was broken up, and the elector of Saxony returned home. The emperor
pursued him by forced marches, and fell upon him unawares, near Muhl-
berg on the Elbe, the 24th of April, 1547, where after an unsuccessful
battle, and betrayed probably by his friends, he was taken prisoner. The
other Protestant prince, Philip of Hesse, by advice of his son-in-law Mau
rice, and of the elector of Brandenburg, threw himself upon the mercy of
the emperor, expecting according to the emperor s promise, to be forgiven
and to be set at liberty. But he was nevertheless kept a prisoner ; and
it is reported, that the emperor violated his promise in this instance, and
deluded the Hessian prince by the ambiguity of some German words.
But this part of the history has not yet been so investigated as to make
the imprisonment of the landgrave, and the grounds of it, altogether
clear.(l)
3. After this victory, the cause of the Protestants appeared irrecov
erably ruined, and that of the Roman pontiff triumphant. In the diet held
soon after at Augsburg, (and which was surrounded by troops), the emper
or demanded of the Protestants, to submit the decision of the religious
controversy to the council of Trent. The greater part consented, and in
particular Maurice of Saxony, who had received from Charles the electo
ral dignity, of which, together with a part of his territories, John Frederic
had been deprived, and who also was extremely solicitous for the libera
tion of his father-in-law, the landgrave of Hesse. But the emperor lost
the benefit of this assent to the council of Trent. For upon a rumour that
the pestilence had appeared at Trent, a great part of the fathers retired
to Bologna ; and thus the council was broken up. (2) Nor could the em
peror prevail with the pope, to reassemble the council without delay. As
(1) Besides the accounts of the common itself by his prescription, and of the grow-
historians, Benj. Grosch has well described ing power of the emperor, which he did not
all these transactions, in his Vertheidigung wish to see farther increased by the coun-
der Evangelischen Kirche gegen Gottfr. Ar- cil. He indeed hated the Protestants ; but
nold, p. 29, &c. [See Slcidari s Comment, he did not wish to see the emperor, under
de statu relig. et reipubl., lib. xviii., and the colour of enforcing the decrees of the coun-
very full history of this war, in Robertson s cil, acquire a more absolute authority over
Hist, of Charles V., book viii., p. 338, &c., Germany. He had already withdrawn hit
and bock ix., p. 360, &c. 7Y.J troops from the imperial army ; and he now
(2) [The report of a pestilence was a .wished to see the council dispersed. The
mere pretence. The pope, Paul III., was Spanish members opposed him ; but he found
equally jealous of the council, which had mean* to prevail. Schl 1
not been disposed in all respects to govern
HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION. 6?
the prospect of a council was now more distant, the emperor deemed it
necessary in the interim, to adopt some project, which might preserve the
peace in regard to religion until the council should assemble. Hence he
Caused a paper to be drawn up by Julius Pflug, bishop of Nauemburg,
Michael Sidonius a papist, and John Agricola of Eisleben ; which should
serve as a rule of faith and worship to the professors of both the old re
ligion and the new, until the meeting of the council ; and this paper, be
cause it had not the force of a permanent law, was commonly called the
Interim.^)
4. This paper, called the Interim, though very favourable to the papal
2ause, was equally displeasing to the pontiff and to the professors of the
true or Lutheran religion. When the emperor communicated it to the diet
of Augsburg, the elector of Mayence, without taking the sense of the
members, rose, and in the name of the diet, assented to it. Most of the
princes therefore, though reluctantly, acquiesced. Those who opposed it,
were for the most part compelled by the power and arms of the emperor
to submit ; and the calamities and oppressions which followed in Germany,
are almost indescribable. Maurice elector of Saxony, who occupied mid
dle ground between those who approved and those who rejected the Interim,
held several consultations at Leipsic and other places, in the year 1548,
with his theologians and principal men of whom Philip Melancthon was
most distinguished, that he might determine what course to pursue. The
result of the protracted deliberation was, that Melancthon (whom the other
theologians followed), partly from fear of the emperor, and partly from
condescension to his sovereign, decided that the whole instrument called
the Interim could by no means be admitted ; but that there was no imped
iment to receiving and approving it, so far as it concerned things not es
sential in religion, or things indifferent (adiaplioris). This decision gave
rise to the Adiaphoristic controversy among the Lutherans, which will be
described in the history of the Lutheran church. In this state of things,
the cause of the reformed religion of Luther was in imminent peril : and
had the pontiff and the emperor known how to take advantage of th^ir
good fortune, they might doubtless have either totally crushed the Luther
an church, or depressed it greatly and brought it into embarrassment.
