbelieving prince, such as Sophi in Persia, could not be stirred up against the Turks, whom he hates irreconcilably? should not be unhelpful to discuss; but we cannot place any particular hope in him, but must rather rely on God, on our power and good counsel.
Concerning the distribution of what may be conquered, and so that it may be done so fairly that no one has cause to complain about it or to have a cause for discord, arbitrators shall be chosen for such distribution, The Roman Pontiff together with the College of Cardinals, or the princes themselves may compare among themselves and, after the war is over, decide what is due to each of them from the spoils, according to the proportion of the work and expenses expended on this war. And all others must submit to this decision, avoiding those penalties that were threatened above when the state of peace was mentioned. Or such a holy fraternity would have to be established, by virtue of which what has been conquered would be left undivided among themselves until everything could be decided and divided by appointed and popular persons. For to divide something before one has it for certain is clumsy; but to quarrel about it afterwards, after the war is over, is dangerous. In this way, everyone would soon be able to see how much would fall to him, and would not need to spend time in vain with other people's things.
Up to this point, we have presented our opinion about each piece in particular. But now we want to add one thing and another. For if it were possible for the kings of Hungary and Poland to attack the Turks on the other side with an armed army, there is no doubt that this would contribute greatly to a successful undertaking. For the enemies would be frightened by it and forced to divide their forces at several points. For this reason, however, they can be incited and admonished, and offered the necessary help, but in such a way that the armament of the army discussed above is not deprived of anything. For therein rests the strength of the war and the hope of a victory to be preserved. If, however, without reducing the expenses determined above, something could be given to them by the remote nations, the Norwegians, Danes and Swedes, for example, for the maintenance of an army, then this would certainly be of better benefit to our project.
Similarly, if in addition to the army, which we would like to see united in its forces, as thought above, such a number of troops could be brought to our feet, by means of which we would be able to make an incursion now and then into the enemy countries, and also to occupy the fortresses everywhere well: who does not recognize that such would be beneficial to our undertakings beyond all measure? However, we maintain once again that we must first of all take care only of those things that are most indispensable for war and victory. However, we hope and trust in the Lord that there will be no lack of anything else. For where will one find a noble heart that will not hasten to join in this war, full of a true desire for honor? Where will one find one who is eager to see the world, who should not take up arms on this occasion and march against the enemy? What man will not be impelled by the hope of making spoil to turn with where so great a booty is to be hoped for? Who will prefer to display the specimens of his valor and other praiseworthy qualities before God and man than in so beautiful and holy an undertaking? To all these reasons of motion shall be added the honor and love of God, the welfare of the orthodox church, and the desire to attain the heavenly fatherland. The princes of the earth shall increase their wealth and prestige, the
Brave and noble men contribute their courage and bravery, but all others contribute a part of their temporal fortune to this general cause, help to promote the best of God's cause and human society, and in this way acquire an eternal reward. Even if this enemy is very powerful in numbers, wild and cruel, we are still far superior to him in the bravery of our soldiers and in the good conduct of war, which is most important in war, to such an extent that we can certainly promise ourselves a victory, if God will otherwise graciously hear our prayer. Therefore, there will be neither a lack of money nor of brave men. They will try to follow the example of their most noble kings and princes. These princes will thus, through a moderate effort and toil, by means of such a victory, both increase their own fame and glorify the faith in the true God, spread the inheritance of Christ, and prove themselves worthy of being placed by God in such an exalted place; They will make themselves pleasing in the sight of God, and by such holy warfare they will achieve, besides the increase of their temporal fortune, an eternal fame among men, and their names will be inscribed in heaven.
Marching route.
The Emperor will send the King of Poland and the Electors with his troops, the German national servants, Bohemians, Hungarians, Poles, Danes, and those of the German Order of Knights, 70,000 men strong, namely 20,000 cavalry and 50,000 infantry, in good order and accompanied by sufficient heavy artillery, through Hungary.
The King of France will pass through Friuli with the French, Scottish, Swiss, Lorraine, Savoy, Venetian, Florentine, Sienese and Luccian armies, with 4,000 cuirassiers, 8,000 light cavalry, and 50,000 infantry, also with sufficient heavy artillery.
The King of Portugal will lead a fleet of three hundred large and small ships into the sea, among which at least 60 will be warships. This fleet will put ashore 40,000 men, consisting of Spaniards, English, Portuguese, Genoese, Neapolitans, Sicilians, Flanders, where it will be necessary, together with a large quantity of ordnance, and horses to carry them on land. Of Our Most Holy Father, the Roman Emperor
Pabst's fleet could now either unite with this fleet or supply food to another army that is to pass through Friuli on foot. This fleet can also turn to the area of Apollonia and Dyrrachium to await there another army of the king in France. If it should be deemed good, it can turn from there to Peloponnesus, or straight to Constantinople, or unite with the above army, if necessary, at the Gulf of Thessalonica, or go to Jerusalem and Egypt, since another army led by Hungary will not get far from the Gulf of Salonika.
Twelve million ducats would be sufficient for all these undertakings in a period of two years. Now, if the immediate rulers would give the fourth part of their annual income for this purpose; if, furthermore, the ecclesiastical princes would also grant a fourth part for this purpose; Thirdly, if those princes, commonwealths and other secular lords contributed half a tithe of their revenues, and the people paid the fourth part of a penny of every pound in buying and selling, and if the collections collected at the sermons on the cross were abundantly given and diligently sent in, it is to be believed that these five means, if properly used and administered, would amount to far more in revenue than in expenditure, that is, far exceed twelve million.
Consultatio Germanica, that is,
Consultation, which was held by the princes, princes and estates of the Holy Roman Empire at the
Augsburg in the year 1518 held imperial days were hired.
