History of the Great Reformation Part 27

Ref. ii. p. 120.)

[494] Nisi eradicata funditus per gladium haeresi illa.--(Corp. Ref.

ii. p. 120.)

This discourse, intermingled with panegyrics of Aristides, Themistocles, Scipio, Cato, the Curtii and Scaevola, being concluded, the Emperor and princes arose to make their offerings. Pappenheim returned the sword to the Elector, who had intrusted it to him; and the Grand-marshal, as well as the Margrave, went to the offertory, but with a smile, as it is reported.[495] This fact is but little in harmony with the character of these princes.

[495] Protestantes etiam ad offerendum munuscula in altari, ut moris erat, accessisse, sed c.u.m risu.--(Spalat. Seck. ii. p. 167.)

[Sidenote: OPENING OF THE DIET.]

At length they quitted the cathedral. No one, except the friends of the nuncio, was pleased with the sermon. Even the Archbishop of Mentz was offended at it. "What does he mean," exclaimed he, "by calling on St. Paul to cut the Germans with his sword?" Nothing but a few inarticulate sounds had been heard in the nave; the Protestants eagerly questioned those of their party who had been present in the choir. "The more these priests inflame people's minds, and the more they urge their princes to b.l.o.o.d.y wars," said Brenz at that time, "the more we must hinder ours from giving way to violence."[496] Thus spoke a minister of the Gospel of peace after the sermon of the priest of Rome.

[496] Ut nostros principes ab importuna violentia retineamus.--(Corp.

Ref. ii. p. 120.)

After the ma.s.s of the Holy Ghost, the Emperor entered his carriage,[497] and having reached the town-hall, where the sittings of the diet were to take place, he took his seat on a throne covered with cloth of gold, while his brother placed himself on a bench in front of him; then all around them were ranged the Electors, forty-two sovereign princes, the deputies from the cities, the bishops, and amba.s.sadors, forming, indeed, that ill.u.s.trious a.s.sembly which Luther, six weeks before, had imagined he saw sitting in the air.[498]

[497] Imperator c.u.m omnibus in curiam vectus est.--(Sturm to Zw. Epp.

ii. p. 430.)

[498] Ex volucrum monedularumque regno.--(L. Epp. iv. p. 13.)

The Count-palatine read the imperial proposition. It referred to two points; the war against the Turks, and the religious controversy.

"Sacrificing my private injuries and interests to the common good,"

said the Emperor, "I have quitted my hereditary kingdoms to pa.s.s, not without great danger, into Italy, and from thence to Germany. I have heard with sorrow of the divisions that have broken out here, and which, striking not only at the imperial majesty, but still more, at the commandments of Almighty G.o.d, must engender pillage, conflagration, war, and death."[499] At one o'clock the Emperor, accompanied by all the princes, returned to his palace.

[499] Nicht anders dann zu Raub, Brandt, und Krieg.--(F. Urkunden. i.

p. 307.)

On the same day the Elector gathered around him all his co-religionists, whom the Emperor's speech had greatly excited, and exhorted them not to be turned aside by any threats from a cause which was that of G.o.d himself.[500] All seemed penetrated with this expression of Scripture: "Speak the word, and it shall not stand; for G.o.d is with us."[501]

[500] Cohortatus est ad intrepidam causae Dei a.s.sentionem.--(Seck. ii.

p. 108.)

[501] Isaiah viii. 10.

[Sidenote: THE ELECTOR'S PRAYER.]

The Elector had a heavy burden to bear. Not only had he to walk at the head of the princes, but he had further to defend himself against the enervating influence of Melancthon. It is not an abstraction of the state which this prince presents to our notice throughout the whole of this affair: it is the most n.o.ble individuality. Early on Tuesday morning, feeling the necessity of that invisible strength which, according to a beautiful figure in the holy Scriptures, causes us to ride upon the high places of the earth; and seeing, as was usual, his domestics, his councillors, and his son a.s.sembled around him, John begged them affectionately to withdraw.[502] He knew that it was only by kneeling humbly before G.o.d that he could stand with courage before Charles. Alone in his chamber, he opened and read the Psalms, then falling on his knees, he offered up the most fervent prayer to G.o.d;[503] next, wis.h.i.+ng to confirm himself in the immovable fidelity that he had just vowed to the Lord, he went to his desk, and there committed his resolutions to writing. Dolzig and Melancthon afterwards saw these lines, and were filled with admiration as they read them.[504]

[502] Mane remotis omnibus consiliariis et ministris.--(Seck. ii. p.

169.)

[503] Precibus ardentissimis a Deo successum negotii petiisset.--(Ibid.)

[504] Quae c.u.m admiratione legisse dic.u.n.tur.--(Seck. ii. p. 169.)

Being thus tempered anew in heavenly thoughts, John took up the imperial proposition, and meditated over it; then, having called in his son and the chancellor Bruck, and Melancthon shortly after, they all agreed that the deliberations of the diet ought to commence with the affairs of religion; and his allies, who were consulted, concurred in this advice.

[Sidenote: VALDEZ AND MELANCTHON.]

