[_Calvin's Lat. Corresp._, Opera, tom. ix. p. 6.]
[123] The Elector John Frederick, the friend of Luther, and truest protector of the Reformation in Germany.
[124] Maurice of Saxony, who had so great a part in the religious wars of Germany with Charles V.
[125] Philip of Hesse, who, from the year 1521, had been favourable to the tenets of Luther.
[126] Ernest, Duke of Lunebourg, promoter of the Reformation in his states.
[127] The Treaty of Alliance formed by the Protestant Princes at Smalkald, (1538,) had been agreed to by a great number of the Towns.
[128] Christian III., King of Denmark, (1534-1559,) who introduced the Reformation into his States.
[129] Eastern Prussia was reformed and secularized, in 1525, by the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, Albert of Brandenbourg. It formed since that epoch the Duchy of Prussia.
[130] Ulrich, Count of Montbeliard, and Duke of Wurtemberg.
[131] Louis, the Elector Palatine, and Joachim, the Elector of Brandenbourg, although favourable to the Reformation, remained attached to the cause of the Emperor, and tried to bring about a reconciliation between the two parties.
[132] John Vesal, Archbishop of Lunden, was the Emperor's ambassador at the Diet. (Sleidan, lib. xii. p. 339.) He became afterwards Bishop of Constance, and was present at the Council of Trent.
[133] Albert of Brandenbourg, the brother of Joachim, the Elector of Brandenbourg. This prelate sternly opposed all compromise in religious matters. He made continual complaints of the indulgence shewn by the Emperor towards Protestants.
[134] On the death of Charles Van Egmont, Duke of Gueldres, his relation, William, Duke of Cleves and Juliers, took possession of that town, of which he was dispossessed by the Emperor in 1543.
[136] The details of these negotiations will be found in Burnet, and in Seckendorf, _Commentarii_, lib. iii. sect. 19, par. 73. The Protestant princes of Germany, desirous to bind so powerful a monarch as the King of England as closely as possible to the cause of the Reformation, had sent deputies to request his assent to the Augsburg Confession, and the revocation of the cruel statutes still in force against those of his subjects who professed the pure Gospel. Two of the King's counsellors, Cromwell and Archbishop Cranmer, seconded timidly the entreaties of the Protestant princes; but this imperious and violent monarch, satisfied with having transferred to himself the papal authority in matters of religion, shewed indisposedness to promote the interests of an actual reformation. He protracted the negotiations, and added daily by new laws to the rigour of the most hateful despotism--that which is exercised by a prince over the consciences of his subjects.