The Emperor's correspondence with Chursachsen about bringing Luther to the Diet in Worms.
A. How Chursachsen had the imperial ministers request the emperor not to do anything against Luther before he was heard, and what the ministers did and answered the Elector.
518. Duke William of Croy, Marquis of Arschott, and Count Henry of Nassau, two of the most trusted ministers of Emperor Carl the Fifth, joint letter to Chursachsen, in which they report how they presented the Elector's request to the Emperor's Majesty, who, like them, found it advisable that the Elector himself bring Luther to Worms, promising to make every effort with the Emperor that the matter be settled peacefully. Date Oppenheim, Nov. 27, 1520.
From Cyprian's "Nützliche Urkunden" (Useful Documents), where this letter is found in Vol. II, p. 190 ff. in both Latin and German, according to Spalatin's translation.
After Spalatin's German translation.
Most Serene Prince, Most Gracious Lord. We have received a letter from Your Most Serene Sovereignty, which it has given to us concerning Doctor Martin Luther's affairs. All of which.
before Your Most Serene Sovereignty [request] 1) to Your Imperial and Christian Majesty, Our Most Gracious Lord, [we] have indicated with lead. Now His Majesty has decided something on it, as it will be noted from your letter in the length. And our intention is that Your Most Serene Sovereignty, in all its goodness and Christianity, according to the holy faith, will in all its ways be anxious to bring the same Luther with it to the Imperial Diet in Worms. When the time 2) comes, this matter must be settled by several good means and completely eliminated. To this end we pledge our support and lead to the Imperial Majesty, before we consider that this E. C. G.'s desire. But after E. C. G.'s departure nothing new has come, and all things stand in the state in which they left them in their departure. Only that we have heard that the Most Serene King of France has sent to His Majesty the King. Majesty, which Ew. G. we do not want to have behave, which we humbly respect. Given at Oppenheyn on the 27th day of November in the year Domini XV C XX.
Your Serene Highnesses most devoted servants William of Croy and Henry of Nassau.
1) Added by us after the Latin.
2) That is, because at that time.
519 Chursachen's letter to Arschott and Nassau, to the effect that the same letter has arrived, but not the imperial one, of which they have given notice; whereby the Elector complains at the same time that Luther's books have been burned, and asks Arschott and Nassau to excuse it in the best possible way to the Imperial Majesty if Luther has done something similar against the papists. Dat. Alstädt, 14 Dec. 1520.
This letter is found in Latin in Cyprian's "Nützliche Urkunden," vol. II, p. 193.
Translated from Latin.
Good luck! Gentlemen, special friend. Yours in reply to our previous letter in the matter of D. Mart. Luther on 17. 1) Nov. We have well received your reply, and gladly see that you, as you report, have carefully presented the matter to the Roman Emperor's Majesty, our most gracious Lord; but since you add what the Emperor's Majesty has decided in this matter, we would recognize from their letter at length, and see what you also consider good that it should be done by us in this matter: On the other hand, we would like you to know that we have received your ratification kindly and graciously; however, we cannot leave it undisturbed that, besides yours, no letter from the Imperial Majesty 2) has come to our hands, so we cannot judge at all of the content of such an imperial letter; but only ask that you take up D. Martin's cause in such a way that force is not needed against his manifold protestations and petitions. For, as they say, after my departure from Cologne, his books were burned in Cologne, as well as in Mainz and other places, which I was least concerned about, partly because Doctor Martinus has protested so often and is still protesting and asking to do everything that he can and must do with God and without detriment to the Christian name, and partly because we ourselves have asked that Doctor Martinum should neither be condemned unheard, nor should his books be burned. If, now, Doctor Martinus, moved by such an undertaking of his adversaries, does the same with
1) Should, according to the immediately preceding letter of the
27. hot. (Walch.)
2) This is letter No. 520, the delivery of which, as can be seen from this, has been delayed. On December 20, the Elector replied to it, No. 521.
