At Vienna on two successive days all Catholics were urged to pray for the successful execution of a project which God and one man knew, and on which the welfare of the Roman Church depended.
Gustavus well knew of all these things, but he declared that he could not live shut up in a box, and he urged that when he should be called to his account God would raise up another leader, that it was the cause and not the individual that God was leading to victory.
The entire Catholic world was now clamoring that Richelieu was misrepresenting France by being the friend of Gustavus, an enemy of the Catholic Church. Richelieu tried to persuade the Catholic League to complete neutrality, and leave Ferdinand and Gustavus to fight it out, Richelieu's sole object being to limit the ruling house of Austria.
Gustavus now plainly saw that no reconciliation was possible between the Catholic League and the Protestant Union, if the latter could be said to exist. He saw that German princes desired to settle with him on a money basis like a hireling, to give him no representation for Pomerania in the Diet, that their envy and jealousy at his success was greater than their love for Protestantism, and that they really preferred the House of Austria Catholic than him as a Protestant ruler, and that they were too jealous of each other to secure a Protestant Union if it were to be under the protection of Sweden. So in order to arrange with Richelieu for neutrality towards Bavaria he required that the League cease from all hostilities, that they call in all troops belonging to the League from the Emperor's army, from all conquered towns and from the Protestant territory. He also insisted on the reduction of their army, the exclusion of the Imperial troops from their territory, the restoration of all property taken from Protestants, the concession of religious liberty, and the expulsion of the Jesuits.
In order to arrange for the treaty to be fully considered, Gustavus had agreed for a cessation of hostilities for two weeks, so that Richelieu might induce the Elector of Bavaria to accept the conditions. But while the French commissioner was assuring Gustavus of the favorable progress of these negotiations an intercepted letter between the Elector and Pappenheim, the commanding general of the Austrian army, showed that the Elector had no other object in causing the delay than the better preparation for continued war. Thereupon Gustavus notified Richelieu of his treachery, with word that he would now invade Bavaria.
When the Pope, Urban VIII., heard of this he said: "The King of Sweden would commit a great imprudence if he advanced anywhere before crushing Maximilian." The Catholic League was never able to induce this Pope to make any public anathemas against Gustavus, for the Pope knew that the Hapsburgs were striving for personal and family aggrandizement under the pretence of fighting for the Church. He also knew that religious liberty prevailed wherever Gustavus conquered.
Gustavus' rest was interrupted by hearing that Tilly was ravaging Franconia, and was marching on Nuremberg. He hastened to meet Tilly, who retreated towards the Danube.
Gustavus entered Nuremberg March 21st, 1632, supported by his staff and a company of cavalry. He left his army at Fürth, a short distance from the city. His generals and the Protestant princes whose country he had delivered rode with him through the streets of that ancient city. The magistrates offered him the keys of the city, and the people made a great demonstration of rejoicing. The ringing of the bells, the firing of many cannon and the welcoming shouts of the grateful people stirred the heart of Gustavus Adolphus so that he showed great emotion. His fine appearance, his pleasing personality, his cordial manners completely won the hearts of the people of Nuremberg.
At his hotel he received the presents sent by the town. These consisted of money and two cannon with ammunition for his army, also two silver globes of the famous Nuremberg workmanship. The king addressed the waiting people. His words were put into a circular and sent throughout the country. He said: "I thank you and the city for these valuable presents. In return I can wish you nothing better than perseverance in the evangelical faith. May nothing turn you from it, neither threats nor promises nor any passion to which human nature is liable. You have given me the emblems of heaven and earth. May the riches of earth not make you forgetful of the still more precious treasures of heaven. I ask for you this grace of God. We have cunning, wicked and powerful enemies. All their thoughts are bent on the destruction of Protestantism. Apparently they seek peace, but peace would indeed prove fatal to you, to all Protestants, and ruinous to many millions of souls.
"God has entrusted you with the administration of a rich and powerful city. I do not doubt of your governing it so that you need not fear the account which will one day be required of you before God's tribunal. Your city, encompassed with dangers and persecutions, has as yet been miraculously preserved. I have myself been not less miraculously preserved since arriving in these countries. I had expected to see the end of the world rather than your city. In the misfortunes which have befallen your brethren, and in your own sufferings, God intended to make you feel and acknowledge what great sinners we all are.