Basic HTML Version
Chapter 8—A Champion of Truth
A new emperor, Charles V, ascended the throne of Germany.
The elector of Saxony to whom Charles was in great degree indebted
for his crown, entreated him to take no step against Luther until he
should have granted him a hearing. The emperor was thus placed in
a position of great perplexity and embarrassment. The papists would
be satisfied with nothing short of Luther’s death. The elector had
declared “that Dr. Luther should be furnished with a safe-conduct,
so that he might appear before a tribunal of learned, pious, and
impartial judges.
The assembly convened at Worms. For the first time the princes
of Germany were to meet their youthful monarch in assembly. Dig-
nitaries of church and state and ambassadors from foreign lands all
gathered at Worms. Yet the subject that excited the deepest interest
was the Reformer. Charles had directed the elector to bring Luther
with him, assuring protection and promising free discussion of the
questions in dispute. Luther wrote the elector: “If the emperor calls
me, I cannot doubt that it is the call of God Himself. If they desire
to use violence against me, ... I place the matter in the Lord’s hands.
... If He will not save me, my life is of little consequence. ... You
may expect everything from me ... except flight and recantation. Fly
I cannot, and still less retract.
As the news was circulated that Luther was to appear before
the diet, a general excitement was created. Aleander, the papal
legate, was alarmed and enraged. To inquire into a case in which
[93]
the pope had already pronounced sentence of condemnation would
cast contempt upon the authority of the pontiff. Furthermore, the
powerful arguments of this man might turn many of the princes from
the pope. He remonstrated with Charles against Luther’s appearance
at Worms and induced the emperor to yield.
1
D’Aubigne, bk. 6, ch. 11.
2
Ibid., bk. 7, ch. 1.
86