History of the Great Reformation Part 35

[657] Nostra confessione ita stupidos, attonitos, et confusos. (Ibid.)

Charles and his ministers had great doubts of its success; leaving, therefore, the theologians for a moment, they imagined another manuvre. "Let us take each of the Protestant princes separately,"

said they: "isolated, they will not resist." Accordingly, on the 15th July, the Margrave of Brandenburg was visited by his two cousins, the Electors of Mentz and of Brandenburg, and by his two brothers the Margraves Frederick and John Albert. "Abandon this, new faith," said they to him, "and return to that which existed a century ago. If you do so, there are no favours that you may not expect from the Emperor; if not, dread his anger."[658]

[658] Corp. Ref. ii. p. 206; F. Urkund. ii. p. 93.

[Sidenote: THE SWISS AT AUGSBURG]

Shortly after, the Duke Frederick of Bavaria, the Count of Na.s.sau, De Rogendorf, and Truchses were announced to the Elector on the part of Charles. "You have solicited the Emperor," said they, "to confirm the marriage of your son with the Princess of Juliers, and to invest you with the electoral dignity; but his majesty declares, that if you do not renounce the heresy of Luther, of which you are the princ.i.p.al abettor, he cannot accede to your demand." At the same time the Duke of Bavaria, employing the most urgent solicitations, accompanied with the most animated gestures[659] and the most sinister threats,[660]

called upon the Elector to abandon his faith. "It is a.s.serted," added Charles's envoys, "that you have made an alliance with the Swiss. The Emperor cannot believe it; and he orders you to let him know the truth."

[659] Mit reden und Gebehrden prachtig erzeigt. (Ibid. p. 207.)

[660] Minas diras promissis ingentibus adjiciens. (Zw. Epp. ii. p.

484.)

The Swiss! it was the same thing as rebellion. This alliance was the phantom incessantly invoked at Augsburg to alarm Charles the Fifth.

And in reality deputies or at least friends of the Swiss, had already appeared in that city, and thus rendered the position still more serious.

[Sidenote: ZWINGLE'S CONFESSION.]

Bucer had arrived two days before the reading of the Confession, and Capito on the day subsequent to it.[661] There was even a report that Zwingle would join them.[662] But for a long time all in Augsburg, except the Strasburg deputation, were ignorant of the presence of these doctors.[663] It was only twenty-one days after their arrival that Melancthon learnt it positively,[664] so great was the mystery in which the Zwinglians were forced to enshroud themselves. This was not without reason: a conference with Melancthon having been requested by them: "Let them write," replied he; "I should compromise our cause by an interview with them." Bucer and Capito in their retreat, which was like a prison to them, had taken advantage of their leisure to draw up the _Tetrapolitan Confession_, or the confessions of the four cities.

The deputies of Strasburg, Constance, Nemmingen, and Lindau, presented it to the Emperor.[665] These cities purged themselves from the reproach of war and revolt that had been continually objected against them. They declared that their only motive was Christ's glory, and professed the truth "freely, boldly, but without insolence and without scurrility."[666]

[661] Venimus huc, ego pridie solemnitatis Divi Johannis, Capito die dominica sequente. (Zw. Epp. ii. p. 472.)

[662] Rumor apud nos est, et te c.u.m tuis Helvetiis comitia advolatarum. (Ibid. pp. 431, 467.)

[663] Ita latent ut non quibuslibet sui copiam faciant. (Corp. Ref. p.

196.)

[664] Capito et Bucarus adsunt. Id hodie certo comperi. (Ibid.)

[665] Cinglianae civitates propriam Confessionem obtulerunt Caesari.

(Corp. Ref. p. 187.) This Confession will be found in _Niemeyer_, Collectio Confessionum, p. 740.

[666] Ingenue ac fort.i.ter; citra procaciam tamen et sannas, id fateri et dicere quod res est. (Zw. Epp. ii. p. 485.)

Zwingle about the same time caused a private confession to be communicated to Charles,[667] which excited a general uproar. "Does he not dare to say," exclaimed the Romanists, "that the _mitred and withered race_ (by which he means the bishops) is in the Church what hump-backs and the scrofula are in the body?"[668]--"Does he not insinuate," said the Lutherans; "that we are beginning to look back after the onions and garlic of Egypt?"--"One might say with great truth that he had lost his senses," exclaimed Melancthon.[669] "All ceremonies, according to him, ought to be abolished; all the bishops ought to be suppressed. In a word, all is perfectly _Helvetic_, that is to say, supremely barbarous."

[667] See Niemeyer Coll. Conf. p. 16.

[668] Pedatum et mitratum genus Episcoporum, id esset in Ecclesia, quod gibbi et strumata in corpore. (Ibid.) Zwingle compares the bishops to the dry and fruitless props that support the vines.

[669] Dicas simpliciter mente captum esse. (Corp. Ref. p. 193.)

One man formed an exception to this concert of reproaches, and this was Luther. "Zwingle pleases me tolerably," wrote he to Jonas, "as well as Bucer."[670] By Bucer, he meant no doubt the Tetrapolitan Confession: this expression should be noted.

[670] Zwinglius mihi sane placet, et Bucerus. (L. Epp. iv. p. 110.)

