Perron being by, he enjoin'd him to write a treatise for Howel his vindication. The Cardinal was long about the work, 1645 and when the King ask'd from time to time where his book was, he would still answer him: That he expected some manuscripts from Rome before he could finish it.' It happen'd, that one day the King took the Cardinal along with him to look on his workmen, and new-buildings at the Louvre; and passing by one corner which had been a long time begun, but left unfinish'd, the King ask'd the Chief Mason why that corner was not all this while perfected? 'Sir, it is because I want some choice stones.' 'No, no,' said the King, looking upon the Cardinal, it is because thou wantest manuscripts from Rome.' . . . Another time, when at the siege of Amiens, he having sent for the Count of Soissons (who had 100,000 franks a year pension from the Crown) to assist him in those wars, and that the Count excus'd himself by reason of his years and poverty, having exhausted himself in the former wars, and all that he could do now was to pray for his Majesty, which he would do heartily. This answer being brought to the King, he reply'd: 'Will my cousin, the Count of Soissons, do nothing else but pray for me? Tell him that Prayer without Fasting is not available; therefore I will make my cousin fast also from his pension of 100,000 per An.' He was once troubled with a fit of the gout; and the Spanish Ambassador coming then to visit him, and saying he was sorry to see his Majesty so lame; he answer'd: 'As lame as I am, if there were occasion, your Master the King of Spain should no sooner have his foot in the stirrup but he should find me on horseback,' By these few you may guess at the genius of this sprightfull Prince I could make many more instances, but then I should exceed the bounds of a letter. When I am in Spain if you can think on you shall hear further from me; and Howel Employment from you, shall be welcome to your most 1645 obliged Servant, James Howel. Bell 1646 ΟΝ LUTHER AT WORMS N Tuesday in the Passion week, (said Luther), I was cited by the herald to appear at the Diet; he brought with him a safe-conduct from the Emperor and many other Princes, but the safe-conduct was soon broken, even the next day (Wednesday), at Worms, where I was condemned, and my books burned. Now, when I came to Erfurt, I received intelligence that I was cast and condemned at Worms, yea, and that in all cities and places thereabout it was published and spread abroad; insomuch that the herald asked me whether I meant to go to Worms or no? Although I was somewhat astonished at the news, yet I answered the herald, and said: 'Although in Worms there were as many devils as there are tiles on the houses, yet, God willing, I will go thither.' When I came to Oppenheim, in the Palatinate, not far from Worms, Bucer came unto me, and dissuaded me from entering into the town; for, said he, Sglapion, the Emperor's confessor, had been with him, and had entreated him to warn me not to go thither, for I should be burned; but rather that I should go to a gentleman there near at hand, Francis Von Sickingen, and remain with him, who willingly would receive and entertain me. This plot the wicked wretches (said Luther) had devised against me, to the end I should not appear; for if I had contracted the time, and stayed away three days, then my safe-conduct had been expired, and then they would have locked the town-gates, and without hearing I should have been condemned and made away. But I went on in all simplicity, and when I saw the city, I wrote presently to Spalatine, and gave him notice of my coming, and desired to know where I should be lodged. Then they all wondered at my coming, which was so far from their expectation; for they verily thought I would have stayed away, as scared through their threatenings. There were two worthy gentlemen (John Von Hirschfeld and St. John Schott), who received me by the Prince Elector's command, and brought me to their lodging. No Prince came unto me, but only Earls and gentlemen, who earnestly looked upon me, and who had exhibited four hundred articles to his Imperial Majesty against those of the spirituality, and desired a redress and a removing of those their grievances, otherwise they themselves should be constrained to remedy the same; from all which grievances they are now delivered through the Gospel, which I (God be praised) have brought again to light. The Pope at that time wrote to the Emperor, that he should not perform the safeconduct; for which end all the Bishops also pressed the Emperor; but the Princes and States of the Empire would not consent thereunto: for they alleged that a great tumult thereupon would arise. I received of them a great deal of courtesy, insomuch that the Papists