History of the Great Reformation Part 23

But others went to work more skilfully than he. Cochlus, who became chaplain to Duke George of Saxony in 1527, begged an interview with Melancthon, "for," added he, "I cannot converse with your married ministers."[398] Melancthon, who was looked upon with an evil eye at Augsburg, and who had complained of being more solitary there than Luther in his castle,[399] was touched by this courtesy, and was still more fully penetrated with the idea that things should be ordered in the mildest manner possible.

[398] c.u.m uxoratis presbyteris tuis privatim colloqui non intendimus.--(Corp. Ref. ii. p. 82.)

[399] Nos non minus sumus monachi quam vos in illa arce vestra.--(Ibid. p. 146.)

The Romish priests and laymen made a great uproar, because on fast days meat was usually eaten at the Elector's court. Melancthon advised his prince to restrain the liberty of his attendants in this respect.

"This disorder," said he, "far from leading the simple-minded to the Gospel, scandalizes them." He added, in his ill-humour: "A fine holiness truly, to make it a matter of conscience to fast, and yet to be night and day given up to wine and folly!"[400] The Elector did not yield to Melancthon's advice; it would have been a mark of weakness of which his adversaries would have known how to take advantage.

[400] Und dennoch Tag und Nacht voll und toll seyn.--(Ibid. p. 79.)

On the 31st May, the Saxon confession was at length communicated to the other Protestant states, who required that it should be presented in common in the name of them all.[401] But at the same time they desired to make their reservations with regard to the influence of the state. "It is to a council that we appeal," said Melancthon; "we will not receive the Emperor as our judge; the ecclesiastical const.i.tutions themselves forbid him to p.r.o.nounce in spiritual matters.[402] Moses declares that it is not the civil magistrate who decides, but the sons of Levi. St. Paul also says (1 Cor. xiv.), '_let the others judge_,'

which cannot be understood except of an entire christian a.s.sembly; and the Saviour himself gives us this commandment: '_Tell it unto the Church_.' We pledge, therefore, our obedience to the Emperor in all civil matters; but as for the Word of G.o.d, it is liberty that we demand."

[401] In gemein in aller Fursten und Stadte Namen.--(Corp. Ref. ii. p.

88.)

[402] Die _const.i.tutiones canonicae_ den Kaysern verbieten zu richten und sprechen in geistlichen sachen.--(Ibid. p. 66.)

[Sidenote: THE LANDGRAVE'S CATHOLIC SPIRIT.]

All were agreed on this point; but the dissent came from another quarter. The Lutherans feared to compromise their cause if they went hand in hand with the Zwinglians. "This is Lutheran madness," replied Bucer: "it will perish of its own weight."[403] But, far from allowing this madness "to perish," the reformed augmented the disunion by exaggerated complaints. "In Saxony they are beginning to sing Latin hymns again," said they; "the sacred vestments are resumed, and oblations are called for anew.[404] We would rather be led to slaughter, than be Christians after that fas.h.i.+on."

[403] De Lutheranis furoribus......sua ipsi mole ruent.--(Zw. Epp. ii.

p. 432.)

[404] Hinc Latinae resumuntur cantiones, repetuntur sanctae vestes.--(Zw. Epp. ii. p. 457.)

The afflicted Landgrave, says Bucer, was "between the hammer and the anvil;" and his allies caused him more uneasiness than his enemies.[405] He applied to Rhegius, to Brenz, to Melancthon, declaring that it was his most earnest wish to see concord prevail among all the Evangelical doctors. "If these fatal doctrines are not opposed," replied Melancthon, "there will be rents in the Church that will last to the end of the world. Do not the Zwinglians boast of their full coffers, of having soldiers prepared, and of foreign nations disposed to aid them? Do they not talk of sharing among them the rights and the property of the bishops, and of proclaiming liberty......Good G.o.d! shall we not think of posterity, which, if we do not repress these guilty seditions, will be at once without throne and without altar?"[406]--"No, no! we are one," replied this generous prince, who was so much in advance of his age; "we all confess the same Christ, we all profess that we must eat Jesus Christ, by faith, in the Eucharist. Let us unite." All was unavailing. The time in which true catholicity was to replace this sectarian spirit, of which Rome is the most perfect expression, had not yet arrived.