In the name of God and under the government of the Holy Spirit, Amen! After our most holy Lord and Father Leo X., Roman Pontiff, together with the whole college of the most reverend Cardinals, also with the participation of the spokesmen of various Christian kings and princes, who have met in the city of Rome for the consideration of the present urgent need of all Christendom, In virtue of the pastoral office entrusted to him over the host of the Lord, he considered and seriously pondered, not without great mortification of his paternal heart, how for some time now the sworn enemies of our most holy faith, the cruel and abominable Turkish people,
raged against the Christians, not only in the neighboring provinces, Aetolia, Peloponnesus, Achaia, Arcadia, all of Greece, Thessaly, Magnesia, Macedonia, Epirus, Eubona [Euboea?], Moesia, Thrace, yes, even Constantinople, the headquarters of the former Oriental empire, first troubled by hostile raids, but afterwards also devastated, filled with murder and blood, and finally even subjected to their authority, but afterwards even penetrated into the heart of Italy, and at times let himself be seen not far from the walls of the city of Rome, where the head of all Christendom dwells and the apostolic see has been erected; there he vented his fury, plundered, devastated, and then returned to his fatherland with much booty, rejoicing and exulting, Moreover, this most holy father also perceived that the Christians themselves, either out of a secret doom of God over our sins, or because the vast majority of them look only to their own self-interest, and do not care about the general cause, are listening to the groans of the wretched, the tears of the oppressed with deaf ears and closed eyes, and therefore no efforts have yet been made to oppose the cruel undertakings of this general enemy of Christianity, or to heal the wounds that have been inflicted. And although such things can still be regarded rather indifferently, since this public enemy had not yet spread so far as we now see it apparently before our eyes, over which also some of the previous Turkish tyrants were so much more easily carried by the Christian rulers, who, although they had brought some small countries under themselves, had nevertheless not yet directed their thoughts at all to spreading themselves over the whole face of the earth. But after he had imagined the present state of affairs, and considered how great and powerful this general enemy had now become, as being now not content with those provinces, countries, and empires which his ancestors had formerly taken from the Christians, nay, no longer content with all Asia and a part of Europe, but, after having made the king of the Persians small and crumbly in various field battles, also strangled two Egyptian sultans in a cruel manner, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt, and many African provinces, especially, as they say, Bugia, Tunis, Tremetz [Tripoli?He also has an insatiable thirst for the blood of Christians, according to his own lust for power,
is an enemy of all princes and all nobility, and publicly boasts that, after having conquered the whole Orient and a large part of the countries of the Middle East, he is now going to attack the Westerners, that is, to rage even into the bowels of the Christians, and, since no one particularly opposes him, to make the whole world submissive to him by force of arms, but especially to destroy the Christian church, which was founded by the blood of the crucified Savior Jesus Christ, and to subject the holy Catholic faith to the shameful impure Mohammedan sect, and to force the Christian peoples to abandon their religion, yes, to conspire against it with the cruelest tortures. To this end he has been made even more proud and audacious by the recent victory, since he has brought under his control even that land in which Jesus was born, and Mount Calvary, on which the footsteps of his cross are still to be found, as well as the tomb in which the most holy body of Jesus Christ was laid, and the fatherland of the blessed Virgin Mary and of all the holy apostles. All these places are now trodden upon by the unclean, shameful feet of these enemies of Christ, and are possessed to our own shame by those who, alas! have variously defiled and polluted their hands with the blood of Christians; not to think that the Christians have now been robbed of the opportunity to make pilgrimages thither, by which they were formerly variously comforted.
Now that all this has been well considered, and it is easy to see that the Christians are not only in great danger, since this strong enemy already has two hundred large and small ships in the sea and is preparing more and more of them, but also that there is an unavoidable necessity to fight with this enemy over property and blood, life and salvation, papal sanctities have considered that it is no longer possible to sit still or to postpone deliberations any longer, and with the involvement of all the above-mentioned persons, have deemed it necessary that a general array and campaign be organized against this general enemy of the Christians; They have also decreed that first of all the most high God must be moved by unceasing prayer and supplication, fasting, sacrifices, penitential exercises, by repentant and humble hearts, that he should not be mindful of our sins, but only of his mercy, that according to the same he should also be gracious to us, and that he should govern our minds and hearts for the happy conduct of such an important matter. But that also,
Secondly, that all wars, hostilities and disputes which have hitherto existed among the Christian princes and potentates be cleared out of the way, and either be settled by a lasting, honest peace, or else be set aside for a time by means of a standstill, so that each one may have the freer hand to arm himself for war against this enemy; Thirdly, everything that belongs to such an important matter, namely the manner in which this war is to be conducted, how people, money and means of life are to be raised and procured, is to be elaborated widely and wisely, and such advice, after it has been drawn up in writing by the unanimous consent of all the members assembled at that time, is to be presented to the most insurmountable Roman Emperor Maximilian, as the head of the secular princes, defender of the apostolic see and Christian faith, who at the same time has the greatest experience in matters of war, for examination and consideration, so that he, according to his wisdom and experience in matters of war, if something should be added to or taken away from this proposal, would open his insight and good advice.
1. Although the most noble Emperor, who was already aware of all the above-mentioned circumstances from undeniable samples, and who is also being increasingly confirmed in this regard by written and oral testimonies, has often regretted this state of affairs from the bottom of his heart, and has also often asked the most holy Father, as well as other Christian kings and princes, for help against this spreading distress, and other Christian kings and princes, he has often sought and requested help against this spreading misery, he has often discussed it with the entire German nation and his advisors, and from his earliest childhood he has wished for nothing so much as that he might one day have the opportunity to attend such a campaign: Nevertheless, the ambassador who brought him this proposal and the reports of so many distinguished men was very pleasant to him. And although he recognized that all and every article had been written with great understanding, skill and wisdom, he did not want to omit that his advisors, who were present with him at the time, read through everything carefully, examined it and considered it, and that what they found necessary to remember should be put down in writing.
