the wives of our parishioners and their little children, whose prayers I have just witnessed-prayers which I am satisfied our God will hear: for as our heavenly Father and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has never despised nor rejected our supplications, we have reason to trust that he will not in the present alarming crisis."(i)

It is said that during the Imperial Diet at Augsburg, Albert, Archbishop of Mentz, had by some means obtained a bible and read it attentively for four hours, when one of his council suddenly entering his chamber, asked with much astonishment what his Highness was doing with that book? To which he replied, "I know not what this book is, but sure I am, all that is written therein is quite against us."(k)

(i) VAN DE CORPUT Leven ende Dood van Phil. Mel. p. 224, 225.

(k) COLLOQ. MENSAL. p. 11.

CHAP. IX.

A. D. 1531, TO A. D. 1536.

Smalcald-Unfavourable circumstances announced

The Emperor retracts at Ratisbon and agrees to the suspension of all legal processes against the Protestants-Death of the Elector JOHN-Melancthon's Funeral Oration-His Epitaph-Succeeded by John Frederic-The Emperor urges on the Pope a general Council-Continuance of the Sacramental Controversy-Melancthon and Bucer confer with the Landgrave—A vain attempt at Leipsic to restore union between contending parties-FRANCIS I. URGES MELANCTHON TO REPAIR TO FRANCE-Their Correspondence-Entreaties of the Langoan family to the same purpose-Bellay goes into Germany and invites Melancthon into France-The Elector interposes to prevent the Journey-HENRY VIII. INVITES MELANCTHON INTO ENGLAND-Their Correspondence-The King of England's eagerness in dispatching Messengers to France to prevent Melancthon's continuance there if he were arrived, or otherwise to dissuade him from going-Curious original documents on the Subject-A larger Commission

sent into Germany-Melancthon's Communication with Archbishop Cranmer-State of his healthTakes a Journey-Injurious reports circulatedWrites against the Anabaptists-Conferences with Bucer and Capito.

Two unfavourable events were announced to the Protestant princes, when they were assembled a second time in the early part of the year 1531, at Smalcald; the one the Election of Ferdinand to be king of the Romans, which was considered as an artful proceeding of his brother the Emperor for the purpose of rendering the imperial crown hereditary in his family, and consequently subversive of the liberties of the empire-the other the commencement of prosecutions against some of their number on account of their religious principles. It was deemed immediately necessary to renew their defensive league, and by means of their ambassadors to implore the protection and support of the Kings of England, France and Denmark.

Providence again interposed to rescue the oppressed. It was not long before the Emperor perceived that it was essential to his political interests, rather to retrace his hasty steps than by pressing on in his persecuting career to involve Germany in a civil war. He found that his peace with France and his friendship with the Pope were both precarious, and that the Turkish

army was advancing upon Austria with recruited forces. The malcontent princes were therefore to be conciliated and not coerced, and it was stipulated at Nuremberg and finally agreed upon at the Diet of Ratisbon in August 1532, that upon condition of their rendering the requisite assistance in the war with the Turks, The Emperor would suspend all legal processes against the Protestants on account of religion, use his utmost endeavours to procure the appointment of a general council within six months, to meet within twelve; and that no person should, at present, be molested for his religion.

At this juncture the Elector JOHN was removed from his useful labours, and exalted station by an apoplexy. The event occurred on the sixteenth of August 1532, and though Melancthon and Luther were immediately sent for, they only arrived in time to see him expire. (1) The former delivered a Latin oration at his funeral, in which he thus admirably pourtrays the character of his prince.

"I shall not speak of his noble birth, for which indeed the Dukes of Saxony are sufficiently distinguished, nor of his youthful pursuits, though he might be highly eulogized for modesty and temperance; but confine myself principally to the delineation of his character during the period of his public life since the decease of

(1) SPALAT. Hist. MS. ap. Seck.

his illustrious brother Frederic. Amidst a thousand difficulties, the genuine piety of the Elector John, his firmness, moderation, peaceful intentions and every other virtue which can constitute a good prince, were conspicuous. It is a glorious trophy characteristic of his reign, and demanding our gratitude, that in a most turbulent period, these realms by the interposing mercy of Providence have been preserved in tranquillity, though many endeavoured to stir up war. The preservation of peace was doubtless also a duty incumbent upon a prince so favoured of heaven, and his authority, moderation and zeal eminently conduced to it, by frequently and forcibly disappointing the designs of ambitious men. It is easy to judge of the extent of the benefit derived from these exertions, when it is recollected that the cause in which he was engaged did not respect a single province or state only, but the whole of Germany. If war had been once kindled it would have raged throughout the empire, so that by preserving domestic peace was instrumental in securing the tranquillity of many other states. Nor were his enemies alone restrained by his authority and moderate counsels, but his violent confederates were checked by perpetual efforts on his part, which it would not be improper on this occasion to particularize. We have seen them taking up arms and in a situation to command victory, yet induced by the

he