§ 81. Luther and Tetzel. —
I. On the Indulgence controversy: LUTHER’s Works, WALCcH’s ed., XV. 3-462; Weim. ed. I. 229-324. Loscurer: Reformations-Acta. Leipzig, 1720. Vol. I. 355-589. J. Kapp: Schauplatz des Tetzelschen Ablasskrams. Leipzig, 1720. JuR@ENS: Luther, Bd. III. 460-580. KAHNIS: -
§ 31. LUTHER AND TETZEL. 149
Die ἃ. Ref., 1.181 sqq. Kosrwin, I. 153 sqq. Kops, I. 126sqq. On the Roman-Catholic side, JANSSEN: Geschichte, etc., 11. 64 sqq.; 77 sqq-; and An meine Kritiker, Freiburg-i.-B., 1888, pp. 66-81.— On the editions of the Theses, compare KNAAKE, in the Weimar ed. I. 229
sqq.
Epw. BRATKE: Luther’s 95 Thesen und ihre dogmengesch. Voraussetzungen.
II.
(2)
Gottingen, 1884 (pp. 333). Gives an account of the scholastic doctrine of indulgences from Bonaventura and Thomas Aquinas down to Prierias and Cajetan, an exposition of Luther’s Theses, and a list of books on the subject. A. W. DreckHoFF (of Rostock): Der Ablassstreit. Dogmengeschichtlich dargestellt. Gotha, 1886 (pp. 260).
On Tetzel in particular: (1) Protestant biographies and tracts, all very unfavorable. (a) Older works by G. Hecut: Vita Joh. Tetzeli. Wittenberg, 1717. Jac. VoaEL: Leben des papstlichen Gnadenpredigers und Ablasskrdémers Tetzel. Leipzig, 1717, 2d ed., 1727. (Ὁ) Modern works: F. G. HormANN: Lebensbeschreibung des Ablasspredigers Tetzel. Leipzig, 1844, Dr. KAyYsER: Geschichtsquellen uber den Ablasspred. Tetzel kritisch beleuchtet. Annaberg, 1877 (pp. 20). Dr. Ferp. KGRNER: Tetzel, der Ablassprediger, ete. Frankenberg-i.-S. 1880 (pp. 153; chiefly against Grone). Compare also. BRATKE and DIECKHOFF, quoted above. | :
Roman-Catholic vindications of Tetzel by Vax. Grone (Dr. Th.): Tetzel und Luther, oder Lebensgesch. und Rechtfertigung des Ablasspredigers und Inquisitors Dr. Joh. Tetzel aus dem Predigerorden. Soest und Olpe, 1853, 2d ed. 1860 (pp. 237). E. ΚΟΙΙΒΕ: P. Joh. Tetzel. Ein Lebensbild dem kathol. Volke gewidmet. Steyl, 1882 (pp. 98, based on Grone). K. W. HERMANN: Joh. Tetzel, der papstl. Ablassprediger. Frankf.-a.-M., 2% Aufl. 1883 (pp. 152). JANSSEN: An meine Kritiker, p. 73 sq. G. A. MEIJER, Ord. Pred. (Dominican): Johann Tetzel, Aflaatprediker en inquisiteur. Eene geschiedkundige studie. Utrecht, 1885 (pp. 150). A calm and moderate vindication of Tetzel, with the admission (p. 137) that the last word on the question has not yet been spoken, and that we must wait for the completion of the Regesta of Leo X. and other authentic publications now issuing from the Vatican archives by direction of Leo XIII. But the main facts are well established.
The rebuilding of St. Peter’s Church in Rome furnished an
occasion for the periodical exercise of the papal power of granting indulgences. Julius 11. and Leo X., two of the most worldly, avaricious, and extravagant Popes, had no scruple to raise funds for that object, and incidentally for
150 THE GERMAN REFORMATION. A.D. 1517 To 1580.
their own aggrandizement, from the traffic in indulgences. Both issued several bulls to that effect.t
Spain, England, and France ignored or resisted these bulls for financial reasons, refusing to be taxed for the benefit of Rome. But Germany, under the weak rule of Maximilian, yielded to the papal domination.
Leo divided Germany into three districts, and committed in 1515 the sale for one district to Albrecht, Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg, and brother of the Elector of Brandenburg.?
This prelate (born June 28, 1490, died Sept. 24, 1545), though at that time only twenty-five years of age, stood at the head of the German clergy, and was chancellor of the German Empire. He received also the cardinal’s hat in 1518. He was, like his Roman master, a friend of liberal learning and courtly splendor, worldly-minded, and ill fitted for the care of souls. He had the ambition to be the Mecenas of Germany. He was himself destitute of theological education, but called scholars, artists, poets, free-thinkers, to his court, and honored Erasmus and Ulrich von Hutten with presents and pensions. “He had a passionate love for music,” says an Ultramontane historian, “and imported musicians from Italy to give luster to his feasts, in which ladies often participated. Finely wrought carpets, splendid mirrors adorned his halls and chambers; costly dishes and wines covered his table. He appeared in public with great pomp; he kept a body-guard of one hundred and fifty armed knights; numerous courtiers in splendid attire followed him when he rode out; he was surrounded by pages who were to learn in his presence the refinement of cavaliers.” The same Roman-Catholic historian censures the extravagant court of
1 See the papal documents in Pallavicini, in L6scher (I. 369-383), and Walch, L.’s Werke, XV. 313 sqq. Compare Gieseler, IV. 21 sq. (New York ed.); Hergenréther’s Regesta Leonis X. (1884 sqq.).
2J. May: Der Kurfiirst Albrecht 11. von Mainz, Minchen, 1875, 2 vols.