(2) But the above-mentioned councilors, after having carefully and thoroughly examined everything, found nothing to be added or done that could be conducive to the execution of such a project; especially if the condition among the Christians were such that
would like that the sooner the better such a war could be started and such a campaign undertaken. But because such a matter is so important and involves so much work that it will be impossible to carry it out in the coming summer; Since the German empire and people consist of many different countries, governed by many different princes and laws, customs and habits, and it is therefore not possible to bring about a general campaign at once and with speed, but it is nevertheless to be feared that the Turk, who has already equipped a large fleet and made astonishing war establishments, will not rest and refrain from filling one and another Christian province; The imperial councillors have therefore wished to submit in writing, with due deference, some of their proposals as to what should be done in the coming year against these enemies; what could be done in the next two years until a general expedition; what generals the army could lead, what people and money the cause could be attacked with: So that the present year may not pass without the slightest counter-event, and at least something may happen to shift his aim, lest he gain a firm foothold in the recently conquered kingdoms, rule them according to his own liking, allow himself to be worshipped therein, and also assault the other African kings and potentates, of whom he has not yet seized, meanwhile with war, from all of whom he would certainly extort astonishing sums of money, and use them against the Christians without any doubt. However, the said councils want to hand over their opinion in all respects to the most holy Lord and Father, and to other councils of Christian kings and princes assembled there, and not to deviate from the above-mentioned proposals sent to the Imperial Majesty, but to stand by them as wisely considered and reasoned. They are also of the opinion that, if in the coming summer no movements arise among the Christians against this enemy, the latter will in the following years curtail all opportunities for the Christians, and all help that could be expected from foreigners will be displaced, if we do not try to get ahead of him soon. Therefore, this matter must by no means remain suspended until the following year, but rather the African kings and princes must be admonished, encouraged and helped, also the Scythians and Tartars, by means of rewards and pay, to a general enterprise against the Christians.
The Turks will have to bring up the troops before the Turks get ahead of them. Since they lost a great many people in the last wars with the Sultan and Sophi, there is no doubt that they will seek to enlist new troops from the neighboring peoples. If the Africans, Scythians or Tartars could be hired by us first in the coming year, there would be all the fewer people left for our enemies.
The Imperial Councillors have indicated in the following how the money necessary for the war is to be raised, and in such a way that it is bearable for the Germans, although they are not at all willing to present this as a law and guideline to those princes who can make a better proposal for raising money in their kingdoms and countries, but they are willing and ready to let others find their insights. The order in which the war is to begin and the command under which it is to be conducted, so that the Christians are not allowed to be idle during the three-year period set, has also been instructed in the following documents.
(4) First of all, the funds to be raised for this undertaking shall be discussed. Next, how the disputes among the Christian princes are to be settled; by whom and how this can be done throughout Christendom; and also which of the Christian princes are to remain at home during the first year in order to settle all disputes. Thirdly, what is to be done in the coming year and then in the two following years. Each point must be dealt with in due order.
(5) First of all, as regards the maintenance and sufficient pay of a numerous army necessary for this undertaking, three years in succession, Imperial Majesty's Councilors consider it convenient and necessary if the whole of Christendom were to arrange for the fiftieth man to be selected by all families and houses in the ecclesiastical and secular classes and provided for this war; the remaining forty-nine, however, would be required to provide him with his annual sustenance. The maintenance itself, however, as determined above by the most holy pope and his councilors, could be communicated in the following manner: a strongly armed horseman or cuirassier would be paid six ducats monthly, those belonging to the light cavalry four or five ducats, and those serving in the infantry three ducats monthly. Such money, however, would be
The money could be collected if a florin or Rhenish florin contribution were imposed on each house or family every month.
In addition to this money, which was placed on each house and family, the entire clergy in all of Christendom (with the exception of the mendicant order, which has no certain income at all) would have to pay the tenth part of all their income and goods for this undertaking these three years in succession.
(7) Likewise, all those in the secular class, but especially those who have their own houses and families, must contribute the twentieth part of their income for this very purpose.
(8) All, both clergy and secular, including widows, if they have no real estate or income, but possess cash or other movable property, they shall be bound, though in silence, by oath to declare the sum of their property. If an estimate has been made of how much they can use annually, then they, as well as the others, shall pay off the twentieth part.
All manual laborers and day laborers, including those who serve other masters for a certain wage, shall pay half a Rhenish florin for this war. However, if among such servants some are found who either have income for themselves or otherwise possess money and movable property, they shall be put on a footing with those mentioned in the previous article.
Moreover, our most holy Father could send people throughout Christendom and have them preach sermons on the cross and the army. If, by means of such sermons, a king, a prince, or any other common man should be induced to attend this holy war at his own expense, he shall then be exempt from all the above-mentioned obligations and burdens.
(11) Those, however, who for other reasons are prevented from personally attending this holy campaign, may, nevertheless, if they have previously contributed their usual contingent to it, be made partakers of the fruits and benefits of this holy war in another way, if they have contributed something to the happy continuation of this war according to their ability and in true, zealous devotion, or if they have enabled others to make such a contribution.
The necessary number of soldiers will be easily gathered from the whole of Christendom, if both spiritual and secular princes, governors and authorities, bishops and priests, in their countries, provinces, cities, bishoprics and parishes, will take care that everything that is male is counted and written out from man to man.
(13) In the ordinary recruitment, however, it shall be kept as reported above, namely that all houses and families shall always provide the fiftieth man. No less can others be recruited from the collected tenth and twentieth part of goods and income. Regarding the money that is to be collected through indulgences and army sermons, the papal holiness, the imperial majesty, princes, estates and communities in Christendom shall select skilful, honest and prudent men, both spiritual and secular, who will faithfully administer the collected money and then give due account of their housekeeping.
As for the equipment and heavy ordnance necessary for war, the kings, princes, and other commonwealths shall be required, according to their ability and strength, to help each other out as necessity requires. The transport and government of these, however, as well as the corresponding powder, lead and the like, along with all other expenses incurred by the carriage, must be paid from the general war chest of Christendom.
