History of the Great Reformation Part 42

Eck said these words with a smile; but they expressed all his thoughts. The colloquy terminated on the 30th of August.

[791] Haec inflamma.s.sent Imperatorem ad totam hanc factionem delendam.

(Corp. Ref. ii. p. 335.)

The Romish states made their report to the Emperor. They were face to face, three steps only from each other, without either side being able to approach nearer, even by a hair's breadth.

[Sidenote: THE GORDIAN KNOT.]

Thus, then, Melancthon had failed; and his enormous concessions were found useless. From a false love of peace, he had set his heart on an impossibility. Melancthon was at the bottom a really Christian soul.

G.o.d preserved him from his great weakness, and broke the clue that was about to lead him to destruction. Nothing could have been more fortunate for the Reformation than Melancthon's failure; but nothing could, at the same time, have been more fortunate for himself: his friends saw that though he was willing to yield much, he could not go so far as to yield Christ himself, and his defeat justified him in the eyes of the Protestants.

The Elector of Saxony and the Margrave of Brandenburg sent to beg Charles's leave to depart. The latter refused at first rather rudely, but at last he began to conjure the princes not to create by their departure new obstacles to the arrangements they soon hoped to be able to conclude.[792] We shall see of what nature these arrangements were.

[792] Antwort des Kaisers, &c. (Urkund. ii. p. 313.)

They appeared to redouble their exertions. If they now let the clue slip, it is lost for ever: they laboured accordingly to reunite the two ends. There were conferences in the gardens, conferences at the churches, at St. George's, at St. Maurice's, between the Duke of Brunswick and John Frederick the Elector's son, the Chancellors of Baden and of Saxony, the Chancellor of Liege and Melancthon; but all these attempts were unavailing. It was to other means they were going to have recourse.

Charles the Fifth had resolved to take the affair in hand, and to cut the Gordian knot, which neither doctor nor princes could untie.

Irritated at seeing his advances spurned and his authority compromised, he thought that the moment was come for drawing the sword. On the 4th September the members of the Roman party, who were still endeavouring to gain over the Protestants, whispered these frightful intentions in Melancthon's ears. "We scarcely dare mention it," said they: "the sword is already in the Emperor's hands, and certain people exasperate him more and more. He is not easily enraged, but once angry it is impossible to quiet him."[793]

[793] Nescio an ausim dicere, jam ferrum in manu Caesaris esse. (Corp.

Ref. ii. p. 342.)

[Sidenote: ALARM IN ROME.]

Charles had reason to appear exacting and terrible. He had at length obtained from Rome an unexpected concession--a council. Clement VII.

had laid the Emperor's request before a Congregation: "How will men who reject the ancient councils submit to a new one?" they had replied. Clement himself had no wish for such an a.s.sembly. His birth and his conduct made him equally dread it.[794] However, his promises at the Castle of St. Angelo and at Bologna rendered it impossible for him to give a decided refusal. He answered, therefore, that "the remedy would be worse than the disease;[795] but that if the Emperor, who was so good a Catholic, judged a council absolutely necessary, he would consent to it, under the express condition, however, that the Protestants should submit in the meanwhile to the doctrines and rites of the Church." Then as the place of meeting he appointed Rome!

[794] In eam (concilii celebrationem) Pontificis animus haud propendebatur. (Pallavicini. i. p. 251.)

[795] Al contrario, remedio e piu pericoloso e per partorir maggiori mali. (Lettere de Principe, ii. p. 197.)

Scarcely had the news of this concession spread abroad, than the fear of a Reformation froze the Papal court. The public charges of the Papacy, which were altogether venal, immediately fell, says a cardinal, and were offered at the lowest price,[796] without even being able to find purchasers.[797] The Papacy was compromised; the merchandise was in great danger; and the _price current_ immediately declined on the Roman exchange.

[796] Evulgatus concilii rumor......publica Roma munera......jam in vilissimum pretium decidissent. (Pallav. i. p. 251.)

[797] Che non se non trovano danari. (Lett. di Prin. iii. p. 5.)

On Wednesday, 7th September, at two in the afternoon, the Protestant princes and deputies having been introduced into the chamber of Charles the Fifth, the Count-palatine said to them, "that the Emperor, considering their small number, had not expected they would uphold new sects against the ancient usages of the Universal Church; that, nevertheless, being desirous of appearing to the last full of kindness, he would require of his Holiness the convocation of a council; but that in the meanwhile they should return immediately into the bosom of the Catholic Church, and restore everything to its ancient footing."[798]

[798] Interim rest.i.tui debere omnia Papistis. (Corp. Ref. ii. p. 355.

See also _Erklarung des Kaisers Karl_, v. Urkunden, ii. p. 391.)

[Sidenote: MENACES.]

The Protestants replied on the morrow, the 8th September, that they had not stirred up new sects contrary to the Holy Scriptures;[799]

that, quite the reverse, if they had not agreed with their adversaries, it was because they had desired to remain faithful to the Word of G.o.d; that by convoking in Germany a general, free, and christian council, it would only be doing what preceding diets had promised; but that nothing should compel them to re-establish in their churches an order of things opposed to the commandments of G.o.d.

[799] Nit neue, Secten wieder die heilige Schrifft. (Bruck. Apol. p.

136.)