5. In the midst of these contests, Julius III., who succeeded Paul III
(3) See Jo. Erdm. Biceps dreyfaches In- trinal points, such as man s primitive recti-
terirn, Leip., 1721, 8vo. Jac. Osiandcr s tude, apostacy, original sin, redemption by
Historia Eccles., cent, xvi., lib. ii., c. 68, Christ, necessity of divine grace, human
p. 425, and others. Respecting the authors merit, &c., it adopted very much, scriptu-
and the editions of the Interim, see a dis- ral views and language ; and might have
quisition in the Dinische Bibliothek, part been assented to by the Protestants, without
v., p. 1, &c., and partvi.,p. 185, &c. [The sacrificing perhaps any fundamental truths.
Interim may be seen, at large, in Goldasfs But it retained the mass, all the seven sa-
Constitutiones Imperiales, torn, i., p. 518, craments, the hierarchy, the traditions, the
&c.; also in Le Fevre s continuation of Fleu- ceremonies, in short, the whole exterior of
ry s Ecclesiast. History, lib. cxlv., $ 21- the Catholic establishment and worship, with
23, Latin, by R. P. Alexander, vol. xxxix., the sole exceptions of tolerating the mar-
p. 540-586. See also Schrocckh s Kirch- riage of the clergy and communion in both
jngesch. seit der Reformat., vol. i., p. 674, kinds. Yet it limited the authority of the
&c. Robertson s Hist, of Charles V., book pontiff, and so explained the grounds and
ix., p. 377, &c. The Interim consisted of uses of the Romish rites, as to make them
26 articles, drawn up with great care, and the least offensive possible. TV.]
in a very conciliatory spirit. On most doc-
64 BOOK IV. CENTURY XVI. SEC. I. CHAP. IV
in the government of the Romish church A.D. 1550, being overcome by
the entreaties of the emperor, consented to revive the council of Trent.
The emperor therefore, at the diet cf Augsburg, which he again surround,
ed with his troops, conferred with the princes on the prosecution of the
council. The major part agreed, that the council ought to go on ; and
Maurice elector of Saxony, consented, yet only on certain conditions. (4)
At the close of the diet therefore, A.D. 1551, the emperor directed all to
prepare themselves for the council, and promised to use his endeavours, that
every thing should there be done in a religious and Christian manner, and
without passion. Hence confessions of faith to be exhibited to the coun
cil, were drawn up ; one in Saxony, by Melancthon, and another at Wiir-
temberg, by John Brentius. Besides the ambassadors of the duke, some
of the theologians of Wiirtemberg also, repaired to Trent. But the Sax-
ons, at the head of whom was Melancthon, though they set out, advanced
no farther than Nuremberg; for their sovereign [the elector Maurice]
only made a show of obedience to the will of the emperor, while he was
really designing to subject Charles to his own pleasure.
6. What plans and purposes Charles V. was pursuing amid these
commotions in Germany, will appear, if we consider the circumstances of
the times, and compare the different parts of his conduct. The emperor,
relying more than prudence would dictate upon his own powers and good
fortune, wished to make these disquietudes arising out of religion, subser
vient to the enlargement and establishment of his power in Germany, and
to the diminution of the resources and the rights of the princes. More
over, as he had in like manner long wished to see the authority and domin
ion of the Roman pontiffs diminished, and confined within some definite
limits, so that they might no longer interrupt the progress of his designs,
so he hoped, by means of the council, this wish might be realized ; since
by means of the councils formerly held at Constance and Basil, a check
was laid upon the exorbitant lust of power in the Romish bishops. For
he had no doubts that by means of his ambassadors and bishops, those of
Spain and Germany, and others, he should be able so to control the delib
erations of the council, that all its decrees and acts would be conformable
to his plans and wishes. (5) But all these expectations and designs were
frustrated, by that very Maurice, by whose assistance principally Charles
had been able to break down the power of the Protestants.
