Charles Beard: Martin Luther and the Reformation: Ch.10-Diet of Worms, 4...

1.     “But they [Papists, including the legates Aleander and Caracciola] bear abundant witness to the contemptuous hatred, not unmingled with fear, with which Luther was regarded by the leading Papalists; he has no better names for him than `ribald,’ ‘thief,’ ‘assassin,’ ‘monster,’ ‘Alius,’ ‘Mahomet,’ and the like” (415). Yet, in Germany, things are afoul: “`At present,’ he writes on the 8th of February, `all Germany is in commotion: nine out of every ten cry `Luther,’ and the tenth, if he do not care for what Luther says, at least cries, `Death to the Court of Rome!’ and every one demands and shrieks `Council! Council!’ and will have it in Germany” (416). Aleander was instructed to demand the burning of Luther’s books and that Luther should be remanded to Rome. Meanwhile, things were being watched from Wittenberg. Italian politics was “ever-eddying” (417). Luther had burned the Pope’s bull on 10 Dec 1520. Should Luther go? His response to Spalatin on 21 Dec 1521: “…If, therefore, it must needs be that I should be delivered into the hands of both the prelates and the peoples, the will of the Lord be done. Lo, here you have my mind and counsel. You may expect of me anything save flight and recantation. I will not fly, much less recant. So may the Lord Jesus Christ strengthen me. For neither can be done without peril of piety and of the salvation of many” (418). A sharper bull of excommunication was issued 3 Jan 1521 including, as expected, Luther, but also Hutten, Pirckheimer, and Spengler— “heretics.” This included an exhortation to Charles V to do his duty. But, the grievance industry informed the Diet, religiously, territorially, economically, and politically. The Babylonian Captivity was a throw-down-the-gauntlet document. Rather than a remand to Rome, Luther’s affair was referred to the Diet. Aleander, the legate, was unhappy.