(15) Perhaps it would be more convenient and useful in this war, too, if those who want to serve in it were partly taken in full pay, but partly also provided with subsistence, especially because it will be difficult to find so many merchants who can procure such a large quantity of provisions and food. Those, however, who have taken it upon themselves to supply the army with food, will have to be given freedom to buy out everything through the whole of Christendom, and even to buy, pay for and bring in what they need without delay over the sea. Therefore, it seems to be necessary to appoint commissars of provisions for this undertaking, both on this side and on the other side of the sea, who will be responsible for the acquisition of foodstuffs and will then sell or distribute them to the army.
Such commissions for provisions shall correspond with each other according to the nature of the regions, and thereafter give a faithful and honest account of their administration before the deputies elected by the whole of Christendom.
16. Since it is known that there are many and various disagreements among Christians, especially among various great and powerful leaders, which have not yet been settled to this hour, and therefore it could easily happen that one or the other could fall apart and become apostate when the occasion arises, it is nevertheless important to see that private disputes and domestic hostilities do not benefit the general enemy of the Christian name, that private quarrels and domestic hostilities would not be beneficial to the general enemy of the Christian name, but detrimental to such a holy and necessary campaign, while all others would freely and safely decide to undertake such an enterprise, but would by no means be prevented, stopped or even alienated by such internal discord and unrest: It will be absolutely necessary that all these domestic wars, disputes and discord, which are either now really pending or could arise, be settled among all states without any objection, or postponed until another time. Since it may be a long and arduous task to establish peace and friendship among all and sundry, let at least a six-year standstill be established among all those who have something to do with each other, the cause of their quarrels being as great as it may be; so that all Christian princes, powers and authorities may enjoy true peace and security during this time; and after the three years appointed for this war have elapsed, another three years may remain, during which Christendom may have peace, so that it may not, immediately after the end of such an arduous and dangerous campaign, be involved in a new war and be plunged into harm and unrest.
(17) But what is to be done in each of these three years appointed for war must also be carefully considered, since among the vast majority of peoples in Christendom there is such stupidity and inexperience in these matters, such irrepressible obstinacy, together with an awkwardness and coarseness in manners, that they either do not at all respect or do not even understand what belongs to the general welfare; therefore it can easily happen that when such a general contribution of the tenth year is offered, the tenth year is not paid.
If it is to be carried out from house to house, such people will be found who will resist with all their might, who will not want to be burdened with such a burden, but will prove to be disobedient and recalcitrant.
(18) Therefore, in the next year, which will be the thousand five hundred and eighteenth, (1) serious steps shall be taken to establish and establish such a general treasury throughout Christendom, and to remove from the way all that would oppose or hinder it. Thereupon all wars and disputes pending among Christian princes and potentates shall be set aside and postponed for six whole years; but those who oppose it shall be punished by the apostolic see with the strictest ecclesiastical ban, and by the imperial majesty with the imperial ban and disgrace. Should any of them resist in an audacious manner and persist in his recalcitrance, he shall be warred against with arms by all other Christian princes as a pacifist and punished according to the law. In such execution against the recalcitrant and the disturbers of the peace, the Most Serene King of France shall have the upper hand, and he shall especially enjoin those princes and peoples of Christendom who live towards morning and towards midnight or who border on his kingdom, even against their will and by means of coercion, to pay the contribution as well as to enter into the standstill for six years. Those, however, who live further towards evening and midnight, shall be held to their duty by the Most Serene King of England, as he will bring these decrees to execution in the same whole area. Whoever shall dare to break such a desired retirement shall be severely punished for it. Finally, those who live from the evening until noon, if they should be tempted to interrupt such a general settlement, will be chastised by our most holy Lord and Father, the Roman Pontiff, either directly, or by the standard-bearers of the apostolic see, as their recalcitrance deserves.
19 Therefore, it does not seem to be a bad thing if, in order to calm down all the unrest that could easily arise, as was thought before, first of all the two most illustrious kings of
1) Here, it is evident that these Rathschläge belong to the year 1517.
France and England remained present in their kingdoms during the first year of this campaign, and diligently and carefully awaited the office that had been assigned to them in the meantime. Should necessity now require that the recalcitrant be driven to observe their duties by more severe means of coercion, half of the contribution which is to be demanded from the houses and families could be applied to defray the expenses. What can be spared from such tenth or twentieth part, however, shall be used for the Asrican enterprise, of which something shall be reported hereafter. For the purpose of taming the rebels and recalcitrants, which is to be carried out by the Roman Pontiff and the aforementioned kings, skilled commanders experienced in warfare are to be chosen in all regions, who are to be present wherever necessity may require, and who are to remedy all difficulties in good time.
(20) But what should be done in the next year, before the general campaign is opened, there will be another opportunity, so that in the first year, when a general army is being formed, the Turks will not have a completely free hand to do as they please. For since the Christian princes have good hope that they will be able to persuade the Persian Sophi to take up arms against the Turks, especially since he fell very short in some battles and was abandoned by the Sultan in Egypt in the last campaign, they should also take his entire army with them, And since his whole army has been taken away in such a way that he would rather wish for peace than war, it is necessary to consider how something could be done by the Christians to his disadvantage in Africa, which this tyrant has begun to subjugate for some time. If the Turks should oppose them, they can, on such an occasion, dare to quarrel with them in the expectation of victory, and, with divine assistance, make the beginning of a happy enterprise. If, through the humble prayers and supplications of the Christians, they could reach out further, they would do well to go before Alkair, that is, before the outcast Egyptian king's residence, pursue their victory, and make that city subservient to us, which, by all accounts, would be quite easy to accomplish because it is not particularly fortified. And with the conquest of this place, the Nile River and all of Africa would be given over to the Christians.
The Persian army would fall into the hands of the Persians, but the Turks would be deprived of the opportunity to continue their attacks there. From there, a way would be open to make the Persian king all the more courageous to attack this common enemy.