7. Long had Maurice in vain solicited for the liberation of his father-
in-law, Philip of Hesse ; and long had the greatest princes of Germany
and Europe importunately petitioned the emperor to set at liberty both the
landgrave of Hesse and the recent elector of Saxony. When, therefore,
Maurice perceived that he had been duped, and that Charles had hostile de
signs upon the liberties of Germany, he entered into .an alliance with the
(4) [These conditions were, that the freely. The assent under these conditions,
council should rescind all its past acts, and was read before the diet, and request made
begin anew ; that the divines of the Augs- that it might be entered entire upon the
burg Confession should not only be heard, journals: but this request was refused. See
but have the right of voting ; that the pon- Slcidan s Comment., &c., lib. xxii., fol. 576,
tiff should place himself under the jurisdic- ed. 1556. Tr.]
lion of the council, and should not have the (5) [This is clearly and satisfactorily
nresidency of it ; and that he should release shown, in Robertson s History of Charleiii
the bishops from their oath of allegiance t> V., vol. iii., p. 58, 207. Schl.~\
turn, so that they might give their opinij::s
HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION.
65
jdng of France and with certain German princes, for asserting the rights of
the Germanic nation ; and in the year 1552, he led forth a well-appointed
army against the emperor. And he conducted the business with such ce
lerity and vigour, that he was near to falling upon Charles unawares, and
in a state of security at Inspruck. This sudden storm so terrified Charles,
that he appeared quite ready to agree to any terms of peace ; and soon
after, at Passau, he not only gave present tranquillity to the Protestants, but
promised to assemble a diet within six months, at which the long-protract
ed religious contests should be wholly terminated. Thus the very man,
who had given a severer blow perhaps than any other to the Protestant
cause, was the man to establish and give triumph to that cause, when it
was nearly given up and abandoned. Yet Maurice did not live to see the
result of his undertaking ; for the next year, he fell in a battle against
Albert of Brandenburg, at Sivershausen.(6)
8. The diet, which the emperor promised at the pacification of Passau,
could not be assembled, on account of commotions that arose in Germany,
and other impediments, until the year 1555. But in this year, at Augs
burg, and in presence of Ferdinand the emperor s brother, that memorable
convention was held, which gave to the Protestants, after so much slaugh
ter and so many calamities and conflicts, that firm and stable religious
(6) [Maurice was, ail his life, a Protestant
at heart. But he was selfish, ambitious, and
ungrateful. His base attack upon the do
minions of his uncle John Frederic, during
the war of Smalcald, was the chief cause of
the unhappy termination of that war, and of
all the calamities endured by the Protestants
from the year 1548 to 1552. During this
period, he took sides with the emperor, for
the sake of acquiring an increase of territory
nnd the rank of an elector. Yet he did not
abandon the Protestant religion, nor so en
force the Interim as to restrain the exercise
of that religion among his subjects. He
probably had been deceived by the emper
or s hollow promises not to injure the
cause of Protestantism. When he per
ceived this, and also discovered the emper
or s designs to overthrow the liberties of
Germany, hs was mortified, stung by his
conscience, and roused to indignation. He
therefore determined to bring down the
power of the emperor, and to rescue both
the Protestant religion and the liberties of his
country from oppression. See Robertson s
History of Charles V., book x., p. 285, &c.,
310, 344, 401, &c., ed. New- York, 1829,
in 1 vol. 8vo. The treaty of Passau, be
tween the emperor and Maurice, August 2d,
1552, laid the foundation of the liberties of
the German Protestant church. " Its chief
articles were, That before the 12th of Au
gust, the confederates shall lay down their
arms and disband their forces ; That on or
before that day, th? landgrave shall be set
at liberty, and be conveyed in safety to his
castle of Rheinfe.s ; That a diet shall be held
VOL. III. I
within six months, in order to deliberate con
cerning the most proper and effectual method
of preventing for the future all disputes and
dissensions about religion ; That in the mean
time, neither the emperor, nor any other
prince, shall, upon any pretext whatever,
offer any injury or violence to such as ad
here to the confession of Augsburg, but shall
allow them to enjoy the free and undisturbed
exercise of their religion ; That, in return,
the Protestants shall not molest the Catho
lics, either in the exercise of their ecclesias
tical jurisdiction, or in performing their re
ligious ceremonies ; That the imperial cham
ber shall administer justice impartially to
persons of both parties ; and Protestants be
admitted indiscriminately with the Catholics
to sit as judges in that court ; That if the next
diet should not be able to terminate the dis
putes with regard to religion, the stipulations
in the present treaty in behalf of the Protest
ants, shall continue for ever in full power and
vigour ; That none of the confederates shall
be liable to any action, on account of what
had happened during the course of the war ;
That the consideration of those encroach
ments which had been made, as Maurice
pretended, upon the constitution and liber
ties of the empire, shall be remitted to the
approaching diet ; That Albert of Branden
burg shall be comprehended in the treaty,
provided he shall accede to it, and disband
his forces before the 12th of August."
