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

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Bavaria, and Wurtemberg as far as <strong>the</strong> Tyrol. Its<br />

area extended from Saxony <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Alps. Bishops<br />

and nobles fled before it. The princes, taken, by<br />

surprise, were without combination and without<br />

spirit, and, <strong>to</strong> use <strong>the</strong> language <strong>of</strong> Scripture, were<br />

"chased as <strong>the</strong> rolling thing before <strong>the</strong> whirlwind."<br />

But soon <strong>the</strong>y recovered from <strong>the</strong>ir stupor, and<br />

got <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>ir forces. Albert, Count <strong>of</strong><br />

Mansfeld, was <strong>the</strong> first <strong>to</strong> take <strong>the</strong> fieid, He was<br />

joined, with characteristic spirit and gallantry, by<br />

Philip, Landgrave <strong>of</strong> Hesse, who was soon<br />

followed by John, Elec<strong>to</strong>r <strong>of</strong> Saxony, and Henry,<br />

Duke <strong>of</strong> Brunswick, who all joined <strong>the</strong>ir forces <strong>to</strong><br />

oppose <strong>the</strong> rebel boors. Had <strong>the</strong> matter rested with<br />

<strong>the</strong> Popish princes, <strong>the</strong> rebellion would have raged<br />

without resistance. On <strong>the</strong> 15th May, 1525, <strong>the</strong><br />

confederate army came upon <strong>the</strong> rebel camp at<br />

Frankenhausen, where Munzer presided. Finding<br />

<strong>the</strong> rebels poorly armed, and posted behind a<br />

miserable barricade <strong>of</strong> a few wagons, <strong>the</strong>y sent a<br />

messenger with an <strong>of</strong>fer <strong>of</strong> pardon, on condition <strong>of</strong><br />

laying down <strong>the</strong>ir arms. On Munzer's advice, <strong>the</strong><br />

messenger was put <strong>to</strong> death. Both sides now<br />

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