In Germany from the Leipsic Disputation to the Diet at Worms - James Aitken Wylie

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emperor's decision raised a storm in the Diet. Two parties instantly declared themselves. Some of the Papal party, especially the Elector of Brandenburg, demanded that Luther's safe-conduct should be disregarded, and that the Rhine should receive his ashes, as it had done those of John Huss a century before. But, to his credit, Louis, Elector Palatine, expressed instant and utter abhorrence of the atrocious proposal. True, he said, Huss was burned at the stake, but ever since calamity has never ceased to pursue Germany. We dare not, said he, erect a second scaffold. He was joined by Duke George, whose repudiation of the proposed infamy was the more emphatic that he was Luther's avowed enemy. That the princes of Germany should for a moment entertain the purpose of violating a safe-conduct, was a thing he held impossible. They never would bring such a stain upon the honor of the Fatherland; nor would they open the reign of the young emperor with such an evil augury. The Bavarian nobles, though mostly Papal, also protested against the violation of the public faith. The proposition met with the fate it deserved; it was expelled the Diet with scorn and 148
indignation. The extreme men of the Papal party would, without hesitation, have planted the Reformer's stake, but what would have been the result? A civil war in Germany the very next day. The enthusiasm of all classes was immense. Even Dean Cochlaeus and Cardinal Pallavicino assure us that there were hundreds of armed men in Worms itself, ready to unsheathe the sword and demand blood for blood. Only a dozen miles away, in his strong castle of Ebernburg, "the refuge of the Righteous," was the valorous Sickingen, and the fiery knight Hutten, at the head of a corps of men-at-arms amounting to many thousands, ready to descend on Worms, should Luther be sacrificed, to hold a reckoning with all those who were concerned in his death. From the most distant cities of Germany men watched, their hands on their sword-hilts, to see what would happen at Worms. The moderate men among the Papal members of the Diet were well aware that to violate the safe-conduct, would simply be to give the signal for outbreak and convulsion from one end of Germany to the other. 149
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IN GERMANY FROM THE LEIPSIC DISPUTA
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from a throne, the greatest then in
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who had not forgiven his discomfitu
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outcry which had been raised agains
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discoursed together at his table. H
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It would complete his glory, and re
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ecome emperor? Most historians have
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Frederick of Saxony had declined wh
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it will operate spiritual effects o
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most; masterly picture of the Roman
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These, to use Luther's metaphor, we
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The instant remedies which he urged
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doctrine of man's inability and God
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who held them in bondage. They have
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nor all the great ones of earth cou
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ages. Rebel kings, proud heresiarch
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Meanwhile rumors reached Luther of
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assembly of all the saints, holy Ch
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eyes. The Pope advanced with excomm
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his career by going into permanent
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in the faith of the recipient. Fait
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cannot help looking to you, O Leo,
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even before you could try any remed
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two poles of that liberty he descri
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position in the eyes of the world,
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these many piles of Eck and Aleande
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of the monk. A more peaceful exit a
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life of the Christian, that it will
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Hills, and flung it back at her fro
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man; there we see it bringing with
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Luther was honored to be the instru
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Charles was crowned on the 23rd of
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hitherto been in vain, or rather ha
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Pharisee, however, for certainly he
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It was clear that before making pro
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his master the Pope, who had excomm
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would speed all the better if Leo o
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themselves, was to bring Luther to
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Muller, "the art of dissimulating,
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actually inflicted by a new bull, f
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From the general eulogium pronounce
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and armies at his back. The spiritu
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Chapter 4 Luther Summoned to the Di
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charges against the Reformer were s
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himself to the assembly. His words
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specified abuses. The Diet did not
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patiently wait and obediently liste
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Scriptures, and required the Pope t
Page 97 and 98: Scripture, emancipated him complete
Page 99 and 100: Chapter 5 Luther's Journey and Arri
Page 101 and 102: growing more intolerable, would be
Page 103 and 104: y the magistrates, waited to bid hi
Page 105 and 106: cowl, and goes bare-foot; another d
Page 107 and 108: Maine, Luther suffered from sicknes
Page 109 and 110: It was ten o'clock in the morning o
Page 111 and 112: though doubtless a wholly undesigne
Page 113 and 114: taken possession of his lodgings wh
Page 115 and 116: Chapter 6 Luther Before the Diet at
Page 117 and 118: courtiers and their friends, to the
Page 119 and 120: Archduke Ferdinand; six electors of
Page 121 and 122: is not to be confounded with the Dr
Page 123 and 124: The Chancellor Eck advanced to the
Page 125 and 126: all the time he stood in his presen
Page 127 and 128: only by his feeling that-to use Mel
Page 129 and 130: "Lord, where stayest thou?... O my
Page 131 and 132: the Diet in deep deliberation. When
Page 133 and 134: admit-truths which are essential to
Page 135 and 136: ecclesiastical profession; but alth
Page 137 and 138: wise, to strengthen their dominion.
Page 139 and 140: Unless, therefore, I am convinced b
Page 141 and 142: assembly read the stern, indomitabl
Page 143 and 144: Chapter 7 Luther Put Under the Ban
Page 145 and 146: instantly dispersed, and the city w
Page 147: they submitted one insidious propos
Page 151 and 152: checking the Pope, which he found h
Page 153 and 154: the startling affirmation that "thi
Page 155 and 156: they came under the walls of a cast
Page 157: have seen, to revolve its lessons,
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In Germany from the Leipsic Disputation to the Diet at Worms - James Aitken Wylie

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