❧ The Supplication: That the nobles and commons of Osteryke made lately by their messengers, unto king Ferdinandus, in the cause of the Christian Religion.  
Item. The kings answer to the same.  
Wherpon followeth the words that the messengers spoke unto the king again at their departing.   

Miles. C. to the Reader.  
THis last month of march (most dear Reader) was delivered unto me in the high Almains languaige a copy of this present supplication in print, whereof truly I was right glad: Not only to hear of so many noble men & so great a multitude of comen people thus fervently hongring and thirsting after God's holy word, but also it did me good at my heart, to read of the most humble & gentle fashions, that they use toward the same. For first they run not rashly together on head, neither take they their clubs in their hands, to bring in God's truth by violence, but lowly & with due subjection seek they such convenient means, as are of God's ordinance: knowing, that the comen reformation of every realm country, or city, aught to be ministered by the office of the king, prince, or ruler of the same, and not by any private person. Secondly, when they have their answer, though they can not obtain their just suit, yet make they no murmuring ner grudging, but commit their cause unto God, and remain in their supplication. Thirdly, though the king be of another mind, and willeth them to be as popish in their believe as their fathers were afore them, yet in that behalf they prefer the word of God above all the precepts of men, allbeyt they cease not from praying for their prince, ner from ioperding their bodies & goods with him and for him.  
Such holy & virtues ensamples (gentle reader) doth god set forth for our instruction, & all to guide us in his right way, to move our hearts unto earnest repentance, to make us hunger and thirst after righteousness, to plant in us all loving obedience, & peaceable behaviour toward our heads and rulers, & to shame those wicked babylonians & seditious Coraites, that disturb all ordinances of God, even those murmurers & maintainers, that had rather sit in Egypte by the flesh pots, & to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, then to be reformed & fed of God in the wilderness. O unthankful and flow bellies. O where is now among us such ferventness toward God's glory, such earnest repentance & amendment of life, as the prophet jonas describeth in the ninivites & as this present supervise declareth plainly to be in this people? which though thy can not be suffered to have God's truth sincerely preached among them (except it be by stealth) yet are they fervent toward his glory, thirsty after the water of life, wash their cheeks with tears for lack thereof, unfeigned in their request, true & faithful unto God and their country, & even ready with ten hands (as they say) to receive a right Christian reformation, & that in all unite & peaceable behaviour. Lord what shall worth of us then, that having such delight in our old wicked conversation, shame not to refuse all honest amendment of living? Full little remebre we, that the goodness of God doth call us to repentance. And what else do men procure & heap up unto themselves by such obstinate hearts, than the wrath of God against the great day of his appearing?  
Now (gentle reader) that thou mayest take some edifying by this present supplication, considre thou these points therein: First, that for all the multitude of dogs which go again to their vomit the lord ceaseth not yet from raising up some to call upon his holy name, as thou mayest see here in this people, whom the lord hath turned (as he daily doth many other more) unto his truth. Secondly, learn at their ensample not only to desire & wish for amendment of all abuses, but also take some pains & labour thyself in helping thereto, and be content to bestow thy body and goods for the same. Thirdly, make thy first complaint and suit to almighty God, and then remember, that in seeking this precious pearl and jewel of reformation at the office of the higher powers, thou forget not the fruits of humanity & love. Fourthly though thou canst not have thy lawful request, yet leave not thy duty undone, make no disturbance▪ be peaceable, commit the cause to God, and consider, that our sinful lives have deserved no better, & that it is even the heavy indignation of God, that so many Princes and rulers had rather be deceived with hypocrites (as Achab was with his four hundredth chaplains) then to have pity on their own souls, them to have compassion on their poor subjects, them to have God's glory and his holy word to flourish in their countries, them to be learned be times, and to embrace the dear son of God: whose wrath when it is kindled (as the two Psalm sayeth) then blessed are all they, that put their trust in him. Amen   

❧ The supplication, which the lower countries & cities of Osteryke, made by their messengers unto the Kings Ma. of the Romans, Ferdinandus, in the cause of the Christian religion.  