21. Therefore, it would not be a bad thing if something were to be done in Africa in the coming summer, especially so that those kings who have not yet come under the control of the Turks, such as the kings of Tremez [Tripoli], Fez and Morocco, as well as the Arabs and Libyans who inhabit the mountains, might be encouraged; These could be supported, and with the help of the troops of the Christians they could be encouraged to undertake an enterprise against the Turks, also attracted by pay and rewards.
The supreme commanders of the expedition to be undertaken next year shall be the Most Serene Emperor and the King of Portugal, in conjunction with the Catholic King, as well as with the participation of other princes, except those whose peoples are destined for the undertaking in Poland. In the following two years, these leaders, among others, will remain there and will remain until the end of the war. In order to carry out this plan, to arm and maintain their army, they will need the other half of the contribution of the fiftieth part; no less will they have to use the contribution of the tenth and twentieth part, mentioned above, for their campaign; But especially from Germany, where this money can be raised most easily, just as from there the food and other necessities of war can be procured, and the soldiers necessary for the enterprise, according to the condition of each province, can be taken from it. To support this, the Most Holy King of France, along with a few others, will provide a fleet at sea, so that the Emperor and the King in Portugal will have to act jointly on water and on land.
(23) Above all, however, it will be necessary for our most holy Father, along with others who are gathered in Rome because of this matter, to send skilled persons to the above-mentioned Astrian kings (and if there are others who have not yet relinquished their lands to the Turk), to discover this plan to them through them, and to have them admonished that they, together with the Africans who are subject to them, as
The Arabs inhabiting the mountains, or if they can muster others with them, would also make an attempt against the Turks, as these peoples, after having suffered so much from the Turkish tyrants in the past years, can easily be used for their purposes.
24. The other enterprise of this coming year will be undertaken by the most illustrious King of Poland, both in his name and in so far as he is the guardian of Louis, King of Hungary, and his subordinate army will be brought together from Poland, Hungary, Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia and other countries subject to him; Subsidies will also be handed to him from Lower Austria, and the necessary artillery will be provided by the Emperor's Majesty; Bavaria, however, will be able to reinforce its army with men and supply it with food after the repartition has been made.
Those who do not want to or cannot attend this campaign personally will have to recruit and provide other soldiers by means of the money to be demanded from them, which they will easily find in Bohemia. For the so-called national servants are not to be used for the first expedition, but are to be saved until the other African expedition.
(26) It will be no less beneficial and profitable if the Roman Pontiff, together with his assembled council, will take care that some Scythians and Tartars, who live nearest to the Poles, Russians and Moldovans, will be brought into arms against the Turks by means of proper pay and reward. These, together with those Moldavians and Wallachians who live in the so-called Great Moldavia and Wallachia (and who could easily be divested of the service they have hitherto rendered to the Turks for a certain amount of pay), could dare to make the first raid with the King of Poland in the coming year, and at the same time draw to themselves those who live in Little Wallachia.
(27) Just as the Tartars, in addition to the ordinary pay given to them by the papal court, must be tempted by other decent rewards.
28) When these three nations, the Scythians, Moldavians and Wallachians, join the army of the most noble King of Poland, he will prepare an expedition to Smedra 1) or Chilia.
1) "Smedra" will be Semendria or Smederewo, a fortress on the right bank of the Danube, below Belgrade. - "Chilia" will be Kilia or Kili, a fortified city at the mouth of the northern arm of the Danube.
And when these places have been happily conquered and a sufficient garrison has been left there, the troops can then return to their winter quarters. And this undertaking will be all the easier for the King of Poland, because the tyrant of the Turks does not think so much of this region as of the preservation of Syria, Arabia, Africa, which he has only recently subjected to his control, or of a new conquest of other Asiatic countries.
In the other year appointed for this expedition, which will be the fifteen hundred and nineteenth, the Most Sublime Roman Emperor Maximilian, together with the King of Portugal, will continue the enterprise begun in Africa, go beyond Alcair and Alexandria, and will be able to strengthen his army with the African, Moor and Arab soldiers, especially since from those who inhabit Fetz, Morocco and the Arabian mountains alone, more than a hundred thousand men can easily be raised.
In this second year of the proposed expedition, the most illustrious King of England will be able to approach the Emperor with a fleet to support him; just as our most holy father, the Pope of Rome, together with his cardinals, will not fail to admonish him not to break the loyalty he has so sacredly pledged to the Emperor in this matter. With this King of England will be able to join the King of Denmark, together with the troops of the Grand Master of the Prussian Knights of the Order and Russian archers, of which they have a great number, and which do good service at sea.
These, together with the troops of the Roman emperor and the king of Portugal, will be able to undertake an expedition to Africa and expect a victory, to make Alcair and Alexandria their subjects, to cross the Nile, to bring the Persian Sophi into arms against the Turks, and to bring them to a common understanding with the Christians. The Christians cannot imagine anything easier than this, since the tyrant of the Turks will then not be able to use the Scythians and Tartars, who are too far away from him, against the Persians; moreover, the Christians will see that they can draw the Scythians and Tartars to themselves by promising them richer pay, as was thought above.
32. in this same fifteen hundred and nine-
In the tenth year, the King of France will send all his troops, as many as he can muster except those which he, like other Christian princes, will have to send in the 1518th year. In the tenth year, as many of his troops as he can muster, in addition to those which he, like other Christian princes, will have to send to the Arican expedition in the year 1518, and which will have to be supported by the other half of the contribution to be collected, as well as by the tenth and twentieth penny of all goods and revenues, will prepare for this holy campaign, and will be able to march through Italy and Friuli, Illyria, Croatia and Dalmatia, and from there set out straight for the trading city of the Turks, called Oberbosna 1).
33) Why such a route would be more beneficial and advantageous for the whole of Christendom as well as for the king of France himself than an African or midnight route, can easily be judged from the fact that in the last few years some occidental Christian peoples have been involved in all kinds of wars and quarrels with the king of France, the memory of which could easily cause all kinds of trouble during his passage. On the other hand, with the Christians living towards the east, who never waged war with him, such inconveniences and hostilities are not to be suspected.
