But with this success he had become arrogant, implacable and cruel.

His friends had become alienated and his enemies exasperated.
Even the most rigorous Catholics were alarmed at his assumptions, and the pope was humiliated by his haughty bearing.
Charles assembled a diet of the States of the empire at Augsburg, the 26th of July, 1550.

He entered the city with the pomp and the pride of a conqueror, and with such an array of military force as to awe the States into compliance with his wishes.

He then demanded of all the States of the empire an agreement that they would enforce, in all their dominions the decrees of the council of Trent, which council was soon to be convened.

There is sublimity in the energy with which this monarch moved, step by step, toward the accomplishment of his plans.