The Protestants or Lutherans, as well as the Calvinists, became very numerous in Poland under the reign of Sigismund Augustus, and many of the high nobility had embraced the Reformed doctrines. An approxi mation was effected between the Lutherans and Calvinists, and a con fession was drawn up, in concert, by the clergy of both communions, at Sandomir, in 1570, called " Consensus Sandomiriensis." The followers of the Reformation, however, never constituted the majority in Poland, and being afterwards persecuted under Sigismund III. and some of his successors, their number was greatly reduced ; but they were never annihilated, and Lutheran and Calvinist congregations have continued to exist in most towns in Poland. The most complete account of the Reformation in Poland is in the Historical Sketch of the Rise, Progress, and Decline of the Reformation in Poland,' 1838, by Count Krasinski.
In Hungary and Transylvania both Lutherans and Calvinists were established early, and they constitute a considerable proportion of the population of those counties. The recent attempt of the Emperor of Austria to repress them and to abolish their privileges, has led to discontents, aggravated also by other infringements on the constitutional rights of the people, of which the results are yet (1861) uncertain.
The doctrines of the Reformation spread into Italy from Switzerland and Germany at an early period, and found proselytes in several towns, especially Ferrara, where Rende of France, duchess of Este, counte nanced them ; at Lucca, Faenza, Milan, and Naples. Several learned monks and priests,—the Capuchin Ochino of Siena; Vermigli, a canon of Florence ; Montalcino, a Franciscan friar ; Lorenzo Romano, an Augustine monk, and others,—adopted and preached the new tenets, Meetings and private places of worship were established in various towns. Paul III., alarmed at this change, established, in 1543, the Congregation of the Holy Office at Rome, with full powers to proceed against heretics independent of the ordinaries; and he also sent inquisi• torial commissioners into the various provinces of Italy for the same purpose. By these means he effectually checked the course of the Reformation, and his successors Paul 1V. and Pius V. completed its
extirpation by the most severe measures. Many of the followers of the Reformed doctrines suffered death either by fire or by the sword of the executioner. [Pius V., in Bioo. Div.] Numerous families emigrated to Switzerland on account of religion, especially from Tuscany and Lombardy. A considerable district of Calabria, near Cosenza, whirl is said to have been originally peopled by a colony from the valleys of Piedmont, having publicly adopted the tenets of the Reformation, anc sent for some Calvinist preachers from Geneva to teach them and their neighbours, the Duke of Alcala, Spanish viceroy of Naples, about 1560 sent several inquisitors with a body of armed men, who arrested anc put to death many people in the village of San Sisto. Upon this the neighbouring villages broke out into open revolt. The town of Lt Guardia Lonibarda sustained a regular siege. Being taken at last, t general massacre of the inhabitants took place, with circumstances o: the greatest atrocity. (Botta, Storia d'Italia,' b. x.) In Spain, the doctrines of Luther and Calvin spread in the lett century, and made numerous proselytes at Seville and other places but the arm of the Inquisition effectually eradicated them. M'Crh has written the history of the rise, progress, and extinction of the Reformation both in Spain and in Italy.
Among those authors who have written or commented upon the his tory of the Reformation, the following deserve notice :—Among the Pro testants—Sleidan, De Static Religion is et ReipuLliere, Carolo quints Ccesar Commenlarii, first published in 1555, and translated into English 1): E. Bohun, with a continuation to the end of the Council of Trent ii 1562, and published in 1589; Spalatinus, Annalea Reformationis Beausobre, Histoire de la Reformation ; Burnet, History of the Reform Seckendorf, Commentaries Historico-Apoloyetieus de Lutheranism° Loscherus, Ada et Doeumenta Reformationis: and among the Rom,ai latholics — Maimbourg, Histoire da Lutheranism ; Pallaviciui, listoria Concilii Tridentini ; Bossuet, Histoire des Variations des ?glises Protestantes ; besides the general historians of the Church.