Germany against most violent tyrants, yet no law ever forbade a criminal to defend himself, for even parricides and the worst criminals have this right. . . . Only the slothful clergy would deprive him of this right, and they accuse him sddy because he has written and spoken against their habits, their tmbridled power, their scandalous luxury and depraved rites, in behalf of Christianity, liberty and morality. [Here follows a long tirade against the wickedness of Rome and of Alean- der, and a prophecy that the Emperor will one day wish he had attended to Hutten's exhortation.] . . . Finally as no one doubts that all these things are connected with Luther's cause, you may believe that the whole of Germany is fallen at your feet, and prays you with tears to show mercy and good faith, to preserve her and restore her to herself, to free her from servitude and from tyranny, and that she abjures you by the holy memory of those who, when the Romans conquered the world, refused to be slaves, that you will not suffer us to obey these bad, effeminate weaklings. Farewell and rule us long.
431. LUTHER TO JOHN LANG AT ERFURT. Enders, iii. 118. (WnTENBERc), March 29, 1521.
Greeting. Next Thursday or Friday^ I will lodge with you, reverend Father, with the imperial herald* who sum- mons me to Worms, unless it is dangerous for me to enter Erfurt or some unknown chance prevents. Then I will speak more fully. Otherwise you will certainly find me at Eis- enach on Saturday. Thanks for the gold piece you sent mc. You see how I treated my ass Emser.' Farewell.
Yours,
Martin Luther.
^April 4 or 5. In fact Luther left Wittenberg April 2 and came to Erfoxt April 6.
'Caspar Sturm, on whom cf. Archiv fUr Reformaiicnsgeschichie, vr. iiTff- Born at Oppendeim c. 1475, he waa educated in the humanitiea. In 1515 he entered the service of Albert of Majence, and on October 27, 1520, at Aix, was made imperial herald for Germany. At the same time Durer made a portrait of him. He took Luther's safe-conduct to him, conducted him to the IKet and back to Eisenach. He wrote an account of the affair friendly to Luther 1521. After that we hnd him at Mayence 1522, at Nuremberg 1530, at Ratisbon 1532, at Augsburg 1547. He died 1548. He wrote several historical books.
Mm/ das ilberchristlicke . . . Buck Bock Emters, Weimar, vii. 6i4ff.
��� �
