s of Christ before
Annas: "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil." Then,
with a touch of his native boldness, he told his audience that it
needed to beware lest the reign of this most excellent youth,
Prince Charles, should become unhappy and of evil omen. "I might,"
he continued, "illustrate the matter more copiously by Scriptural
examples--as Pharaoh, the King of Babylon, the Kings of Israel--who
most completely ruined themselves at the moment when by wisest
counsels they were zealous to strengthen and pacify their kingdoms.
For it is He who taketh the wise in their own craftiness, and
overturns the mountains before they know it. Therefore it is
needful to fear God. I do not say these things because my teaching
or admonition is necessary to persons of such eminence, but because
I ought not to withhold from Germany my due obedience. And with
these things I commend myself to Your Most Serene Majesty, and to
Your Lordships, humbly asking that you will not suffer me to be
brought into ill repute by the efforts of my adversaries. I have
spoken."

This speech, spoken as it was with steady composure and a voice
that could be clearly heard by the whole assembly, did not satisfy
the official. His first demand was that, like the question to which
it was in answer, it should be repeated in German. Next, Eck
proceeded to point out that Luther's errors, which were the errors
of former heretics, Wyclif, Huss and the like, had been
sufficiently condemned by the Church, and particularly by the
Council of Konstanz. If Luther were willing to recant them, the
Emperor would engage that his other works, in which they were not
contained, should be tenderly handled: if not, let him recollect
the fate of other books condemned by the Church. Then, with the
customary exhortation to all theological innovators, not to set
their own opinions against those of apostles, saints and martyrs,
the official said that what he wanted was a simple and
straightforward answer: was Luther willing to recant or not? To
which Luther replied: "Since Your Most Serene Majesty and Your
Lordships ask for a simple answer, I will give it, after this
fashion: Unless I am convinced by witness of Scripture or plain
reason (for I do not believe in the Pope or in Councils alone,
si