Robertson s Charles V., 1. c., p. 414, <fee.
See also Sleidan s Comment., &c., lib.
xxiv., fol. 661. TV.]
$6 BOOK IV. CENTURY XVI. SEC. I. CHAP. IV.
peace which they still enjoy. For on the 25th of September, after various
discussions, all those who had embraced the Augsburg Confession, were
pronounced free arid exempt from all jurisdiction of the pontiff and the
bishops ; and were bid ien to live securely, under their own laws and regu
lations ; and liberty was given to all Germans, to follow which of the two
religions they pleased ; and lastly, all those were declared to be public en.
emies of Germany, who should presume to make war upon others or to
molest them, on the ground of their religion.(T) Nothing scarcely could
inore clearly demonstrate the superstition, ignorance, and wretchedness of
that age, and consequently the necessity that existed for a reformation in
the prevalent views of religion and things sacred, than the fact, that most
of the Germans needed to be instructed by so many writings, controver
sies, and wars, before they could assent to regulations so equitable, and so
consonant to reason and the holy scriptures.
9. While these events were taking place in Germany, the English
were deploring the very near extinction of the light of pure religion ; and
witnessing the continual persecution of their countrymen, they esteemed
those Germans happy who had escaped from the Romish tyranny. Henry
VIII., whose vices obstructed the progress of the reformation, died in the
year 1547. His son and successor Edward VI., a child in years but ma.
ture in wisdom, intelligence, and virtue, having collected around him learn
ed men from every quarter, and particularly some from Germany of the
mildest character, as Martin Bucer and Paul Fagius, ordered the kingdom
to be purged entirely of the popish fictions, and a better religion to be
publicly taught. But he was removed by death in 1553, to the immense
grief of his subjects. (8) His sister Mary, daughter of that Catharine
(7) [See Jo. Schiller s tract, de Pace re- controversy, in a general or national council,
Sgiosa, published in 1700, 4to. Christoph. or in a future diet; yet it contained an ex-
Lchmann s Acta publica et originalia de Pace press stipulation, that the principles here
religiosa, Frankf., 1707, fol. [The compact settled, should remain inviolate for ever. In
entitled the religious peace, as extracted from the imperial cities, and wherever the pro-
the acts of the diet -of Augsburg of Sept. 25, fessors of both religions had hitherto enjoyed
1555, may be seen at large in B. G. Struve s equal religious liberty, they were to continue
Corpus Juris Publici Academicum, ed. 2d, to enjoy the same The pope was exceed-
Jena, 1734, p. 169-214. It embraces 22 ingly displeased with this peace ; and he
articles ; and is founded on the treaty of tried to persuade the emperor to renounce
Passau. described in the preceding note, it, promising to absolve him from his oath.
It places the believers in the Augsburg Con- But the emperor would not consent. Yet
fession and the Catholics, on the same ground, the Catholics were never satisfied with it.
as citizens and as members of the empire ; And some ambiguities in the language of it,
tnd forbids all molestation of the one class and some of its odious provisions, such as
by the other; forbids proselyting, but allows excluding all but Lutherans and Catholics
voluntary transition from one religion to the from a participation in it, and subjecting
other. Yet beneficed Catholics, if they beneficed Catholics to the loss of their
turned Protestants, were to lose their bene- livings if they became Lutherans, led on to
fices. All other denominations of Christians, contention, and at last produced in the next
except Catholics and Lutherans, are ex- century, the thirty years war, which nearly
pressly excluded from the privileges of this ruined Germany. Tr.j
compact. (Art. IV. " Attamen casteri om- (8) [By the act of supremacy, the sole
nes, qui alteri prsenominatarum harum bina- right of reforming the church was in the
rum Keligionum non sint adhrerentes, sub hac crown. This right the regents claimed and
pace, non comprchcnsi, scd plane cxcln si esse exercised, during the king s minority, not-
debent.") The Zwinglians, Calvinists, or withstanding the objections of the opposers
Reformed, were therefore left in the same of reform. Henry had assigned to his son
state as before. The treaty still contem- sixteen regents of the kingdom, besides 12
plated a more full adjustment of all points ol privv counsellors ; and a majority of these
HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION.
