Arrival of Eck and the Wittembergers--Amsdorf--The
Students--Carlstadt's accident--Placard--Eck and
Luther--Pleissenburg--Shall Judges be appointed?--Luther
objects.
[Sidenote: ECK'S ARRIVAL. AMSDORF. THE STUDENTS.]
At the time when the Electors met at Frankfort to give an emperor to
Germany, (June, 1519,) theologians met at Leipsic for an act which,
though unnoticed by the world, was destined to be not less important
in its results.
Eck was the first who arrived at the place of rendezvous. On the 21st
June he entered Leipsic in company with Poliander, a young man whom he
had brought from Ingolstadt to report the debate. All kinds of honours
were paid to the scholastic doctor, who, on the Fête Dieu, paraded the
town in full canonicals, and at the head of a numerous procession.
There was a general eagerness to see him. According to his own
account, all the inhabitants were in his favour. "Nevertheless," adds
he, "a rumour was current in the town that I was to be worsted in the
encounter."
The day after the fête, viz., Friday, 24th June, (St. John's Day,) the
Wittembergers arrived. Carlstadt, Eck's destined opponent, came first
in a chariot by himself. Next, in an open carriage, came Duke Barnim
of Pomerania, who was then studying at Wittemberg under the direction
of a tutor, and had been elected rector of the University. On each
side of him sat the two great theologians, the fathers of the
Reformation, Melancthon and Luther. Melancthon had been unwilling to
quit his friend. He had said to Spalatin, "Martin, the soldier of the
Lord, has stirred up this fetid marsh.[61] I cannot think of the
shameful conduct of the pope's theologians without indignation. Be
firm, and adhere to us." Luther himself had expressed a desire that
his Achates, as he has been called, should accompany him.
[61] Martinus, Domini miles, hanc camarinam movit. (Corp. Ref. i, p.
82.)
John Lange, vicar of the Augustins, some doctors in law, several
masters of arts, two licentiates in theology, and other ecclesiastics,
among whom Nicolas Amsdorf was conspicuous, closed the rear. Amsdorf,
the member of a noble family in Saxony, disregarding the brilliant
career which his birth might have opened to him, had devoted himself
to theology. The theses on indulgences having brought him to the
knowledge of the truth, he had forthwith made a bold profession of the
faith.[62] Vigorous in intellect and vehement in temper, Amsdorf often
pushed on Luther, by nature abundantly ardent, to acts which were
perhaps imprudent. Born to high rank, he was not overawed by the
great, and occasionally addressed them with a freedom bordering on
rudeness. "The gospel of Jesus Christ," said he one day in an assembly
of nobles, "belongs to the poor and afflicted, and not to you princes,
lords, and courtiers, whose lives are passed in luxury and joy."[63]
[62] Nec cum carne et sanguine diu contulit, sed statim palam ad alios
fidei confessionem constanter edidit. (M. Adami. Vita Amsdorf.) Nor
did he confer with flesh and blood, but forthwith made a public and
firm profession of his faith.
[63] Weisman. Hist. Eccl. i, p. 1444.
[Sidenote: CARLSTADT'S ACCIDENT.]
But we have not yet mentioned the whole train from Wittemberg. A
large body of students accompanied their teachers. Eck affirms that
the number amounted to two hundred. Armed with pikes and halberds,
they walked beside the carriages of the doctors ready to defend them,
and proud of their cause.
Such was the order in which the body of Reformers entered Leipsic.
Just as they passed the Grimma gate, which is in front of St. Paul's
cemetery, one of the wheels of Carlstadt's carriage broke down. The
archdeacon, who, with great self-complacency, was enjoying the solemn
entry, tumbled into the mire. He was not hurt, but was obliged to
proceed to his lodgings on foot. Luther's chariot, which was
immediately behind Carlstadt's, moved rapidly forward, and delivered
the Reformer safe and sound. The inhabitants of Leipsic, who had
assembled to witness the entry of the Wittemberg champions, considered
the accident as a bad omen for Carlstadt; and the inference was soon
current over the town, viz., that he would be defeated in the combat,
but that Luther would come off victorious.[64]
[64] Seb. Fröschel vom Priesterthum. Wittemb., 1585, in Præf.
Adolphus of Merseberg did not remain idle. As soon as he learned the
approach of Luther and Carlstadt, and even before they had lighted
from their carriages, he caused a notice to be posted up on all the
church-doors forbidding the discussion under pain of excommunication.
Duke George, astonished at his presumption, ordered the town council
to tear down the bishop's placard, and imprison the individual which
had been employed to put it up.[65] The Duke George, who had come in
person to Leipsic, attended by all his court--among others by Jerôme
Emser, with whom Luther spent the famous evening at Dresden, sent the
disputants the usual presents.[66] "The duke," boasted Eck, "presented
me with a fine stag, and gave Carlstadt only a roebuck."[67]
[65] L. Op. (L.) xvii, p. 243.
[66] First vol., p. 172.
[67] Seckend. p. 190.
