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

treasure, he must blow his trumpets and beat his
kettle-drums; and yet how little that is really
substantial does he reap from all this noise and
expense and blood! Another province or city, it
may be, calls him master, but waits the first
opportunity to throw off his yoke.
His sword has effaced some of the old
landmarks on the earth's surface, and has traced a
few new ones; but what truth has he established
which may mold the destinies of men, and be a
fountain of blessing in ages to come? What fruit
does Spain or the world reap today from all the
battles of Charles? It is now that we see which of
the two men wielded real power, and which of the
two was the true monarch.
The emperor was on his way to Germany,
where he was expected next spring. He had made
peace with Francis, he had renewed his alliance
with the Pope, the Turk had gone back to his own
land. It was one of those moments in the life of
Charles when Fortune shed her golden beams upon
his path, and beckoned him onwards with the
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