heretics, Martin Luther by name with all his adherents. This was the third or fourth excommunication,
but produced little effect.^332
The Pope was ably represented by two Italian legates, who were afterwards created cardinals,
-Marino Caracciolo (1459–1538) for the political affairs, and Jerome Aleander (1480–1542) for
the ecclesiastical interests. Aleander was at that time librarian of the Vatican, and enjoyed great
reputation as a Greek scholar. He had lectured at Paris before two thousand bearers of all classes.
He stood in friendly relations to Erasmus; but when the latter showed sympathy with the Reformation,
be denounced him as the chief founder of the Lutheran heresy. He was an intense papist, and skilled
in all the arts of diplomacy. His religious wants were not very pressing. During the Diet of Worms
he scarcely found time, in the holy week, "to occupy himself a little with Christ and his conscience."
His sole object was to maintain the power of the Pope, and to annihilate the new heresy. In his
letters he calls Luther a fool, a dog, a basilisk, a ribald. He urged everywhere the wholesale burning
of his books.^333 He employed argument, persuasion, promises, threats, spies, and bribes. He
complained that he could not get money enough from Rome for greedy officials. He labored day
and night with the Emperor, his confessor, and the members of the privy council. He played on
their fears of a popular revolution, and reminded them of the example of the Bohemians, the worst
and most troublesome of heretics. He did not shrink from the terrible threat, "If ye Germans who
pay least into the Pope’s treasury shake off his yoke, we shall take care that ye mutually kill
yourselves, and wade in your own blood." He addressed the Diet, Feb. 13, in a speech of three
hours, and contended that Luther’s final condemnation left no room for a further hearing of the
heretic, but imposed upon the Emperor and the Estates the simple duty to execute the requirements
of the papal bull.
The Emperor hesitated between his religious impulses—which were decidedly Roman
Catholic, though with a leaning towards disciplinary reform through a council—and political
considerations which demanded caution and forbearance. He had already taken lessons in the art
of dissimulation, which was deemed essential to a ruler in those days. He had to respect the wishes
of the Estates, and could not act without their consent. Public sentiment was divided, and there was
a possibility of utilizing the dissatisfaction with Rome for his interest. He was displeased with Leo
for favoring the election of Francis, and trying to abridge the powers of the Spanish Inquisition;
and yet he felt anxious to secure his support in the impending struggle with France, and the Pope
met him half-way by recalling his steps against the Inquisition. He owed a debt of gratitude to the
Elector Frederick, and had written to him, Nov. 28, 1520, to bring Luther to Worms, that he might
have a hearing before learned men; but the Elector declined the offer, fearing the result. On the
17th of December, the Emperor advised him to keep Luther at Wittenberg, as he had been condemned
at Rome.
At first be inclined to severe measures, and laid the draft of an edict before the Diet whereby
the bull of excommunication should be legally enforced throughout all Germany. But this was
resisted by the Estates, and other influences were brought to bear upon him. Then he tried indirectly,
and in a private way, a compromise through his confessor, John Glapio, a Franciscan friar, who
(^332) Luther published this bull afterwards with biting, abusive, and contemptuous comments, under the title, Die Bulla vom Abendfressen
des allerheiligsten, Herrn, des Papsts. In Walch XV. 2127 sqq. Merle d’Aubigné gives characteristic extracts, Bk. VII. ch. 5.
(^333) Janssen, who praises him very highly, remarks (II. 144): "Um der Häresie Einhalt zu thun, hielt Aleander die Verbrennung der
lutherischen Bücher für ein überaus geeignetes Mittel." But I can not see why he says (p. 142) that Aleander prided himself on being "a
German." Aleander was born in Italy, hated the Germans, and died in Rome.