[Sidenote: German Prejudices.] The simultaneous efforts of these two great reformers ought to have produced a favorable effect upon a prince like the elector. John Frederick, who had succeeded his father John in August, 1532, was true and high-minded, a good husband and a good prince. A disciple of Spalatin and the friend of Luther, he venerated the Word of God, and was full of zeal for the cause of the Reformation. Less phlegmatic than his father, he united judgment and prudence with an enterprising spirit. Such qualities must have led him to favor Melancthon’s journey to France. But he was susceptible and rather obstinate; so that if a project, not originating with him, but with another, displeased him in any way, the probability of its success was not great. And hence Luther’s letter did not make a great impression upon him: it merely increased the excitement. The prejudices of Germany rendered Melancthon’s journey less popular every day; at the court of Torgau, in Saxony, and in the other protestant countries, it was regarded as madness. ‘We at Augsburg,’ wrote Sailer, the deputy of that city, ‘know the King of France well: he cares very little, as everybody knows, about religion, and even morality. He is playing the hypocrite with the pope, and cajoling the Germans, thinking only how he can disappoint the expectations he raises in them. His sole thought is to crush the emperor.’[743] Some even of the best disposed were full of horrible apprehensions, and fancied that they saw an immense pile constructing on which to burn the _master of Germany_. Passions were roused; a violent tempest stirred men’s minds; the most gloomy opinions arrived at Torgau every day from all quarters. Others did not look upon the matter so tragically, but employed the weapons of ridicule. German susceptibility was wounded because Francis I. had not selected some great personage for this mission. They looked down upon Barnabas Voré called De la Fosse: ‘A fine ambassador!’ they said; ‘all the pawnbrokers in France would not advance twenty crowns upon his head.’—‘Even the Jews,’ said another, ‘would not have such a Barnabas, if they could buy him for a penny.’[744]