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

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prosecuting <strong>the</strong> battle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Papacy. The vic<strong>to</strong>ry <strong>of</strong><br />

Pavia had left Charles <strong>the</strong> most puissant monarch<br />

in Europe. On all sides was peace, and having<br />

vanquished so many foes, surely it would be no<br />

difficult matter <strong>to</strong> extinguish <strong>the</strong> monk, who had<br />

nei<strong>the</strong>r sword nor buckler <strong>to</strong> defend him.<br />

Accordingly, Charles now <strong>to</strong>ok <strong>the</strong> first step<br />

<strong>to</strong>ward <strong>the</strong> execution <strong>of</strong> his design. Sitting down<br />

(May 24, 1525) in <strong>the</strong> stately Alcazar <strong>of</strong> Toledo,<br />

whose rocky foundations are washed by <strong>the</strong> Tagus,<br />

he indited his summons <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> princes and States <strong>of</strong><br />

Germany <strong>to</strong> meet at <strong>Augsburg</strong>, and take measures<br />

"<strong>to</strong> defend <strong>the</strong> Christian religion, and <strong>the</strong> holy rites<br />

and cus<strong>to</strong>ms received from <strong>the</strong>ir ances<strong>to</strong>rs, and <strong>to</strong><br />

prohibit all pernicious doctrines and innovations."<br />

This edict <strong>the</strong> emperor supplemented by<br />

instructions from Seville, dated March 23, 1526,<br />

which, in effect, enjoined <strong>the</strong> princes <strong>to</strong> see <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

execution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Edict <strong>of</strong> <strong>Worms</strong>. Every hour <strong>the</strong><br />

tempest that was ga<strong>the</strong>ring over Protestantism grew<br />

darker.<br />

If at no previous period had <strong>the</strong> emperor been<br />

stronger, or his sword so free <strong>to</strong> execute his<br />

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