Wanderings of the Emperor Frederic.--Proposed Alliance with the Duke of Burgundy.--Mutual Distrust.--Marriage of Mary.--The Age of Chivalry.--The Motive inducing the Lord of Praunstein to Declare War.--Death of Frederic II.--The Emperor's Secret.--Designs of the Turks.--Death of Mahomet II.--First Establishment of Standing Armies.--Use of Gunpowder.--Energy of Maximilian.--French Aggressions.--The League to Expel the French.--Disappointments of Maximilian.--Bribing the Pope.--Invasion of Italy.--Capture and Recapture.--The Chevalier de Bayard. Page 77 CHAPTER VI. MAXIMILIAN I. From 1500 to 1519. Base Treachery of the Swiss Soldiers.--Perfidy of Ferdinand of Arragon.--Appeals by Superstition.--Coalition with Spain.--The League of Cambray.--Infamy of the Pope.--The King's Apology.--Failure of the Plot.--Germany Aroused.--Confidence of Maximilian.--Longings for the Pontifical Chair.--Maximilian Bribed.--Leo X.--Dawning Prosperity.-- Matrimonial Projects.--Commencement of the War of Reformation.--Sickness of Maximilian.--His Last Directions.--His Death.--The Standard by which his Character is to be Judged. Page 91 CHAPTER VII. CHARLES V. AND THE REFORMATION. From 1519 to 1581. Charles V. of Spain.--His Election as Emperor of Germany.--His Coronation.--The First Constitution.--Progress of the Reformation.--The Pope's Bull against Luther.--His Contempt for his Holiness.--The Diet at Worms.--Frederic's Objection to the Condemnation of Luther by the Diet.--He obtains for Luther the Right of Defense.--Luther's triumphal March to the Tribunal.--Charles urged to Violate his Safe Conduct.-- Luther's Patmos.--Marriage of Sister Catharine Bora to Luther.--Terrible Insurrection.--The Holy League.--The Protest of Spires.--Confession of Augsburg.--The Two Confessions.--Compulsory Measures. Page 106 CHAPTER VIII. CHARLES V. AND THE REFORMATION. From 1531 to 1552. Determination to crush Protestantism.--Incursion of the Turks.--Valor of the Protestants.--Preparations for renewed Hostilities.--Augmentation of the Protestant Forces.--The Council of Trent.--Mutual Consternation.-- Defeat of the Protestant Army.--Unlooked-for Succor.--Revolt in the Emperor's Army.--The Fluctuations of Fortune.--Ignoble Revenge.--Capture of Wittemberg.--Protestantism apparently crushed.--Plot against Charles.--Maurice of Saxony.--A Change of Scene.--The Biter Bit--The Emperor humbled.--His Flight.--His determined Will. Page 121 CHAPTER IX. CHARLES V. AND THE TURKISH WARS. From 1552 to 1555.