[405] Cattus inter sacrum et saxum stat, et de sociis magis quam hostibus solicitus est.--(Ibid.)

[406] Keine Kirche und kein Regiment.--(Corp. Ref. ii. p. 95.)

[Sidenote: AUGSBURG.]

IV. In proportion as the Emperor drew near Augsburg, the anxieties of the Protestants continued increasing. The burghers of this imperial city expected to see it become the theatre of strange events.

Accordingly they said that if the Elector, the Landgrave, and other friends of the Reformation were not in the midst of them, they would all desert it.[407] "A great destruction threatens us," was repeated on every side.[408] A haughty expression of Charles above all disquieted the Protestants. "What do these Electors want with me?" he had said impatiently; "I shall do what I please!"[409] Thus arbitrary rule was the imperial law destined to prevail in the diet.

[407] Wo Sachsen, Hessen, und andere Lutherische nit hie waren.--(Corp. Ref. ii. p. 89.)

[408] Minatur n.o.bis Satan grande exitium.--(Ibid. p. 92.)

[409] Er wolte es machen, wie es Ihm eben ware.--(Ibid. p. 88.)

To this agitation of men's minds was added the agitation of the streets, or rather one led to the other. Masons and locksmiths were at work in all the public places and crossings, laboriously fastening barriers and chains to the walls, that might be closed or stretched at the first cry of alarm.[410] At the same time about eight hundred foot and horse soldiers were seen patrolling the streets, dressed in velvet and silk,[411] whom the magistrates had enrolled in order to receive the Emperor with magnificence.

[410] Neu aufgerichte Ketten und Stock.--(Ibid. p. 66.)

[411] Mit sammet und seide auf's kostlichst ausgestrichen.--(Ibid.)

Matters were in this state, and it was about the middle of May, when a number of Spanish quartermasters arrived, full of arrogance, and who looked with contemptuous eyes on these wretched burghers, entered their houses, conducted themselves with violence, and even rudely tore down the arms of some of the princes.[412] The magistrates having delegated councillors to treat with them, the Spaniards made an insolent reply. "Alas!" said the citizens, "if the servants are so, what will their master be?" The ministers of Charles were grieved at their impertinence, and sent a German quartermaster who employed the forms of German politeness to make them forget this Spanish haughtiness.

[412] Den jungen Fursten zu neubourg ihre wappen abgerissen.--(Corp.

Ref. ii. p. 55.)

[Sidenote: CHARLES AT MUNICH.]

That did not last long, and they soon felt more serious alarm. The Council of Augsburg were asked what was the meaning of these chains and soldiers, and they were ordered, in the Emperor's name, to take down the one and disband the other. The magistrates of the city answered, in alarm, "For more than ten years past we have intended putting up these chains;[413] and as for the soldiers, our object is simply to pay due honour to his majesty." After many parleys it was agreed to dismiss the troops, and that the imperial commanders should select afresh a thousand men, who should make oath to the Emperor, but be paid by the city of Augsburg.

[413] Vor zehn Jahren in Sinn gehalt.--(Ibid. p. 66.)

The imperial quartermasters then resumed all their impertinence; and no longer giving themselves the trouble of entering the houses, and the shops, they tore down the signboards of the Augsburg citizens, and wrote in their place how many men and horses they would be required to lodge.[414]

[414] Gehen nicht mehr in die Hauser und schrieben an die Thur.--(Ibid. p. 89.)

Such were the preludes to the work of conciliation that Charles V. had announced, and that he was so slow in beginning. Accordingly his delay, attributed by some to the crowds of people who surrounded him with their acclamations; by others, to the solicitations of the priests, who opposed his entry into Augsburg until he had imposed silence on the ministers; and by others, finally, to the lessons the Pope had given him in the arts of policy and stratagem,[415] still more estranged the Elector and his allies.