MOst noble and mighty Prince, our most gracious sovereign Lord, ●n most humble wise beseech your royal Ma. the messengers of your true & faithful country, to tender graciously their unfeigned and hearty meaning, Supplication and request which they and their affinity that have sent them, do with inward sighing hearts & Christian stomachs make continually unto almighty God, To the intent that he may be praised of his people thorough true repentance, thorough assured undoubted hope, & thorough the steadfast faith of his godly word: To the intent also that he may graciously & fatherly grant your Royal Ma. a prosperous victory against the sorest enemy of his Christendom, and that he may lend your grace & your faithful countries a perpetual peace, according to the hearty request of your said faithful subjects. This they most humbly beseech your Royal Ma. to tender and consider, and in most gracious and fatherly wise to accept it, according to the earnest expectation of your said subjects.  
first, the messengers of your said faithful countries do signify to your grace with hearty lamentation, that (for all their faithful & continual ioparding of their bodies, goods and blood) the destruction of your said countries is once so manifest, that (if amendment should not follow thorough the mercy of god) there is nothing more certain, than the piteous wasting and final desolation thereof. And even so must it ensue, if we all from our whole hearts, do not turn unto him by true penance and unfeigned receiving of his godly word.  
Now for as much as your graces said faithful subjects (of the very natural love that they bear toward your Royal Ma.) are greatly desirous and well willing, to jeopardy and bestow all their power, that the country may remain to your noble Grace and to your issue, in good understanding, & in all duties of obedience unseparable, & that your grace's lands & people may be helped to their wealth & maintenance: Seing also that of love which of duty we bear toward God & your grace with most humble & faithful hearts, we consider not only the vow that we first made unto God in baptism touching our sinful life but also our bownden duty which we own unto your royal Ma. as to our superiority ordained of God: And pondering likewise our eternal & temporal life together, we knowledge it our duty to signify unto your highness, our faithful & true meaning, how this intolerable burden & destruction of the country (which is the very scourge of god) may be taken away, & every thing restored again unto true understanding, & as it ought to be. And considering that all our intent, counsel & handling is direct only to your grace's worship & increase of honour, and to the wealth and prosperity of the land, we trust your highness will most graciously accept the true and faithful dealing of your said countries, and so tender the same, that now, in this extreme necessity, all such things may be taken in hand, as make for the comen peace, and the countries welfare: And again, that all such things may be put down, as give occasion to dysturbaunce and destruction of the public weal. Which yet can not so come to pass, unless your Royal Ma. show itself in most gracious wise toward your said country. And also except your highness do fatherly accept and tender this matter, which they have proved necessary to be a good mean or beginning o● good things to come, & may turn to the prosperity both of your highness and also of the land.  
For and if the origenall cause of the destruction of the country, and the occasion of the manifest scourge of God be well weighed, it may easily be perceived, that it cometh for hour vacant sinful lives: & that it followeth, first because we despise Gods commandments and his holy word: & secondly because that in all estates there is in manner no good politic or civil fashion, but too wilful a kind of living against all good manners, order and right: & by reason that in private houskepinge there is unmeasurable waisting and mispending, & no good nurture. But the most principal occasion and greatest offence is, the despising of God and his wholesome word: for the which God layeth this scourge upon us. For throughout all the stories of the Bible and of the heathen it is evident, that almighty God punished all Monarchies or empires & kingdoms, not so much for the daily sins of the people (to the which our flesh is natural given) as for idolatry and despising of his godly word. Of this is testimony sufficient the captivity of Babylon among the jews, which came because they received not the Prophets, and because they set up a new serving of God contrary to his word. This was testified also at the last in their final destruction at Jerusalem which followed, because they crucified the son of God, and despised his doctrine.  
The same is evident likewise by the mighty Monarchies (or empires) or the Assyrians & Greeks, which all were suppressed by the Turks (being first but a small simple people) and set from all their God's services, laws. dominions, & so utterly destroyed, that there is now in a manner no demonstration of their Empire, such worthy punishment have they received. For seeing they would not embrace almighty god and his word, but fell from him after they had known him, they were therefore constrained by force to fall in to this devilish darkness and captivity of the Turk. Which bondage yet nevertheless, almighty God did not suddenly send among them. For six hundredth years had the turk enough to do with the empire of the Greeks, with continual war, or ever he conquered it. But saying that God Almighty did thus allure them unto true repentance & to his wholesome word, and they would receive none of his fatherly monitions, he therefore suffered them to be finally destroyed. Wherefore if we consider well the power and riches of the said Monarchies or empires (and the famous prudent men that were among them) & compare the same to the beestlye regiment of the Turks, we shall perceive, that since the great flood, there came never a sorer plague upon the world. All which things ought indifferently to be weighed of every Christian heart.  
