Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/553

 manded that I be asked, first, whether I would recognize the aforesaid books as mine, and secondly, whether I was p^^ pared to revoke them, or whether I would abide by them.

When I had acknowledged that they were mine (provided that nothing was added to them or changed in them by any opponent or wiseacre) I reverently and submissively stated,, that as I had fortified my books with clear texts of Scripture, it seemed to me neither right nor just that I should deny the Word of Crod and thus revoke my books. I himibly begged your Sacred Majesty not to suffer me to be forced to re- cant, but that either you, or others of any estate, even the least, who should be able, should go through my books and deign to refute the errors said to be in them, by the gospels and prophets. With Christian readiness I offered, were I rebutted or convinced of error, to revoke all my books and to be the first to throw them on the fire and to trample them imder foot.

But after I had said all this I was asked and commanded to answer simply and plainly whether I was ready to recant or not. I replied as humbly as I could that as my conscience was bound by the Scripture I was by no means able to re- cant without better instruction.

Then certain electors, princes and other Estates of the Empire pleaded with me to submit my books to the knowledge and judgment of your Sacred Majesty and of the Imperial Estates. The Chancellor of Baden and Dr. Peutinger also labored with me, and I again offered as formerly, provided only that I were instructed by Scripture or plain reason.

Finally, it was agreed that I should concede and confide some selected articles to the judgment of an oectunenical council. But I, who was always humbly and zealously ready to do and suffer all that in me lay, could not obtain this one concession, this most Christian prayer, that the Word of God should remain free and unbound, and that I should submit my books to your Sacred Majesty and the Estates of the Empire on that condition, nor even that in yielding to the decree of a council I should not submit to anything contrary to the gospel of God, nor should they make any such decree.

is was the crux of the whole controversy.

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