[415] Caesarem instructum arte pontific.u.m quaerere causas morae.--(L.

Epp. iv. p. 31.)

[Sidenote: CHARLES AND THE PRINCES.]

At last Charles, having quitted Innspruck two days after Gattinara's death, arrived at Munich on the 10th June. His reception was magnificent. At the distance of two miles from the town a temporary fortress, soldiers' huts, cannon, hors.e.m.e.n, an a.s.sault, repeated explosions, flames, shouts, whirlwinds of smoke, and a terrible clas.h.i.+ng of arms, all of which was very agreeable to the Emperor;[416]

in the city, theatres raised in the open air, the _Jewess Esther_, the _Persian Cambyses_, and other pieces not less famous, the whole combined with splendid fireworks, formed the reception given by the adherents of the Pope to him whom they styled their Saviour.

[416] Das hat Kais. Maj. wohl gefallen.--(Forstemann, Urkunden. i p.

246.)

Charles was not far distant from Augsburg. As early as the 11th June, every day and every hour, members of the imperial household, carriages, waggons, and baggage entered this city, to the sound of the clacking whip and of the horn;[417] and the burghers in amazement gazed with dejected eyes on all this insolent train, that fell upon their city like a flight of locusts.[418]

[417] Alle stund die Wagen, der Tross und viel gesinds nact einander harein.--(Corp. Ref. ii. p. 90.)

[418] Finden aber wenig Frenden feuer.--(Ibid.)

At five o'clock in the morning of the 15th June,[419] the Elector, the princes, and their councillors, a.s.sembled at the town-hall, and erelong arrived the imperial commissaries, having an order for them to go out and meet Charles. At three in the afternoon the princes and deputies quitted the city, and, having reached a little bridge across the river Lech, they there halted and waited for the Emperor. The eyes of every member of the brilliant a.s.semblage, thus stopping on the smiling banks of an alpine torrent, were directed along the road to Munich. At length, after waiting two or three hours, clouds of dust and a loud noise announced the Emperor. Two thousand of the imperial guard marched first; then Charles having come to within fifty paces of the river, the Electors and princes alighted. Their sons, who had advanced beyond the bridge, perceiving the Emperor preparing to do the same, ran to him and begged him to remain on horseback;[420] but Charles dismounted without hesitating,[421] and approaching the princes with an amiable smile, shook hands with them cordially. Albert of Mentz, in his quality of arch-chancellor of the empire, now welcomed the Emperor, and the Count-palatine Frederick replied in behalf of Charles.

[419] Zu morgens, um funf Uhr.--(F. Urkunden. i. p. 263.)

[420] Ab Electorum filiis qui procurrerant rogatus.--(Seck. ii. p.

101.)

[421] Mox ab equis descenderunt.--(Cochlus.)

[Sidenote: THE PROCESSION.]

While this was pa.s.sing, three individuals remained apart on a little elevation;[422] these were the Roman Legate, proudly seated on a mule, glittering with purple, and accompanied by two other cardinals, the Archbishop of Salzburg and the Bishop of Trent. The Nuncio, beholding all these great personages on the road, raised his hands, and gave them his blessing. Immediately the Emperor, the King, and the princes who submitted to the Pope, fell on their knees; the Spaniards, Italians, Netherlanders, and Germans in their train, imitated their movements, casting however a side glance on the Protestants, who, in the midst of this humbly prostrate crowd, alone remained standing.[423] Charles did not appear to notice this, but he doubtless understood what it meant. The Elector of Brandenburg then delivered a Latin speech to the legate. He had been selected because he spoke this language better than the princes of the Church; and accordingly, Charles, when praising his eloquence, slily put in a word about the negligence of the prelates.[424] The Emperor now prepared to remount his horse, when the prince-electoral of Saxony, and the young princes of Luneburg, Mecklenburg, Brandenburg, and Anhalt rushed towards him to aid him in getting into his saddle: one held the bridle, another the stirrup, and all were charmed at the magnificent appearance of their powerful sovereign.[425] The procession began to move on.