From the Diet of Worms to the Augsburg Confession - James Aitken Wylie

them heavily, and which were of comparatively
recent imposition. They headed their claim of
rights with the free choice of their ministers; and it
was a further peculiarity of this document, that
each article in it was supported by a text from
Scripture.
An enlightened policy would have conceded
these demands in the main. Wise rulers would have
said. "Let us make these minions free of the earth,
of the waters, and of the forests, as their fathers
were; from serfs let us convert them into free men.
It is better that their skin should enrich, and their
valor defend our territories, than that their blood
should water them." Alas! there was not wisdom
enough in the age to adopt such a course. Those on
whom these claims were pressed said, "No," with
their hands upon their swords.
The vessel of the Reformation was now passing
between the Scylla of established despotism and
the Charybdis of popular lawlessness. It required
rare skill to steer it aright. Shall Luther ally his
movement with that of the peasantry? We can
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