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

een the case from an early hour in the morning, a
continuous stream of horses and baggage trains, of
wagons and foot-passengers, of officers of the
emperor's household, and strangers hastening to
enjoy the spectacle; the crack of whip, the note of
horn, and the merry laugh of idle sight-seer
enlivening their march. Three hours wore away,
still the emperor was not in sight. The sun was now
nearing the horizon. At length a cloud of dust was
seen in the distance; its dusky volume came nearer
and nearer; as it approached the murmur of voices
grew louder, and now, close at hand, its opening
folds disclosed to view the first ranks of the
imperial cavalcade. The princes leaped from their
saddles, and awaited Charles's approach. The
emperor, on seeing the princes, courteously
dismounted and shook hands with them, and the
two companies blended into one on the bank of the
stream. Apart, on a low eminence, seated on his
richly caparisoned mule, was seen the Papal legate,
Campeggio. He raised his hands to bestow his
benediction on the brilliant multitude. All knelt
down, save the Protestants, whose erect figures
made them marked objects in that great assembly,
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