considering then that the power and riches of those Monarchies or empires, and the excellent wise men which were in them, might not withstand so small a people as were then the Turks, only because they despised God's word: For asmuch also as the almighty power of God hath now laid this evident plague upon your grace's Realm & land, in so much that for our like tansgression & unrepentant living, he hath visited your realm of Vngarye, with the enemies tyranny in sundry terrible manner, as namely in spoiling your Royal seat Buda, (other wise called Offen) & with cruel burning in this kingdom of Behem, with horrible infections also, death & hunger in the lower countries of Osterike (whence your graces most noble progeny did springe) beside all other adventures, how many thousand Christian men's blood hath been shed now more than sixteen years, and brought in to beastly bondage: These things considered, what will happen to the third and last monarchy or empire, namely of the Romans, which over and beside this great decay, is also in like transgression toward God? For the Turk with the other Monarchies or empires, hath exalted and increased his might above all Christian heads. And out of his prosperous success and victories which he hath had against the Christian, he may conjecture that he is the scourge of God, & that noman can withstand his punishment. When this sore sin than lieth upon us, alas therefore that we will not receive God's word offered unto us▪ ner entre in to true Christian repentance, how is it possible for us resisting all good reformation, to escape this plague, or to defend ourselves with the power of all Christendom?  
But seeing that the mercy of God hath no end, and considering that he requireth no thing more of us, than a sure hearty trust in his wholesome word: For asmuch also as all kingdoms and regymentes are made and preserved by him, & that to set up a people or head or to destroy it, is his only doing: And seeing he hath alway offered his godly word unto the people from whom he thought to turn his plague and preserve them, so that if they gave credence unto it, he delivered them from all evil, as witness the ninivites, which believed the Prophet jonas: & as testifieth also the king of Assiria at the preaching of the Prophet Daniel, which he received without following of any new or strange God's service, converting unto God, and applying himself unto repentance of life, & so was preserved thereby: your graces said faithful country therefore pondering these things, know none other mean for the deliverance of their souls & bodies, than this, that God's word after Christian understanding be preached every where, whereby the people may be moved unto Christian repentance, and so encouraged to withstand the Turk.  
The matter than consisteth only in this, that men's minds be kept in right understanding to almighty God and their rulers, in true nurture & ordinate living, and yet nevertheless, the more pity, an exceeding error is crept in touching the right true understanding of God's holy word, wherein your highness (as a Christian king) hath been put to sundry great pains now these many years, to bring the same schism to an unity: The matter also being finally so far reset forth in the last assemble, that sundry articles were discussed, and a general peace in the cause of Religion concluded upon, until the time of farther agreement, which doubtless followeth here of, even because that many articles (yea and that the principal) are come to the right Christian understanding: and also because that as touching outward behaviour and abuses crept in among the spiritualty, they must in a time appointed, be brought to reformation, & that by themselves.  
