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From the Diet of Worms to the Augsburg Confession - James Aitken Wylie

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eing driven out <strong>of</strong> Lombardy. And now came<br />

sorrow <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pope! Great was <strong>the</strong> joy <strong>of</strong> Leo X. at<br />

<strong>the</strong> expulsion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> French. His arms had<br />

triumphed, and Parma and Piacenza had been<br />

res<strong>to</strong>red <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> ecclesiastical State. He received <strong>the</strong><br />

tidings <strong>of</strong> this good fortune at his country seat <strong>of</strong><br />

Malliana. Coming as <strong>the</strong>y did on <strong>the</strong> back <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

emperor's edict proscribing Lu<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong>y threw him<br />

in<strong>to</strong> an ecstacy <strong>of</strong> delight. The clouds that had<br />

lowered upon his house appeared <strong>to</strong> be dispersing.<br />

"He paced backwards and forwards, between <strong>the</strong><br />

window and a blazing hearth, till deep in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

night–it was <strong>the</strong> month <strong>of</strong> November."<br />

He watched <strong>the</strong> public rejoicings in honor <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> vic<strong>to</strong>ry. He hurried <strong>of</strong>f <strong>to</strong> Rome, and reached it<br />

before <strong>the</strong> fetes <strong>the</strong>re in course <strong>of</strong> celebration had<br />

ended. Scarce had he crossed <strong>the</strong> threshold <strong>of</strong> his<br />

palace when he was seized with illness. He felt that<br />

<strong>the</strong> hand <strong>of</strong> death was upon him. Turning <strong>to</strong> his<br />

attendants he said, "Pray for me, that I may yet<br />

make you all happy." The malady ran its course so<br />

rapidly that he died without <strong>the</strong> Sacrament. The<br />

hour <strong>of</strong> vic<strong>to</strong>ry was suddenly changed in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> hour<br />

13

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