Charles V., after making peace with Francis I., had convoked, at Frankfort, for the month of February 1539, a conference of evangelical and Roman Catholic theologians, who were to endeavor to find a basis of agreement. We have not to devote our attention to all the work done at the German assemblies which Calvin attended, but only to that which concerns him personally. Deputies from Strasburg went to Frankfort, but the young French doctor did not accompany them. He contented himself with earnestly commending to Bucer the cause of the persecuted Protestants. But shortly after, having received a letter from Bucer, informing him that he found it was impossible for him to do anything for his co-religionists, and hearing at the same time that Melanchthon was present at the conferences, his spiritual earnestness overcame the timidity of his nature. He was seized with a strong desire to go to Frankfort and to converse with the friend of Luther on religion and the affairs of the Church. He set out in great haste the next day. At Frankfort he met some of the most prominent characters of the Reformation. Here were the pious John Frederick, elector of Saxony; young Maurice of Saxony, who was one day to prove so formidable to Charles V.; the famous landgrave Philip of Hesse, the Duke of Luneburg, and many other princes, whose acquaintance could not be a matter of indifference to the young reformer. Several of these young princes were accompanied by a great number of knights and soldiers, and all appeared to be full of courage for the defence of the Gospel. Calvin, in long letters to Farel, gave an account of all that he saw and thought. He formed a most just conception of the Protestant question in Germany, of the disposition of the princes, of the policy of Charles V., and of the various matters under discussion. But one man was there whose society he coveted more than that of all the princes. Calvin’s sojourn at Frankfort is especially marked by the conversations which he had with Melanchthon ‘on many subjects.’[773] Several of the most influential men of the Reformation, in Switzerland and in France, were not well informed as to the opinions of this celebrated doctor. Calvin wished to be able to bear testimony to them with certitude. The great idea of the French doctor was agreement between all evangelical Christians. He was convinced that it was necessary, not only for the sake of obedience to the commandments of Jesus Christ, but further to promote the triumph of the evangelical cause. He wished for union, not only of the various parties in Germany, but of Germany and Switzerland. Now Melanchthon appeared to him the fittest man to bring about agreement among the Protestants. No sooner had these two great doctors met and exchanged the most kindly greetings, than Calvin opened the question. He had communicated to Melanchthon some articles in which his view of the supper was set forth in a way to terminate dissension. ‘There