34. In the same year, the above-mentioned King of Poland, with his own army as well as with the auxiliary troops consisting of Wallachians, Moldavians and Scythians, will continue the undertakings begun in the previous year and unite with the King of France to besiege the city of Upper Bosna; They will then advance on both sides and besiege the two cities in Thrace, Philippopolis and Adrianopolis, and, if possible, conquer and fortify them and try to remain in them as a rampart. From there, however, the Tartars, Scythians and Wallachians, who will be granted a dwelling in these cities, will go on raids into the neighboring countries, take booty and collect plunder for the maintenance of the army. They will also be gladly accepted if they carry out a raid on Calcidon [Chalkis?] or Negroponte, or otherwise on one of the nearest harbors, and are willing to conquer the same, into which the African fleet, if it first carries out its project in Africa, could then enter in the third year determined for this enterprise, expose the people leading it there, and the latter could then unite with the land forces of the King of France.
1) This is, Bosna Serai, the most important trading town in Bosnia.
In the third year of this campaign, which will be 1520. In the third year of this campaign, which will be 1520, the Most Serene Emperor, together with the King of Portugal, if they have previously liberated Africa (as mentioned above), conquered the cities of Alcair and Alexandria, and dispersed the Turkish fleet (according to the Turks' plan), will have their army cross into Greece, since they will not lack ships and vehicles to accomplish this, unite there with the King of France and Poland, and attack the Turkish capital, Constantinople. And when they have conquered Constantinople, they will penetrate further into Asia Minor or Natolia and other more remote Turkish cities, and try to subdue them, in which they will undoubtedly be helped by Sophi, the king of the Persians. And in this way they will conclude this holy war, when they have defeated and dispersed the general enemy of the Christians.
36) But the above-mentioned Christian princes will be able to win over the Sophi of the Persians by the following rewards, if they agree with him that after the conquest of these provinces half of Natolia, all of Caramania and Armenia will be given to him; but the rest of what has been conquered and won in Asia and Africa, especially Egypt and the holy Jerusalem, where the tomb of Christ is, must remain for the Christians alone.
(37) If by such a happy success Christianity had spread almost three times more and more, it would be necessary to see to it that the conquered peoples were also gradually converted to the Christian faith by mild means.
But those kingdoms, provinces and territories which have been conquered in this holy military campaign shall be divided without all deceit and guile by the Christian kings, princes and estates, according to the pronouncement and decision of certain judges, to whom the Most Holy Father and his entire College of Cardinals shall be elected.
Finally, in order that everything may be expedited and set in motion, it will be necessary for Christian kings, princes and authorities, who, as reported above, will be present at the Arican expedition, to dispatch their emissaries to their imperial majesty, the sooner the better, to consider, examine and set in motion everything and anything that has been proposed here with the same, above what necessity requires,
The Emperor will unite the three years with his Imperial Majesty, and help to accomplish what has been popular in Rome, as well as with all kings, princes and states, and especially what will be popular because of the African expedition, as both the matter itself and the hostile counter-measures in the future summer may require.
(40) The kings, princes and states who will follow the King of France's march will do the same, send their envoys to him in good time to arrange the necessary things, and also stay with him until the matter is finished.
Thirdly, those who go to battle with the King of Poland will send their envoys to him to have the necessary conversation.
42. Finally, the necessity seems to require that all Christian kings and princes send their emissaries to Rome to our most holy father, or confirm those already there, so that they can negotiate the necessary matters with his papal holiness during the three-year expedition and drive it forward, They can also support it with all possible diligence, so that what was once decided together, especially the collection of money, the recruitment and payment of troops, the unity in Christendom, and above all the six-year truce among them, will be unbreakably taken care of and kept.
His Imperial Majesty's response to previous proposal
After His Sacred Imperial Majesty, following the response received from the Princes and Estates of the Holy Roman Empire assembled at the Imperial Diet in Augsburg, which was drafted concerning a general campaign to be undertaken against the Turks, saw and considered very well, that they were still far removed from the intention and desire of our most Holy Father, as well as from the almost unanimous opinion of many other Christian kings, princes and states, so they did not consider it advisable to give the princes and states an answer; where not only for this reason with the envoys of the Holy Apostolic See, as well as the spokesmen of the kings of France and Poland, who are staying with them because it concerns a general matter, diligent inter
The answer to this question has been diligently examined and investigated. But after this very answer has been examined and investigated with all diligence, also in the name of all Christendom, which the assembled princes and estates present at the said Imperial Diet, it has again been unanimously submitted to His Imperial Majesty, who, in this war against the Turks, not only present His Imperial Majesty as Emperor the head of the German Empire, but also represent their sons and brothers, the most illustrious Kings of Spain, Hungary and Denmark, 1) who have granted him their authority to do so, and who are also of the opinion that the King of Portugal, although always at war with the Indians and Moroccans, will not evade such a sacred undertaking: They have decided to give the following answer to the noble Princes and Estates of the Holy Roman Empire on their proposal:
First of all, His Imperial Majesty considered that the princes and estates of the empire, in such an important matter, did not take into account the great misfortune and danger hanging over the heads of the Christians, especially after the return of the tyrant, the Turk, in Europe; as which, as His Imperial Majesty is informed by credible testimonies, not only after having obtained victory over the Sultan of Syria and Egypt, and conquered a part of Africa, but also after having put to flight (which was unknown to them before) the Persian Sophi with his whole army, and thereby almost the whole of Armenia brought to them and conquered, so proudly and wantonly, also by the booty made by the Persians and Egyptians so enriched themselves that they now also equipped a strong fleet, and let it sail with many people from their ports; He is also now turning all his forces against the Christians, since he no longer has an enemy in Asia around him of whom we could hope that he would be able to do something to him.
