Maurice, Elector of Saxony

In the following year, in May fifteen fifty-one, he opened the eleventh session of the council under the presidency of Cardinal Crescenzio.

It lasted a year, but in April fifteen fifty-two, Prince Maurice of Saxony, by his military successes, caused it to be again suspended.

Years passed.

Julius III was succeeded by Cardinal Cervini as Marcellus II, and he in his turn by Paul IV.

In the years that followed the death of Francis, Charles succeeded in alienating both Protestants and Catholics by his policy in Germany, and also in offending his brother Ferdinand by his attempt to secure the succession to the Empire for his own son Philip.

In fifteen fifty-two the Protestant princes under Maurice of Saxony made an alliance with Henry the Second at Friedwald, by which the French king was to hold as imperial vicar Cambrai and the three bishoprics, Metz, Toul, and Verdun, in return for his assistance on behalf of the imprisoned Landgrave of Hesse and in defence of the liberties of Germany.

In accordance with this treaty Henry invaded Lorraine, March, fifteen fifty-two, and occupied Metz, Verdun, and Toul.

The Emperor, who in May had fled from Innsbruck before Maurice of Saxony, came to terms with the Protestants in August, and collecting an army appeared before Metz in October.

But the Duke of Guise vigorously defended the city.

The rains and snows of the winter in Lorraine proved too much for the Spanish and Italian troops in Charles's army, and he was obliged to raise the siege in December.

John Frederick's lands were divided between Maurice and Ferdinand, the former agreeing to secure to his cousin's children the cities of Gotha and Weimar and the districts round, together with a pension of 50,000 florins a year.

Nothing could shake the prisoner's adherence to Lutheranism, and three years later, Charles secretly decreed that he should be detained for life.

In the following year, in May 1551, he opened the eleventh session of the Council, under the precedency of Cardinal Crisingio.

It lasted a year, but in April 1552, Prince Maurice of Saxony, by his military successes, caused it to be again suspended.

Years passed.

Julius III was succeeded by Cardinal Servini as Marcellus II, and he in his turn by Paul IV.

He was a master of deceit and he died in 1553 before he had time to go far enough with his plans to enable us to judge what he really meant.

At all events Maurice of Saxony laid a deep plan against the Emperor.

Seeing that the German Protestants were not strong enough to fight for themselves he entered into alliance with Henry II of France.

Henry II had only lately come to the throne and was willing enough to signalize his reign by striking a blow at the great enemy of France.

Their army was stronger than the Emperor's, but was broken up by the retreat of the Elector.

His electorate had been attacked in his absence by his nephew Maurice, who, though a Protestant, was fighting on the Emperor's side.

When once the Schmalkaldic forces were broken, the Emperor reduced the Protestant cities one by one.

Next year he defeated the Elector and took him prisoner.

At the same time also a Catholic attempt of a more insidious kind was made upon Scotland.

Esme Stuart, Lord of Aubigny, came from France to Scotland.

He was a nephew of the late Earl of Lennox, and so cousin to the young king James VI, with whom he rapidly became a great favourite.

D'Aubigny had been a member of the Guise party in France.

He was a master of deceit and he died in 1553 before he had time to go far enough with his plans to enable us to judge what he really meant.

At all events Maurice of Saxony laid a deep plan against the Emperor.

Seeing that the German Protestants were not strong enough to fight for themselves he entered into alliance with Henry II of France.

Henry II had only lately come to the throne and was willing enough to signalize his reign by striking a blow at the great enemy of France.