[Sidenote: AFFLICTING DIVISIONS.]

Thus three confessions laid at the feet of Charles the Fifth, attested the divisions that were rending Protestantism. In vain did Bucer and Capito endeavour to come to an understanding with Melancthon, and write to him: "We will meet where you will, and when you will; we will bring Sturm alone with us, and if you desire it, we will not even bring him."[671] All was unavailing. It is not enough for a Christian to confess Christ; one disciple should confess another disciple, even if the latter lies under the shame of the world; but they did not then comprehend this duty. "Schism is in the schism," said the Romanists, and the Emperor flattered himself with an easy victory. "Return to the Church," was the cry from every side, "which means," interrupted the Strasburgers, "let us put the bit in your mouths, that we may lead you as we please."[672]

[671] Veniemus quo et quando tu voles. (Corp. Ref. ii. p. 208.)

[672] Una tamen omnium vox: _Revertimini ad Ecclesiam_. (Zw. Epp. ii.

p. 484.)

All these things deeply afflicted the Elector, who was besides still under the burden of Charles's demands and threats. The Emperor had not once spoken to him,[673] and it was everywhere said that his cousin George of Saxony would be proclaimed Elector in his stead.

[673] Colloquium ejus nondum frui potuisse. (Seck. ii. p. 154.)

On the 28th July, there was a great festival at the court. Charles, robed in his imperial garments, whose value was said to exceed 200,000 gold ducats, and displaying an air of majesty which impressed respect and fear,[674] conferred on many princes the invest.i.ture of their dignities; the Elector alone was excluded from these favours. Erelong he was made to understand more plainly what was reserved for him, and it was insinuated, that if he did not submit, the Emperor would expel him from his states, and inflict upon him the severest punishment.[675]

[674] Apparuit Caesar majestate......insignitus vestibus suis imperialibus (Corp. Ref. ii. p. 242.)

[675] Muller, Gesch. der Protestation, p. 715.

[Sidenote: THE ELECTOR'S FAITH.]

The Elector turned pale, for he doubted not that such would certainly be the termination. How with his small territory could he resist that powerful monarch who had just vanquished France and Italy, and now saw Germany at his feet? And besides, if he could do it, had he the right?

Frightful nightmares pursued John in his dreams. He beheld himself stretched beneath an immense mountain under which he struggled painfully, while his cousin George of Saxony stood on the summit and seemed to brave him.

John at length came forth from this furnace. "I must either renounce G.o.d or the world," said he. "Well! my choice is not doubtful. It is G.o.d who made me Elector,--me, who was not worthy of it. I fling myself into his arms, and let him do with me what shall seem good to him."

Thus the Elector by faith stopped the mouths of lions and subdued kingdoms.[676]

[676] Hebrews xi. 33, 34.

All evangelical Christendom had taken part in the struggle of John the Persevering. It was seen that if he should now fall, all would fall with him; and they endeavoured to support him. "Fear not," cried the Christians of Magdeburg, "for your highness is under Christ's banner."[677] "Italy is in expectation," wrote they from Venice; "if for Christ's glory you must die, fear nothing."[678] But it was from a higher source that John's courage was derived. "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven," said his Master.[679] The Elector, in like manner, beheld in his dreams George fall from the top of the mountain, and lie dashed in pieces at his feet.

[677] Unter dem Heerpannyr Jesu Christi. (Ibid. p. 134.)

[678] Etiamsi more subeunda tibi foret ob Christi gloriam. (Corp. Ref.

ii. 228. L. P. Roselli.)

[679] Luke x. 18.

[Sidenote: THE EMPEROR'S FAITH.]

Once resolved to lose everything, John, free, happy, and tranquil, a.s.sembled his theologians. These generous men desired to save their master. "Gracious lord," said Spalatin, "recollect that the Word of G.o.d, being the sword of the Spirit, must be upheld, not by the secular power, but by the hand of the Almighty."[680]--"Yes!" said all the doctors, "we do not wish that, to save us, you should risk your children, your subjects, your states, your crown......We will rather give ourselves into the hands of the enemy, and conjure him to be satisfied with our blood."[681] John, touched by this language, refused, however, their solicitations, and firmly repeated these words, which had become his device: "I also desire to confess my Saviour."

[680] Gottes Wort keines wegs durch weltlich Schwert. (F. Urkund. ii.

p. 82.)

[681] Sie wollen ihnen an ihrem Blute genugen la.s.sen. (Ibid. p. 90.)

It was on the 20th July that he replied to the pressing arguments by which Charles had endeavoured to shake him. He proved to the Emperor that, being his brother's legitimate heir, he could not refuse him the invest.i.ture, which, besides, the Diet of Worms had secured to him. He added, that he did not blindly believe what his doctors said, but that, having recognised the Word of G.o.d to be the foundation of their teaching, he confessed anew, and without any hesitation, all the articles of the Apology. "I therefore entreat your majesty," continued he, "to permit me and mine to render an account to G.o.d alone of what concerns the salvation of our souls."[682] The Margrave of Brandenburg made the same reply. Thus failed this skilful manuvre, by which the Romanists had hoped to break the strength of the Reformation.