But  this  period  presents  a  singular  spectacle.  We  behold  those  who
threaten  war  and  destruction  separate,  and  each  betake  himself  to  his  own
affairs  ;  while,  on  the  contrary,  those  who  are  threatened  adhere  with
unshaken  pertinacity  to  their  designs,  and  succeed  in  founding  an  effective
politico-religious  coalition.  The  check  which  reform  had  sustained  in
Switzerland  was  advantageous  to  its  consolidation  in  Germany.
Chap.  VI.]  OTTOMAN  INVASION  677

It  always  happens,  and  especially  under  circumstances  like  those  of
Germany,  that  the  obvious  necessity  for  common  defence  is  a  far  better
bond  of  union  than  the  most  elaborate  plan  of  attack.
The  emperor  did  not  neglect  to  urge  the  electors  to  more  vigorous
measures.  Immediately  after  Ferdinand's  election,  they  formed  a  league
for  the  defence  of  it  against  all  attacks  whatsoever.  In  the  spring  of  1531
the  emperor  proposed  to  connect  with  this  a  more  extensive  coalition,
for  the  purpose  of  preventing  all  attempts  of  the  seceders  injurious  to
the  true  faith.1  To  this,  however,  the  electors  did  not  accede  ;  they
thought  that  sufficient  security  was  afforded  by  the  rules  and  recesses
of  the  empire.  We  know  that  there  were  other  points  on  which  the
States  of  the  empire  did  not  perfectly  agree  with  the  emperor  ;  the
diplomatic  correspondence  of  the  time  shows  that  demonstrations  and
professions  of  friendship  were  traversed  in  every  direction  by  under-
currents of  secret  animosity.
Moreover,  every  attempt  to  reduce  the  protestants  was  rendered
impossible  by  the  danger  which  incessantly  hung  over  Europe  from  the
East.
At  length  its  most  formidable  foe  once  more  arose  in  his  might.  His
recent  attack  on  Vienna  had  rather  irritated  than  intimidated  him.
