The Bull in Germany--Eck's Reception--The Bull at
Wittemberg--Interposition of Zuinglius.
[Sidenote: ECK ARRIVES TO PUBLISH THE BULL.]
While the Reformer was thus addressing the Roman pontiff for the last
time, the bull which anathematised him was already in the hands of the
Germanic Church, and at Luther's own door. It would seem that no doubt
was entertained at Rome as to the success of the measure which had
thus been adopted against the Reformation. The pope had charged two
high functionaries of his court, Carracioli and Aleander, to be the
bearers of it to the Archbishop of Mentz who was requested to see to
its execution. But Eck himself appeared in Saxony as the herald and
executor of the great pontifical work. No man knew better than the
doctor of Ingolstadt how formidable the blows were which Luther had
struck. Alive to the danger he had stretched forth his hand to sustain
the tottering edifice of Rome. In his own estimation he was the Atlas,
destined to support the ancient Roman world on his robust shoulders,
when on the point of falling to pieces. Proud of the success of his
journey to Rome; proud of the charge which he had received from the
sovereign pontiff; proud to appear in Germany with the new title of
protonotary and pontifical nuncio; proud of the bull which he held in
his hand, and which contained the condemnation of his indomitable
rival, he regarded his present mission as a triumph more splendid
than all the victories which he had gained in Hungary, Bavaria,
Lombardy, and Saxony, and from which he had previously derived so much
renown. But this pride was soon to be humbled. The pope, in entrusting
the publication of the bull to Eck, had committed a blunder which was
destined to neutralise its effect. The proud distinction conferred on
a man who did not hold high rank in the Church gave offence to
sensitive and jealous spirits. The bishops, accustomed to receive the
bulls directly from the pope, were offended at the publication of this
one in their dioceses by an upstart nuncio. The nation who had hooted
the pretended conqueror of Leipsic at the moment of his flight into
Italy, were equally astonished and indignant when they saw him repass
the Alps, decked in the insignia of pontifical nuncio, and with the
power of crushing whomsoever he chose. The sentence brought by his
implacable adversary, Luther regarded as an act of personal revenge.
"He regarded it," says Pallavicini, "as the perfidious poniard of a
mortal enemy, and not as the legitimate act of a Roman lictor."[271]
It was generally viewed as less the bull of the sovereign pontiff,
than of Dr. Eck. In this way, the blow was obstructed and weakened
before-hand by the very person at whose instigation it was struck.
[271] Non tanquam a securi legitimi lictoris, sed e telo infensissimi
hostis.... (Pallavicini, i, p. 74.)
[Sidenote: THE BULL IN GERMANY.]
The chancellor of Ingolstadt had hastened back to Saxony, which, as
having been the scene of battle, he was desirous should also be the
scene of his victory. Having arrived he published the bull at Meissen,
Merseburg, and Brandenburg towards the end of September. But in the
first of these towns it was posted up in a place where nobody could
read it; and the bishops of those three sees were in no haste to
publish it. Even Duke George, Eck's great patron, prohibited the
Council of Leipsic from making it public, before receiving orders from
the Bishop of Merseburg, and these orders did not arrive till the
following year. "These are only difficulties of form," said John Eck
to himself at first, for every thing else seemed to smile upon him.
Duke George sent him a golden cup and some ducats. Even Miltitz, who
had hastened to Leipsic, on learning that his rival had arrived,
invited him to dinner. The two legates were boon companions; and
Miltitz thought he could not have a better opportunity of sounding Eck
than over their wine. "After he had drunk pretty freely, he began,"
says the pope's chamberlain, "to boast in grand style--he displayed
his bull, and told how he meant to bring that droll fellow Martin to
his senses."[272] But the Ingolstadt doctor soon had occasion to
observe that the wind was veering. The course of a year had produced a
great change in Leipsic.[273] On St. Michael's day some students
posted up placards, in ten different places, containing a severe
attack on the new nuncio, who, in amazement, took refuge in the
cloister of St. Paul, where Tetzel had previously found his asylum,
and declining every visit, induced the rector to call his youthful
opponents to account. By this poor Eck gained little. The students
composed a song upon him, and sang it in the streets. Eck must have
heard it in his prison. On this all his courage failed him, and the
redoubtable champion trembled in every limb. Every day brought him
threatening letters. One hundred and fifty students, who had arrived
from Wittemberg, spoke out boldly against the papal envoy. For once
the poor apostolical nuncio could hold out no longer. "I would not
have them kill him," said Luther, "though I wish his designs to
fail."[274] Eck, quitting his retreat at night, clandestinely escaped
from Leipsic to go and hide himself at Coburg. Miltitz, who gives the
account, triumphed more than the Reformer. His triumph, however, was
not of long duration. All the chamberlain's projects of conciliation
failed, and he came at last to a miserable end. One day, when drunk,
he fell into the Rhine at Mentz, and was drowned.
