We wish them safety and success, and trust, that they will not all be impaled on some sharp pointed hedge..

"I think, however, that the crowd which are just before me can be nothing but sophists and Romanists with their preachers and scribes, who have come that I may hear their harmonious voices and preaching, and see what useful people they are to destroy every thing upon the earth, and then yawn for something to do.

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To-day we have heard the first nightingale; for they are not willing to trust themselves in April. It is now very fine weather with us; it has not rained at all, except a little yesterday. Perhaps it is otherwise with you. God's blessing be with you and support your house.

"From the Diet of Maltese Knights, 28th April, 1530,"

CHAPTER IX.

DEATH OF FREDERIC OF SAXONY - DIET AT SPIRES

- THE PROTEST-DISPUTE AMONG THE REFORMERS CONCERNING THE LORD'S SUPPER -SECOND DIET AT SPIRES -DIET AND CONFESSION OF AUGSBURG -LEAGUE OF SMALCALD— PEACE OF NUREMBERG. 1526-1532.

FREDERIC, Elector of Saxony, died in 1525, soon after the defeat of the peasants. He had been a cautious, but on the whole a firm friend of Luther, and his loss would have been severely felt, had not his brother and successor John been decidedly in favor of the reform, and a man of bold and independent character. Being a convert to the new doctrines and believing that the time had come when a choice between them and popery must be publicly made, this prince directed Luther and Melancthon to form a set of rules for the government of the churches throughout his dominions. His example was followed by other noblemen, and thus a new impulse and greater dignity was given to the Reformation. Steps so decided aroused the bitter and active opposition of those who still adhered to the papal see; and had it not been for the lukewarmness of the Emperor and the distracted state of the empire,

an immediate collision would probably have taken place between the Romanists and their adversaries.

As it was, however, the proceedings of the next Diet, which assembled at Spires in 1526, were favorable to the Reformers. Charles V. had been engaged in a long war with his rival the king of France, in which the latter was taken prisoner and released, after a protracted negotiation, only on condition of his complying with the terms of a hard treaty. This he promised to do. But when he was set at liberty, he obtained absolution from his oath from the pope, who began to fear the growing power of the German Emperor, which he endeavoured to check by forming an alliance with England and France. Charles, greatly exasperated at this conduct, immediately declared war against the pontiff; one of his generals entered the holy city with an army, and beseiged Clement in the castle of St. Angelo, where he was reduced to such extremity of hunger as to feed on asses' flesh, and obliged at last to surrender, on such conditions as his conquerors chose to dictate. He agreed to pay a large sum of money, to give up his fortresses, and to remain a prisoner until these terms were fulfilled. It was during this rupture, that the above mentioned Diet was held. The Reformers took advantage of the state of affairs. A majority of

the deputies present declared it to be impossible to enforce the Edict of Worms, and voted to leave every one to manage the religious concerns of his own territories as he pleased, until the convention of a general Council.

It was the policy of the Emperor to countenance this decision: and the advocates of the new doctrine, finding themselves unmolested, were greatly encouraged. Their preachers were indefatigable, and their writings were extensively circulated. Many, who had hitherto been indifferent or timid, now came out and joined their ranks. And it seemed as if the whole empire was about to break away from the dominion of the Pope. But this prosperity continued only for a short season. Political considerations alone dictated the course of Charles with regard to the different religious parties. He favored or opposed one or the other of them according to the aid they might render in the execution of his ambitious designs. He soon discovered that he had gone too far in his contest with the Pope, and deemed it necessary to change his line of conduct. Having in some measure settled the disturbed affairs of his kingdom, and having liberated and formed a league with Clement, he directed his brother Ferdinand, who acted in his name, to support the popish party in the second Diet of Spires, which was held in the spring of 1529. Thus deserted

and opposed by the Emperor, the Reformers were discomfited. The decrees of the former Diet were revoked, and any change in the forms of worship declared unlawful until the opinion of the proposed general Council should be known.

The Elector of Saxony and his followers now found themselves in a desperate condition. Under existing circumstances, as they were well aware, it was vain to hope for the assembly of an impartial council —even if the promise to summon one was not altogether a piece of deception, and they felt the necessity of making every exertion in defence of their rights. Accordingly the Elector John, the marquis of Brandenburg, the landgrave of Hesse, the prince of Anhalt, together with the deputies of fourteen free cities, entered their solemn PROTEST against the decision of the Diet. It was from this circumstance that they obtained the name of Protestants, which has since been extended to all who have separated from the Church of Rome or denied its infallibility. In addition to their remonstrance, the protestant princes sent special envoys to meet the Emperor, who was then on a journey from Spain to Italy. These noblemen were ungraciously received. Offended by the spirit and firmness with which they discharged their office, the arbitrary monarch ordered them to be imprisoned for several days, and treated their com