Chapter XII: Excommunication and Outlawry. Spiritual

BAPTISM IN THE WARTBURG _pages_ 45-96

1. THE TRIAL. THE EXCOMMUNICATION (1520) AND ITS
CONSEQUENCES.

The proceedings in Rome postponed and then resumed.
The 41 propositions. The Bull “_Exsurge Domine_”
menaces all Lutherans with excommunication in the
event of their refusing to submit; some excerpts
from the Bull. Luther’s writings against the Bull;
futility of his appeal to a General Council; the
burning of the Bull. “_Compos mei non sum_”;
his feverish activity; “_Fluctibus his rapior
et volvor_”; his hints at armed opposition; on
“washing hands in blood”; moderates his language
when addressing the Saxon Court. Conviction that
the Pope is Antichrist strengthened by the birth of
the Freiberg Calf. His “Instruction to penitents
concerning forbidden books” (February, 1521) composed
in view of the Easter confession _pages_ 45-61

2. THE DIET OF WORMS, 1521; LUTHER’S ATTITUDE.

The Diet assembled. Luther’s journey to Worms.
Happenings at Erfurt. Arrival at Worms; his
interrogation; unofficial attempts to reach a
settlement; his final refusal to recant. Sympathisers
among the members of the Diet; pressure brought to
bear by the Knights; the Elector of Saxony. Luther’s
departure; preaches sermons in spite of the condition
laid down in his safe-conduct; carried off to the
Wartburg; formally declared an outlaw; a letter to
Sickingen _pages_ 61-69

3. LEGENDS.

The story of the Emperor’s breach of the
safe-conduct. Luther’s asseveration that his
opponents refused to argue because they knew him
to be in the right. What Luther stood for at Worms
was no “freedom of conscience” in the modern sense.
The legendary utterance “Here I stand. I cannot
do otherwise. God help me. Amen.” Various tales
unfavourable to Luther: His supposed drunkenness
and excesses at Worms; despatches of Contarini the
Venetian minister and Aleander the papal nuncio _pages_ 69-79

4. LUTHER’S SOJOURN AT THE WARTBURG.

Luther’s disposition and occupation in his lonely
retreat. Rising scruples crushed; gloomy thoughts;
bodily assaults of the evil one; temptations. His
cogitations on the question of celibacy; discovers
the best argument to use against vows and priestly
obligations, viz. “evangelical freedom”; result
committed to print in his work “On Monastic
Vows”; his own intention to remain unmarried. His
self-accusations of gluttony and laziness not to
be taken literally. His translation of the New
Testament. His work “On the Abuse of the Mass”;
its frightful caricature of the Pope of Rome. His
spiritual Baptism; his conviction of the reality of
his Divine mission _pages_ 79-94

5. WARTBURG LEGENDS.

Luther’s own language responsible for certain
unfounded charges against him. Meaning of the
“_titillationes_” and “_molestiæ_” of which he
complains. The haunted castle; incident of the
visit of “Hans von Berlips’s wife”; the ubiquitous
ink-smudge _pages_ 94-96