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

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discipline and government <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Church."<br />

Ere this an event had taken place which helped<br />

<strong>to</strong> expedite <strong>the</strong> business. On <strong>the</strong> night <strong>of</strong> Saturday,<br />

<strong>the</strong> 6th <strong>of</strong> August, Philip <strong>of</strong> Hesse made his escape<br />

from <strong>Augsburg</strong>. Amid <strong>the</strong> cajoleries and<br />

threatenings <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Diet</strong> he was firm as a rock amid<br />

<strong>the</strong> waves, but he saw no purpose <strong>to</strong> be served by<br />

longer attendance at <strong>the</strong> Assembly. Chafed by<br />

continual delays, indignant at <strong>the</strong> dissimulations <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Papists, tempted <strong>to</strong>day by brilliant <strong>of</strong>fers from<br />

<strong>the</strong> emperor, and assailed <strong>to</strong>morrow by as terrible<br />

threats; moreover looked askance upon by <strong>the</strong><br />

Lu<strong>the</strong>ran princes, from his known leaning <strong>to</strong><br />

Zwingli on <strong>the</strong> question <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lord's Supper–<br />

thoroughly wearied out from all <strong>the</strong>se causes, he<br />

resolved on quitting <strong>the</strong> city. He had asked leave <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> emperor, but was refused it. Donning a<br />

disguise, he slipped out at <strong>the</strong> gate at dusk, and,<br />

attended by a few horsemen, rode away. Desirous<br />

<strong>of</strong> preventing his flight, <strong>the</strong> emperor gave orders<br />

over-night <strong>to</strong> have <strong>the</strong> gates watched, but before<br />

<strong>the</strong> guards had taken <strong>the</strong>ir posts <strong>the</strong> landgrave was<br />

gone, and was now many leagues distant from<br />

501

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