378 THE EEFORMATION IN FRENCH SWITZERLAND.
See his Epistola, ed. Bretschneider, IV. 33-78, and pp. 728 sqq. — Stukm: Aiitipappus. — Sleidax : -De Statu Eccles. et Reipublica' Carolo T". Caesare, Lib. XIII. Henry, vol. I. cli. XVII. — Dyer, pp. 105 sqq. — StXhelix, I. 229-254. — IvAMPSCHULTE, I. 328-342. — Strickee, pp. 27 sqq. — Lcdwig Pastor (Rom. Cath.) : Die kirchlichen Reiuiionsbestrebuiigen icuhrend der Regierung Karls V. Aiis den Quellen dargestellt. Freiburg -i.-B., 1879 (507 pp.). He notices Calvin's influence, pp. 194, 196, 212, 230, 245, 258, 266, 484, but apparently without having read his correspondence, which is one of the chief sources; he only refers to Kampschulte.
Calvin was employed, with Bucer, Capito, and Sturm, as one of the commissioners of the city and Church of Strassburg, on several public colloquies, which were held during his sojourn in Germany for the healing of the split caused by the Eeformation. The emperor Charles V. was anxious, from political motives, to reconcile the Protestant princes to the Roman Church, and to secure their aid against the Turks. The leading theological spirits in these conferences were Melanchthon on the Lutlieran, and Julius Pflug on the Roman Catholic side. They aimed to secure the reunion of the Church by mutual concessions on minor differences of doctrine and discipline. But the conferences shared the fate of all compromises. Luther and Calvin would not 3'ield an inch to the pope, while the extreme men of the papal party, like Eck, were as unwilling to make any concession to Protestantism. A fuller account belongs to the ecclesiastical histor}^ of Germany.
Calvin, being a foreigner and a Frenchman, ignorant of the German language, acted a subordinate part, though he commanded the respect of both parties for his ability and learning, in which he was not inferior to anj-. Having no faith in compromises, or in the sincerity of the emperor, he helped to defeat rather than to promote the pacific object of these conferences. He favored an alliance between the Lutheran princes of the Smalkaldian League with Francis I., who, as the rival of Charles V., was inclined to such an alliance. He was encouraged in this line of policy by Queen
§ 89. CALVIN AT THE COLLOl^UiES. 879
Marguerite, who corresponded with him at that time through his friend Sleidan, the statesman and historian.^ He did succeed in securing, after repeated efforts, a petition of the Lutheran princes assembled at liegensburg to the French king in behalf of the persecuted Protestants in France (May 23, 1541). 2 But he had no more confidence in Francis I. than in Charles V. " The king," he wrote to Farel (September, 1540), '' and the emperor, while contending in cruel persecution of the godl}', both endeavor to gain the favor of the Roman idol." ^ He placed his trust in God, and in a close alliance of the Lutheran princes among themselves and with the Protestants in France and Switzerland.
He was a shrewd observer of the religious and political movements, and judged correctly of the situation and the principal actors. Nothing escaped his attention. He kept Farel at Neuchatel informed even about minor incidents.
Calvin attended the first Colloquy at Frankfurt in February, 1539, in a private capacity, for the purpose of making the personal acquaintance of Melanchthon and pleading the cause of his persecuted brethren in France, whom he had more at heart than German politics.
The Colloquy was prorogued to Hagenau in June, 1540, but did not get over the preliminaries.
A more important CoUoqu}^ was held at Worms in November of the same year. In that ancient city Luther had made his ever memorable declaration in favor of the liberty of conscience, which in spite of the pope's protest had become an irrepressible power. Calvin appeared at this time in the
1 Herminjard, VII. 198 sqq. ; Opera, XI. 62 sqq.
- Herminjard, VII. 126-128 ; Opera, XI. Ep. 311, p. 220. Comp. Epp. 302, 307, 309. Calvin was not satisfied with the success. " Quantum ad fratres attinet," he wrote to Farel (July 6, 1541), ''qui oh evangeliiim laborant, non feci quod volui." Melanchthon incurred the displeasure of the emperor for favoring the French Protestants. Herminjard, VII. 179, note 16.
^ "-Nihil hie novi audimus, nisi quod Bex et Caesar, certatim in pios sceviendo, idolum Romanum sibi demereri student." Herminjard, VI. 315, comp. note 8.