I hope that His Imperial Majesty will graciously overlook it, and I ask that you interpret this for the best and humbly commend this man and his cause to His Imperial Majesty. By the way, we would have liked to write you something new; only, nothing is known to us at present except that recently people on horseback and on foot invaded Prussia, and are now fleeing and going home scattered. However, we do not know how the deal went and what outcome it had. Above this, an important uprising occurred in Bavaria, so that the citizens fell from the cities, attacked several castles, conquered them and razed them to the ground. As we have heard, this turmoil has also been settled these days. What end this will have is up to God. We have informed you of all this in our favor, and at the same time we ask that you humbly and sincerely commend us to Your Imperial Majesty. Date Alstädt, the 14th Dec. Anno Domini 1520.
B. Of the Emperor's own handwritten letter to Chursachsen, in which he demands that Luthern be brought to Worms with him, and what Chursachsen has argued against this, and has also written to the imperial ministers.
520 Letter of Emperor Carl V to Chursachsen, in which he requests with great diligence that the Elector take Luther with him to Worms, so that he may have him interrogated there by learned and understanding men; however, Luther should not write anything further against the Pope. Date Oppenheim, Nov. 28, 1520.
This letter is found in Cyprian's "Nützliche Urkunden," Vol. I, p. 482.
Karl von Gotes genaden Erwelter Römischer Kayser zu allen zeiten Merer des Reichs 2c.
Highborn dear grandfather and prince. We have been requested several times by the Papal Holiness of the Supreme Council with a high veto, that we, for the prevention of widespread disobedience of Doctor Martin's Lutter Books, as then in our Lower Burgundy
3) in Losieis; or perhaps it should indicate Bohemia. (Walch.) This conjecture has something for itself, but then it would have to be written in Rojieis.
The people of the Holy Roman Empire wanted to have them burned here and everywhere else in the Holy Roman Empire. Now the highborn our dear uncle Wilhelm Margrave of Assot and the wellborn our dear faithful Hainrich, Count of Nassau, our governor in Holannd, have announced to us that your dear friend should be to us that we let nothing happen or be taken against the accused Lütter, who had been interrogated before, and because we want to stop this matter, we request your love with a high lead, that you bring the above-mentioned lutter with you to the next Imperial Diet in Wormbs, so that we may have him there thoroughly interrogated by learned and highly competent persons, and that no injustice or anything contrary to the law may be done to him. However, you should seriously order the infamous Lutter to prevent any further unpleasantness, so that he may not in the meantime write or issue anything against the Holy See or the See of Rome in any way whatsoever. And your love also pleases us to recognize the same in mercy, given at Oppenhaim on the xxviijth day of Novemb. Anno Dni 2c. in the xxth our realm of the Roman in the other, and of the other realms in the fifth.
Carolus.
Ad Mandatum Cesaree et Catholice Majestatis.
Sannert.
To the Highborn Fridrichen, Duke of Saxony 2c, of the Holy Roman Empire, our dear Oheim and Churfürsten.
521: The Elector of Saxony's answer to the Emperor, in which he gives very important reasons why it would not be a good idea to bring Luther with him to Worms. Date Alstädt, December 20, 1520.
From Cyprian's "Useful Documents," Vol. I, p. 484; also found in Spalatin's Annals, p. 22.
