Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/173

 monstrous tyranny of the cruel Turk, by which for many years he has inflicted upon Christendom many hardships and divers calamities, and to-day threatens worse things ; therefore the most illustrious Viceroy and the other princes and estates can think of no more fitting, efficacious and opportune remedy than that his Holiness, with the consent of his Imperial Ma- jesty, should call a free Christian Council at a suitable place in Germany as quickly as can be done, to meet in Strassbui^ or Mayence or Cologne or Metz, or some other suitable place in Germany ; nor should the calling of this council be deferred beyond the space of one year, if it is at all possible for it to take place in that time. At this council everyone concerned, clerical or lay, ought to be free to speak and to give advice, without any hindrance, for the glory of God, the salvation of souls and the welfare of the Church, any oaths and obligations to the contrary notwithstanding. . ..

The most illustrious and serene Viceroy and the other princes and estates have also taken counsel, with all diligence and care, concerning the methods and the measures by which the uprisings and errors of the people can, in the meanwhile, be pacified, held in check and put down ; for the success of the plan depends in considerable measure on what is done in the meantime. Thus they have considered, in the first place, that Luther and certain of his followers live in the dominions and territories of Duke Frederic, Elector of Saxony, and, there- fore, the most illustrious Viceroy and the other estates of the empire wish to exercise all their influence with the Elector of Saxony, and hope through him to bring it to pass, that Luther and his followers may not henceforth write anything, or publish anything, or cause anything to be printed,^ and they are persuaded beyond all doubt that the aforesaid most illustrious Elector of Saxony, because of his r^;ard for the Christian religion and his obedience to the Holy Roman Em- pire, will put forth every eflfort to this end.

At the same time the most illustrious Viceroy, the princes and estates of the empire, will take care that throughout Ger- many the preachers of the divine Word are charged not to spread among Christian people or utter anything by which


 * C/. infra, no. 587.

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