CHAPTER XII

. EXCOMMUNICATION AND OUTLAWRY. SPIRITUAL

BAPTISM IN THE WARTBURG _pages_ 45-96

1. THE TRIAL. THE EXCOMMUNICATION (1520) AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.

The proceedings in Rome postponed and then resumed. The 41 propositions. The Bull “_Exsurge Domine_” menaces all Lutherans with excommunication in the event of their refusing to submit; some excerpts from the Bull. Luther’s writings against the Bull; futility of his appeal to a General Council; the burning of the Bull. “_Compos mei non sum_”; his feverish activity; “_Fluctibus his rapior et volvor_”; his hints at armed opposition; on “washing hands in blood”; moderates his language when addressing the Saxon Court. Conviction that the Pope is Antichrist strengthened by the birth of the Freiberg Calf. His “Instruction to penitents concerning forbidden books” (February, 1521) composed in view of the Easter confession _pages_ 45-61

2. THE DIET OF WORMS, 1521; LUTHER’S ATTITUDE.

The Diet assembled. Luther’s journey to Worms. Happenings at Erfurt. Arrival at Worms; his interrogation; unofficial attempts to reach a settlement; his final refusal to recant. Sympathisers among the members of the Diet; pressure brought to bear by the Knights; the Elector of Saxony. Luther’s departure; preaches sermons in spite of the condition laid down in his safe-conduct; carried off to the Wartburg; formally declared an outlaw; a letter to Sickingen _pages_ 61-69

3. LEGENDS.

The story of the Emperor’s breach of the safe-conduct. Luther’s asseveration that his opponents refused to argue because they knew him to be in the right. What Luther stood for at Worms was no “freedom of conscience” in the modern sense. The legendary utterance “Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.” Various tales unfavourable to Luther: His supposed drunkenness and excesses at Worms; despatches of Contarini the Venetian minister and Aleander the papal nuncio _pages_ 69-79

4. LUTHER’S SOJOURN AT THE WARTBURG.

Luther’s disposition and occupation in his lonely retreat. Rising scruples crushed; gloomy thoughts; bodily assaults of the evil one; temptations. His cogitations on the question of celibacy; discovers the best argument to use against vows and priestly obligations, viz. “evangelical freedom”; result committed to print in his work “On Monastic Vows”; his own intention to remain unmarried. His self-accusations of gluttony and laziness not to be taken literally. His translation of the New Testament. His work “On the Abuse of the Mass”; its frightful caricature of the Pope of Rome. His spiritual Baptism; his conviction of the reality of his Divine mission _pages_ 79-94

5. WARTBURG LEGENDS.

Luther’s own language responsible for certain unfounded charges against him. Meaning of the “_titillationes_” and “_molestiæ_” of which he complains. The haunted castle; incident of the visit of “Hans von Berlips’s wife”; the ubiquitous ink-smudge _pages_ 94-96

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