But if this general peace in in the articles (which ought as christian points to be kept) do not concern your graces said faithful subjects, or if a man must stand in jeopardy of losing body and goods, when he keepeth the same articles, your Royal Ma. may most graciously consider, how tedious a thing it is, and to what inconvenience it will grow. Wherefore the country in most hearty and humble wise prayeth and beseecheth your highness, to bring so to pass by the ordinaries and all spiritual officers, that the holy Gospel in true Christian understanding may be preached, & likewise the highest article of our salvation: namely, that we have forgiveness of sins thorough the only merits and death of jesus Christ: and also that the love of the neighbour and all good works may be taught as fruits & sure declarations of the inward faith, with the commandments of God, for a continual true amendment, as for the resisting of evil sinful affections or inclinations, & to give thanks for this excellent grace, in that we thorough the only merits of Christ, are delivered from death & hell, and become children of eternal salvation: And also by occasion thereof, to render all duties of faithful obedience to your Royal Ma. as to the higher power ordained of God, and to show unto our neighbours all love likewise: And so to obtain the reward that necessarily followeth out of this faith and out of the fruits thereof, And that the worthy Sacrament of the Altar may be ministered unto them that christianly desire it, according as it was observed certain hundred years in the beginning of Christendom. Item that the ordinaries or spirituality (according to the determination of the last Perliament) do put down all other abuses in the churches, and bring them in to good Christian order, providing the parishes with good honest soul shepherds, & not persecuting them which preach God's word in other places, as they have done hitherto. And though the same abuses be so sore rooted, that we suppose verily it will be hard to reform them in a short season, yet the said ministration of the sacrament and preaching of the word (wherein consisteth our salvation, and that ought to be purely done, and unperverted) may not therefore cease, yea necessary is it, that all this be most earnestly printed in to the people, that they may so be brought from their rude sinful living and instructed unto right true repentance in the faith of Christ. For now (the more pity it is) they are come from all knowledge of God: And many curates there be, which are nothing less than curates or true shepherds whereby the comen people are become so ungodly and rude, that it is in manner unpossible to bridle them: And thus cometh it to pass, that they die like brute beasts without any Christian instruction or Sacrament.  
Wherefore the messengers of your Graces said countries, with whole Christian minds, & with sighing he hearts, most humbly beseech your Royal Ma: to tender these things in most gracious wise, and as a Christian king to consent unto this weighty article, according to their expectation in your highness: whom they also most humbly require, in no wise to think, that your Graces said land would hereby seek the more occasion of disobedience or of any carnal liberty. For they know, that we have forgiveness of sins in the true unfeigned faith, only thorough the passion and merits of jesus Christ: and that we than in thankfulness for such excellent grace, are detbound with our whole hearts to cease from all sinful living, to bring forth all good works in true repentance, and also with our bodies and goods to declare all willing obedience toward your Royal majesty.  
Considering now, that for our deliverance there can be none other mean, then to take such a Christian life in hand: And saying it is not possible for any man with good heart and free conscience to go against this enemy (which is the scourge of God and punishment of us all) unless he first be reconciled to God, and sure thorough the certainty of faith and confidence in his godly promise, that he shall be delivered from such plague, and that they shall escape in this host, which are in danger either themselves or their wives, children, or other friends, thorough your graces general proclamation lately made & commanded, The messengers therefore of your Graces said land and the parties that sent them, most earnestly with sighing hearts & in most humble wise, beseech your highness for the love of God, to accept this their Christian and reasonable suit most graciously, and to promise a general peace unto all such as behave themselves according to our foresaid supplication and suit. And then doubtless will it come to pass, that (if such a Christian life be embraced) almighty God shall mercifully cause this present plague to cease: and so shall it follow also, that many well learned and virtuous men shall take upon them the worthy office of priesthood, which then with Christ's doctrine shall bring the people unto true repentance, to the fear of God, and to all obedice: And thus shall every man with faithful heart toward your royal Ma: do his best against this enemy, and declare all loving obedience with body and goods in this and all other things.  
Where as the said articles then being much more excellently weighed, are comprehended in the conclusion of the last Perliament, and saying it hath pleased God to make us your Grace's subjects (which therefore do knowledge your highness next almighty God to be our own dear Sovereign lord, having all expectation of felicity and goodness in the same) for these causes are we in no manner of doubt, but iour royal Ma: in most gracious and fatherly wise caring for your said faithful countries, will suffer them to come in to the same estate (appointed in the said conclusion of the Perliament) and consent unto us here in: according to our most humble supplication, which we make unto your highness (with continual sighing and tears even from our hearts) for the love of God and for his worship sake. And here with most humbly commit we us unto your royal Ma: in all duty of loving obedience, whereby (to the thankful recompensing of such a gracious benefit in your highness) we will bestow ourselves with our bodies, goods, and blood. Given, At prague the xiij day of Decembre. Anno. M.D.xli.  
Your Grace's most humble subjects, The messengers of the lower countries of Osterike. 

Piligram lord of Bucheym chief debit in Osteryke.  
Christofer, Baron of Eytzinge.  
Sigismond Ludwig, lord of Bolham.  