[272] Nachdem (writes Miltitz) er nun tapfer getrunken hatte, fleng er
gleich an trefflich von seiner ordre zu prahlen, etc. (Seckend., p.
238.)
[273] Longe aliam faciem et mentem Lipsiæ eum invenire quam sperasset
.... (L. Ep. i, p. 492.).
[274] Nollem eum occidi, quanquam optem ejus consilia irrita fieri.
(Ibid.)
Eck gradually recovered courage. Repairing to Erfurt, whose
theologians had on more than one occasion betrayed their jealousy of
Luther, he insisted on having his bull published in this town, but the
students seized the copies, tore them to pieces, and threw them into
the river, saying, "since it is a bull, let it swim."[275] "Now," said
Luther, on being informed of this, "the pope's paper is a true bull."
Eck durst not make his appearance at Wittemberg; but he sent the bull
to the rector with a threat, that if it was not conformed to, he would
destroy the university. At the same time he wrote Duke John,
Frederick's brother, and co-regent, "Do not take what I do in bad
part, I am acting in behalf of the faith, and it costs me many cares,
great labour, and much money."[276]
[275] A studiosis discerpta et in aquam projecta, dicentibus: Bulla
est, in aquam natet! (L. Ep. i, p. 520.)
[276] Mit viel Mühe, Arbeit, und Kosten. (L. Op. (L.) xvii, p. 317.)
[Sidenote: ULRICK ZUINGLIUS.]
The bishop of Brandenburg, supposing him inclined, was not entitled to
act at Wittemberg in his capacity of ordinary, the university being
protected by its privileges. Luther and Carlstadt, who were condemned
by the bull, were asked to take part in the meetings which were held
to deliberate on its contents. The rector declared that, as he had
not received a letter from the pope along with the bull, he declined
to publish it. The university had already acquired greater authority
in the surrounding countries than the sovereign pontiff himself. Its
declaration served as a model to the government of the Elector; and
thus the spirit which was in Luther triumphed over the bull of Rome.
[Sidenote: LUTHER'S SELF-EXAMINATION.]
While the German mind was thus strongly agitated by this affair, a
grave voice was heard in another quarter of Europe. An individual,
foreseeing the immense rent which the papal bull was about to make in
the Church, came forward to give a solemn warning, and to defend the
Reformer. It was that of the Swiss priest, of whom we have already
spoken, viz., Ulrich Zuinglius, who, though not united to Luther by
any friendly tie, published a treatise full of wisdom and dignity, the
first of his numerous writings.[277] A kind of fraternal affection
seemed to draw him towards the doctor of Wittemberg. "The piety of the
pontiff," said he, "requires that he shall joyfully sacrifice whatever
is dearest to him for the glory of Christ his King, and for the public
peace of the Church. Nothing is more injurious to his dignity than to
defend it by pensions or terror. Even before the writings of Luther
were read, he had been calumniated to the people as a heretic, a
schismatic, and as Antichrist himself. Not one gave him warning, none
refuted him. He called for a discussion; but all he could get was a
sentence of condemnation. The bull which is published displeases even
those who honour the majesty of the pope. For it is everywhere
regarded as an expression of the impotent hatred of some monks, and
not of the mildness of a pontiff, who ought to be the vicar of a
Saviour full of love. All acknowledge that the true doctrine of the
gospel of Jesus Christ has greatly degenerated, and that a public and
thorough reformation of laws and manners is required.[278] Consider
all men of learning and virtue--the more sincere they are, the
stronger is their attachment to evangelical truth, and the less their
dissatisfaction with Luther's writings.[279] There is not one who does
not acknowledge that he has derived benefit from these books, though
he may have met with passages which he was unable to approve. Let men
of sound doctrine and acknowledged probity be selected. Let three
princes above all suspicion--the emperor Charles, the King of England,
and the king of Hungary--name the judges. Let these judges read
Luther's writings. Let them hear his defence, and then let their
decision, whatever it be, be confirmed. Νικησατω
ê του Χριστου παιδεια και αληθεια."[280]
[277] Consilium cujusdam ex animo cupientis esse consultum et
pontificis dignitati, et Christianæ religionis tranquillitati
(Zuinglii Opera, curant. Schulero et Schulthessio, iii, p. 1-5.)
[278] Multum degenerasse ab illa sincera Christi evangelica doctrina,
adeo ut nemo non fateatur opus esse publica aliqua et insigni legum ac
morum instauratione. (Ibid., p. 3.)
[279] Nemo non faletur se ex illius libris factum esse meliorem
(Ibid., p. 4.)
[280] Let the teaching and truth of Christ prevail.
This proposal, which came from the country of the Swiss, led to no
result. It was necessary that the great divorce should take place. It
was necessary that Christendom should be rent in twain. Her very
wounds were destined to be the cure of her diseases.