Him who upheld the three youths in the king of Babylon'sfieryfurnace.
But if He will not deliver me, then my head is of no importance compared to the shameful death which was meted out to For, in a matter such as this,neither danger nor prosperity must be considered,
" for we must only see that the gospelis not turned into ridicule by the godlessthrough our conduct " or that our opponents should be able to boast that we had not the heart to confess,nor the courage to shed our blood,for the doctrines we taught.
Jesusguard us from such cowardice, and them from such boasting.
We cannot know whether our life or death may be most beneficial to the gospel. You know that the truth of God is a rock of offence set for the fall and rising again of many in Charles's reign may not be desecrated through the sheddingof my blood, or any one else's, and as I have often said, I would rather perishin Papal hands than have him and his entangledin this matter.
I know the misfortunes that befell the Emperor Sigismundthrough He never after had any prosperity " dying without children
" and his name blotted out, while his consort Barbara became a reproachamong queens.
But if it be decreed that I am to be delivered, not only to the high priests, but to the heathen, the will of the This is my opinionand counsel.
You can fancyanything of me but flight or recantation.
I shall not flee, and much less recant, if the Jesusgiveme the power thereto.
I could do neither without dangerto holiness and the welfare of many souls.
Farewell,and be strong in the Martyr's day,as many believe.
This is the year of Luther's grand appearance at Worms, after which the Elector had him spirited away to the Wartburg, where he began his greatest work, the translation of the My poor prayers and most humble service are ever at your
Grace's disposal.Having been informed, throughyour Highness,of the opinionsand intentions of SpanishMajestyregardingmy affairs,
Electoral Grace my most humble thanks, and rejoicethat Majesty will espouse the cause which, if God will,is that of God, a universal Christendom, and of the whole
German nation, and not that of a single man, much less mine.
I am stillreadyto do or leave undone all that is consistent with the gloryof Christian's honour, or whatever the I humbly beseech your
Majesty to provide me with a safe-conduct againstall violence,and to command that the matter may get a judicialhearingbefore learned
Christian men, layand clerical, whose characters are above suspicion, and who are well groundedin the Bible,knowing how to distinguish divine from human laws,and that these men may be forbidden to proceedagainst me till it has been proved that And as a worldlyhead of a sacred Christendom is to presideover this Assembly,my opponents the Papistsmust meantime cease ragingagainst me in such an unchristian manner, layingsnares for my honour and life,before I am refuted or even tried.
So, althoughhitherto my anxietyhas been mainly to save the honour of the gospelrather than my unworthy self,I hope I shall henceforth be excused if I use means for my own protection, as well as for the safetyof the To enable me to do this,I look confidently to the protectionof the Emperor and your
I get a safe-conduct, to appear at the Diet of Worms before learned,pious,and uprightjudges,so that all may see