Erasmus, lord of Starhemberg.  
johan Vngnad, Baron of Suneck, chief captain of Steir.  
Reinprecht lord of Ebersdorf, chief chamberlain of Osteryke.  
Otto, lord of Lychtensteyn, chief marshal of Kernten.  
john, Baron of Weysprach.  
George, Baron of Herbsteyn.  
George, of Wolmirstorf, knight  
Sigismond Wexelberger, knight.  
Christofer Rembschussel, knight  
Abel of Kolneck, knight.  
Erasmus Scheyrer, knight.  
Balthasar Gleyntzer, knight.  
Bonaventure of Ecken, knight.  
George of Berckham.  
Martin of Vestreych.  
William of Bibrach.  
Erenreich of Rynsperg.  
Erasmus Hochelperger.  
George Memmynger.  
Achatz Hohenfelder.  
Wolfgang Hohenfelder.   

The names of the cities.  
Vienna. Gretz. Lyntz. S. Vitus. Steyn. Steir. Rochelspurg Kornnawenburgh. Lawbach. Ems, Osterike beneath & above the water Anisus. Kernten. Krain, and the princely earldom of Gortz.     

The answer of the kings Ma: Of the Romans Ferdynandus, to the messengers of the lower parts and cities of Osterike.  
WHereas the appointed messengers of the kings Grace's countries of lower Osterike have presented unto him a writing (concerning causes of religion) shewing and declaring at large, how almighty God hath doubtless now this long season suffered all these plagues to come upon his Christian people, aswell thorough the tyranny of the turk, as with death and burning, because subjects do live in no repentance, despising God's word and not receiving it, and how that this is the cause why there could hitherto no victory be had against the said archenemi of Christendom, with other more articles: All the same hath the kings royal Ma. of the Romans our most gracious Severaigne lord, considered, with their humble suit and supplication▪ which is, that it would please his highness to suffer them and their affinity for to come in to the general peace, which (at the last parliament) was made in causes of religion. And his Ma: hath a gracious & hearty compassion of his said obedient and faithful subjects (and that no less than is expressed by the messengers in their writing) because of the said grievous plagues. His highness also considereth likewise, that the same punishments do follow because of the manifold sins and vices, wherewith Christian people are defiled.  
Wherefore his Ma: sens the beginning of his reign hither to, desired never thing more effectously (neither yet doth) than the abolishing of such manifold vices and blasphemies, as are crept in (the more pity) among many men of high and low estate, yea the longer the more, whereby almighty God doubtless is moved unto wrath against his Christian people. And therefore (as it is openly known) his Royal Ma. in his graces own country hath sent forth earnest commandments and proclamations, and given earnest injunctions upon the same (specially unto all preachers & curates) that they in most effectuous and diligent wise, shall exhort the people to turn from such sins & vices, unto a Christian and repentant life pleasing unto God. Now where as such his Ma: gracious & fatherly monition hath not brought forth fruit according to the Christian request of his highness, his Royal Ma. is the more sorry, and the same was the cause that moved his grace (now lately at Lintz afore his departing) to renew the said proclamations, as the messengers then selves do know right well. Again his Royal Ma. hath never denied hitherto (neither will do hereafter) but that the word of God should be published according to the Christian understanding thereof, and preached as it was of the Apostles & doctors, which are approved and received of the holy Christian church.  