It was eight in the evening when, after a long deliberation, the Protestants were again called in. "His majesty," said George Truchses to them, "is equally astonished both that the Catholic members of the commissions have accorded so much, and that the Protestant members have refused everything. What is your party in the presence of his imperial majesty, of his Papal holiness, of the electors, princes, estates of the Empire, and other kings, rulers, and potentates of Christendom? It is but just that the minority should yield to the majority. Do you desire the means of conciliation to be protracted, or do you persist in your answer? Speak frankly; for if you persist, the Emperor will immediately see to the defence of the Church. To-morrow at one o'clock you will bring your final decision."

Never had such threatening words issued from Charles's mouth. It was evident he wished to subdue the Protestants by terror; but this end was not attained. They replied the next day but one--a day more having been accorded them--that new attempts at conciliation would only fatigue the Emperor and the diet; that they only required regulations to maintain political peace until the a.s.sembling of the council.[800]

"Enough," replied the redoubtable Emperor; "I will reflect upon it; but in the mean time let no one quit Augsburg."

[800] Urkunden. ii. p. 410; Bruck, Apol. p. 139.

[Sidenote: ALTERCATIONS.]

Charles the Fifth was embarra.s.sed in a labyrinth from which he knew not how to escape. The state had resolved to interfere with the Church, and saw itself compelled to have immediate recourse to its _ultima ratio_--the sword. Charles did not desire war, and yet how could he now avoid it? If he did not execute his threats, his dignity was compromised, and his authority rendered contemptible. He sought an outlet on one side or the other, but could find none. It therefore only remained for him to close his eyes, and rush forward without knowing what might happen. These thoughts disturbed him: these cares preyed upon him; he was utterly confounded.

It was now that the Elector sent to beg Charles would not be offended if he left Augsburg. "Let him await my answer," abruptly replied the Emperor; and the Elector having rejoined that he would send his ministers to explain his motives to his majesty: "Not so many speeches," resumed Charles, with irritation; "let the Elector say whether he will stay or not!"[801]

[801] Kurtz mit Solchen worten ob er erwarten wolte oder nicht?

(Bruck, Apol. p. 143.)

[Sidenote: PROTESTANTISM RESISTS.]

A rumour of the altercation between these two powerful princes having spread abroad, the alarm became universal; it was thought war would break out immediately, and there was a great cry in all Augsburg.[802]

It was evening: men were running to and fro; they rushed into the hotels of the princes and of the Protestant deputies, and addressed them with the severest reproaches. "His imperial majesty," said they, "is about to have recourse to the most energetic measures!" They even declared that hostilities had begun: it was whispered that the commander of Horneck (Walter of Kronberg), elected by the Emperor grand-master of the Teutonic order, was about to enter Prussia with an army, and dispossess Duke Albert, converted by Luther.[803] Two nights successively the same tumult was repeated. They shouted, they quarrelled, they fought, particularly in and before the mansions of the princes: the war was nearly commencing in Augsburg.

[802] Ein beschwerlich Geschrey zu Augsbourgden selben abend ausgebrochen. (Ibid. p. 145.)

[803] Man wurde ein Kriegs-volk in Preussen Schicken. (Bruck, Apol. p.

143.)

At that crisis (12th September), John Frederick, prince-electoral of Saxony, quitted the city.

On the same day, or on the morrow, Jerome Wehe, chancellor of Baden, and Count Truchses on the one side; Chancellor Bruck and Melancthon on the other, met at six in the morning in the church of St.

Maurice.[804]

[804] Ibid. p. 155-160.

Charles, notwithstanding his threats, could not decide on employing force. He could no doubt by a single word to his Spanish bands or to his German lansquenets have seized on these inflexible men, and treated them like Moors. But how could Charles, a Netherlander, a Spaniard, who had been absent ten years from the Empire, dare, without raising all Germany, offer violence to the favourites of the nation?

Would not the Roman-catholic princes themselves see in this act an infringement of their privileges? War was unseasonable. "Lutheranism is extending already from the Baltic to the Alps," wrote Erasmus to the legate: "You have but one thing to do: tolerate it."[805]

[805] A mare Baltico ad Helvetios. (Erasm. Epp. xiv. p. 1.)

The negotiation begun in the Church of St. Maurice was continued between the Margrave of Brandenburg and Count Truchses. The Roman party only sought to save appearances, and did not hesitate, besides, to sacrifice everything. It asked merely for a few theatrical decorations--that the Ma.s.s should be celebrated in the sacerdotal garment, with chanting, reading, ceremonies, and its two canons.[806]

All the rest was referred to the next council, and the Protestants, till then, should conduct themselves so as to render account to G.o.d, to the council, and to his majesty.

[806] Ingewohnlichen Kleidungen mit Gesang und Lesen. (Urk. ii. p.

418.) The canon was a frame of card-board placed on the altar before the priest, and which contained the Apostles' Creed with various prayers.

[Sidenote: LUTHER'S EXHORTATION.]

But on the side of the Protestants the wind had also changed. Now they will no longer have peace with Rome: the scales had at last fallen from their eyes, and they discovered with affright the abyss into which they had so nearly plunged. Jonas, Spalatin, and even Melancthon were agreed. "We have hitherto obeyed the commandment of St. Paul, _Be at peace with all men_," said they; "now we must obey this commandment of Christ, _Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy_. On the side of our adversaries is nothing but cunning and perfidy, and their only aim is to stifle our doctrine, which is truth itself.[807] They hope to save the abominable articles of Purgatory, Indulgences, and the Papacy, because we have pa.s.sed them by in silence.[808] Let us beware of betraying Christ and his Word in order to please antichrist and the devil."[809]