Furthermore, the emperor, envoys and spokesmen are of the opinion that the assembled princes have not sufficiently considered whether the assembly of such a powerful and world-famous people, on which the other Christian nations have cast their eyes, from whose strength and bravery they expect so much, will be brought to ruin, and thereby give the enemy as much courage as the whole of Christendom a general fright;
1) In the old edition: "Dacien".
and that part of the Lord's host which dwells on the Turkish frontiers and has been our shield and rampart to the present day, still preserves itself in its pitiful condition, will then become a prey to the teeth of these wolves, consequently this enterprise of the princes will not attain the expected outcome and will not only be very harmful to the whole of Christendom, but also to the whole of the German Empire, This will not only be very harmful to Christendom as a whole, but also to the entire German Empire, its princes and estates, and will arouse no small suspicion among other Christian potentates of carelessness, laziness, and all sorts of reproaches that, since others could be found so ready and willing for such a holy and necessary undertaking, only the Germans wanted to remain in a sluggishness and sleepiness, not unlike having lost their way and forgotten the old bravery of their ancestors. Nor can His Imperial Majesty be persuaded to believe that at another meeting, which they want to organize, anything more fruitful will be achieved than at the present one, where only one thing has been wrapped up in another and nothing has been done or decided. All the Electors, together with many other wise and powerful princes of the empire, are with each other, through whose good counsel, wisdom and experience everything can be timely and well considered and decided, if only a good heart, a good will and the proper zeal can be found in each one for the best of his master. Moreover, the Emperor is not unaware of how much work it takes and how many difficulties must be overcome before the Diet can be held; if it were to be separated again, it would be difficult to bring it together again, despite all art and persuasion. Nor can the envoys and speakers understand why the princes and estates should allow such a necessary matter to be postponed, and why they should let so many fine men, who must be brought together with so much trouble and expense, go their separate ways again, almost to the shame of the whole world. If they think they owe nothing to those who are currently in danger, then they should look favorably on their descendants, whom they will leave behind in this very danger if they do not get down to business in time. If they do not want to worry about their descendants, then they should go into themselves and realize that they owe such an undertaking to the Son of God, Christ, without any objection, as He has endowed the holy Catholic Church, in which they were born, with His blood.
They should therefore go to council more seriously, and, if they have first considered the matter carefully with the other Christian kings and princes who would like to join them, they should also attack it unanimously and with one accord, together with our most holy father, joyfully and undauntedly; But always under the condition, which has been presented at any time by the Imperial Majesty and the delegates of the Roman See, namely that all the money collected throughout Germany shall not be used at anyone's discretion, but only for the campaign against the Turks, as the Princes and Estates want and will order.
172. farewell to the imperial diet at Augsburg, which was decided by the imperial majesty and the estates of the empire after the end of the same. Anno 1518.
From Lünig's Imperial Archives, part. Zsnsr. oout. I, P. 321.
We Maximilian, by the Grace of God chosen Roman Emperor, at all times Major of the Empire etc. etc., publicly confess and declare that, as elected Roman Emperor, Bailiff and Patron of Christendom, we, out of a Christian frame of mind, have considered and taken to heart the outrages and afflictions that are appearing more and more everywhere in the Empire; also the grave matters of common Christianity of our holy faith and German nation, with which the enemy of Christ, the Turk, is daily using and oppressing our faith and common Christian church, and therefore decrees that our and all Christian kings and potentates' embassies come to papal holiness to advise and decide how such frightening objections and actions may be advised and resisted, and further, for the same and other moving causes, to hold a Diet in our and the Holy Roman Empire's city of Augsburg, of the opinion that, with the Holy Roman Empire's estates, in the same right, its estates and the German nation's indignation, also deficiencies and defects of right, unity and peace, according to the Estates' writings, at the next Imperial Diet held in Mainz, and what further necessity requires to be advised and acted upon, so that such outrage, deficiencies and infirmities may be put down, and brought into good, praiseworthy, lasting being, and out of this a tolerable remedy against the
Turks may follow to the rescue of our holy faith, and thereupon princes, rulers, and other estates of the empire are required to join us there.
Accordingly, our and the Holy Roman Empire's six princes, all of them in person, as well as other princes and estates, have appeared before us in public, partly in their own persons, and also by embassy, as named at the end of the farewell, and after much practiced action, as well as diligent consultation, which we have done in the matters in question, have united and come to an agreement with said estates, and they with us, in the following farewell.
1. Firstly, as Papal Holiness, we, also Princes, Princes and others of the Holy Roman Empire, by their Holiness' Legation, with name, the Reverend Thomam Tittuch, Sancti Sixti Presbyterum, and Matthäum, Sancti Angeli, Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, before deliberation and resolution of all other defects and infirmities in the Holy Roman Empire, with which the common Christian church has been challenged for many years and by the enemy of Christ, the Turk, so that there is no end to it, but the more and greater, if there is no public resistance, his power and authority will extend into the Christian blood, and to the spreading of our holy faith: asking His Holiness to open the treasury of the Churches against it, and to offer all his fortune to resist such tyrannical enemy with a public and brave expedition. And therefore, as the elected Roman Emperor, and the rightful bailiff, protector and patron of the Holy Christian Church, requested and appealed to for faithful help and assistance in such Christian work, we, together with princes, princes and other estates, let ourselves be heard against the above-mentioned papal legate with an answer, How we and they, of all parts, bear the good knowledge, also of the same answer given writings in hand, as we and others of the holy realm should and will act with our every subject and kinsman, by which they may be moved to give their help and fortune to such salutary expedition.
