Will a Safe-conduct be given?--Safe-conduct--Will Luther
go?--Holy Thursday at Rome--The Pope and Luther.
At length the emperor decided. The appearance of Luther before the
Diet seemed the only thing fitted to bring this affair which occupied
the whole empire, to some kind of termination. Charles V resolved to
cite him, but without giving him a safe-conduct. Here Frederick again
began to act as his protector. Every body saw the danger which
threatened the Reformer. Luther's friends, says Cochlœus, were
afraid that he would be delivered up to the pope, or that the emperor
himself would put him to death as unworthy, on account of his
obstinate heresy, that any faith should be kept with him.[442] On this
subject there was a long and keen debate among the princes.[443]
Struck, at last, with the general agitation then prevailing almost
throughout the whole population of Germany, and afraid that, as Luther
passed along, some sudden tumult or dangerous sedition might break
forth,[444] (doubtless in favour of the Reformer,) the princes deemed
it wise to calm men's minds on his account, and not only the emperor,
but also the Elector of Saxony, Duke George, and the Landgrave of
Hesse, through whose states he had to pass, each gave him a
safe-conduct.
[442] Tanquam perfido hæretico nulla sit servanda fides, (Cochlœus,
p. 28.)
[443] "Longa consultatio difficilisque disceptatio." (Ibid.)
[444] "Cum autem grandis ubique per Germaniam fere totam excitata
esset...animorum commotio." (Ibid.)
[Sidenote: THE SAFE-CONDUCT.]
On the 6th March, 1521, Charles V signed the following summons
addressed to Luther:--
"Charles, by the grace of God, elected Roman Emperor, always
Augustus, etc., etc.
"Honourable, dear, and pious! We, and the States of the Holy
Empire, having resolved to make an inquest touching the
doctrine and the books which you have published for some
time past have given you, to come here and return to a place
of safety, our safe-conduct and that of the empire here
subjoined. Our sincere desire is that you immediately
prepare for this journey, in order that, in the space of
twenty-one days mentioned in our safe-conduct you may be
here certainly, and without fail. Have no apprehension of
either injustice or violence. We will firmly enforce our
safe-conduct under-written, and we expect that you will
answer to our call. In so doing you will follow our serious
advice.
"Given at our imperial city of Worms, the sixth day of
March, in the year of our Lord, 1521, and in the second of
our reign.
"CHARLES.
"By order of my Lord the Emperor, with his own hand, Albert,
Cardinal of Mentz, Arch-chancellor. _Nicolas Zwyl._"
The safe-conduct enclosed in this letter bore the following
address:--"_To the honourable, our dear and pious doctor Martin
Luther, of the order of the Augustins._"