This is a further abridged extract from d’Aubigné’s The History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century, vol 1, continued from last month. That article told of Luther in Augsburg, where he had come in 1518 to be examined by Cardinal Cajetan – a legate, or representative, of the Pope – because, as a friend put it, the Reformer had attacked “the abuses of those who sell Jesus Christ”. At his first interview, Luther demanded Scripture proof that the charges against him were valid. It should be noted that he had not yet broken with Rome.
The next day both parties prepared for a second interview, which it seemed would be decisive. Luther’s friends were resolved to accompany him to the legate’s palace. Two counsellors of the Elector of Saxony had reached Augsburg the previous evening; their master had ordered them to be present at the conferences and to protect Luther’s liberty. They were to keep close to him. Luther moreover took a lawyer and, accompanied by his friends, he went to the legate’s palace.
At this moment Staupitz approached him: he fully understood Luther’s position; he knew that unless his eyes were fixed on the Lord, who is the deliverer of His people, he must fall. “My dear brother,” he said seriously, “bear constantly in mind that you have begun these things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Thus did God surround His humble servant with consolation and encouragement.
When Luther arrived at the Cardinal’s, he found a new adversary: this was the prior of the Dominicans of Augsburg, who sat beside his chief. After the usual salutations, Luther read the following declaration with a loud voice:
“I declare that I honour the holy Roman Church, and that I shall continue to honour her. I have sought after truth in my public disputations, and everything that I have said I still consider as right, true and Christian. Yet I am but a man and may be deceived. I am therefore willing to receive instruction and correction in those things wherein I may have erred. I declare that I am ready to reply orally or in writing to all the objections and charges that the lord legate may bring against me. I declare myself ready to submit my theses to the four universities of Basle, Friburg in Brisgau, Louvain and Paris, and to retract whatever they shall declare erroneous. In a word, I am ready to do all that can be required of a Christian. But I solemnly protest against the method that has been pursued in this affair and against the strange pretension of compelling me to retract without having refuted me.”
Undoubtedly nothing could be more reasonable than these statements, and they must have greatly embarrassed a judge who had been tutored beforehand as to the judgement he should pronounce. The legate, who had not expected this protest, endeavoured to hide his confusion by affecting an appearance of mildness. He told Luther, with a smile, “This protest is unnecessary; I have no desire to dispute with you either privately or publicly; but I propose arranging this matter with the kindness of a parent.” The Cardinal’s policy was to lay aside the stricter forms of justice, which protect the accused, and to treat the whole affair as one of mere administration between a superior and an inferior: a convenient method that opens a wider field for arbitrary proceedings.
Continuing with the most affectionate air, Cajetan said, “My dear friend, abandon, I beseech you, so useless an undertaking: consider, acknowledge the truth, and I am prepared to reconcile you with the Church and the sovereign bishop. Retract, my friend, retract; such is the Pope’s wish. Whether you will or whether you will not is of little consequence. It would be a hard matter for you to kick against the pricks.”
Luther, who saw himself treated as if he was already a rebellious child and an outcast from the Church, exclaimed: “I cannot retract! But I offer to reply . . . in writing. We had debating enough yesterday.” Cajetan was irritated at this expression, which reminded him that he had not acted with sufficient prudence; but he recovered himself and said with a smile: “Debated, my dear son, I have not debated with you. Besides, I have no wish to debate; but, to please the most serene Elector Frederick, I am ready to listen to you and to exhort you in a friendly and fatherly manner.” Luther could not understand why the legate was so offended at the term he had used, for he thought, If I had not wished to speak with politeness, I ought to have said, not debated, but disputed and wrangled, for that is what we really did yesterday.
Cajetan felt that in the presence of the respectable witnesses who attended this conference, he must at least appear anxious to convince Luther. He reverted to the two propositions which he had pointed out as fundamental errors, being firmly resolved to permit the Reformer to speak as little as possible. Availing himself of his fluency, he overwhelmed the doctor with objections, without waiting for a reply. At one time he jeered, at another he scolded; he declaimed with passionate warmth; mingled together the most varied matters; quoted Thomas Aquinas and Aristotle; stormed against all who thought differently from himself; and addressed Luther.
The Reformer tried to speak more than ten times, but the legate immediately interrupted him and overwhelmed him with threats. “Retract, retract!” This was all that was required of him. Cajetan raved, he domineered, he alone was permitted to speak. Staupitz took upon himself to check the legate: “Please allow brother Martin time to reply to you”. But Cajetan began again; he quoted the opinions of Thomas Aquinas; he had resolved to do all the talking himself during this interview. If he could not convince and if he dared not strike, he would do his best to stun by his violence.
Luther and Staupitz saw very clearly that they must renounce all hope, not only of enlightening Cajetan by discussion, but still more of making any useful confession of faith. Luther therefore reverted to the request he had made at the beginning of the sitting, and which the Cardinal had then eluded. Since he was not permitted to speak, he begged to be permitted at least to send a written reply to the legate. Staupitz backed this request and several others supported him. Cajetan at length consented, and the meeting broke up. The hopes of seeing the matter arranged at this interview were disappointed; they must wait for the next conference.
Luther left the Cardinal, delighted that his request had been granted. On his way to Cajetan, and on his return, he was the object of public attention. It was felt that the cause of the gospel, of justice and of liberty, was then being pleaded at Augsburg.
It became more evident every day that the legate would hear nothing from Luther except: “I retract”, and Luther was resolved not to pronounce these words. What will be the issue of so unequal a struggle? How can the power of Rome fail to crush a man when it is all matched against him? Luther sees this; he feels the weight of that terrible hand under which he has voluntarily placed himself; he loses all hope of returning to Wittenberg, of seeing his friend Philip again, of mingling once more with the youths in whose hearts he so delighted to scatter the seeds of life. He sees the sentence of excommunication suspended over his head, and doubts not that it will soon fall on him. But he is not cast down. His trust in God is not shaken. God can break the instrument; He has been pleased to use him until now; but He will uphold the truth. Happen what may, Luther must defend it to the last. He therefore begins to prepare the protest that he intends presenting to the legate. It would appear that he devoted part of October 13 to this task.