THE Diet of Worms, the first assembly of the empire over which the new emperor would preside, was to be opened on January 6th, 1521. As Nuremberg, where it should have been held, was suffering from the plague, it was convoked to meet at Worms; and to that city princes, dukes, archbishops, and other members of the nobility and dignitaries of the Church, as well as deputies from the towns and ambassadors from the kings of Christendom, journeyed; their brilliant trains thronging the roads that led to the city. All the princes were desirous of participating in this first act of the young emperor's government, and each was pleased at the opportunity afforded for displaying his power.
Two matters of primary importance were to engage the attention of the diet; the first being the nomination of a council of regency to govern the empire when Charles was absent, and the second, the cause of the Reformation. The latter subject formed the chief topic of conversation between the noble personages who arrived at Worms.
Indications were not wanting that the diet would be stormy and difficult to manage. Charles was young, pale, of weak health, with a character as yet undeveloped, and had not hitherto shown any remarkable talent, nor apparently adopted any decided line of conduct. William de Croi, his chamberlain, tutor, and prime minister, died at Worms; and here numerous ambitions met and passions came into collision. The various parties vied with each other in trying to insinuate themselves into the counsels of the young emperor, and were met by the outspoken boldness of the German princes. The papal nuncios multiplied their intrigues; and over all loomed the terrible will of the Roman Papacy, which had for ages past crushed every doctor, king, or people that had obstructed its progress.
A letter written at Rome in January, 1521, by a Roman citizen, reveals the intentions of the papal court. "If I am not mistaken," says the writer, "the only business in your diet will be this affair of Luther, which gives us much more trouble than the Turk himself. We shall endeavor to gain over the young emperor by threats, by prayers, and feigned caresses. We shall strive to win the Germans by extolling the piety of their ancestors, and by making them rich presents, and by lavish promises. If these methods do not succeed, we shall depose the emperor; absolve the people from their allegiance; elect another (and he will be one that suits us) in his place; stir up civil war among the Germans, as we have just done in Spain; and summon to our aid the armies of the kings of France, England, and all the nations of the earth. Probity, honor, religion, Christ-we shall make light of all, provided our tyranny be saved.”
In the spirit of this letter, the nuncios had pressed the emperor to execute the pope's bull; but on the other hand, Frederick had besought him to take no steps against Luther until he himself had been heard. Desirous of pleasing both parties, Charles had written to the elector, prior to his departure for Worms, to bring Luther with him to the diet, assuring him that no injustice should be shown to the Reformer, that no violence should be used against him, and that learned men should confer with him.
But to have the bold monk appearing. in the Presence of the princes, maintaining a cause already condemned by the pope, was by no means Rome's policy; and Aleander urged, entreated, and threatened the emperor, until he yielded, and informed the elector that unless Luther would retract what he had written he was to be left behind at Wittemberg. But meantime Frederick had quitted Saxony without him. “I pray the Lord to be favorable to our elector," said Melancthon, as he saw him depart.
Although in weak health at the time, Luther was quite ready to go to Worms, and was grieved when forbidden to do so. He desired to correct the erroneous ideas of the princes, and to frankly lay before this august assembly the true nature of a cause so much misunderstood. Animated by these feelings, he wrote a letter to the elector, worded in such a manner that Frederick might show it to the diet. In it he said: “I rejoice with all my heart, most serene lord, that his imperial Majesty desires to summon me before him touching this affair. I call Jesus Christ to witness that it is the cause of the whole German nation, of the Universal Church, of the Christian world, nay, of God Himself, and not of an individual, especially such a one as myself. I am ready to go to Worms, provided I have a safe-conduct, and learned, pious, and impartial judges. I am ready to answer... for it is not from a presumptuous spirit, or with any view to personal advantage, that I have taught the doctrine with which I am reproached: it is in obedience to my conscience and to my oath as doctor of the Holy Scriptures; it is for the glory of God, for the salvation of the Christian Church, for the good of the German nation, and for the extirpation of so much superstition, abuse, evil, scandal, tyranny, blasphemy, and impiety.”
Luther's condemnation and not his presence was what the partisans of Rome required, and for this Aleander urged Charles unceasingly. Writing from Worms at this time the Elector Frederick states to his brother John: "Daily deliberations are held against Luther; they demand that he shall be placed under the ban of the pope and of the emperor; they endeavor to injure him in every way. Those who parade in their red hats, the Romans, with all their followers, display indefatigable zeal in this task.”
Yielding to the importunities of the nuncio, Charles prepared a stringent edict, in which he enjoined the immediate execution of the pope's bull. This edict was laid before the assembled princes, the emperor, following the usual custom, adding, "If you can recommend any better course, I am ready to hear you.”
An animated debate followed, which showed that the diet was not ready for this extreme measure. It was necessary to convince it, and this task Aleander undertook, being promised a hearing on February 13th.
For three hours he spoke, and the effect upon the assembly was great. Turning to the emperor, during the speech, he said: "I entreat your imperial Majesty to do nothing that may lead to your reproach. Do not interfere in a matter which does not concern the laity. Perform your own duties! Let Luther's doctrines be interdicted by you throughout the length and breadth of the empire: let his writings be burnt ' everywhere. Fear not! In Luther's errors there is enough to burn a hundred thousand heretics." And in concluding the speech he exclaimed, "But if the ax is not laid to the roots of this poisonous tree, if the death blow is not struck, then I see it overshadowing the heritage of Jesus Christ with its branches, changing our Lord's vineyard into a gloomy forest, transforming the kingdom of God into a den of wild beasts, and reducing Germany to that frightful state of barbarism and desolation which has been brought upon Asia by the superstition of Mahomet.”