Most Gracious Sir, Your Imperial Majesty's letter, dated at Oppenheim on the eighth and twentieth day of November, I have received here at Alstedt with gracious affection, and have received it in submission. Mayt. indicate in such a letter that the Papal Heilik. Bottschafft Bey E. Kays. Mayt. several times sought with great diligence, Doctor Martinus Luther's books, as in your Mayt. Niederburgun
The High and Well-Behorned Gentlemen, Wilhelm Marggrave zu Arschott 1) and Count Heinrich von Nassau, have reported my request to the E. K. Mt. and because your Majesty would like this matter to cause a lot of trouble and confusion, he would like to put an end to it, so your Lord Mayt. graciously asks me to bring the aforementioned Luther with me to the future Reychtag in Worms. They want to have him sufficiently interrogated by learned and highly competent persons, and they want to make sure that no injustice or anything right is done to him, but I am to make sure that Luther does not, in the meantime, in order to avoid any further proceedings, again shout anything of importance or to the chair of Roma. On this I give your Ke. Mayt. I humbly acknowledge that I have never presumed to represent or be responsible for Doctor Martinus' writing or preaching, nor have I yet done so, but have left him to his own responsibility and submission, as I then have done to others, who have not yet heard him. I have also repeatedly written to others who have come to me on account of my Heyligk. and given them notice of it, but that I have asked the Margrave and the von Nassau to ask the Kr. I have therefore ordered that the truth and whether Luther is mistaken in his writing may be brought to light, then the same Luther has always offered to come forward with sufficient assurance, and to be interrogated by equal, honorable, and unpardonable judges, and where he has overcome with the Holy Scriptures, to be subjected to a submissive examination; As he has then had his request printed in the Lenge, this and nothing else has moved me to petition your Majesty. Mayt. through the petitioners, and also hoped that the matter would then be given peace and order by those who have recovered it, especially because Bebstl. Heyt. The authorities, among others, have let themselves be heard against me, to propose means in the matter, on which I should act, that I also offer to do on the proposal, so the Bescheen. However, I have been told that Luther's books, unhidden and unconquered with the Holy Scriptures, are to be burned at Koln, Meinz and elsewhere, which I had not foreseen, but rather hoped that, if Luther did not want to be regarded, he would be spared. Because then such about me
1) In Cyyrian: "Arsthott".
Please and be the first to ask for this. Heyt. pottschafft erbieten bescheen, weil ich aus eure Mayt. schreib nit vermerken kann, dass solche verbrennen von eure Mayt. zulassen sei, und Luther vielleicht dargegen auch etwas, bevor dann dies eure Kays. Mayt's letter to me. So it will be difficult for me, as your majesty will only have to consider, to bring Luther with me to the Reichtag, for which reason I also cause to report all this to your majesty, and ask your majesty to keep the whole matter in mind. K. M. with all humility, that E. K. M. would kindly refrain from charging me to bring Doctor Luther with me to Wormbs, and that I refrain from doing so for the reasons stated, not to be displeased, then your Majesty, I am otherwise willing to show all humility, and whether or not it would reach your Kays. Mat. about it, that I should perhaps act something differently in this matter, then as mentioned above, or again the holy Christian faith. I also sincerely ask that this not be granted, since such, whether God wills it, shall never be my will, mind and opinion, but hope that God Almighty will grant me grace that I may, according to my ability, and as much as is in me, faithfully promote that which may suffice to strengthen and strengthen the holy Christian faith, all of which E. Ke. Mat. did not want to restrain me, and only ask your Ke. Mas. want to note all of this from me, which I am obliged to do for the sake of Ke. Mat. I am entirely willing to do so, and command your Majesty to keep me in subjection. Mayt, me in submissiveness as the obedient, Dat. Alstet on the XXth day of December, anno MDXX.
522 Chursachsen's other letter to Arschott and Nassau, in which the arrival of the imperial letter and the contents of the prince's answer to the emperor are also communicated to them and Luther's cause is again recommended. Date Alstädt, December 20, 1520.
This 'letter' is found in Latin in Cyprian's "Nützliche Urkunden", Vol. II, p. 195, with the heading "Chursachsen an eben dieselbe" (Arschott und Nassau); in German in Spalatin's Annalen, p. 18, with the remark placed above it that the Elector furthermore "dem Herr von Schiefers, Obristen kayr. Mat. Cemrer". - Schiefer may well have been the carrier of this letter to Arschott and Nassau.
