(3) CHAP. XIX. XIX. A. D. 1519. A. Æt. 44. A. Pont, VII. Progress THE death of the emperor Maximilian, and CHAP. the negotiations and intrigues occasioned by the election of his successor Charles V. had for a time withdrawn the attention of the court of Rome from the proceedings of Luther. Of this opportunity, he and his followers had of the reavailed themselves to spread his opinions, formation. both by preaching and writing, through various parts of Germany. The effect of these exertions was most visible in Saxony, where, during the vacancy of the imperial throne, the vicarial authority had devolved on the elector Frederick; who, if he did not openly espouse the cause of the reformation, at least raised no obstructions B 2 XIX. A. D. 1519. CHAP. structions to its progress. Under his protection the new opinions gained considerable strength; and as his reputation for integrity, talents, and A. Pont, VII. personal worth, was equal to that of any sovereign of his time, the partiality which he manifested to Luther greatly contributed to the success of the efforts of that daring innovator.(a) Leo endea vours to pa cify Luther. No sooner had the political ferment subsided, than Leo again turned his attention to the progress of Luther, which from its rapidity and extent now began to excite a real alarm at Rome. The new decretal which Leo had issued in confirmation of indulgences, had answered no other purpose than to impel Luther to a more direct opposition. To whatever height the pontifical authority erected its crest, Luther opposed himself to it with equal confidence, and Leo at length resolved to try the effect of conciliatory measures. In this it is probable that he followed the dictates of his own temper and judgment, which were naturally inclined to lenity and forbearance; and it (a)" Procedebat feliciter Evangelium sub umbra istius principis, et late, propagabatur. Movebat ejus autoritas "plurimos, qui cum esset sapientissimus et oculatissimus "princeps, not poterat, nisi apud invidos, suspicionem in"" currere quod hæresin aut hæreticos vellet alere et tueri.” Luther. in praf. ad. op. XIX. A. D. 1519. A. Et. 44. A. Pont. VII. it is certain that the measure which he adopted CHAP. was warmly reprobated by many of the firm and orthodox adherents of the church. The person selected by the pontiff for this purpose was Charles Miltitz, a Saxon nobleman, who had served him for some years in a military capacity, and had been afterwards nominated to the office of counsellor and apostolic chamberlain. To this choice Leo was perhaps, in some degree, led by the consideration that the elector Frederick was supposed to have long wished for the honour of the consecrated rose, which is annually given by the pontiff to some distinguished personage; and he therefore thought that, by transmitting this mark of his esteem by the hands of Miltitz, he should, at the same time, conciliate the favour of the elector, and find an opportunity of treating with Luther, without humiliating himself by the appearance of sending an express messenger for that purpose. To this it may be added, that Miltitz had already acted the part of a mediator with the pope on behalf of Luther, to obtain a hearing of his cause in Germany; which office he had been solicited to undertake by a letter from the university of Wittemberg.(a) Nor is it improbable that Leo preferred (a) Appendix, No. CLXXIX. XIX. CHAP. preferred a secular to an ecclesiastical envoy, in the hope of avoiding those speculative disputations which had hitherto only tended to widen the breach which he wished to close. A. D. 1519. A. Et. 44. A. Pont. VII. The reception of Miltitz at the electoral court gave but an ill omen of his success. Neither the letters of the pontiff, nor the recommendations which Miltitz had brought to Degenhart Pfeffinger and George Spalatino, two of the principal officers of the court, could remove the unfavourable impressions which had preceded his arrival.(a) Instead of receiving with satisfaction and respect the high mark of pontifical favour of which Miltitz was the bearer, the elector desired it might be consigned to an officer of his court, who would convey it to him without the formality of a public interview ;(b) and to the remonstrances of (a) Appendix, No. CLXXX. (b) This rose the pontiff describes in his letter to the elector 66 as Sacratissimam auream Rosam, quarta domi"nica Sanctæ Quadragesimæ a nobis chrismate sancto deli"batam, odoriferoque musco inspersam, cum benedictione Apostolica, ut vetus est consuetudo, aliis adhibitis sacris "ceremoniis consecratam; munus quippe dignissimum et "magni mysterii, a Romano pontifice non nisi alicui ex pri"moribus christianorum orbis Regi aut Principi de Sancta 66 Apostolica sede bene merito quotannis dicari et mitti so"litam." |