The immediate effect of the speech was powerful, but a brief time was sufficient to dissipate much of the impression produced. The majority of the princes were willing to sacrifice Luther, but not the rights of the empire and the grievances of the German nation.
Accordingly, a few days after Aleander's speech, Duke George, the most determined personal enemy of Luther, rose in the assembly and brought forward a most damning accusation against Rome: "The diet," said he, "must not forget its grievances against the court of Rome." Then, after enumerating a number of these, he added: “These are some of the abuses that cry out against Rome. All shame has been put aside, their only object is money! money! money! so that the preachers who should teach the truth utter nothing but falsehoods, and are not only tolerated, but rewarded, because the greater their lies the greater their gain. It is from this foul spring that such tainted waters flow. Debauchery stretches out the hand to avarice.... Alas, it is the scandal caused by the clergy that hurls so many poor souls into eternal condemnation. A general reform must be effected. An ecumenical council must be called to bring about this reform. For these reasons, most excellent princes and lords, I humbly entreat you to take this matter into your immediate consideration.”
Duke George then handed in a list of the grievances he had enumerated. Other speakers followed in the same strain, and the diet appointed a committee to draw up a list of all the grievances named, which were found to amount to one hundred and one. The result was that the emperor recalled the edict authorizing Luther's books to be burned, and substituted a provisional order to deliver them into the keeping of the magistrates.
But the assembly wished to have the Reformer before them. "It is unjust," said his friends, "to condemn Luther without a hearing." And his adversaries urged that, “his doctrines have so taken hold of men's minds, that it is impossible to check their progress unless we hear them from himself. There shall be no discussion with him, and if he avows his writings and refuses to retract them, then we will all with one accord... assist your Majesty to the utmost of our power in the execution of your decrees.”
Finally the emperor decided to summon Luther before the diet, and safe-conducts were given him extending for twenty-one days. The citation from the emperor was delivered to Luther on March 24th, and he at once made preparations for his journey. His friends, filled with alarm, thought that, unless saved by the miraculous interposition of God, he was going to certain death. Melancthon, with the warmth of true affection and anxious solicitude, said: "Luther supplies the place of all my friends; he is greater and more admirable for me than I dare express. You know how Alcibiades admired Socrates; but I admire Luther after another and in a Christian fashion. Every time I contemplate Luther I find him constantly greater than himself.”
Melancthon greatly desired to accompany Luther to Worms, there to share whatever dangers might befall him, but their common friends, and no doubt the Reformer himself, opposed his wishes. Philip was wanted to fill his friend's place, and, if Luther never returned, to carry on the work of the Reformation. But Melancthon acquiesced with a sigh, saying: "Would to God that he (Luther) had allowed me to go with him.”
April 2nd, the day of departure, arrived, and Luther had to take leave of his friends. Amsdorff, born of a noble family, impetuous and fearless, was to accompany him; also a celebrated professor of jurisprudence named Jerome Schurff, whom the elector had invited to Wittemberg, and a young Danish student, Peter Suaven, who resided with Melancthon. Turning to Melancthon, in a voice trembling with emotion, Luther said: “My dear brother, if I do not return, and should my enemies put me to death, [illustration] continue to teach and stand fast in the truth. Labor in my stead, since I shall no longer be able to labor for myself., If you survive, my death will be of little consequence.”
To follow Luther to Worms, and to record the events connected with his appearance before the diet, is not the purpose of this biography of his co-worker, Melancthon. Suffice it to say that he nobly upheld the cause he espoused, and when a plain, straightforward retraction was required, he refused it, ending his refusal with the memorable words, "Here I stand, I can do no other; may God help me! Amen!”
All the efforts made to procure Luther's retraction having proved futile, and those of the Papists to induce Charles to violate the safe-conduct ineffectual, the Reformer was allowed to depart from Worms, and commanded to return home within twenty-one days. He was forbidden to disturb the public peace on his way, either by preaching or writing.
Luther left Worms on April 26th, 1521, and shortly after his departure the emperor signed an edict against him. In this document all the electors of the empire, the princes, prelates, and others whom it may concern, are forbidden, under pain of incurring the penalties due to the crime of high treason, to harbor Luther after the appointed time should expire; to conceal him, to give him food or drink, or to furnish him by word or deed, publicly or secretly, with any kind of succor whatever. They are also enjoined to seize him, or cause him to be seized, wherever he may be found, and keep him in safe custody until the emperor's will was made known concerning him. His adherents are to be apprehended and confined, and their property confiscated. His books are to be burned, and all poets, printers, painters, buyers or sellers of placards, papers, or pictures, against the pope or the Church, are to be seized, body and goods, and dealt with according to the good pleasure of those enjoined. And if any person, whatever be his dignity, dares to act in contradiction to this degree of the emperor, he is to be placed under the ban of the empire.
Such was the danger that threatened the Reformer and his adherents.
But just as Rome drew her meshes tighter round her intrepid foe, an asylum opened for him. He was journeying homeward from Worms to Wittemberg, and was passing through the forests of Thuringia, when he was seized by a band of armed and masked horsemen, who bore him away to the castle of the Wartburg, a mountain fortress in the vicinity of Eisenach.
A cry of dismay sounded throughout Germany. "Luther has fallen into the hands of his enemies,” was exclaimed in tones of sadness. The grief of the friends of the Reformation was prolonged. The spring passed away, summer, autumn, and winter succeeded, but still the walls of the Wartburg held their prisoner.