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sive humano sit papa, est tamen papa,". that is, "whether he be Pope by divine or human right, nevertheless he is Pope."

The consequences of this contest were in some aspects favorable, and in others adverse, to the cause of reform. The judge refused to decide to whom the victory belonged. Some of Luther's friends were alarmed at his boldness, and the Romish party rejoiced that he had now, as they thought, by a public avowal of his heretical opinions, put himself in their power. But the learning and talent displayed by the fearless monk, which extorted a compliment even from his adversary, had great effect on many minds. The severe measures, too, immediately taken by his enemies, by which an end was put to all the attempts of Miltitz to make peace, clearly show, that they looked upon Luther as no mean foe to their authority. Eccius hastened to Rome, and there urged the condemnation of his opponent; and his counsel was seconded by the Dominican monks. Leo yielded to their advice, and on the 15th of June, 1520, issued a bull, denouncing Luther's opinions, and excommunicating him as an obstinate heretic, unless he recanted his errors, and returned penitent to his duties, within sixty days.

The Reformer was now persuaded that all hope of a reconciliation was vain, and deter

mined to withdraw from the Romish Communion. To prepare the way for this bold step, he sent out several new publications. One book was aimed at "the bull," in which he stigmatized it as execrable, and called his holiness the man of sin" predicted in the New Testament. He wrote another book, called "The Captivity of Babylon," in which he lamented the concessions he had made two years before; his eyes," he said, "were now open; he saw clearly, that the doctrine of indulgences was a wicked imposition to get money; that the supremacy of the Pope was to be defended neither by divine right, nor on human reasons; but, on the contrary, that Rome was the capital of the kingdom of Anti-Christ." This publication was followed by a third, written in German, wherein he exposed the vices and ambition of the papal court, and endeavoured to convince his countrymen of its odious and tyrannical character.

These books, being well received and widely circulated; he was emboldened to signify, by an act no less daring than public, his entire separation from the Church of Rome. On the 10th of December, 1520, the professors and students of the University, and an immense concourse of spectators, were assembled outside the walls of the city of Wittemberg. A fire, kindled for the purpose, blazed up in the centre of the crowd.

Luther came upon the ground, and uttering these words "Because thou hast troubled the holy one of God, let eternal fire trouble thee," he cast into the flames the bull of excommunication. His example was followed in many parts of Germany. The thunders of Rome had lost much of their terror, and the new-born desire for freedom was every where gaining strength. The ranks of the Reformers were swelled by a great increase of numbers, and the final success of their efforts hardly admitted of a doubt.

CHAPTER III.

CHARLES V. CHOSEN EMPEROR-DIET AT WORMSLUTHER'S SECLUSION IN THE CASTLE OF WART

ABOUT the time of Luther's public separation from the Church of Rome, a change took place in the government of the German Empire. The Emperor Maximilian died, January 12th, 1519. During the interregnum which followed, and until the coronation of his successor, the Reformers prospered greatly under the tolerant sway of the Elector of Saxony. Students flocked from all quarters to attend the lectures at Wittemberg. The tracts and sermons of Luther and his associates were read and heard by multitudes, and a great revolution was going on in the religious views of the people. This progress was, however, somewhat checked by the choice of a new Emperor.

Charles V. of Spain, and Francis I. of France, the two greatest monarchs in Europe, were rival aspirants for the vacant throne. For some time, the electors were averse to the pretensions of both these royal candidates. They felt unwilling to trust the sceptre to any foreign prince, and consequently by the first ballot they made

choice of Frederic the Wise, of Saxony. But this nobleman, sacrificing his personal ambition to the good of the country, magnanimously declined the appointment. He thought the state of affairs demanded the election of some powerful monarch, and gave his influence in favor of Charles, as the only sovereign, in his opinion, capable of maintaining the dignity of the empire. Such disinterested and patriotic conduct won the admiration of his colleagues; they listened to his advice, and on the 28th of July, unanimously agreed to bestow the imperial crown upon the king of Spain.

During the contest for the German throne, Charles had sedulously courted the assistance of Leo X. The friendship of the Pontiff was still of importance to him, since his rival Francis was frowning with indignation at his late disappointment, and only waited for a plausible pretext to commence hostilities. Of this fact, the Pope was well aware, and consequently he immediately determined to profit by it. He called upon the Emperor as the Defender of the Faith, to punish the heretical Luther without delay. But Charles was under too great and too recent obligations to Frederic of Saxony, by whom the Reformer and his followers were supposed to be countenanced, to venture rashly upon so decided a measure. It would have been not only un