A QUIET STROLL

his lectures; and the great names of Melancthon
and Carlostadt were soon united to those of the
Reformer in the zealous propagation of the truth.

Soon, however, the success of these eminent persons
alarmed the Emperor Charles V., the most bigoted
of princes. On his arrival at Worms, in 1521, the
first act of his administration was to assemble a
Diet, for the purpose of checking or destroying
Luther. At the same time the Pope directed both
the Elector and the University to burn Luther’s
books, and put the author to death ; or at least to
imprison him, and finally send him to Rome. But
neither Frederick nor his University were to be
thus directed. The Diet met at Worms, and the
Legate of the Pope insisted that the Assembly was
bound to condemn, without hearing, a man under
the ban of his Holiness. Here, again, the Elector
stepped forward in defence of Luther; and not
only prevented the issue of any unjust edict against
him, but insisted that a man of his learning, zeal,

and purity of life, should have no indignity cast
upon him, and that his cause ought to be tried by
the Canons of the Germanic Church, and the laws
of the Empire.

Frederick was not a prince to be either ruled or
despised, even by the mighty Charles V. It was
therefore resolved that Luther should be summoned
and allowed a hearing before the Diet; and for
this purpose the Papal delegates, and even Charles,
granted a safe conduct for the champion of Reform.

But under this fair pretence, it was more than
suspected there lurked treachery. Luther’s friends

| endeavoured by every possible means to prevent
| his going, assuring him that his enemies meditated
nothing less than to burn him, as they had his
books.

It was remarked of Luther, that although far
too impassioned on most occasions, yet in moments
of real danger, he preserved a calm spirit, and a
dignity truly admirable. “Iam lawfully called to
appear at Worms,” he replied to his friends, “and
thither will I go in the name of the Most High
God, though as many devils as there are tiles on
the houses were assembled and combined against

3?

me.

But great was the mistake of his friends in
fearing for him; and entirely was his trust justified,
for his entry into Worms was more like the
triumph of a victor than the coming of a man
summoned for an offence before a judicial tribunal.
It was remarked that the Emperor’s entrance was
-poor in comparison with that of the great
Reformer. Thousands of every rank and calling
greeted his approach, ran after the open vehicle
(a sort of chariot) in which he stood erect, with
| his head uncovered, and bearing in his hand a
| copy of the Holy Scriptures. The public build-
ings, the streets, the house-tops, the very windows

BY THE THAMES. 211

spoke a welecome— Welcome to Worms; in the
name of God, welcome.” The Pope’s Legate
shook with terror, as the shouts of the multitude
rent the air; and not a man belonging to the court
of Rome but slunk from the public eye, and
| trembled at the public ery of execration on the
vendors of the indulgences.

Luther bore this triumph with manly composure,

highest rank and the greatest distinction, those
celebrated for learning and ability, and many of
the Princes of Germany, resorted to him, as to the
levee of a superior; and such was the power of
his arguments in insisting on the Scriptures as the
only canon of orthodoxy in the Church, that he
confounded his adversaries, who answered not so
much with argument as with invective. But
worst of all, scarcely had he quited Worms, when,

by the authority of the Legate over the Diet, he
was again denounced as a heretic, and those who
denounced him even proposed that his safe conduct
should be no longer respected. But here Charles
interposed, and said, that unless a safe conduct was
respected, all negotiations between States must be

at an end.
(To be continued.)

A QUIET STROLL BY THE THAMES.

We have
Heard once more
The measured pulse of racing oar,

seen once more the brilliant and unique sight which is
witnessed only once a year, in the great aquatic contest
between the time-honoured Universities of Oxford and
Cambridge. All honour, both to dark blue and light blue,
to their contest for the simple prize of being first, as
honourable and severe as on the Greek plains for the
simple parsley-wreath! That great river contest is, after
all, one of the means for recruiting our national energies
and courage. But the contest is over, the flotilla of vessels
is dispersed, the shore is no longer lined by a living
multitude; and old Thames resumes its wonted serene
aspect. The balmy spring comes once more, with its
fresh airs, its pure delicate greens, its brilliant morning
and evening lights; let us stroll for a time by the
pleasant historical shores. We will take our iounge
to-day from Chiswick to Twickenham.

I love the xiver shore. I do not wonder that that great
traveller, Sir Henry Holland, in his Life speaks of his

Thames is better than the Rhone or Rhine.
Though deep yet clear, though gentle yet not dull;

Strong without rage, without o’erflowing full.

. St Mls are
| clearness, can you say that so truly as of the Thames?

It is the river that so exactly suited our poets of

the eighteenth century, who had little taste or love

P 2

whilst he continued in Worms; persons of the ,

sqND so the great race is over! The blue |
yiband of the river has been lost and won. |

great affection for all river scenery. ‘To my mind the |

Of how few rivers, barring the compliment to its |