tors were
then accustomed to treat their fallen foes, kindness and good offices
were rendered by all to the poor victims of the Emperor's revenge for
the loss of Metz. So utterly contrary was such treatment to the practice
of the age that the generosity and humanity of Francois de Guise toward
an enemy's troops passed into a proverb as the "_Courtoisie de Metz_."

FOOTNOTES:

[57] Anne de Montmorency, Marshal and Constable of France. He was
distinguished in the wars against Charles V.

THE RELIGIOUS PEACE OF AUGSBURG

ABDICATION OF CHARLES V

A.D. 1555

WILLIAM ROBERTSON

By the victory of Charles V at Muehlberg, in 1547, the
Emperor obtained a decided advantage over the Smalkaldic
League, and seemed to be master of the situation in Germany.
He convened a diet at Augsburg, and promulgated an
"interim," or provisional arrangement for peace, but it was
imperfectly carried out. Later interims also proving
unsatisfactory, various other attempts at settlement were
made, and finally, by the Peace of Passau (1552), religious
liberty was granted to the Protestants.

Charles now appeared to be at the height of his power; but
new danger threatened him from France. The alliance of King
Henry II with Maurice of Saxony, and other Protestant
princes, was followed by what is sometimes called the second
Smalkaldic War. Charles was quickly worsted, and only
escaped capture by fleeing into Switzerland. In a later
attack upon France he gained but little success.

The Emperor was now more than ever anxious for peace, and
only awaited the meeting of a diet which had been summoned
soon after the Treaty of Passau. This meeting was delayed by
violent commotions raised in Germany by Albert, Margrave of
Brandenburg. It was further delayed by the engrossment in
his own affairs of Ferdinand, King of Bohemia and Hungary.
He was the brother of Charles, had exerted himself, though
with slight success, to settle the religious disputes in
Germany, and Charles needed his presence at the Diet,
whereby he hoped to secure a final pacification.

As a diet was now necessary on many accounts, Ferdinand, about the
beginning of the year 1555, had repaired to Augsburg. Though few of the
princes were present either in person or by their deputies, he opened
the assembly by a speech, in which he proposed a terminat