Chapter XI: The Commencement of the Great Apostasy

_pages_ 3-44

1. ALLIES AMONG THE HUMANISTS AND THE NOBILITY TILL
THE MIDDLE OF 1520.

Friends among the Humanists: Crotus Rubeanus, Eobanus
Hessus, etc. The nobility and the revolutionary
knights. Piety of Hutten’s language when addressing
Luther. Franz von Sickingen. Offer made by Silvester
von Schauenberg. Report that Hutten had trapped the
Papal Legates; Capito counsels greater moderation.
Luther’s reason for only meeting the knights
half-way. Luther’s work, “Von dem Bapstum tzu Rome,”
1520; its violence contrasted with Luther’s earlier
demands of the “man of good will.” The manifesto
against Alveld. Prierias the Dominican attacks
Luther’s Indulgence-theses; the latter’s intense
annoyance; summary of his second reply. Treatment of
Hoogstraaten the Inquisitor. Luther’s description of
himself as a “man of contentions.” Scolded by Emser
for his lack of self-control _pages_ 3-15

2. THE VEILING OF THE GREAT APOSTASY.

By holding out hopes of reconciliation, Luther delays
the final decision. His missive to Bishop Scultetus,
in whose diocese lay Wittenberg. Three letters
to Pope Leo X; why the last was antedated; its
purport. Letter to the Emperor Charles V; reason and
setting of the letter; its contents. Luther’s later
description of his “inaction” during this period. His
correspondence with Spalatin; the real aim of many of
the letters: to promote his cause at Court; his offer
to resign his professorship. The diplomatist coupled
with the enthusiast _pages_ 15-26

3. LUTHER’S GREAT REFORMATION-WORKS--RADICALISM AND
RELIGION.

“To the Christian Nobility”; “On the Babylonish
Captivity”; “On the Freedom of a Christian Man”;
specimens from the last of Luther’s taking way of
addressing the people; his rejection of external
authority and assertion of the right of private
judgment against the “tyranny” of Popes and Bishops.
His new conception of faith. The pietist and
religious revolutionary _pages_ 26-37

4. LUTHER’S FOLLOWERS. TWO TYPES OF HIS CULTURED
PARTISANS: WILLIBALD PIRKHEIMER AND ALBERT DÜRER.

The deep-set discontent of the Germans leads even
the best-disposed to welcome Luther’s strictures.
Two famous Nurembergers: Willibald Pirkheimer’s
intervention on Luther’s behalf; his subsequent
deception; withdraws from the cause. Albert Dürer’s
prepossession in Luther’s favour; his art in Luther’s
service; did he afterwards alter his ideas? _pages_ 38-44