Martin Luther and his Revolt against the Church 83 angels. I will perform my part, I will bring forth the sub- ject into the light, and will impart the truth freely and ungrudgingly as I have received it. For the rest, let every one look to his own salvation ; I will labor, as in the pres- ence of Christ, my judge, in order that no man may be able to throw upon me the blame of his own unbelief and igno- rance of the truth. IX. The Edict of the Diet of Worms (May, 152 i) 1. We, Charles V, by God's grace Roman emperor elect, 248. The ever august, king of Germany, Spain, the two Sicilies, Jeru- Edict of salem, Hungary, Dalmatia, Croatia, etc., archduke of Aus- condemning tria, duke of Burgundy, etc., count of Hapsburg, Flanders, Luther and Tyrol, salute and tender our gracious good wishes to a Jjj! hls + each and all of the electors, princes, — both spiritual and sec- ular, — prelates, counts, barons, knights, nobles, captains, governors, burgomasters, councilors, judges, citizens, and communities, also rectors and officers of all universities, and all other beloved and faithful subjects of ours, or of the Em- pire, of whatsoever rank they may be, to whom these our imperial letters, or a credible copy certified by a spiritual prelate or a public notary, may come or be announced. 2. Most reverend, honorable, and illustrious friends and Charles V relatives, devoted and loyal: as it pertains to our office of hddsittobe Roman emperor, not only to enlarge the bounds of the Holy extirpate Roman Empire, which our fathers of the German nation heresy, founded for the defense of the Holy Roman and Catholic Church, subduing unbelievers by the sword, through the divine grace, with much shedding of blood, but also, adher- ing to the rule hitherto observed by the Holy Roman Church, to take care that no stain or suspicion of heresy should con- taminate our holy faith within the Roman Empire, or, if heresy had already begun, to extirpate it with all necessary diligence, prudence, and discretion, as the case might demand ; 3. Therefore we hold that if it was the duty of any of our ancestors to defend the Christian name, much greater is the obligation on us, inasmuch as the unparalleled goodness
