_Divers Discourses touching Religion_, _and other Main Points of
Doctrine_; _as also many notable Histories_, _and all sorts of Learning_,
_Comforts_, _Advices_, _Prophecies_, _Admonitions_, _Directions_, _and
Instructions_; _and how the same Book was_, _by God’s Providence_,
_discovered lying under the Ground_, _where it had lain hid Fifty-two
Years_; _and was a few years since sent over to the said Captain Henry
Bell_, _and by him translated out of the High German into the English
Tongue_.
“I, CAPTAIN HENRY BELL, do hereby declare, both to the present age, and
also to posterity, that being employed beyond the seas in state affairs
divers years together, both by King James, and also by the late King
Charles, in Germany, I did hear and understand, in all places, great
bewailing and lamentation made, by reason of the destroying and burning
of above fourscore thousand of Martin Luther’s books, entitled _His Last
Divine Discourses_.
“For after such time as God stirred up the spirit of Martin Luther to
detect the corruptions and abuses of Popery, and to preach Christ, and
clearly to set forth the simplicity of the Gospel, many Kings, Princes,
and States, Imperial Cities, and Hans-Towns fell from the Popish
Religion, and became Protestants, as their posterities still are, and
remain to this very day.
“And for the further advancement of the great work of Reformation then
begun, the aforesaid Princes and the rest did then order that the said
Divine Discourses of Luther should forthwith be printed; and that every
parish should have and receive one of the aforesaid printed books into
every Church throughout all their principalities and dominions, to be
chained up, for the common people to read therein.
“Upon which divine work, or Discourses, the Reformation, begun before in
Germany, was wonderfully promoted and increased, and spread both here in
England and other countries besides.
“But afterwards it so fell out that the Pope then living, viz. Gregory
XIII., understanding what great hurt and prejudice he and his Popish
religion had already received, by reason of the said Luther’s Divine
Discourses, and also fearing that the same might bring further contempt
and mischief upon himself and upon the Popish Church, he therefore, to
prevent the same, did fiercely stir up and instigate the Emperor then in
being, viz. Rudolphus II., to make an Edict throughout the whole Empire,
that all the aforesaid printed books should be burned; and also that it
should be death for any person to have or keep a copy thereof, but also
to burn the same: which Edict was speedily put in execution accordingly,
insomuch that not one of all the said printed books, nor so much as any
one copy of the same, could be found out nor heard of in any place.
“Yet it pleased God that, anno 1626, a German gentleman, named Casparus
Van Sparr, with whom, in the time of my staying in Germany about King
James’s business, I became very familiarly known and acquainted, having
occasion to build upon the old foundation of a house, wherein his
grandfather dwelt at that time when the said Edict was published in
Germany for the burning of the aforesaid books; and digging deep into the
ground, under the said old foundation, one of the said original books was
there happily found, lying in a deep obscure hole, being wrapped in a
strong linen cloth, which was waxed all over with beeswax, within and
without; whereby the book was preserved fair, without any blemish.
“And at the same time Ferdinandus II. being Emperor in Germany, who was a
severe enemy and persecutor of the Protestant religion, the aforesaid
gentleman and grandchild to him that had hidden the said books in that
obscure hole, fearing that if the said Emperor should get knowledge that
one of the said books was yet forthcoming, and in his custody, whereby
not only himself might be brought into trouble, but also the book in
danger to be destroyed, as all the rest were so long before; and also
calling me to mind, and knowing that I had the High Dutch Tongue very
perfect, did send the said original book over hither into England unto
me; and therewith did write unto me a letter, wherein he related the
passages of the preserving and finding out the said book.
“And also he earnestly moved me in his letter, that for the advancement
of God’s glory, and of Christ’s Church, I would take the pains to
translate the said book, to the end that that most excellent divine work
of Luther might be brought again to light.
“Whereupon I took the said book before me, and many times began to
translate the same, but always I was hindered therein, being called upon
about other business, insomuch that by no possible means I could remain
by that work. Then, about six weeks after I had received the said book,
it fell out that I being in bed with my wife one night, between twelve
and one of the clock, she being asleep, but myself yet awake, there
appeared unto me an ancient man, standing at my bedside, arrayed all in
white, having a long and broad white beard hanging down to his
girdle-stead, who, taking me by my right ear, spake these words following
unto me:—‘Sirrah! will not you take time to translate that book which is
sent unto you out of Germany? I will shortly provide for you both place
and time to do it;’ and then he vanished away out of my sight.
“Whereupon, being much thereby affrighted, I fell into an extreme sweat,
insomuch that my wife awaking, and finding me all over wet, she asked me
what I ailed. I told her what I had seen and heard; but I never did heed
nor regard visions nor dreams; and so the same fell soon out of my mind.
“Then about a fortnight after I had seen that vision, on a Sunday, I went
to Whitehall to hear the sermon, after which ended I returned to my
lodging, which was then in King Street, at Westminster, and sitting down
to dinner with my wife, two Messengers were sent from the whole
Council-board, with a warrant to carry me to the keeper of the Gatehouse,
Westminster, there to be safely kept until further order from the Lords
of the Council, which was done without showing me any cause {17} at all
wherefore I was committed. Upon which said warrant I was kept there ten
whole years close prisoner, where I spent five years thereof about the
translating of the said book; insomuch as I found the words very true
which the old man, in the aforesaid vision, did say unto me: ‘I will
shortly provide for you both place and time to translate it.’
