Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/264

 Carlstadt brought with them the greater part of their uni- versity, among their companions being Barnim, Duke of Pomerania, a modest youth loving letters and particularly gracious to me. Men of every estate gathered to see the debate, abbots, counts and knights, learned and unlearned, so that this large university had no hall big enough to accom- modate such an audience. The duke showed his foresight in providing a capacious hall in the castle for this event. And as the Bishop of Merseburg, instigated by our theologians, was unwilling to allow this debate, the duke took the whole responsibility on himself. He charged the town council to provide lodgings, and he had an armed force ready lest a ttmiult should arise. All things were done rightly, especially as your father [Caesar Pflug], at the duke's command, was not only present at all the events, but presided over them.

When the day set dawned, there was at six o'clock at St. Thomas's a magnificent mass for the success of the affair. Then in a splendid procession all hurried to the castle. To prevent a tumult armed guards were stationed at the doors. When all had come in and taken their assigned seats, I, poor man, in a fever, came in through the back door and ascended the platform, to speak, in the name of the duke, to the expectant audience. I confess that at first I was fright- ened by so great a concourse of prominent men, all expectant, and before so great a prince, whom I feared I would represent unworthily. Yet I spoke, if not with great applause, at least so that the duke and other grandees approved of it. When I came to the peroration, and all were anxiously expecting xne to finish (for I spoke almost twice as long as usual ),^ some musicians, prepared at my suggestion, were introduced t:hrough the same back door and started the hymn Veni sancte Spiritus, which they sang sweetly while the audience reverently kneeled. The time until noon having been consumed with these preparations, we went to lunch. A trumpet announced ^vhen to come back. All returned expectant.

Carlstadt and Eck, each asking the usual indulgence for himself, descended into the arena. They debated on free -will, t. e,, what it has to do with the work of salvation. For

i£flBuxenmt enim duae p«ne clepsydrae.

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