§ 55. LUTHER’S TESTIMONY BEFORE THE DIET. 301
Dr. Johann von Eck,! as the official of the Archbishop of Treves, put to him, in the name of the Emperor, simply two questions in Latin and German, — first, whether he acknowledged the books laid before him on a bench (about twentyfive in number) to be his own; and, next, whether he would retract them. Dr. Schurf, Luther’s colleague and advocate, who stood beside him, demanded that the titles of those books be read.2 This was done. Among them were some such inoffensive and purely devotional books as an exposition of the Lord’s Prayer and of the Psalms.
Luther was apparently overawed by the august assembly, nervously excited, unprepared for a summary condemnation without an examination, and spoke in a low, almost inaudible tone. Many thought that he was about to collapse. He acknowledged in both languages the authorship of the books; but as to the more momentous question of recantation he humbly requested further time for consideration, since it involved the salvation of the soul, and the truth of the word of God, which was higher than any thing else in heaven or on earth.
We must respect him all the more for this reasonable request, which proceeded not from want of courage, but from a profound sense of responsibility.
The Emperor, after a brief consultation, granted him “ out of his clemency” a respite of one day.
Aleander reported on the same day to Rome, that the heretical “fool” entered laughing, and left despondent; that
1 Not to be confounded with the more famous Dr. Eck of Ingolstadt. Aleander, who lodged with him on the same floor, calls him ‘‘ homo literatissimo”’ and ‘‘ orthodozo,”’ who had already done good service in the execution of the papal demands at Treves. Brieger, I. 146. In a dispatch of April 29, he solicits a present for him from the Roman See. (‘ Al official de Treveri un qualche presente sarebbe util,” etc., p. 174). Froude, in his Luther (pp. 92, 38, 35), confounds the Eck of Treves with the Eck of Ingolstadt, Aleander with Cajetan, and makes several other blunders, which spoil his liveiy description of the scene at Worms.
2 “ Legantur tituli librorum,’’ he cried aloud.
802 THE GERMAN REFORMATION. A.D. 1517 To 15380.
even among his sympathizers some regarded him now as a fool, others as one possessed by the Devil; while many looked upon him as a saint full of the Holy Spirit; but in any case, he had lost much of his reputation.!
The shrewd Italian judged too hastily. On the same evening Luther recollected himself, and wrote to a friend: “JT shall not retract one iota, so Christ help me.” 2
On Thursday, the 18th of April, Luther appeared a second and last time before the Diet. |
It was the greatest day in his life. He never appeared more heroic and sublime. He never represented a principle of more vital and general importance to Christendom.
On his way to the Diet, an old warrior, Georg von Frundsberg, is reported to have clapped him on the shoulder, with these words of cheer: ‘My poor monk, my poor monk, thou art going to make such a stand as neither I nor any of my companions in arms have ever done in our hottest battles. If thou art sure of the justice of thy cause, then forward in God’s name, and be of good courage: God will not forsake thee.” 3
He was again kept waiting two hours outside the hall, among a dense crowd, but appeared more cheerful and confident than the day before. He had fortified himself by prayer and meditation, and was ready to risk life itself to his honest
1 Letter to Vice-Chancellor Medici, Worms, April 17, 1521 (in Brieger, l. c. p. 147): “Εἰ pazzo era entrato ridendo et coram Cesare girava il capo continuamente qua et la, alto e basso; poi nel partir non parea cosi allegro. Qui molti di quelli et [= etiam] che lo favoreggiavano, poi che Vhanno visio, Vhanno existimado chi pazzo, chi demoniaco, molti altri santo et pieno di spiritu santo; tutta volta ha perso in ogni modo molta reputatione della opinione prima.”’
2 April 17, to John Cuspinianus, an imperial counsellor. See De Wette, I. 587 sq.
3 ἐς Ménchlein, Ménchlein, du gehst jetzt einen Gang, dergleichen ich und mancher Oberster auch in unserer allerernstesten Schlachtordnung nicht gethan haben,” etc. The saying is reported by Mathesius (who puts it on the second day of trial, not on the first, as Késtlin and others), by Spangenberg, and Seckendorf (Leipzig ed. of 1694, vol. I. 156, in Latin and German).