ENTRY OF THE IMPERIAL CAVALCADE INTO AUGSBURG. their courts, in rich dresses of velvet and silk, and their armed retainers in their red doublets, steel helmets and dancing plumes. There were bishops in violet and cardinals in purple. The ecclesiastics were seated on mules, the princes and counts bestrode prancing coursers. The Elector John of Saxony marched immediately before the emperor, bearing the naked imperial sword, an honour to which his rank in the electoral college entitled him. "Last came the prince," says Seckendorf, "on whom all eyes were fixed. Thirty years of age, of distinguished port and pleasing features, robed in golden garments that glittered all over with precious stones, wearing a small Spanish hat on the crown of his head, mounted on a beautiful Polish hackney of the most brilliant whiteness, riding beneath a rich canopy of red white and green damask borne by six senators of Augsburg, and casting around him looks in which gentleness was mingled with gravity, Charles excited the liveliest enthusiasm, and every one exclaimed that he was the handsomest man in the Empire, as well as the mightiest prince in the world." 1 His brother, the King of Austria, accompanied Charles. Ferdinand advanced side by side with the Papal legate, their place being immediately behind the emperor. They were succeeded by an array of cardinals, bishops, and the ambassadors of foreign Powers, in the insignia of their rank and office. The procession was swollen, moreover, by a miscellaneous throng of much lesser personages— pages, heralds, equerries, trumpeters, drummers, and cross-bearers-whose variegated dresses and flaring colours formed a not unimportant though vulgar item in the magnificence of the cavalcade. The Imperial Guards and the Augsburg Militia brought up the rear. It was nine o'clock in the evening when the gates of Augsburg were reached. The thunder of cannon on the ramparts, and the peals of the city bells, informed the people of Augsburg that the emperor was entering their city. The dusk of a summer evening hid somewhat the glory of the procession, but torches were kindled to light it through the streets, and permit the citizens a sight of its grandeur. The accident of the bridge at Bologna was nearly repeated on this occasion. As the cavalcade was advancing to the sound of clarion and kettledrum, six canons, bearing a huge canopy, beneath which they were to conduct the emperor to the cathedral, approached Charles. His 1 Seckendorf, lib. ii., sec. 24, p. 160. 2 Sleidan, bk. vii., p. 127. 587 horse, startled at the sight, suddenly reared, and nearly threw him headlong upon the street.1 He was rescued, however, a second time. At length he entered the minster, which a thousand blazing torches illuminated. After the Te Deum came the chanting of prayers, and Charles, putting aside the cushion offered to him, kneeled on the bare floor during the service. The assembly, following the emperor's example, threw themselves on their knees-all save two persons, the Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave of Hesse, who remained standing. Their behaviour did not escape the notice of Duke George and the prelates; but they consoled themselves doubtless by thinking that they would make them bow low enough by-and-by. When the services in the cathedral were ended, the procession re-formed, and again swept along through the streets of Augsburg. The trumpets sounded, and the bells were tolled. The torches were again lighted to illuminate the night. Their rays glittered on the helmets of the guard, flashed on the faces of the motley crowd of sight-seers, and catching the fronts of the houses, lighted them up in a gloomy grandeur, and transformed the street through which the procession was advancing into a long, a picturesque, and a most impressive vista of red lights and black shadows. Through a scene of this sort was Charles conducted to the archiepiscopal Palace of the Palatinate, which he entered about ten o'clock. This assembly, comprising the pride and puissance of the great Spanish monarchy, were here to be the witnesses of the triumph of Rome-so they imagined. The Pope and the emperor had resolved to tolerate the religious schism no longer. Charles, as both Pallavicino and Sarpi testify, came to Augsburg with the firm purpose of putting forth all the power of the Empire in the Diet, in order to make the revolted princes re-enter the obedience of the Roman See." The Protestants must bow the head -so have two Puissances decreed. There is a head that is destined to bow down, but it is one that for ten centuries has been lifted up in pride, and has not once during all that time been known to bend-Rome. The emperor's entry into Augsburg took place on Corpus Christi eve. It was so timed in order that a pretext might be had for the attempts which were to be made for corrupting the Protestants. The programme of the imperial and ecclesiastical managers was a short one- -wiles; but if these did not prosper they were quite prepared 4 Urkunden, i. 26. D'Aubigné, vol. iv., p. 143. 5 D'Aubigné, vol. iv., p. 143. 