Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/512

 safe-conduct, and could not do so with good conscience, but might honorably break it. For his Majesty would have given it to him in the expectation that he would recant, but if he did not, his Majesty ought not to let him leave. For Luther has himself recognized and should know that if he does not recant no safe-conduct or other assurance would avail him. And as he is minded not to recant, as his Majesty hoped in giving him a safe-conduct, he had better remain at home and not put himself in danger, by which his Majesty would be excused. It could not then be said that the safe-conduct was broken, for Luther, as a condemned heretic, has no right to trust a safe-conduct. . . But as he thinks that all that he has hitherto written has been founded in the Scripture, and that he cannot revoke it, unless he is convinced by sufficient rea- son, let him consider that his coming hither would be in vain and cause much trouble. . ..

But other friends think that he should by no means stay away for this reason, for as the Emperor recognizes in the recently posted mandate that he invites Martin hither at the advice of the electors and princes, as indeed is the truth, that therefore the electors and princes, especially the temporal ones, would not allow anything contrary to the safe-conduct to be done to him. Secondly, that the Emperor would not break his safe-conduct. . . . On Easter day [March 31] I had an interview with the secretary of Aragon* who asked what I thought of Luther's affair and whether he would come hither. I replied that Luther was a reasonable and learned man, and that he undoubtedly would come. That shocked him. . ..

I hardly know therefore what it is advisable for Martin to do, but I fear he will think there is no alternative but to come.

435. JOHN MANUEL, IMPERIAL AMBASSADOR AT ROME TO

CHARLES V.

Bergenroth, ii. p. 343. (English translation of Spanish original.)

Rome, April 3, 1521.

The affairs of Luther are very troublesome to the Pope.

After having heard what I communicated to him, the Holy

^The secretary of Aragon was Hugo de Urries, though it is possible that Bruck was thinking of someone else.

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