After I have written to you again in response to your scream, which you did to me in the matter concerning D. M. Luther, I have written to you again that there is no writing from King Mat. my most noble Lord, such as
your letter was to be sent to you: As I do not want to keep you now, that a royal letter has come to me here at this time, and has been answered, the date is at Oppenheim on the 28th day of February, which I have received with great honor. Therein mayor. Mayt. state, that the official Heyt. The authorities have often sought Luther's book, as it was published in the Mayan Niderburgundian hereditary lands. The court has also sought to have Luther's books, as they were in the Holy Roman Empire of Lower Burgundy, burned there and elsewhere, and it is assumed what form my request will take in the Holy Roman Empire against Luther. Mayt. against Luther not to allow anything to be fartunemenn or furgeweldigen, furgetragenn. Thereupon mayor. Mayt. requested me to bring the named Luther with me to the Reichstag in Wormbs 2c. How you then know the contents of such a letter. To which kayr. Mayt. I hereby answer, and request my opportunity and plea in the matter, as you also will not behave. And that you will respect my request in this matter, against royal mayor. Mayt. so faithfully, I thank you very much; which I also deserve. And even though I have never taken responsibility for Luther's matters, nor have I yet done so; I nevertheless hoped, especially because the magistrate's office in Cologne has let itself be heard against me by others, to find a remedy in the matter.I should also, if the proposal is made by me, offer to do so, and my request should be granted, that the truth, and whether Lutther is mistaken in his case, should come to the day of the meeting, Luther was also not tried, especially because he always offered to come before the merciful and dignified judges 2c. I am, however, informed that Luther's books are in the hands of the royal court before I departed. Before I departed", they were supposed to have been lost in Colnn, Meintz and at other ends, and to have been lost with the Holy Scriptures. Because such things have come to pass, that I am nevertheless at the oppressive request, which has been made to kaye. Mayt. I have received from my side, and on the request of the authorities I have not provided, but rather hoped, where Luther did not want to be considered, that I would be spared. Mayt. schreyben ich nit vermerckenn mag, das solch verbrennen von ihrer Mayt. zulassenn war: So Luther may now have taken action against it again, before the royal decree. Mayt. schreybenn Ihme 1) to come, by which all the thing in weyterung gefurth,
1) According to Latin, instead of: "Ihme" is to lefen: mir.
Then you, the sapientes, have to consider that it would be difficult for me, because such a thing would be furious, to bring Luther with me to the Diet; therefore I have caused you to report all this to your Majesty and to ask your Majesty to spare me at this time. Mayt. to report all this beforehand, and to ask your Mayt. expressly to spare me this time, to charge me to bring Luther with me to Wormbs, and therefore kindly ask you to excuse me, for the reasons I have reported, expressly to your Majesty. Mayt. to the best of my ability, not to take this from me alone. And you should not have any doubts, I will, if God wills, keep myself in this and other matters as a Christian prince is entitled to. And if anyone wants to impose on me, I ask to be excused. Then my will, mind and will is to promote faithfully, according to my ability, that which may reach to the strengthening and strengthening of the holy, Christian faith. I do not wish to hold you to this, and I ask your majesty. Mayt. to give me the utmost care 2c. Date Alstet on the 20th day of Dec. 1520.
C. How the emperor changed his mind and indicated to Chursachsen that Luther should stay at Hanse, and what Chursachsen answered to that.
523 Emperor Carl V wrote to Chursachsen that the Elector should leave Luther at home if he did not want to recant before his departure; but if he did recant, he should not take him further than Frankfurt or its environs, because the Pope had already banned all those who traded or walked with Luther. Dat. Worms, Dec. 17, 1520.
From Cyprian's "Useful Documents," Vol. I, p. 489.
Karl von Gots Gnaden Revered Roman Emperor, at all times Merer of the Empire.