The legate had conceived a plan diametrically opposed to this. He desired to stifle the religious question, and for this end required that the princes should examine it in a secret committee.[505] The Evangelical Christians entertained no doubt that if the truth was proclaimed in the great council of the nation, it would gain the victory; but the more they desired a public confession, the more it was dreaded by the Pope's friends. The latter wished to take their adversaries by silence, without confession, without discussion, as a city is taken by famine without fighting and without a storm: to gag the Reformation, and thus reduce it to powerlessness and death, were their tactics. To have silenced the preachers was not enough: the princes must be silenced also. They wished to shut up the Reformation as in a dungeon, and there leave it to die, thinking they would thus get rid of it more surely than by leading it to the scaffold.

[505] Si acturi sunt secreto et inter sese, nulla publica disputatione vel audientia.--(L. Epp. iv. p. 43.)

This plan was well conceived: it now remained to be put in execution, and for that purpose it was necessary to persuade the Protestants that such a method would be the surest for them. The person selected for this intrigue was Alphonso Valdez, secretary to Charles V., a Spanish gentleman, a worthy individual, and who afterwards showed a leaning towards the Reformation. Policy often makes use of good men for the most perfidious designs. It was decided that Valdez should address the most timid of the Protestants--Melancthon.

On the 16th or 17th of June, immediately after the arrival of Charles, Valdez begged Melancthon to call on him. "The Spaniards," said he, "imagine that the Lutherans teach impious doctrines on the Holy Trinity, on Jesus Christ, on the blessed Mother of G.o.d.[506]

Accordingly, they think they do a more meritorious work in killing a Lutheran than in slaying a Turk."

[506] Hispanis persuasum esse Lutheranos impie de Sanctissima Trinitate.--(Ex relatione Spalati in Seck. ii. 165.)

"I know it," replied Melancthon, "and I have not yet been able to succeed in making your fellow-countrymen abandon that idea."

"But what, pray, do the Lutherans desire?"

"The Lutheran question is not so complicated and so unseemly as his majesty fancies. We do not attack the Catholic Church, as is commonly believed;[507] and the whole controversy is reducible to these three points. The two kinds in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, the marriage of pastors, and the abolition of private ma.s.ses. If we could agree on these articles, it would be easy to come to an understanding on the others."

[507] Non adeo per eos Ecclesiam Catholicam oppugnari, quam vulgo putaretur.--(Ibid. 100.)

"Well, I will report this to his majesty."

Charles V. was charmed at this communication. "Go," said he to Valdez, "and impart these things to the legate, and ask Master Philip to transmit to you in writing a short exposition of what they believe and what they deny."

Valdez hastened to Campeggio. "What you relate pleases me tolerably,"

said the latter. "As for the two kinds in the sacrament, and the marriage of priests, there will be means of accommodation;[508] but we cannot consent to the abolition of private ma.s.ses." This would have been in fact cutting off one of the greatest revenues of the Church.

[508] Mit beider Gestalt sacraments oder des Plaffen und Monch Ehe--(Corp. Ref. ii. p. 123.)

On Sat.u.r.day, June 18, Valdez saw Melancthon again. "The Emperor begs of you a moderate and concise exposition," said he, "and he is persuaded that it will be more advantageous to treat of this matter briefly and privately,[509] avoiding all public hearing and all prolix discussion, which would only engender anger and division."--"Well,"

said Melancthon, "I will reflect upon it."

[509] Die Sache in einer Enge und Stille vorzu nehmen.--(Ibid.)

Melancthon was almost won over: a secret conference agreed better with his disposition. Had he not often repeated that peace should be sought after above all things? Thus everything induced the legate to hope that a public struggle would be avoided, and that he might be content, as it were, to send mutes against the Reform, and strangle it in a dungeon.[510]

[510] Clestin, Hist. Comit. August. p. 193. Intelligo hoc t???

a???e?ea? moliri, ut omnino nihil agatur de negotiis ecclesiasticis.--(Corp. Ref. ii. p. 57.)

[Sidenote: EVANGELICAL FIRMNESS PREVAILS.]

Fortunately the Chancellor and the Elector Frederick did not think fit to entertain the propositions with which Charles had commissioned the worthy Valdez. The resolution of these lay members of the Church saved it from the false step its doctors were about to take; and the wiles of the Italians failed against Evangelical firmness. Melancthon was only permitted to lay the Confession before the Spaniard, that he might look into it, and in despite of the moderation employed in it, Valdez exclaimed: "These words are too bitter, and your adversaries will never put up with them!"[511] Thus finished the legate's manuvre.

[511] Ac plane putarit p????te??? esse quam ut ferre possent adversarii.--(Ibid. p. 140.)

VI. Charles, compelled to resign himself to a public sitting, ordered on Wednesday, 22d June, that the Elector and his allies should have their Confession ready for the ensuing Friday. The Roman party were also invited to present a confession of faith; but they excused themselves, saying that they were satisfied with the Edict of Worms.

The Emperor's order took the Protestants by surprise, for the negotiations between Valdez and Melancthon had prevented the latter from putting the finis.h.i.+ng stroke to the Confession. It was not copied out fair; and the conclusions, as well as the exordium, were not definitively drawn up. In consequence of this, the Protestants begged the Archbishop of Mentz to obtain for them the delay of a day; but their pet.i.tion was refused.[512] They therefore laboured incessantly, even during the night, to correct and transcribe the Confession.