“Then, after I had finished the said translation in the prison, the late
Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Laud, understanding that I had translated
such a book, called _Martin Luther’s Divine Discourses_, sent unto me his
chaplain, Dr. Bray, into the prison, with this Message following:—
“‘Captain BELL,
“‘My Lord Grace of Canterbury hath sent me unto you, to tell you
that his Grace hath understood that you have translated a book of
Luther’s, touching which book his Grace, many years before, did hear
of the burning of so many thousands in Germany by the then Emperor.
His Grace therefore doth desire you, that you would send unto him the
said original book in Dutch, and also your translation; which, after
his Grace hath perused, shall be returned safely unto you.’
“Whereupon I told Dr. Bray that I had taken a great deal of pains in
translating the said book, and was very loth to part with it out of my
hands, and therefore I desired him to excuse me to his Grace, that I
could not part from it; with which answer he at that time returned again
to his master.
“But the next day after he sent him unto me again, and bade him tell me
that, upon his honour, the book should be as safe in his custody, if not
safer than in mine own; for he would lock it up in his own cabinet, to
the end no man might come unto it, but only himself. Thereupon I,
knowing it would be a thing bootless for me to refuse the sending of
them, by reason he was then of such great power that he would have them,
_nolens volens_, I sent them both unto him. Then, after he had kept them
in his custody two months, and had daily read therein, he sent the said
Doctor unto me, to tell me that I had performed a work worthy of eternal
memory, and that he had never read a more excellent divine work; yet
saying that some things therein were fitting to be left out; and desired
me not to think long that he did not return them unto me so soon again.
The reason was because that the more he did read therein, the more desire
he had to go on therewith; and so, presenting me with ten livres in gold,
he returned back again.
“After which, when he had them in his custody one whole year, and that I
understood he had perused it all over, then I sent unto his Grace, and
humbly desired that his Grace would be pleased to return me my books
again. Whereupon he sent me word by the said Dr. Bray, that he had not
as yet perused them so thoroughly over as he desired to do; then I stayed
yet a year longer before I sent to him again.
“In which time I heard for certain that it was concluded by the King and
Council that a Parliament should forthwith be called; at which news I did
much rejoice. And then I sent unto his Grace an humble petition, and
therein desired the returning of my book again; otherwise I told him I
should be enforced to make it known, and to complain of him to the
Parliament, which was then coming on. Whereupon he sent unto me again
safely both the said original book and my translation, and caused his
Chaplain, the said Doctor, to tell me that he would make it known unto
his Majesty what an excellent piece of work I had translated, and that he
would procure an order from his Majesty to have the said translation
printed, and to be dispersed throughout the whole kingdom, as it was in
Germany, and as he had heard thereof; and thereupon he presented me again
with forty livres in gold.
“And presently after I was set at liberty by warrant from the whole House
of Lords, according to his Majesty’s direction in that behalf; but
shortly afterwards the Archbishop fell into his troubles, and was by the
Parliament sent unto the Tower, and afterwards beheaded; insomuch that I
could never since hear anything touching the printing of my book.
“The House of Commons having then notice that I had translated the
aforesaid book, they sent for me, and did appoint a Committee to see it
and the translation, and diligently to make inquiry whether the
translation did agree with the original or no; whereupon they desired me
to bring the same before them, sitting then in the Treasury Chamber. And
Sir Edward Dering, being Chairman, said unto me that he was acquainted
with a learned minister beneficed in Essex, who had lived long in
England, but was born in High Germany, in the Palatinate, named Mr. Paul
Amiraut, whom the Committee sending for, desired him to take both the
original and my translation into his custody, and diligently to compare
them together, and to make report unto the said Committee whether he
found that I had rightly and truly translated it according to the
original: which report he made accordingly, and they, being satisfied
therein, referred it to two of the Assembly, Mr. Charles Herle and Mr.
Edward Corbet, desiring them diligently to peruse the same, and to make
report unto them if they thought it fitting to be printed and published.
“Whereupon they made report, dated the 10th of November, 1646, that they
found it to be an excellent Divine Work, worthy the light and publishing,
especially in regard that Luther, in the said Discourses, did revoke his
opinion, which he formerly held, touching Consubstantiation in the
Sacrament. Whereupon the House of Commons, the 24th of February, 1646,
did give order for the printing thereof.
“Thus, having been lately desired to set down in writing the relation of
the passages above-said concerning the said book, as well for the
satisfaction of judicious and godly Christians, as for the conservation
of the perpetual memory of God’s extraordinary providence in the
miraculous preservation of the aforesaid Divine Discourses, and now
bringing them again to light: I have done the same according to the plain
truth thereof, not doubting but they will prove a notable advantage of
God’s glory, and the good and edification of the whole Church, and an
unspeakable consolation of every particular member of the same.
“Given under my hand the 3rd day of July, 1650.
“HENRY BELL.”