§ 94. The Reformation in Nürnberg.
Priem: Geschichte von Nürnberg, 1874. F Roth: Die Einführung der Reformation in Nürnberg,
1517–28, Würzburg, 1885 (pp. 271).
The imperial cities (Reichsstädte) of the old German Empire, such as Nürnberg, Augsburg,
Frankfurt, Strassburg, enjoyed a larger measure of liberty than other cities. They had the sovereignty
over their territory, with a constitutional government, and seat and vote in the Diet (Reichstag).
They were the centres of intelligence, wealth, and influence. For this reason the Reformation made
from the beginning rapid progress in them, though not without commotion and opposition.
Nürnberg (Nuremberg), the most picturesque mediaeval city of Germany, was at that time
the metropolis of German commerce, politics, letters, and art, and of an unusual constellation of
distinguished men, most of whom sympathized with Erasmus and Luther. Pirkheimer, the Maecenas
of Nürnberg (1475–1530), prepared the way, although he afterwards withdrew, like his friend
Erasmus and other humanists.^753 Albrecht Dürer, the famous painter (1471–1528), admired the
heroic stand of Luther at Worms, and lamented his supposed death when removed out of sight; but
during the eucharistic controversy he inclined to the view of Zwingli. Hans Sachs (1494–1576),
the "Mastersinger" and shoemaker-poet, saluted the "Nightingale" of Wittenberg (1523). Wenzeslaus
Link, an Augustinian monk and intimate friend and correspondent of Luther, was sent by Staupitz
from Wittenberg to the Augustinian convent at Nürnberg in 1518, and promoted the cause by his
popular evangelical sermons. The preachers of the two splendid churches of St. Sebaldus and St.
Lorenz followed the movement. The mass was abolished in 1524. The most effective promoters
of the Reformation besides Link were Spengler, a layman, and Osiander, the preacher of St. Lorenz.
Lazarus Spengler (1479–1534), secretary of the magistrate, an admirer of Staupitz, wrote
an apology of Luther, 1519, and a popular hymn on justification by faith ("Durch Adam’s Fall ist
ganz verderbt"), helped to found an evangelical college, and left a confession of faith in his testament
which Luther published with a preface, 1535. Joachim Camerarius, on the recommendation of
Melanchthon, was called to the new college in 1526, as professor of history and Greek literature,
and remained there till 1535, when he was called to the University of Tübingen, and afterwards
(1541) to Leipzig.
Andreas Osiander (1498–1552), an able and learned, but opinionated and quarrelsome
theologian, preached in St. Lorenz against the Roman Antichrist after 1522, fought as violently
against Zwinglianism, married in 1525, attended the colloquy at Marburg, 1529, and the convent
at Smalcald, 1537. He published a mechanical Gospel Harmony (1537), at the request of Archbishop
Cranmer, who had married his niece (1532). He left Nürnberg in 1549, and became professor of
theology at the newly founded university of Königsberg. There he stirred up a bitter theological
controversy with the Wittenberg divines by his mystical doctrine of an effective and progressive
justification by the indwelling of Christ (1551).
At Nürnberg several Diets were held during the Reformation period, and a temporary peace
was concluded between Protestants and Roman Catholics in 1532.
§ 95. The Reformation in Strassburg. Martin Bucer.(^753) See § 74, p. 434 sqq.