Henry VIII. had divorced, was heiress of the kingdom ; and being
a woman bigotedly devoted to the religion of her ancestors, and governed
by her pussions, she again obtruded the Catholic religion upon the Britains ;
nor did she hesitate to put to the most cruel death great numbers of such
as resisted, and even persons of the highest rank, among whom Thomas
Cranmer archbishop of Canterbury and author of the recent prostration of
the papal power in England, stood conspicuous. But the death of the
queen, who departed without issue in 1558, put an end to this scene of
rage. (9) For her successor on the British throne, Elizabeth, a woman of
were friendly to the reformation. The lead
ing reformers at that time were, king Edward
himself, the duke of Somerset lord protector,
the archbishops Cranmer and Holgate, Sir
W. Pagct secretary of state, lord viscount
Lisle high admiral, and the bishops Holbeach,
Goodrick, Latimer, and Ridley. The lead-
srs in opposition to reform were, the princess
Mary, earl Wriothcsley, and bishops Ton-
stal, Gardiner, and Banner. The obstacles
to reformation were, the profound ignorance
and superstition of the people at large, the
resistance of the bishops, the incompetence
and selfishness of the inferior clergy, the want
of ecclesiastical funds, and the deficiency of
oreachers who could spread the light of truth.
The court ordered a visitation of all the
churches ; and forbid any to preach out of
their parishes without a license, during the
visitation. The first book of Homilies was
set forth, to be read in the churches where
:he incumbents were incompetent to preach ;
and thirty-six royal injunctions, regulating
worship and religious order, were issued.
Bishops Bonner and Gardiner refused obe
dience to the injunctions, and were sent to
prison. The parliament which met. in No
vember, 1547, repealed the laws which sanc
tioned persecution, and also the statute of
the six articles which had been a bar to ref
ormation, ordered the communion to be
given in both kinds, empowered the king to
appoint all bishops, and sequestered what re
mained of chantry lands and other pious leg
acies of former days. This year, Peter Mar
tyr of Florence was made divinity professor
at Oxford, and Martin Bucer at Cambridge.
Ochinus and Fagius, also foreigners, were
employed in the English church. Religious
controversy grew warm, and was introduced
into the pulpits. In September the king for-
Did all preaching, till he should decree what
might be preached. Some bishops were ap
pointed to reform the offices of the church,
or the formulas of worship. This was the
rirst liturgy of king Edward. In January,
1549, parliament ratified the new liturgy, and
made it penal to use any other. A new vis
itation was appointed by the court, to see
that the new liturgy was introduced. Some
tumults and insurrections ensued, but they
were soon quieted. The Anabaptists were
persecuted, and likewise all opposers of the
new liturgy. In November, 1550, parlia
ment authorized the king to revise the can
on law of England. A new digest in 51 tit-
uli, was formed ; but never sanctioned, be
ing not completed till just before the king s
death. The new ritual was pressed. The
recusants were either papists who were at
tached to the old ritual, or Non-conformists
who (like Hooper) objected to the sacerdotal
garments and wished for a more simple wor
ship. Both were persecuted. In 1551 Cran
mer and Ridley drew up new articles of faith,
42 in number, which the council published.
In 1552 the Common Prayer Book was again
revised, and made nearly the same as it now
is. In January, 1553, it was sanctioned by
parliament. This year king Edward died,
and the reformation was arrested, before it
had obtained a firm establishment or that de
gree of perfection which its authors designed.
See Burners History of the Reformat., vol.
ii., part i., book i., and NeaTs Hist, of the
Puritans, vol i., chap. ii. TV.]
(9) [Queen Mary disguised her intentions,
till fully established on the throne ; and then
proceeded to release from prison and restore
to their sees the popish bishops, Bonner,
Gardiner, Tonstal, &c., and to imprison the
reformers, Cranmer, Hooper, Coverdale,
Rogers, Holgate, and others. Eight hundred
friends to reformation fled to the Continent,
and settled chiefly along the Rhine. Among
these were five bishops, five deans, four arch
deacons, and above fifty doctors in divinity,
besides noblemen, merchants, &c. The for
eigners, Peter Martyr, and John a Lasco
with his congregation, were expelled the
country. A compliant parliament, in Octo