Note 47 — Chapter XIII
Reading edition
Such as the following: “His Majesty, who may justly regard himself as the most powerful of living Christians, would feel his conscience aggrieved if he paid no attention to the complaints of the German Churches, which the Pope has neglected these ten years. As Suzerain of Germany, heir of Charlemagne, real Emperor of the West, and eldest son of the Church, he desires to know what conduct he ought to pursue for re-establishing religion amongst the peoples of Germany.” What he wanted, the bishops and cardinals knew but dared not suggest, was a sanction of the secularisations.