2) And namely, that every person in the holy realm, male and female, who goes to the holy sacrament, shall give and deposit the tenth part of a Rhenish guilder for the next three years, every year, for the expedition and the common Turkish campaign. And so that the same
The proposal is so much more pleasing to the subjects, and so much more likely to be appreciated, that all of us, and every other of their embassies, shall inform them in a comforting and credible manner that such a proposal will be used and applied nowhere else than for the Turkish campaign, and that what will fall to each authority will be kept there in good and certain custody until the campaign begins, The money, which is to be given to the people of each place and country, horse and foot, as much as they are sent for, shall then be given from the same money to no one else. But whichever sovereignty cannot or will not send men of war, that they shall give their money and direct to pay others with it by the commissary, which any prince or sovereignty shall order. In the case of the same commissioners, the subjects, where the procession does not proceed, are to demand their money again, so that they too may be answered without any refusal or delay.
3. that our and the Holy Roman Empire's princes, rulers and other sovereigns, who have jurisdiction, government, or who otherwise have noticeable trade, elevation and food, after they are of higher status and nature, also more than the subjects, are due and owed to give and give to such Christian expedition, as much as their devotion in such being or it will please them.
4. to all of this, that we may be comforted by the support of papal sanctity and the Roman Church, according to our given answer. And every authority shall have diligence on behalf of its subjects, so that the poor may not be so highly burdened against the rich in this respect. All of which, as indicated and stipulated in this our agreement, we, as well as our and the Holy Roman Empire's princes, rulers and other estates, shall and will faithfully apply to our and all of their subjects and relatives with all diligence and earnestness, and also help to promote our property, so that our and ours may nevertheless be felt and found obedient by papal holiness, other potentates and common Christendom, in a faithful, Christian spirit and opinion, also of the Holy Roman Empire and the common German nation.
5 And what we and the Estates thus, after diligent efforts, obtain and maintain among our subjects and theirs, that we and they want for the next Imperial Diet, so that we can be sure of it in our and the Holy Roman Empire's interest.
We, as well as the princes, prelates and counts in our own persons, and the estates through their fully authorized attorneys, are to appear without delay and without hindrance, to notify each other, to discuss it on both sides and finally to decide. Also, that which is thus received by the subjects and finally decided between us, is to be made known to Papal Holiness by his own message, in addition to and with other necessities incumbent upon the realm. The further need for such a Turkish campaign of captains, cavalry captains and the like shall be discussed and decided there in the same way.
6. Furthermore, as all kinds of indignation, also lack and infirmities of right, unity and peace of the estates of the empire, as above, have been brought before us in writing at our next Imperial Diet at Mainz, and we therefore together with the estates here to avert them, also to handle our established land peace, to more substantial and constant purification, reformation, order, occupation and abstention of our imperial chamber court, In addition, we also undertook to take due and necessary notice of the excessive delicacy with clothing and adornment, drinking, weddings, kidnapping of money and property from the German nation, the coinage, the country's small fare, the disorders of the lower, also foreign courts and other things, and also to act and argue on them publicly, but for this reason, for obvious reasons, nothing was decided this time. And because of the obvious necessity to further deliberate and act in the above-mentioned matters of our Imperial Court of Appeal, as well as in the other articles mentioned above, with the advice and will of all parties, so that all errors and deficiencies may be eliminated, We have left these matters pending until the above-mentioned future Imperial Diet, when action must be taken for the sake of the Turks.
7) However, in order to ensure that the rights do not stand still in the meantime, but are continued, we wanted to speak and act with] chamber judges, assessors and all relatives of our chamber court until the aforementioned future Imperial Diet in Worms, and to proceed in the matter of our chamber court and the parties.
8. We also want, so that it may be seen by men that we are inclined to promote justice, and that for this reason no deficiency may be attributed to us, to send out our letter of command to all 1) those who still owe their petition for entertainment in respect of our Court of Appeal, to submit the same petition from this hour to Worms, so that judges, assessors and other relatives of our Court of Appeal may be moved and have their entertainment the sooner, and in all of this may most graciously be given sight of, and other relatives of our Court of Appeal, may be moved and have their entertainment at the indicated time, and in all this graciously to provide insight, so that before judged and granted settlements, and presently of the Holy Roman Empire, no one is burdened against equity on account of such proposals.
9 And especially ours, also the Electors, Princes, Councillors and Deputies, if we send them for the next account of our Court of Appeal, according to our order at Costenz, shall consult and judge this year on demand, the entertainment, how that may be granted by the decree, also by the notice, there, as is permitted and commanded in the said order.
10. In matters concerning the Lords of the Ladders, on account of the cities of Beern and Vicenss and other matters included in their petition, also those which have been brought forward and handed over by our Regents at Insbruck and others, likewise Thomas Index's half-obtained execution against Danzig and Elwingen [Elbing], the same matters, with all their appendices and circumstances, shall remain pending until the next Imperial Diet, when they shall be subject to further action and resolution, and shall not be acted against in accordance with our recently issued mandate.
11) All and every of the above mentioned points and articles concerning the help against the Turks and other 2) things, we promise, as much as we as Roman Emperor, also us and our dear son Carolen, King of Hispania etc. etc., that we, as Archdukes of Austria and Dukes of Burgundy, will execute them without any danger. In witness whereof we, as elected Roman Emperor and also as Archduke of Burgundy, have hereunto affixed our Imperial Seal.
We, the princes, prelates, counts, lords, and free and imperial cities of the Holy Roman Empire, as well as the princes and other ambassadors and rulers sent by the states, confess that
1) In the old edition: "anfalle" instead of: an alle.
2) In the old edition: andern.
and declare, in and by virtue of this letter, that the above-mentioned points and articles concerning help against the Turks and other matters have been established and set up with our advice, good knowledge and will by the Roman Imperial Majesty, our most gracious Lord, and that we have united all and sundry with Her Imperial Majesty, and Her Imperial Majesty in turn with us, and do so in the name of the Holy Roman Emperor.
By virtue of this letter, we promise to comply with and perform all such things as may concern or concern each of our sovereigns and friends, on whose account he has been sent to leave here, or his own, over whom he has authority, and also to pledge to all of them, to the best of our ability, 1) faithfully, without danger. Date ut supra.
1) Perhaps: to live.