2  Buschius  ad  Huttenum.     Opp.  Hutt.,  iv.,  p.  237.
3  Contarenus  ad  Matthaeum  Dandulum  Vormatiae,  26™°  d.  April,  1521,  in
:he  Chronicle  of  Sanuto,  torn.  xxx.
16


242  LUTHER  AT  WORMS,  A.D.   1521  [Book  II.
make  a  heretic  of  me."  The  next  day  (19th  of  April)  he  announced  to
the  states  of  the  empire  in  a  declaration  written  in  French  and  with  his
own  hand,  his  determination  to  maintain  the  faith  which  had  been  held
by  his  predecessors,  orthodox  emperors  and  catholic  kings.  In  that  word
he  included  all  that  had  been  established  by  councils,  and  especially  that
of  Constance.  To  this  he  would  devote  his  whole  power,  body  and  soul.
After  the  expressions  of  obstinacy  which  they  had  yesterday  heard  from
Luther,  he  felt  remorse  that  he  had  spared  him  so  long,  and  would  now
proceed  against  him  as  against  an  avowed  heretic.  He  called  upon  the
princes  to  act  in  the  same  spirit,  according  to  their  duty  and  their  pro-
mises.
