Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/480

 however, did not entirely agree with ours. The Elector of Saxony and the Elector Palatine, who are both extremely ob- stinate, conducted themselves so senselessly that they left the session tmder loud protest, although they are bound to abide peaceably by the decision of the majority of their col- leagues.

The four electors announced their opinion [on February 19] by the mouth of the Margrave of Brandenburg, who is a master of both German and Latin. Many members of the chamber of princes agreed with them, shortly after which the other two electors announced that they would submit to the majority of their colleagues as they were legally bound to do. Because, however, of the great differences of the original opinions and because of the intrigues of the Saxon, the whole decision, which should have been in our favor, turned so crazily out, that it agreed neither with the views of the Elector of Saxony nor with previous proposals, so favorable to us, of the four electors.

As far as we can learn the four articles on which the whole Diet finally agreed were tendered to the Emperor in German.

First, they thanked him for not promulgating, as he well might have, an edict on his own authority, but that by guarding the rights of the Empire had put himself in touch with them.

Secondly, they warned him by no means to issue the edict we desired, as it would raise a storm of protest and give the people the excuse they wanted to rebel. The Emperor had showed prudence in having requested their opinion, for other- wise they would have seen a great conflagration in Germany. Thus they asserted their right of being consulted in this mat- ter, although the chancellor, God forgive him, had promised that this should not be.

Thirdly, they declared it necessary that before the promul- gation of an edict Martin should be stunmoned under safe- conduct in order to ask him whether he had written these books and to demand an immediate recantation of the articles touching the faith and the sacraments; in case he refused he should be considered a heretic, and proceeded against as such after he had returned home from the Diet as soon as

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