BEFORE THE DIET OF WORMS[1]
(1520)
Born in 1483, died in 1546; became a Monk at Erfurt in 1505; published, at Wittenberg in 1517, his thesis against indulgences; excommunicated and his writings burned in 1520; proscribed at Worms in 1521; published a translation of the Bible in 1534.
Most Serene Emperor, and You Illustrious Princes and Gracious Lords:—I this day appear before you in all humility, according to your command, and I implore your majesty and your august highnesses, by the mercies of God, to listen with favor to the defense of a cause which I am well assured is just and right. I ask pardon, if by reason of my ignorance, I am wanting in the manners that befit a court; for I have not been brought up in king's palaces, but in the seclusion of a cloister.
Two questions were yesterday put to me by
- ↑ From the version given in D'Aubigny's "History of the Reformation"—the American edition of 1845. This speech was delivered at Worms on April 18, 1520, in response to a summons from the emperor, Charles V., who had assured Luther of a safe conduct to and from Worms. When the chancellor had demanded of Luther, "Are you prepared to defend all that your writings contain, or do you wish to retract any part of them?" it is stated in the "Acts of Worms," that Luther "made answer in a low and humble voice, without any vehemence or violence, but with gentleness and mildness and In a manner full of respect and diffidence, yet with much joy and Christian firmness." D'Aubigny says he took this speech, word for word, from an authentic document.
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