mise full remission of all their sinnes. Likewise the Pope directeth other letters also the same tyme, to Duke Fridericke, complaynyng with many greuous wordes, agaynst Luther.
The Cardinall thus beyng charged with iniunctions from Rome, accordyng to his commission, sendeth with all speede, for Luther to appeare at Augnsta before hym.
MarginaliaLuther obedient to the Sea of Rome. About the beginnyng of October Martin Luther yeldyng his obedience to the Church of Rome, came to Augusta, at the Cardinals sendyng (at the charges, of the noble Prince Electour) and also with his letters of Commendatiō, where he remained 3. dayes before he came to his speach: for so it was prouided by his frendes, that he should not enter talke with the Cardinall, before a sufficient warrant, or safeconduct was obteyned of the Emperour Maximilian.MarginaliaLuther appeareth before Cardinall Caietanus. Which being obteyned, eftsoones he entred, offeryng himself to the speach of the Cardinall, and was there receaued of the Cardinall very gently: who accordyng to the Popes commaundement, propounded vnto Martin Luther three thynges, or as Sledan sayth, but ij. to wytte:
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThree thinges put to Luther by the Pope. 1. That he should repent and reuoke his errours.
2. That he should promise from that tyme forward, to refrayne from the same.
3. That he should refrayne from all thynges that might, by any meanes, trouble the Church.
When Martin Luther required to be informed wherin he had erred, the Legate brought forth the extrauagants
An extravagant is a name given to certain papal decretals. A decretal is a papal letter, generally answering a disputed question, which has been incorporated into canon law.
Furthermore, an other day, in the presence of iiij. of the Emperours Counsaile, hauyng there a Notary and witnesses present, Luther protested for hymselfe and personally in this manere folowyng:
MarginaliaProtestatiō of M. Luther before the Cardinall. In primis, I Martin Luther, a Frier Augustine, protest that I do reuerence and folow the Church of Rome in all my sayinges and doinges, present, past, and to come: And if any thyng haue bene or shalbe sayd by me to the contrary, I count it, and will that it be counted and taken as though it had neuer bene spoken. But because the Cardinall hath required at the commaundement of the Pope three thynges of me to be obserued:
[Back to Top]1. That I should returne agayne to the knowledge of my selfe.
2. That I should beware of fallyng into the same agayne here after:
3. That I should promise to abstayne from all thynges which might disquyet the Churche of God:
I protest here this day, that whatsoeuer I haue sayd, seemeth vnto me to be sound, true, and Catholicke: Yet for the further profe therof, I do offer my self personally either here or elswhere, publikely to gyue a reason of my sayinges. And if this please not the Legate, I am ready also in writyng to aunswere his obiections, if he haue any agaynst me: and touchyng these thyngs, to heare the sentence and Iudgement of the Vniuersities of the Empire, Basill, Friburge, and Louane. Hereof when they had receiued an aunswere in writyng, they departed.MarginaliaThe aūswere of Luther, wyth hys propositions to the Cardinall.
[Back to Top]After this Luther by and by prepareth an aunswere to the Legate, teachyng that the merites of Christ are not cōmitted vnto men: that the Popes voyce is to be heard whē he speaketh agreably to the Scriptures: that the pope may erre: that he ought to be reprehended, Act. 15. Moreouer he shewed that in the matter of fayth, not onely the generall Councell, but also euery faythfull Christian is aboue the Pope, if he leane to better authoritie and reason: that the Extrauagant conteyneth vntruthes: that it is an infallible veritie, that none is iust: that it is necessary for hym that commeth to the receiuyng of the Sacrament, to beleue: that fayth in the absolution and remission of sinnes, is necessary: that he ought not nor myght not decline from the veritie of the Scripture: that he sought nothyng but the light of the truth. &c.
[Back to Top]But the Cardinall would heare no Scriptures: he disputed without Scriptures, deuised gloses and expositions of his own head, and by distinctions (wherewith the Diuinitie of the Thomistes
I.e., the followers of Thomas Aquinas, the great Scholastic theologian.
