§ 31. Luther and Tetzel.
I. On the Indulgence controversy: Luther’s Works, Walch’s ed., XV. 3–462; Weim. ed. I. 229–324.
Löscher: Reformations-Acta. Leipzig, 1720. Vol. I. 355–539. J. Kapp: Schauplatz des
Tetzelschen Ablass-krams. Leipzig, 1720. Jürgens: Luther, Bd. III. Kahnis: Die d. Ref., I. 18
1 sqq. Köstlin I. 153 sqq. Kolde, I. 126 sqq. On the Roman-Catholic side, Janssen: Geschichte,
etc., II. 64 sqq.; 77 sqq.; and An meine Kritiker, Freiburg-i.-B., 1883, pp. 66–81.—On the
editions of the Theses, compare Knaake, in the Weimar ed. I. 229 sqq.
Edw. Bratke: Luther’s 95 Thesen und ihre dogmengesch. Voraussetzungen. Göttingen, 1884 (pp.
333). Gives an account of the scholastic doctrine of indulgences from Bonaventura and Thomas
Aquinas down to Prierias and Cajetan, an exposition of Luther’s Theses, and a list of books on
the subject. A. W. Dieckhoff (of Rostock): Der Ablassstreit. Dogmengeschichtlich dargestellt.
Gotha, 1886 (pp. 260).
II. On Tetzel in particular: (1) Protestant biographies and tracts, all very unfavorable. (a) Older
works by G. Hecht: Vita Joh. Tetzeli. Wittenberg, 1717. Jac. Vogel: Leben des päpstlichen
Gnadenpredigers und Ablasskrämers Tetzel. Leipzig, 1717, 2d ed., 1727. (b) Modern works:
F. G. Hofmann: Lebensbeschreibung des Ablasspredigers Tetzel. Leipzig, 1844. Dr. Kayser:
Geschichtsquellen über Den Ablasspred. Tetzel Kritisch Beleuchtet. Annaberg, 1877 (pp. 20).
Dr. Ferd. Körner: Tetzel, der Ablassprediger, etc. Frankenberg-i.-S. 1880 (pp. 153; chiefly
against Gröne). Compare also Bratke and Dieckhoff, quoted above.
(2) Roman-Catholic vindications of Tetzel by Val. Gröne (Dr. Th.): Tetzel und Luther, oder
Lebensgesch. und Rechtfertigung des Ablasspredigers und Inquisitors Dr. Joh. Tetzel aus dem
Predigerorden. Soest und Olpe, 1853, 2d ed. 1860 (pp. 237). E. Kolbe: P. Joh. Tetzel. Ein
Lebensbild dem kathol. Volke gewidmet. Steyl, 1882 (pp. 98, based on Gröne). K. W. Hermann:
Joh. Tetzel, der päpstl. Ablassprediger. Frankf. -a.-M., 2te Aufl. 1883 (pp. 152). Janssen: An
meine Kritiker, p. 73 sq. G. A. Meijer, Ord. Praed. (Dominican): Johann Tetzel, Aflaatprediker
en inquisiteur. Eene geschiedkundige studie. Utrecht, 1885 (pp. 150). A calm and moderate
vindication of Tetzel, with the admission (p. 137) that the last word on the question has not yet
been spoken, and that we must wait for the completion of the Regesta of Leo X. and other
authentic publications now issuing from the Vatican archives by direction of Leo XIII. But the
main facts are well established.
The rebuilding of St. Peter’s Church in Rome furnished an occasion for the periodical exercise
of the papal power of granting indulgences. Julius II. and Leo X., two of the most worldly, avaricious,
and extravagant Popes, had no scruple to raise funds for that object, and incidentally for their own
aggrandizement, from the traffic in indulgences. Both issued several bulls to that effect.^178
Spain, England, and France ignored or resisted these bulls for financial reasons, refusing
to be taxed for the benefit of Rome. But Germany, under the weak rule of Maximilian, yielded to
the papal domination.
Leo divided Germany into three districts, and committed in 1515 the sale for one district
to Albrecht, Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg, and brother of the Elector of Brandenburg.^179
(^178) See the papal documents in Pallavicini, in Löscher (I. 369-383), and Walch, L.’s Werke, XV. 313 sqq. Compare Gieseler, IV. 21 sq.
(New York ed.); Hergenröther’s Regesta Leonis X. (1884 sqq.).
(^179) J. May: Der Kurfürst Albrecht. II. von Mainz, München, 1875, 2 vols.