Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed as she listened. “A minister from Wittenberg…celebrating Communion in the castle chapel…three o’clock…” She could hardly believe her ears. Her mother had obviously grown bolder since last year, when Elizabeth had left home at seventeen to be married. She was hearing shocking things during her visit back home in Brandenberg castle. “Wait ‘til father gets home and I tell him!” she said to herself.

It was twelve years before that Luther had nailed his 95 theses to the door of the church at Wittenberg, and the various princes in Germany had by now each declared openly whether he supported the Roman Catholic religion or the new Reformed faith.

Elizabeth’s father, the prince of Brandenberg, was Catholic. Her mother had quietly embraced Christ alone as her salvation from sin. Now, in her husband’s absence, she had dared to host a Protestant communion. right inside the castle.

Upon her ...