Page:A General Sketch of Political History from the Earlist Times.djvu/263

 THE ERA OF THE REFORMATION 251 The emperor's opportunity came when he had made his peace with France, and when Luther died ; for Luther had at all times been most determined in his advocacy of peace. Charles's object was to break up the League of Schmalkald which appeared too dangerous politically even in the eyes of some of the Protestant princes. Its chiefs were Philip of Hesse and the Elector of Saxony; but the Duke The Maurice of Saxony, and the Elector of Brandenburg, Schmalkaldic both Protestants, sided with the emperor. Suddenly ar ' Charles put the Protestant leaders to the ban of the empire. Duke Maurice attacked the Elector of Saxony. The elector and Philip of Hesse were both taken prisoner, and the electorate was transferred to Maurice. Charles was completely triumphant. But as before the triumph of Charles alarmed his own allies, and Pope Paul 11. became his enemy. Believing himself irre- sistible, Charles now on his own responsibility formulated what was called the Interim of Augsburg, a religious system which was to be observed until a religious settlement could be arrived at by a general council of the Church. It was intended to con- ciliate both parties, whereas both were disgusted by it. At the same time he was able to force upon the diet a modification of the Imperial Constitution, which gave him the entire control of the Imperial Chamber of Justice. A policy of Imperial ab- solutism in civil and religious matters alike was Maurice revealed, with the instant effect of arousing a new of Saxony, opposition. For the moment the emperor could enforce his own will. But Maurice of Saxony, to whom he had owed his success against the League of Schmalkald, had other views. Charles sought to push his victory by procuring the election of his own son Philip as his successor on the Imperial throne; but to this his own brother Ferdinand, who claimed the succession for him- self, was stubbornly opposed. Maurice entered into a secret agreement not only with the Protestant princes, but also with the French King Henry 11. He was already in command of a large army, as the emperor's leading supporter ; suddenly, he turned it against the emperor himself. Charles was taken completely by surprise, and had to flee for his life, giving his brother Ferdinand authority to treat on his behalf. In accordance with the terms