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

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The Italians at <strong>the</strong> same moment became<br />

inflamed with <strong>the</strong> project <strong>of</strong> driving out <strong>the</strong><br />

Spaniards, and raising <strong>the</strong>ir country from <strong>the</strong><br />

vassalage <strong>of</strong> centuries <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> independence and<br />

glory <strong>of</strong> early days. Francis I. was burning with a<br />

desire <strong>to</strong> avenge <strong>the</strong> humiliation <strong>of</strong> his captivity,<br />

and <strong>the</strong>se concurring causes led <strong>to</strong> a formidable<br />

league <strong>of</strong> sovereigns against <strong>the</strong> man who but a few<br />

months before had seen all opposition give way<br />

before him. The emperor unshea<strong>the</strong>d his sword, but<br />

not <strong>to</strong> strike where he so fondly hoped <strong>to</strong> inflict a<br />

deadly blow. The puissant Charles must still leave<br />

<strong>the</strong> monk <strong>of</strong> Wittenberg at peace, and while his<br />

doctrines are day by day striking a deeper root, <strong>the</strong><br />

emperor is compelled <strong>to</strong> buckle on his armor, and<br />

meet <strong>the</strong> combination which Clement VII., Francis<br />

I., and Henry VIII. have entered in<strong>to</strong> against him.<br />

Then come three years (1526-1529) <strong>of</strong><br />

distracting thought and harassing <strong>to</strong>il <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

emperor. But if compelled <strong>to</strong> be absent in camps<br />

and on tented fields, may he not find o<strong>the</strong>rs who<br />

will execute <strong>the</strong> edict, and sweep <strong>the</strong> obnoxious<br />

325

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