History of the Great Reformation Part 25

[Sidenote: AGITATION OF CHARLES.]

They separated in the greatest agitation. The Prince-electoral, who had waited for his father in the first hall along with other lords, sought, at the moment the princes issued from the Emperor's chamber, to read on their countenance what had taken place. Judging from the emotion depicted on their features that the struggle had been severe, he thought that his father was incurring the greatest dangers, and accordingly, grasping him by the hand, he dragged him to the staircase of the palace, exclaiming in affright, as if Charles's satellites were already at his heels, "Come, come quickly!"

Charles, who had expected no such resistance, was in truth confounded, and the legate endeavoured to exasperate him still more.[447]

Agitated, filled with anger and vexation, and uttering the most terrible threats,[448] the young Emperor paced hastily to and fro the halls of his palace; and unable to wait till the morrow for the answer, he sent in the middle of the night to demand the Elector's final decision. "At present we require sleep," replied the latter; "to-morrow we will let you know our determination."[449] As for the Landgrave, he could not rest any more than Charles. Scarcely had he returned home, when he sent his chancellor to the Nuremberg deputies, and had them awoke to make them acquainted with what had taken place.[450]

[447] A saevitia Legati Romanensium captivi.--(Corp. Ref. ii. p. 116.)

[448] Hinc secutae sunt gravissimae minae, jactatae saevissimae Caesaris indignationes.--(Ibid.)

[449] Quiete sibi opus esse dicens, responsum in diem alterum distulit--(Seck. ii. p. 162.)

[450] Hat nachten uns aufwecken la.s.sen.--(Corp. Ref. ii. p. 106.)

At the same time Charles's demand was laid before the theologians, and Spalatin, taking the pen, drew up their opinion during the night. "The sacrament," it bore, "was not inst.i.tuted to be wors.h.i.+pped, as the Jews wors.h.i.+pped the brazen image.[451] We are here to confess the truth, and not for the confirmation of abuses. Let us therefore stay away!"

This opinion strengthened the Evangelical princes in their determination; and the day of the 16th June began.

[451] Wie die Juden die Schlange haben angebethet.--(Ibid. p. 111.)

The Elector of Saxony feeling indisposed during the night, commissioned his son to represent him; and at seven o'clock the princes and councillors repaired on horseback to the Emperor's palace.[452]

[452] Heute zu sieben Uhren sind gemeldete Fursten.--(Corp. Ref. iii.

p. 107.)

[Sidenote: PROCESSION OF CORPUS CHRISTI.]

The Margrave of Brandenburg was their spokesman. "You know," said he to Charles, "how, at the risk of our lives, my ancestors and myself have supported your august house. But, in the things of G.o.d, the commands of G.o.d himself oblige me to put aside all commandment of man.

We are told that death awaits those who shall persevere in the sound doctrine: I am ready to suffer it." He then presented the declaration of the Evangelical princes to the Emperor. "We will not countenance by our presence," said they, "these impious human traditions, which are opposed to the Word of G.o.d. We declare, on the contrary, without hesitation, and with one accord, that we must expel them from the Church, lest those of its members that are still sound should be infected by this deadly poison."[453] "If you will not accompany his majesty for the love of G.o.d," said Ferdinand, "do so at least for love of the Emperor, and as va.s.sals of the Empire.[454] His majesty commands you." "An act of wors.h.i.+p is in question," replied the princes, "our conscience forbids it." Then Ferdinand and Charles having conversed together in a low tone: "His majesty desires to see,"

said the king, "whether you will obey him or not."[455] At the same time the Emperor and his brother quitted the room; but the princes, instead of following him, as Charles had hoped, returned full of joy to their palaces.

[453] Caelestin. i. p. 82.

[454] Ut va.s.salli et principes imperii.--(Cochlus, p. 192.)

[455] Sie wolle sehen, ob sie I. M. gehorchsam leisten oder nicht.--(Corp. Ref. ii. p. 108.)

[Sidenote: EXASPERATION OF CHARLES.]

The procession did not begin till noon. Immediately behind the canopy under which the Elector of Mentz carried the Host, came the Emperor alone, with a devout air, bearing a taper in his hand, his head bare and shorn like a priest's, although the noon-day sun darted on him its most ardent rays.[456] By exposing himself to these fatigues, Charles desired to profess aloud his faith in what const.i.tutes the essence of Roman-catholicism. In proportion as the spirit and the life had escaped from the primitive Churches, they had striven to replace them by forms, shows, and ceremonies. The essential cause of the Romish wors.h.i.+p is found in that decline of charity and faith which catholic Christians of the first ages have often deplored; and the history of Rome is summed up in this expression of St. Paul, _Having a form of G.o.dliness, but denying the power thereof_.[457] But as the power was then beginning to revive in the Church, the form began also to decline. Barely a hundred citizens of Augsburg had joined in the procession of the 16th June. It was no longer the pomp of former times: the christian people had learned anew to love and to believe.

[456] Clericaliter, detonso capillo.--(Zw. Epp. ii. p. 471.) Nudo capite sub meridiani solis ardoribus.--(Pallavicini, i. p. 228.)

[457] 2 Timothy iii. 5.

Charles, however, under an air of devotion concealed a wounded heart.

