restored, lest it should bring down on him the indignation of Aleander. The paper was restored; but it was previously copied, and its contents communicated, as seems most probable, to many, for they were soon afterwards published at Leipzig, together with an account of the conference with the Elector. Both Luther and Spalatin earnestly denied that they had any share in this breach of confidence. The act was even imputed to some papist who designed to commit Erasmus in opposition to a party capable of treating him so treacherously. However this may be, Erasmus was deeply and reasonably offended, if not by the perfidy, at least by the indiscretion of those whom he had trusted, and even disclaimed some of the opinions ascribed to him; while Aleander, from being his friend and even patron, became at once and continued ever afterwards a dangerous and implacable enemy.

In a letter to Nicholas Everard, President of Holland, Erasmus, after insinuating how the enemies of the Roman See are sometimes removed by poison, " cum benedictione pontificis," continued as follows: "Hac arte valet Aleander. Is me coloniæ impensissime rogabat ad prandium. Ego quo magis ille instabat, eo pertinacius excusavi. Aleander is great in this art. When we were at Cologne he used continually to be asking me to dinner. The more he pressed me the more perseveringly I declined." Aleander had been secretary to Cæsar Borgia.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE DIET OF WORMS.

The Diet convoked to Worms-Charles summons Luther-Frederick hesitates-Luther is ready to obey-his religious motives—his second letter to the Elector on this subject-great exertions of the Papists— Luther condemned in the bull In Cana Domini-difficulties and divisions of the Papists-they begin to fear his appearance at Worms -and endeavour to prevent it-efforts of Aleander to gain the members of the Diet-his speech in Diet of February 13, and its temporary success-proposals of moderate constitutional reform by Erasmus, Faber, and Glapio-remarks-character and stratagems of Glapio-foiled by Frederick-Charles determines to hear Luther, but not in his defence, and orders the sequestration of his books— Luther sets out on his journey to Worms-his treatment in the course of it-the fears of his friends-his own intrepidity-at Oppenheim Sickingen and other adherents offer him a refuge and persuade flight -Luther's unshaken firmness-he enters Worms in triumphal procession.

THE first Diet under the newly-elected sovereign was summoned to meet at Worms on the 6th of January, 1521; and among the various subjects of general moment which claimed the attention of that assembly the affair of Luther was not by any means forgotten. And though the mind of a young prince, who was neither entirely German nor even conversant through residence with German opinions and feelings, might attach more importance to the projects of civil ambition, the movements of armies and the policy of monarchs, than to the speculations of a monk, yet were there those about his court who inculcated that there was no duty so truly imperial as the extirpation of heresy.

Accordingly, on November 28, 1520, the Emperor

wrote to Frederick to the effect that he had been much solicited by the papal nuncios respecting the affair of Luther and the burning of his books; that, as he knew the Elector's unwillingness to condemn either him or them without an impartial examination, he requested him to bring the accused to Worms, there to be heard and questioned by persons duly qualified, and in the mean time to prevent him from publishing any new scandals. The Elector (in an answer of the 20th of December) declined, with much cautious explanation and many respectful expressions, to comply with that request. In the mean time he had taken means to ascertain what were the feelings of Luther himself in regard to the proposal of the Emperor. Frederick no doubt believed that to present Luther at Worms, in the midst of his enemies and at their instigation, would be no better than to deliver him up to certain destruction. Besides, he might not choose to compromise himself so far in that affair. It was his policy to refrain from any direct interference with its course; and though he watched it with a friendly eye, he abstained from any attempt to guide it. Therefore he now determined not to undertake the responsibility of producing Luther before the Diet, but to leave the decision and its consequences to the Reformer and his friends.

The determination of Luther was dictated by the deep sincerity of his religious confidence, and was even especially marked by his habitual intrepidity. He replied to Spalatin (on the 21st of December) that, should he be summoned to Worms by the high authority of the Emperor, he should obey, as he should obey the will of God; that if violence were offered to himself he should

* The Elector had requested Charles, through the prefect of Holland, not to condemn Luther without trial, "for fear of giving a handle to the multitude-ne turbis ansa daretur."-Seckend., 1. i. sect. 89, addit. ii.

recommend his cause to God; yet that it was the duty of all to beseech God that the reign of Charles might not commence in blood, shed in an impious cause. 66 I would prefer, as I have often declared, to perish by the hands of the Romanists alone, rather than that he or his advisers should have any share in the crime. You know what misery befel the Emperor Sigismund after the execution of Huss. Yet if it must be so, and if I am to be delivered up, not only to the pontifical but to the secular authorities, the Lord's will be done. Amen. You have my resolution. Expect from me anything rather than flight or recantation. I will not fly; still less can I retract; and so may the Lord Jesus comfort I could do neither, without risk to piety and the salvation of many souls."*

me.

About a month after (January 25, 1521) he addressed to the Elector himself a second letter on the same subject, in a somewhat different tone, but in exactly the same spirit: "I rejoice from my heart," he said, "that the Emperor is about to undertake the management of this cause, which is indeed the cause of the whole Christian world in general and of the German nation in particular.. .... And I now humbly offer, as I have repeatedly offered before, to do all that may become a servant of God and of Christ, as soon as I shall be informed what my duty is from the clear evidence of the Holy Scriptures. . In regard to myself, when I shall be provided with a safe-conduct, I shall most cheerfully appear before the next general Diet at Worms; and there by the help of Almighty God so conduct myself before just, learned and impartial judges, as to convince all that I have done nothing from an inconsiderate, rash, refractory spirit, or with a view to temporal

VOL. I.

*

Ap. Seckend., lib. i. § 90.

Y

honours or advantages; but that every line I have written and every doctrine I have taught proceeded from a conscientious regard to my oath and obligations as a teacher, however unworthy, of God's word; that I have constantly intended to promote the praise and glory of God, the happiness and salvation of the Catholic church, the prosperity of all Germany, the extirpation of dangerous abuses and superstitions, and the emancipation of the whole Christian republic from innumerable, impious, tyrannical and disgraceful grievances and blasphemies."

Meanwhile the authorities at Rome continued consistently to pursue the decided policy which they had at last adopted. On the 3rd of January, 1521, while the members of the Diet were assembling, the Pope published a second bull against Luther, in confirmation of his first; for whereas the sentence contained in the first had been conditional on his retracting or not within a prescribed period, that in the second was unconditional, as that period had then expired. In this condemnation all his followers of all ranks and conditions were included. The priests were commanded to raise aloud the cry of heresy, to denounce the offenders from the pulpit, and to lift up the standard of the cross, with the ringing of bells, the casting down of lights on the ground, and all the other imposing ceremonies of interdict. The archbishops and other prelates were directed not to stand quietly by like dumb dogs which cannot bark, but to vociferate loudly and incessantly to the same purpose; while the monks of all orders and classes were to swell the chorus of anathema.

This formidable bolt fell absolutely harmless and almost unnoticed among the people of Germany. It was followed by another of the same description which was equally innocent. It was the practice of the Roman