Concerning Christian Liberty | Page 6

order
me to recant, a thing which was certainly not in his commission. Thus indeed, when the
case was in the best position, it came through his vexatious tyranny into a much worse
one. Therefore whatever has followed upon this is the fault not of Luther, but entirely of
Cajetan, since he did not suffer me to be silent and remain quiet, which at that time I was

entreating for with all my might. What more was it my duty to do?
Next came Charles Miltitz, also a nuncio from your Blessedness. He, though he went up
and down with much and varied exertion, and omitted nothing which could tend to
restore the position of the cause thrown into confusion by the rashness and pride of
Cajetan, had difficulty, even with the help of that very illustrious prince the Elector
Frederick, in at last bringing about more than one familiar conference with me. In these I
again yielded to your great name, and was prepared to keep silence, and to accept as my
judge either the Archbishop of Treves, or the Bishop of Naumburg; and thus it was done
and concluded. While this was being done with good hope of success, lo! that other and
greater enemy of yours, Eccius, rushed in with his Leipsic disputation, which he had
undertaken against Carlstadt, and, having taken up a new question concerning the
primacy of the Pope, turned his arms unexpectedly against me, and completely overthrew
the plan for peace. Meanwhile Charles Miltitz was waiting, disputations were held,
judges were being chosen, but no decision was arrived at. And no wonder! for by the
falsehoods, pretences, and arts of Eccius the whole business was brought into such
thorough disorder, confusion, and festering soreness, that, whichever way the sentence
might lean, a greater conflagration was sure to arise; for he was seeking, not after truth,
but after his own credit. In this case too I omitted nothing which it was right that I should
do.
I confess that on this occasion no small part of the corruptions of Rome came to light; but,
if there was any offence in this, it was the fault of Eccius, who, in taking on him a burden
beyond his strength, and in furiously aiming at credit for himself, unveiled to the whole
world the disgrace of Rome.
Here is that enemy of yours, Leo, or rather of your Court; by his example alone we may
learn that an enemy is not more baneful than a flatterer. For what did he bring about by
his flattery, except evils which no king could have brought about? At this day the name
of the Court of Rome stinks in the nostrils of the world, the papal authority is growing
weak, and its notorious ignorance is evil spoken of. We should hear none of these things,
if Eccius had not disturbed the plans of Miltitz and myself for peace. He feels this clearly
enough himself in the indignation he shows, too late and in vain, against the publication
of my books. He ought to have reflected on this at the time when he was all mad for
renown, and was seeking in your cause nothing but his own objects, and that with the
greatest peril to you. The foolish man hoped that, from fear of your name, I should yield
and keep silence; for I do not think he presumed on his talents and learning. Now, when
he sees that I am very confident and speak aloud, he repents too late of his rashness, and
sees--if indeed he does see it--that there is One in heaven who resists the proud, and
humbles the presumptuous.
Since then we were bringing about by this disputation nothing but the greater confusion
of the cause of Rome, Charles Miltitz for the third time addressed the Fathers of the
Order, assembled in chapter, and sought their advice for the settlement of the case, as
being now in a most troubled and perilous state. Since, by the favour of God, there was
no hope of proceeding against me by force, some of the more noted of their number were
sent to me, and begged me at least to show respect to your person and to vindicate in a
humble letter both your innocence and my own. They said that the affair was not as yet in
a position of extreme hopelessness, if Leo X., in his inborn kindliness, would put his
hand to it. On this I, who have always offered and wished for peace, in order that I might

devote myself to calmer and more useful pursuits, and who for this very purpose have
acted with so much spirit and vehemence, in order to put down by the strength and
impetuosity of my words, as well as of