The legate was less able to command himself, and said aloud that this obstinacy of the princes would be the cause of great mischief to the Pope.[458] When the procession was over (it had lasted an hour), Charles could no longer master his extreme irritation; and he had scarcely returned to his palace, when he declared that he would give the Protestant princes a safe-conduct, and that on the very next day these obstinate and rebellious men should quit Augsburg;[459] the diet would then take such resolutions as were required for the safety of the Church and of the Empire. It was no doubt the legate who had given Charles this idea, whose execution would infallibly have led to a religious war. But some of the princes of the Roman party, desirous of preserving peace, succeeded, though not without difficulty, in getting the Emperor to withdraw his threatening order.[460]

[458] Sarpi, Council of Trent, i. p. 99.

[459] Ut mox altera die, c.u.m salvo-conductu, Lutherani abirent domum.--(Cochl. p. 193.)

[460] Pacis et concordiae avidi, supplicarunt ejus majestati ut sedata ira.--(Ibid.)

[Sidenote: THE SERMONS PROHIBITED.]

V. Charles, being defeated on the subject of the procession, resolved to take his revenge on the a.s.semblies, for nothing galled him like these sermons. The crowd ceased not to fill the vast church of the Franciscans, where a Zwinglian minister of lively and penetrating eloquence was preaching on the Book of Joshua.[461] He placed the kings of Canaan and the children of Israel before them: his congregation heard them speak and saw them act, and every one recognized in Canaan the Emperor and the Ultra-montane princes, and in the people of G.o.d the adherents of the Reformation. In consequence, the faithful quitted the church enthusiastic in their faith, and filled with the desire of seeing the abominations of the idolaters fall to the ground. On the 16th June, the Protestants deliberated on Charles's demand, and it was rejected by the majority. "It is only a scarecrow," said they; "the Papists only desire to see if the nail shakes in the wall, and if they can start the hare from the thicket."

[461] Maximus populi concursus amplissima aede.--(Ibid.)

The next morning (17th June) before breakfast, the princes replied to the Emperor. "To forbid our ministers to preach purely the holy Gospel would be rebellion against G.o.d, who wills that his Word be not bound.

Poor sinners that we are, we have need of this Divine Word to surmount our troubles.[462] Moreover, his majesty has declared, that in this diet each doctrine should be examined with impartiality. Now, to order us henceforward to suspend the sermons, would be to condemn ours beforehand."

[462] Nec se illo animae nutrimento carere.--(Clestinus Hist. Comit.

i. p. 88; Forst. Urkunden. i. p. 283.)

[Sidenote: A COMPROMISE PROPOSED.]

Charles immediately convoked the other temporal and spiritual princes, who arrived at mid-day at the Palatine palace, and remained sitting until the evening;[463] the discussion was exceedingly animated. "This very morning," said some of the speakers, "the Protestant princes, as they quitted the Emperor, had sermons delivered in public."[464]

Exasperated at this new affront, Charles with difficulty contained himself. Some of the princes, however, having entreated him to accept their mediation, he consented to it; but the Protestants were immovable. Did these heretics, whom they imagined to reduce so easily, appear in Augsburg only to humiliate Charles? The honour of the chief of the Empire must be saved at any cost. "Let us ourselves renounce our preachers," said the princes; "the Protestants will not then persist in keeping theirs!"

[463] Caesar a meridie.--(Seck. p. 165.) Den gangen Tag.--(Corp. Ref.

ii. p. 113.)

[464] Eo ipso die conciones continuatae.--(Seckend. p. 165.)

The commission proposed accordingly that the Emperor should set aside both Papist and Lutheran preachers, and should nominate a few chaplains, with authority to announce the pure Word of G.o.d, without attacking either of the two parties.[465] "They shall be neutral men,"

said they to the Protestants; "neither Faber nor his partisans shall be admitted."--"But they will condemn our doctrine."--"By no means.

The preacher shall do nothing but read the text of the Gospels, Epistles, and a general confession of sins."[466] The evangelical states required time to reflect upon it.

[465] Caesare omnes tam papistarum quam evangelicorum conciones.--(Corp. Ref. ii. p. 116.)

[466] Qui tantum recitent Evangelium et epistolam ??aat????.--(Corp. Ref. ii. p. 119.)

"We must accept it," said Melancthon; "for if our obstinacy should lead the Emperor to refuse hearing our confession, the evil would be greater still."

"We are called to Augsburg," said Agricola, "to give an account of our doctrine, and not to preach."[467]

[467] Non sumus parochi Augustanorum, added he.--(Corp. Ref. ii. p.

119.)

"There is no little disorder in the city," remarked Spalatin. "The Sacramentarians and Enthusiasts preach here as well as we: we must get out of this confusion."

"What do the Papists propose?" said other theologians; "to read the Gospels and Epistles without explanation. But is not that a victory?

What! we protest against the interpretations of the Church; and lo!

priests who are to read the Word of G.o.d without their notes and commentaries, that is to say, transforming themselves into Protestant ministers!" "O! admirable wisdom of the courtiers!" exclaimed Melancthon, smiling.[468]

[468] Vide miram sapientiam Aulicorum.--(Ibid.)