6 Sarpi, tom. i., lib. i. Pallavicino, lib. iii., cap. 3. ATTEMPTS TO PERVERT THE FIDELITY OF THE PROTESTANTS. to resort to arms. The Protestant princes were specially invited to take their place in the solemn procession of to-morrow, that of Corpus Christi. It would be hard for the Lutheran chiefs to find an excuse for absence. Even on Lutheran principles it was the literal body of Christ that was to be carried through the streets; surely they would not refuse this token of homage to their Saviour, this act of courtesy to their emperor. They declined, however, saying that the body of Christ was in the Sacrament not to be worshipped, but fed on by faith. The legate professed to be highly displeased at their contumacy; and even the emperor was not a little chafed. He had nothing for it, however, but to put up with the slight, for attendance on such ceremonies was no part of the duty which they owed him as emperor. The next assault was directed against the Protestant sermons. The crowds that gathered round the preachers were as great as ever. The emperor was galled by the sight of these enthusiastic multitudes, and all the more so that not more than a hundred of the citizens of Augsburg had joined in the grand procession of the day previous, in which he himself had walked bareheaded, carrying a lighted taper. That the heresy which he had crossed the Alps to extinguish should be proclaimed in a score of churches, and within earshot of him, was more than he could endure. He sent for the Lutheran princes, and charged them to enjoin silence on their preachers. The princes replied that they could not live without the preaching of the Gospel, and that the citizens of Augsburg would not willingly consent to have the churches closed. When Charles insisted that it should be so, the Margrave George exclaimed in animated tones, "Rather than let the Word of God be taken from me, and deny my God, I would kneel down and have my head struck off." And suiting the action to the words, he struck his neck with his hand. "Not the head off," replied Charles, evidently moved by the emotion of the margrave, "dear prince, not the head off." These were the only German words Charles was heard to utter.* After two days' warm altercation it was concluded on the part of the Protestants-who feared to irritate too greatly the emperor, lest he should forbid the reading of their Confession in the Dietthat during the sitting of the Senate the Protestant sermons should be suspended; and Charles on his 589 part agreed to appoint preachers who should impugn neither creed in their sermons, but steer a middle course between the old and the new faiths. An edict to this effect was next day proclaimed through Augsburg by a herald. The citizens were curious to hear the emperor's preachers. Those who went to witness the promised feat of preaching something that was neither Popery nor Protestantism, were not a little amused by the performances of this new sort of preachers. "Their sermons," said they, "are innocent of theology, but equally innocent of sense." At length the 20th of June arrived. On this day the Diet was to be opened by a grand procession and a solemn mass. This furnished another pretext for renewing the attempts to corrupt the fidelity, or, as the Papists called it, vanquish the obstinacy of the Protestants. The emperor on that day would go in state to mass. It was the right or duty of the Elector of Saxony, as Grand Marshal of the Empire, to carry the sword before Charles on all occasions of state. "Let your majesty," said Campeggio, "order the elector to perform his office." " If John should obey, he would compromise his profession by being present at mass; if he should refuse, he would incur a derogation of dignity, for the emperor would assign the honour to another. The aged elector was in a strait. "It He summoned the divines who were present in Augsburg, that he might have their advice. is," said they," in your character of Grand Marshal, and not in your character of Protestant, that you are called to bear the sword before his majesty. You assist at a ceremony of the Empire, and not at a ceremony of religion. You may obey with a safe conscience." And they fortified their opinion by citing the example of Naaman, the prime minister of the King of Damascus, who, though a disciple of Elisha, accompanied his lord when he went to worship in the temple of Baal.' The Zwinglian divines did not concur in the opinion expressed by their Lutheran brethren. They called to mind the instance of the primitive Christians who submitted to martyrdom rather than throw a few grains of incense upon the altar. Any one, they said, might be present at any rite of another religion, as if it were a civil ceremony, whenever the fear of loss, or the hope of advantage, tempted one to institute this very dangerous dis 5 Sleidan, bk. vii., p. 127. Polano, Hist. Conc. Trent, lib. i., p. 52. 6 Fra-Paolo Sarpi, tom. i., p. 99. 7 Pallavicino, lib. iii., cap. 3, p. 191. Fra-Paolo Sarpi, tom. i., pp. 99, 100. Seckendorf, lib. ii., sec. 27, p. 167. tinction. The advice of the Lutheran divines, however, swayed the elector, and he accordingly took his place in the procession, but remained erect before the altar when the Host was elevated.1 Germans had invented. "Why," exelaimed he, "the Senate and people of Rome, though Gentiles and the worshippers of false gods, never failed to avenge the insults offered to their rites by fire and At this mass Vincenzo Pompinello, Archbishon sword. of Rosano, and 1 tion in Latin bef historians-Pallav handed down to i Beginning with t braided Germany many wrongs at t this craven spirit h of ancient Rome, signal chastisemen Republic." At thi: would seem with a the nuncio set sail extol the Moslem disadvantage of G the Turk obeys O Germany many obey live in one religion, invent a new religion were become mouldy. faith, they had not 1 more wise." He ex Scipio, Cato, the peopl they should observe these novelties, and gi His eloquence reacl came to speak of the A CLEAR COMPLEXION!!!` GODFREY'S EXTRACT OF ELDER FLOWERS ance. Is strongly recommended for Softening, Improving, Beautifying, and Sold in Bottles, price 2s. 9d., by all Medicine STEEDMAN'S SOOTHING POWDERS, FOR CHILDREN CUTTING THEIR TEETH. THE value of this Medicine has been largely tested in all parts of the world and by all grades of society for upwards of fifty years. Its extensive sale has induced SPURIOUS IMITATIONS, some of which, in outward appearance, so closely resemble the Original as easily to deceive even careful observers. The Proprietor therefore feels it due to the Public to give a SPECIAL CAUTION against the purchase of such imitations. All purchasers are therefore requested carefully to observe that the words "JOHN STEEDMAN, Chemist, Walworth, Surrey," are engraved on the Government Stamp affixed to each Packet, IN WHITE LETTERS ON A RED GROUND, without which none are genuine. The true STEEDMAN is spelt with two EEs. Prepared only at Walworth, Surrey, and Sold by all Chemists & Medicine Vendors in packets 1s. 1 d. and 2s. 9d. each. . 