Highborn dear grandfather and prince. When we recently wrote to you from Oppenhaim, how our holy father Babst, by the same message to us, requested to have Martin Luther's books burned everywhere in the holy realm, as then Lolchs had happened in our Lower Burgundian lands, and in such the Wolgeborn Heinrich, Count zw Nassaw, our council,
We have talked with you about your love, how it should be ordered that nothing be done with the said Luther until he is interrogated. Thereupon we begged you to bring the same Luther with you to the riches day, since we want to order learned and high-souled people to hear the same Luther, and then to act according to fairness, so that this matter may be settled, but that he neither write nor let anything go out against the papal sanctity in the meantime. And because we now have a credible report that the same Luther has fallen into the Babst's highest ban and is also coming to the places and ends where he is coming, or is, that there the papal interdict has been made, that all who deal or walk with him are to have fallen into the obscene ban, so that we move that Luther should come here with your love, 1) it may come out of this . . . to the holy realm and the same end, to noticeable miss with foreign nations but ... ... may come to pass for this..; And so that this may be prevented, we therefore appeal to your love with an earnest plea that you notify and hold out to the reported Luther that he should revoke all that he has written against the Papal Holiness and the See of Rome, as well as against the laws of the Conciliates, now and in the future, revoke it, and refuse to recognize the reverend sanctity and the Council of Rome, that you then take it with you, but do not bring it here to Wormbs, but leave it at Franckfurt an Mayn, or in another place there, and expect it to be paid for there. But if he refuses to do so and will not do so, then let us stay at home until we have spoken and acted verbally with your love. We shall not do this to your love. And your love does our Christian judgment. Given in our and the holy. Imperial City of Wormbs on the seventeenth day of the month of December in the twentieth year of Christ. Anno Chr. in the twentieth year of our kingdom, of the Roman Empire in the north, and of all others in the fifth year.
Carolus.
Ad mandatum Caesarfeae et Catholicae Mtis proprium Sannert mp.
1) The meaning of the following is given by Köstlin, "Martin Luther" (3), Vol. I, p. 417 as follows: from this, a noticeable reproach would arise for the empire among other nations. - The sentence could be completed like this: it could [cause] harm to the holy rerche and the same states, but [lead to] a noticeable reproach among foreign nations, which, as you may judge, is to be expected in all ways 2c.
524 Prince Frederick's answer to the above imperial letter, in which he reports that he is already halfway to Worms and will soon speak verbally with the emperor. Date Spangenberg, Dec. 28, 1520.
From Cyprian's "Useful Documents," Vol. I, p. 491.
Such E. Käy. May, dated the seventieth day of December, and delivered to me on the xxviith day of the same month, I have received with grace and accepted in subjection, and thereupon give your Kay. May. thereupon to acknowledge in submission that at the request of E. Kays. May. I have raised myself in marriage and have now traveled almost half the way to Worms, for which reason such a letter from E. Kays. May's letter did not affect me anheym, so E. Kays. May. I also indicated in my letter that it would please me to bring Luther with me to the Diet, for which reason I also caused E. Kay. May. before [about the] opportunity of the search by my letter undertheniglich to report, which my letter E. Kay. May. my hope has numals come, and because E. Kay. Mas. ge
I have only reported to myself, among others, to let Luthern be married, and that E. Kay. May himself will speak and act verbally with me on the matter. So I live in the submissive hope that E. Kay. May. will have noted my reply and statement with respect. That Your Royal Highness, to whom I am subject, did not want to leave it unopened, and I ask you to understand from me that for the sake of Your Royal Highness, I am obliged to inform Your Royal Highness of this. May. I am entirely willing to deserve. Date zw Spangenberg am 28. Tagk decembr.
Orü. 1520.
E. Kay. May. submissive, obedient Frederick.
Luther's report of all these things to Staupitz and Link: the emperor had summoned him to Worms in a letter to the Elector of Saxony, but the latter had rejected it, and the emperor himself had immediately revoked the previous one in another letter.
See Annex, No. 20, § 5 and No. 66, § 2.