Anno 1537.
Duke Alexander de Medicis was murdered at Florence the 6th of January, by the Con∣trivance of Laurence de Medicis his Kinsman. Upon his Death the Citizens chose for their Duke Cosmo de Medicis, Kinsman to the late Duke, but at a great distance.
The Emperor held the Diet of the Empire at Worms, where an Edict was published * 1.1 against the Lutherans, but it was of no force, those People being then in Arms. All Men wished for a General Council, but there were great Difficulties that obstructed it. How∣ever the Pope Summon'd the Council, and appointed the Cities of Mantua first, and then that of Vincenza for it to be held in, both those Places being in Italy, and not far from Germany. The Hereticks pretended that the Pope, as a Guilty Person, could not be a Judge, nor the Bishops, as being obliged to him by Oath. They required the Council should be free, and held in Germany. What they aimed at could not be any way allow∣ed; for how could they either as Persons accused or accusers, set up for Judges. To exclude the Bishops was never practiced, and even the secular Princes themselves refused to determine Matters of Faith. Their design was only to baffle and delay time.
Solyman the Eunuch Bassa govern'd Egypt for the Great Turk. By his Order he fitted out a Fleet of 80 Sail in the Red Sea, and sailing into the Ocean, laid Siege to the most important Fortress of Diu in the Kingdom of Cambaya, intending to drive the Portugueses * 1.2 out of India, and wholly exclude them their Trade in those Parts. The Siege was car∣ried furiously and with obstinacy, but the Portugueses behaved themselves with such Bra∣very, that the Turks were forced to desist and return home with great loss.
About the same time the Pope appointed nine Cardinals to consider of all things that ought to be reformed. They composed a Book, containing the Heads of many things to this purpose. A League against the Turks was also proposed. It was agreed that the Pope, Emperor and Venetians should join their Fleets to this intent, and that the French * 1.3 King might not be any hindrance to them, they resolved to have a Conference with him at Nice in Provence.