Johann von Staupitz (c. 1460-1525) was the vicar-general of the Observant Augustinians (Luther's order) and he was indeed a spiritual mentor to the young Luther. Staupitz emphasized election and justification in his theology. When the dispute over Indulgences first broke out, Staupitz supported Luther and tried to act as a mediator. Later, Staupitz, deplored Luther's extremism although the personal ties between the two men remained close.
[Back to Top]Johann von Staupitz (c. 1460-1525) was the vicar-general of the Observant Augustinians (Luther's order) and he was indeed a spiritual mentor to the young Luther. Staupitz emphasized election and justification in his theology. When the dispute over Indulgences first broke out, Staupitz supported Luther and tried to act as a mediator. Later, Staupitz, deplored Luther's extremism although the personal ties between the two men remained close.
[Back to Top]¶ Who doth not see by this so humble & honest submission of Luther, but that, if the byshop of Rome would haue bene aunswered with any reason, or contented wyth sufficient meane, he had neuer bene touched any farther of Luther.MarginaliaPride will haue a fall. But the secret purpose of God had a farther worke herein to doe: for the tyme now was come, when God thought good that pride should haue a fall. Thus while the vnmeasurable desire of that B. sought more then inough,MarginaliaÆsopes dogge. and lyke to Æsopes dogge,MarginaliaAll couet, all loose. coueting both to haue the fleshe, and shadow,
The citation of Aesop is Foxe's insertion. The reference is to a fable of Aesop's, in which a dog, holding a bone in his mouth, sees his reflection in the water. He thinks it is another dog, with another bone, and greedily lunges for it. As a result he loses the bone he already had.
But to the purpose of our matter agayne: thys wryting Luther deliuered to the Cardinall the third day after he was commaunded out of hys sight. Which letter or writing the Cardinall did litle regarde. When Luther saw that he would geue no aunswere nor contenaunce to the letter, yet notwithstāding he remayned after that, the fourth day, and nothing was aunswered: the fift day likewise was passed wyth lyke silence, and nothyng done. At the length, by the Counsell of his frendes, and specially because the Cardinall had sayd before, that he had a commaundement to imprison Luther and Iohn Stupitius
Johann von Staupitz (c. 1460-1525) was the vicar-general of the Observant Augustinians (Luther's order) and he was indeed a spiritual mentor to the young Luther. Staupitz emphasized election and justification in his theology. When the dispute over Indulgences first broke out, Staupitz supported Luther and tried to act as a mediator. Later, Staupitz, deplored Luther's extremism although the personal ties between the two men remained close.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaAn other letter of Luther to the Legate. Thus you haue heard how that Luther being reiected from the speach and sight of Caietanus the Cardinall, after sixe dayes waiting, departed by the aduise of his frends and returned vnto Wyttenberge, leauing a letter in wrytyng to be geuen to the Cardinall, wherin he declared sufficiently, first hys obedience in hys commyng, the reasons of hys doctrine, hys submission reasonable to the Sea of Rome, hys long wayting after he was repelled from the Cardinalles speach, the charges of the Duke, and finally the cause of hys departing.MarginaliaLuther appealeth from the Cardinall to the Pope. Besides this letter to the Cardinall, he left also an Appellation to the Byshop of Rome, from the Cardinall, which he caused openly to be affixed before hys departure.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe letters of Caietanus to Duke Friderick. After that Luther was thus departed and returned agayne into his countrey, Caietanus writeth to duke Fridericke, a sharpe and a byting letter, in which first he signifieth to him his gentle interteinement & good will shewed to reduce Luther from his errour. Secondly, he complayneth of þe sodaine departing of him, & of Stupicius.
Johann von Staupitz (c. 1460-1525) was the vicar-general of the Observant Augustinians (Luther's order) and he was indeed a spiritual mentor to the young Luther. Staupitz emphasized election and justification in his theology. When the dispute over Indulgences first broke out, Staupitz supported Luther and tried to act as a mediator. Later, Staupitz, deplored Luther's extremism although the personal ties between the two men remained close.
[Back to Top]To this letter of the Cardinall, the Duke aunswereth