were more afraid of me than I was of them. For the Landgrave of Hesse (being then but a young Prince) desired that I might be heard, and he said openly unto me, 'Sir, is your cause just and upright, then I beseech God to assist you.' Now being in Worms, I wrote to Sglapion, and desired him to make a step unto me, but he would not. Then being called, I appeared in the Senate House before the Council and State of the whole Empire, where the Emperor and the Princes Electors in person were assembled. Then Dr. Eck (the Bishop of Trier's fiscal) began, and said unto me: 'Martin, thou art called hither to give answer whether thou acknowledgest these writings to be thy books or no?' (The books lay on a table which he showed unto Bell 1646 Bell 1646 me.) I answered and said: 'I believe they be mine.' But Hierome Schurfe presently thereupon said: 'Let the titles of them be read.' Now when the same were read, then I said : 'Yea, they are mine.' Then he said: 'Will you revoke them?' I answered and said: 'Most gracious Lord and Emperor, some of my books are books of controversies, wherein I touch my adversaries: some, on the contrary, are books of doctrine; the same I neither can nor will revoke. But if in case I have in my books of controversies been too violent against any man, then I am content therein to be better directed, and for that end I desire respite of time.' Then they gave me one day and one night. The next day I was cited by the Bishops and others, who were appointed to deal with me touching my revocation. Then I said: 'God's Word is not my word, therefore I know not how to give it away; but in whatsoever is therein, besides the same, I will show obedience.' Then Marquis Joachim said unto me: 'Sir Martin, so far as I understand, you are content to be instructed, excepting only what may concern the Holy Writ.' I said, 'Yea'; then they pressed me to refer the cause to His Imperial Majesty. I said I durst not presume so to do. Then they said: 'Do you not think that we are also Christians, who with all care and diligence would finish and end such causes? You ought to put so much trust and confidence in us, that we would conclude uprightly.' To that I answered and said: 'I dare not trust you so far, that you should conclude against yourselves, who even now have cast and condemned me, being under safe-conduct; yet, nevertheless, that ye may see what I will do, I will yield up into your hands my safe-conduct, and do with me what ye please.' Then all the Princes said: 'Truly, he offereth enough, if not too much.' Afterwards they said: ' Yield unto us yet in some articles.' I said: 'In God's name, such articles as concern not the Holy Scriptures I will not stand against.' Presently hereupon, two Bishops went to the Emperor, and showed him that I had revoked. Then the Emperor sent another Bishop unto me, to know if I had referred the cause to him, and to the Empire; I said, I had neither done it, nor intended so to do. In this sort, (said Luther), did I alone resist so many, insomuch that my Doctor, and divers others of my friends, were much offended and vexed by reason of my constancy; yea, some of them said, if I had referred the articles to their consideration, they would have yielded, and given way to those articles which in the council at Costnitz had been condemned. Then came Cocleus upon me, and said: ‘Sir Martin, if you will yield up your safe-conduct, then I will enter into dispute with you.' I, for my part, (said Luther), in my simplicity, would have accepted thereof. But Hieronimus Schurfe earnestly entreated me not to do the same, and in derision and scorn answered Cocleus and said: 'O brave offer, if a man were so foolish as to entertain it!' Then came a Doctor unto me, belonging to the Marquis of Baden, essaying, with a strain of high-carried words, to move me, admonished me, and said: 'Truly, Sir Martin, you are bound to do much, and to yield for the sake of fraternal love, and to the end that peace and tranquillity among the people may be preserved, lest tumults and insurrections should be occasioned and raised. Besides, it were also greatly befitting you to show obedience to the Imperial Majesty, and diligently to beware of causing offences in the world; therefore I would advise you to revoke.' Whereupon (said Luther), I said: For the sake of brotherly love and amity I could and would do much, so far as it were not against the faith and honour of Christ.' When all these had made their vain assaults, then the Chancellor of Trier said unto me : ' Martin Luther, you are disobedient to the Imperial Majesty; therefore you have leave and licence to depart again with your safe-conduct.' In this sort I again departed from Worms with a great deal of gentleness and courtesy, to VOL. I. 6 2 A Bell 1646 |