[_Calvin's Lat. Corresp._, Opera, tom. ix. p. 6.]
[123] The Elector John Frederick, the friend of Luther, and truest
protector of the Reformation in Germany.
[124] Maurice of Saxony, who had so great a part in the religious
wars of Germany with Charles V.
[125] Philip of Hesse, who, from the year 1521, had been favourable
to the tenets of Luther.
[126] Ernest, Duke of Lunebourg, promoter of the Reformation in his
states.
[127] The Treaty of Alliance formed by the Protestant Princes at
Smalkald, (1538,) had been agreed to by a great number of the Towns.
[128] Christian III., King of Denmark, (1534-1559,) who introduced
the Reformation into his States.
[129] Eastern Prussia was reformed and secularized, in 1525, by
the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, Albert of Brandenbourg. It
formed since that epoch the Duchy of Prussia.
[130] Ulrich, Count of Montbeliard, and Duke of Wurtemberg.
[131] Louis, the Elector Palatine, and Joachim, the Elector of
Brandenbourg, although favourable to the Reformation, remained
attached to the cause of the Emperor, and tried to bring about a
reconciliation between the two parties.
[132] John Vesal, Archbishop of Lunden, was the Emperor's ambassador
at the Diet. (Sleidan, lib. xii. p. 339.) He became afterwards
Bishop of Constance, and was present at the Council of Trent.
[133] Albert of Brandenbourg, the brother of Joachim, the Elector
of Brandenbourg. This prelate sternly opposed all compromise in
religious matters. He made continual complaints of the indulgence
shewn by the Emperor towards Protestants.
[134] On the death of Charles Van Egmont, Duke of Gueldres, his
relation, William, Duke of Cleves and Juliers, took possession of
that town, of which he was dispossessed by the Emperor in 1543.
[135] The King of England, Henry VIII.
[136] The details of these negotiations will be found in Burnet,
and in Seckendorf, _Commentarii_, lib. iii. sect. 19, par. 73.
The Protestant princes of Germany, desirous to bind so powerful a
monarch as the King of England as closely as possible to the cause
of the Reformation, had sent deputies to request his assent to
the Augsburg Confession, and the revocation of the cruel statutes
still in force against those of his subjects who professed the pure
Gospel. Two of the King's counsellors, Cromwell and Archbishop
Cranmer, seconded timidly the entreaties of the Protestant princes;
but this imperious and violent monarch, satisfied with having
transferred to himself the papal authority in matters of religion,
shewed indisposedness to promote the interests of an actual
reformation. He protracted the negotiations, and added daily by new
laws to the rigour of the most hateful despotism--that which is
exercised by a prince over the consciences of his subjects.
[137] John Lambert, schoolmaster.--See Burnet, _Hist. Ref._ vol. i.
pp. 252-254.
[138] He was living in exile on the Continent from the time of the
rupture of England with the See of Rome. He returned under the reign
of Mary, became Archbishop of Canterbury, President of the Royal
Council, and died in 1558, after having been the instrument of a
short but bloody restoration of Popery in his native country.
[139] See Hume, _History of England_, chap. xxxi.
[140] See note 1, p. 105. George of Saxony himself died the same
year.--Sleidan, lib. xii. p. 342.
[141] It was not Maurice who succeeded Duke George, but his father,
Henry the Pious, who recalled all the exiles on account of religion,
and introduced the Reformation into the Duchy of Saxony.--Ibid. p.
344.