CHAPTER III.

CHARLES V. CHOSEN EMPEROR-DIET AT WORMSLUTHER'S SECLUSION IN THE CASTLE OF WART1519-1522.

BURG-MELANCTHON

ABOUT the time of Luther's public separation from the Church of Rome, a change took place in the government of the German Empire. The Emperor Maximilian died, January 12th, 1519. During the interregnum which followed, and until the coronation of his successor, the Reformers prospered greatly under the tolerant sway of the Elector of Saxony. Students flocked from · all quarters to attend the lectures at Wittemberg. The tracts and sermons of Luther and his associates were read and heard by multitudes, and a great revolution was going on in the religious views of the people. This progress was, however, somewhat checked by the choice of a new Emperor.

Charles V. of Spain, and Francis I. of France, the two greatest monarchs in Europe, were rival aspirants for the vacant throne. For some time, the electors were averse to the pretensions of both these royal candidates. They felt unwilling to trust the sceptre to any foreign prince, and consequently by the first ballot they made

choice of Frederic the Wise; of Saxony. But this nobleman, sacrificing his personal ambition to the good of the country, magnanimously declined the appointment. He thought the state of affairs demanded the election of some powerful monarch, and gave his influence in favor of Charles, as the only sovereign, in his opinion, capable of maintaining the dignity of the empire. Such disinterested and patriotic conduct won the admiration of his colleagues; they listened to his advice, and on the 28th of July, unanimously agreed to bestow the imperial crown upon the king of Spain.

During the contest for the German throne, Charles had sedulously courted the assistance of Leo X. The friendship of the Pontiff was still of importance to him, since his rival Francis was frowning with indignation at his late disappointment, and only waited for a plausible pretext to commence hostilities. Of this fact, the Pope was well aware, and consequently he immediately determined to profit by it. He called upon the Emperor as the Defender of the Faith, to punish the heretical Luther without delay. But Charles was under too great and too recent obligations to Frederic of Saxony, by whom the Reformer and his followers were supposed to be countenanced, to venture rashly upon so decided a measure. It would have been not only un

grateful, but unsafe, to condemn without a hearing the subject of a Prince, to whom he was indebted for his new kingdom. He resolved to give Luther a fair trial, and to refer the controversy between him and the Pope to a diet or convention of the German princes, which was soon to meet at Worms.

Luther was immediately ordered to appear before this tribunal; and having obtained assurances of his safety from the emperor, he prepared to set out on his journey. Many of his friends endeavoured to dissuade him from this undertaking. They feared that, notwithstanding the safe-conduct which had been granted, his adversaries, when they once had him in their power, might be tempted to put him to death. The Reformer refused to listen to their suspicion, and on one occasion, he declared that, "he would go to Worms, if there were as many devils there as tiles on the roofs of the houses." Animated by such boldness and zeal, he pursued his way, stopping at the large towns through which he passed, sometimes to preach, and sometimes to enjoy musical entertainments and other recreations. He arrived at the city on the 18th of April, and the next day was conducted to the diet by the marshal of the empire. Two questions were then put to him; 1. Whether he acknowledged certain books, which were laid

before him, to be his writings?

2. Whether

he was ready to recant the opinions they contained? After hearing the titles of the volumes read over, he answered the first of these inquiries in the affirmative. With regard to the second, he requested time for deliberation, and then retired. On the morrow, he again appeared, and replied at length to the interrogatories. "His books," he said, 66 were of different kinds. Some treated of a Christian's faith and life; others were directed against papacy and its defenders. The former he could not renounce, because even his enemies admitted that they contained much good matter. The latter he could not renounce, unless convinced, by sound argument or the word of God, that they were contrary to the truth." This speech did not satisfy his opponents; and being repeatedly exhorted to acknowledge his errors, he closed the debate with these words: "Here I stand: I can say no more: God help me. Amen."

Luther did not again appear before the Diet. The Emperor caused him to be informed, that unless he would be reconciled to the Church, he must do as the laws required. Accordingly, at the close of the session, a bill was passed, by virtue of which, "after the twenty-one days of safe-conduct expired, no man might harbour or conceal Luther, on pain of treason; but whosoever should

find him in any place, was to apprehend and deliver him up to the Emperor; and all his adherents were to be seized in the public streets, imprisoned, and stript of all their goods." This edict, severe as it was in appearance, had but little effect. If Charles was earnest to enforce it, - a supposition that appears very improbable, when it is remembered how much he was indebted to the Elector of Saxony, who favored the Reformer, - political affairs of great importance which demanded his immediate attention, and the increasing popularity of the new opinions, prevented him from proceeding to extremities. Some historians even

suppose, that the Emperor connived at the plan which was adopted to protect the heretic; whether he did so or not, certain it is that the Edict of Worms was never executed.

To preserve his outlawed subject from harm, until the storm should blow over, Frederic the Wise contrived the following expedient. Soon after Luther left the city on his return home, the Elector caused him to be way-laid by a band of disguised horsemen, and carried to the Castle of Wartburg, a strong-hold in the mountains, built about the year 1069, which is still standing; the room occupied by the Reformer, is now pointed out to visitors. Whilst Luther resided in this place, he wore the dress of a country gentleman, suffered his hair and beard to