1., pp. 52, 53. 2 Polano, lib. i., p. 58. Fra-Paolo Sarpi, tom. i., p. 100. 3 "Con una diabolica persuasione sbandiscono e trag. gono ad ogni scherno ed impudicizia." (Pallavicino, tom. i., lib. iii., cap. B, p. 192.) CHARLES'S SPEECH BEFORE THE DIET. power, rank, and magnificence—had gathered here to deliberate, to lay their plans, and to proclaim their triumphs: so they firmly believed. They were quite mistaken, however. They were here to suffer check after check, to endure chagrin and discomfiture, and to see at last that cause which they had hoped to cast into chains and drag to the stake, escaping from their hands, mounting gloriously upward, and beginning to fill the world with its splendour. The emperor rose and opened the Diet with a speech. We turn with a feeling of relief from the fiery harangue of the fanatical nuncio to the calm words of Charles. Happily Sleidan has handed down to us the speech of the emperor at considerable length. It contains a sad picture of the Christendom of that age. It shows us the West, groaning under the twin burdens of priestcraft and despotism, ready to succumb to the Turk, and the civilisation and liberty of the world on the point of being overwhelmed by the barbarous arms of the East. It shows us also that this terrible catastrophe would most surely have overtaken the world, if that very Christianity which the emperor was blindly striving to put down had not come at that critical moment, to rekindle the all but extinct fires of patriotism and valour. If Charles had succeeded in extirpating Protestantism, the Turk would have come after him and gathered the spoils. The seat of Empire would have been transferred from Spain to Constantinople, and the dominant religion in the end would have been not Romanism, but Mohammedanism. 66 The emperor, who did not speak German, made his address be read by the count-palatine. "Sacrificing my private injuries and interests to the common good," said Charles, "I have quitted the most flourishing kingdom of Spain, with great danger, to cross the seas into Italy, and, after making peace with my enemies, to pass thence into Germany. Not only," continued the emperor, were there great strifes and dissensions in Germany about religion, but also the Turks had invaded Hungary and the neighbouring countries, putting all to fire and sword, Belgrade and several other castles and forts being lost. King Lewis and several of the nobles had sent ambassadors to desire the assistance of the Empire. The enemy having taken Rhodes, the bulwark of Christendom on that side, marched further into Hungary, overcame King Lewis in battle, and took, plundered, and burned all the towns and places between the rivers Save and Draue, with the slaughter of many thousands of men. They had afterwards made an incursion into Sclavonia, and there having plun 591 dered, burned, and slain, and laid the whole country waste, they had carried away about thirty thousand of men into miserable slavery, and killed those poor creatures that could not follow after with the carriages. They had again, the year before, advanced with an innumerable army into Austria, and laid siege to Vienna, the chief city thereof, having wasted the country far and near, even as far as Linz, where they had practised all kinds of cruelty and barbarity. That now, though the enemy could not take Vienna, yet the whole country had sustained great damage, which could hardly be in long time repaired again. And although the Turk had drawn off his army, yet he had left garrisons and commanders upon the bor ders to waste and destroy not only Hungary, but Austria also, and Styria, and the places adjoining ; and whereas now his territory in many places bordered upon ours, it was not to be doubted but upon the first occasion he would return again with far greater force, and drive on his designs to the utter ruin chiefly of Germany. It was well known how many places he had taken from us since he was master of Constantinople, how much Christian blood he had shed, and into what straits he had reduced this part of the world, that it ought rather to be lamented and bewailed than enlarged on in discourse. If his fury be not resisted with greater forces than hitherto, we must expect no safety for the future, but one province after another being lost, all at length, and that shortly too, will fall under his power and tyranny. The design of this most cruel enemy was to make slaves of, nay, to sweep off all Christians from the face of the earth." The emperor having drawn this picture of the Turk, who every year was projecting a longer shadow over Christendom, proceeded next to counsel his hearers to trample out that spirit which alone was capable of coping with this enemy, by commanding them to execute the Edict of Worms. While the Diet is proceeding to business, let us return to Luther, whom we left, as our readers will recollect, in the Castle of Coburg. Alone in his solitary chamber, he is, rightly looked at, a grander sight than the magnificent assemblage we have been contemplating. He is the embodiment of that great power which Charles has assembled his princes and is about to muster his armies to combat, but before which he is destined 1 The Turks had made a breach in the walls of Vienna, and were on the point of entering and taking the city, when a mysterous panic seized them and they fled. 2 Sleidan, bk. vii., pp. 127–129. |