His Royal Ma. also can not remember, that his highness hath ever caused aught to be taken in hand against any man that ordereth himself after the preaching afore said. moreover his Ma: offereth himself in most gracious wise to give earnest injunctions unto the Ordinaries of such spiritual jurisdiction as extendeth thorough out his grace's lands, to make reformation among the clergy (according to the conclusion of the last Perliament) to put down abuses, and to provide the desolate parishes with good and learned curates and soul shepherds: to the intent that his subjects may be instruct with the true word of God, & in all other Christian ordinance beside. Likewise the appointed messengers do know well enough, that for the putting away of contentions in the causes of religion, and to bring the same to an unity, the kings Ma: hath taken special diligent and earnest pains, and that he hath spared no travail ner labour at any time: like as his Royal Ma: will likewise with all benignity dispose himself henceforth (and is already of a gracious hope) that according to the conclusion of the said parliament of Regenspurgh, this schism may be brought to an unity & agreement, by one of thes three ways, that is to say, by a general counsel, by a counsel provincial, or else by another comen Perlyament. Wherefore the kings highness doth right graciously trust & doubteth not, but his faithful comens & subjects of his lands of lower Osterike (and these appointed messengers of the same) will tarry and wait obediently for the said lyklyode of unity in the old Christian religion, and in the mean season not to seek ner meddle with any alteration or change but in Religion and in all other things toward his Royal Ma. to behave and order themselves. as their awncient fore fathers have done toward God and to his Grace's noble progenitors in all obedience, and in no wise to stop from so doing, ner to take occasion of hindrance at that peace made at the Perliament of Regenspurgh: considering that the same peace was ordained only between both the estates of religion the one toward the other, and not between the estates and their subjects: so that until the next counsel general, nacionall, or comen Perlyament (which within the space of eighteen months after the date of that conclusion made at the parliament of Regensburgh, shall in the cause of Religion be proclaimed) the catholic sort must keep the old religion: and the estates of the protestants must hold them unto it, wherein they were found at the making of the said peace. Which peace the kings Ma: doth knowledge himself bound to maintain, and therefore will his highness in no wise permit his subjects to make any new alteration against the same. This hath it pleased the kings Ma: of a gracious mind, to signify unto the said messengers. Given at prague the xiii. day of januarij. Anno. M. CCCCC. xlij.   

❧ The Conclusion and last sentence of words, that the messengers of the countries and cities of lower Osterike, made unto the answer of king Ferdinandus  
MOst noble and mighty Prince, our most gracious Sovereign lord: Where as your royal Ma: (upon our most humble and earnest supplication) hath graciously given us a writing touching the cause of Religion we have in most humble wise considered the same, and pondered it with Christian, loving and fervent minds. And although we afore, in our writing have knowledged (as the glory of God requireth) that we every one of us, have deserved this present plague, yet is it mentioned there also, that Almighty God (which is the infinite wisdom) doth send these sharp punishments, not so much for daily and corporal sins (which we trust are not so rife in your Grace's lands, as in other countries and provinces) as for the head sin of idolatry, and because the true commandments of God are turned to the honour and filthy lucre of men, and for that the word of God is not preached, as God hath taught and commanded it: For hereof sprang the origenall of all such scourge and plague of God, as it is evident out of sundry histories. And for asmuch then as there hath been here now this long season (the more pity) great adversity and loss of victory, and so followeth on more and more, our most humble supplication is (according as we have be sought your Royal Ma: upon our knees) that your highness will for the love of God have respect unto this most weighty matter, & earnestly to maintain the way of God (as he hath ordained and commanded it) and to give injunctions therein. For else verily may we look for no prosperity, but be sure of decay. Nether do we doubt any thing at all, but your Ma. doth graciously accept our Christian suit in the cause of Religion, as the articles therein are christianly recited, and according unto God's word. And yet nevertheless in our countries are not the preachers permitted to show the word of God, purely and sincerely, but exiled for it, and specially for preaching the most weighty article of justification or righteous making, namely, that the remission of sins cometh thorough the only merits and passion of jesus Christ: & that we (only of thankfulness for this grace) are dett bound to live in true Christian repentance as eschewing of sin, and exercising of brotherly love and other good works.  
wherefore our most humble & earnest supplication is, that your Royal Ma: (according to your high and suppreme office) will have gracious respect here unto, that the preachers which do sincerely set forth thes articles & the word of God likewise in other things, may be suffered. For if the preachers should by the rulers be banished, or otherwise vexed by the means hereof (as they be in certain countries) & if your Grace's faithful commons and subjects should be excluded from the peace of the Empire, and from the articles contained in our writing, or stand in danger by the reason thereof, your highness may graciously and fatherly consider, how tedious it will be to the same your Graces faithful subjects. For we protest before God in the truth, that this our most humble supplication which we make, is of no curiosity, ner for any other intent, than only for the honour of God, & salvation of our souls, & that with all subjection. Here with (in hope of a right loving answer here after) we commit ourselves in most humble wise unto your Royal Majesty, as to our most gracious door sovereign Lord.