Eck was no sooner informed of Luther's arrival than he called upon
him--"What!" said he, "it is said that you refuse to debate with me."
_Luther._--"How can I when the duke forbids me?"
_Eck._--"If I cannot debate with you, I am not anxious to have any
thing to do with Carlstadt. It was for you I came here." Then, after a
short pause, he added--"If I obtain the dukes permission, will you
take the field?"[68]
[68] Si tecum non licet disputare, neque cum Carlstatio volo: propter
te enim huc veni. (L. Op. in Præf.)
_Luther_ (_joyfully_).--"Obtain it, and we shall debate."
[Sidenote: PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS.]
Eck forthwith repaired to the duke, and tried to dissipate his fears,
representing to him that he was certain of victory, and that the
authority of the pope, so far from suffering by the discussion, would
come out of it more glorious. "We must strike at the head. If Luther
stands erect, so do all his adherents--if he falls, they all fall."
George granted permission.
The duke had caused a large hall to be prepared in his palace of
Pleissenburg. Two desks had been erected opposite to each other,
tables arranged for the notaries who were to take down the discussion
in writing, and benches for the spectators. The desks and benches were
covered with rich tapestry. At the doctor of Wittemberg's desk was
suspended the portrait of St. Martin, after whom he was named; and at
that of Dr. Eck, the portrait of the knight of St. George. "We shall
see," said the arrogant Eck, with his eye on the emblem, "whether I do
not, with my steed, trample down my enemies." Every thing bespoke the
importance which was attached to the combat.
On 25th June, the parties met in the castle to arrange the order of
proceeding. Eck, who had more confidence in his declamation and
gesture than in his arguments, exclaimed, "We will debate freely, off
hand, and the notaries will not take down our words in writing."
_Carlstadt._--"The agreement was, that the discussion should be
written down, published, and submitted to the judgment of all men."
_Eck._--"To write down every thing is to wear out the spirit of the
disputants, and protract the battle. In that case there can be no hope
of the vivacity requisite in an animated debate. Do not lay an arrest
on the flow of eloquence."[69]
[69] Melancth. Op. i, p. 139. (Kœthe ed.)
Dr. Eck's friends supported his proposal, but Carlstadt persisted in
his objection, and Eck was obliged to yield.
_Eck._--"Be it so, let there be writing; but, at all events, the
debate, when taken down by the notaries, is not to be published before
it has been submitted to the decision of judges."
_Luther._--"The truth of Dr. Eck and the Eckians fears the light."
_Eck._--"There must be judges."
_Luther._--"And what judges?"
_Eck._--"After the debate is over we will agree upon them."
The object of the partisans of Rome was evident. If the theologians of
Wittemberg accepted judges, their cause was lost. It was obvious
beforehand who the persons were whom their opponents would suggest;
and yet the Reformers, if they refused them, would be covered with
obloquy, as it would be circulated every where that they were afraid
of submitting to impartial judges.
[Sidenote: LUTHER OBJECTS.]
The judges whom the Reformers desired were not individuals whose
opinion was already declared, but the whole of Christendom. Their
appeal was made to the general voice. It mattered little who condemned
them, if, in pleading their cause in presence of the Christian world,
they succeeded in bringing some individuals to the light. "Luther,"
says a Roman historian, "demanded all the faithful for judges--in
other words, demanded a tribunal so numerous that there could be no
urn large enough to hold its votes."[70]
[70] "Aiebat, ad universos mortales pertinebat judicium, hoc est ad
tribunal cujus colligendis calculis nulla urna satis capax."
(Pallavicini, T. i, p. 55.)
The meeting broke up. "See their stratagem," said Luther and his
friends to each other. "They would to a certainty ask to have the pope
or the universities for judges."
In fact, the theologians of Rome, next morning, sent one of their
party to Luther, with a proposal that the judge should be ... the
pope!... "The pope!" said Luther, "how could I accept him?"
"Beware," exclaimed all his friends, "of accepting conditions so
unjust." Eck and his friends having consulted anew, gave up the pope,
and proposed certain universities. "Don't take from us the liberty
which you have already granted us," replied Luther. "We cannot yield
this point," resumed Eck. "Then," exclaimed Luther, "I don't
debate."[71]
[71] I. Op. (L. xvii, p. 245.)
They again parted, and what had just passed was talked of over the
whole town. The Romans kept crying every where, "Luther won't
debate--he refuses to accept of any judge!" Commenting on, and
torturing his words, they endeavoured to represent them in the most
unfavourable light. "What! truly? he will not debate?" say the best
friends of the Reformer, and hasten to him to express their alarm.
"You decline the contest," exclaim they. "Your refusal will bring
eternal disgrace on your university and your cause." This was to
attack Luther in his most tender point. "Very well," replied he, his
heart filled with indignation, "I accept the terms which are imposed
on me; but I reserve a right of appeal, and I decline the Court of
Rome."[72]
[72] Ibid., p. 246.
[Sidenote: THE PROCESSION. MASS.]