BR 325 .S42 1916 
 
 Seebach, Margaret Rebecca 
 
 Himes, 1875-1948. 
 Martin of Mansfeld 
 
DR. MARTIN" LUTHER 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 MARGARET R. SEEBACH 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 Missionary Education Movement of the 
 
 United States and Canada 
 
 1916 
 
Copyright, 1916 
 Missionary Education Movement of 
 United States and Canada 
 
TO MY SONS 
 
 FOR WHOM I CAN WISH NO BETTER GIFTS 
 
 THAN THE COURAGE AND FAITH 
 
 OF MARTIN LUTHER 
 
ILLUSTEATIONS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Dr. Martin Luther Frontispiece 
 
 Martin Luther's Parents 14 
 
 ' ' The House of the Cottas Was Warm and Cozy " . . 26 
 
 **I Found Something One Day That Was Wonderful '' . 36 
 
 *' Slowly the Heavy Door Swung Open" .... 48 
 
 "Do You See the People Thronging into Yonder Door?" 92 
 
 **No, There Are Ninety-five Such Statements, or Theses" 110 
 
 ** Master Philip Was Beloved by All the Students" . 116 
 
 "Here I Stand. I Cannot Do Otherwise" . . .140 
 
 "We Want Nobody but Dr. Martin Luther" . . .144 
 
 * ' To All but the Lord of the Castle I Am Knight George " 150 
 
 "Here Is Mistress Katherine Luther" . . . .172 
 
 "Take the Baby, then, Katie, Till I Get My Lute" . 186 
 
 "You Would Not Think You Were in the House of a 
 
 Condemned Heretic and Outlaw" . . . .188 
 
 Translating the Bible 190 
 
 The Wartburg 204 
 
 A Corner in the Wartburg 204 
 
 Luther's Eoom 204 
 
PREFACE 
 
 MANY years ago, a small girl browsing 
 about in her grandfather's library 
 found a picture of a boy who seemed to be 
 doing just w^hat she was. He had found 
 something that interested him very much in 
 a big book that lay on the floor. 
 
 Of course, she wondered what it was ; but 
 the words telling her about the picture were 
 long and hard, so she only managed to learn 
 the boy's name, and that of the big book 
 which kept him so busy. She wanted to 
 know more about him. Looking through 
 the book at the other pictures, she found 
 one of him as a man, still busy with the same 
 book. Finally she saw the picture of a great 
 monument, and there the same man stood, 
 still holding the same book. 
 
 She thought it too bad that all she could 
 find written about him seemed to be meant 
 
 ix 
 
PREFACE 
 
 for grown-ups. The more she studied the 
 pictures, the more she came to admire and 
 love the man with the book. When she grew 
 old enough to understand some of the big 
 words, she knew that this was one of the 
 world's great heroes, and that the book in 
 his hand represented the secret of all his 
 greatness. 
 
 She always thought that it was a pity 
 other boys and girls could not know about 
 him without waiting to grow old enough to 
 read the books that told of him. Now she 
 will tell you, if you listen, the true story of 
 the boy with the big book; for she is sure 
 that if you come to know him, you, too, will 
 love and honor him, and your lives will be 
 better and stronger for having made such a 
 friend as Martin of Mansfeld. 
 
 Margaret R. Seebach. 
 
 Hollidaysburg, Pa. 
 June 1, 1916, 
 
ST. maktin's day 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 ST. martin's day 
 
 ^^/^ OOD morning, neighbor Hans ? Wliere 
 \JW are yon going so early all in your 
 Sunday clothes^" 
 
 It was the eleventh of November, in the 
 year 1483. The late autumn dawn was just 
 brightening over the quiet German town of 
 Eisleben. The old house-mother, who had 
 opened the door of her little home for a 
 breath of the crisp morning air, stood smil- 
 ing at the young man she had hailed on his 
 early errand; and as he stopped to answer 
 her, his dark face glowed with a proud smile. 
 
 '^Good morning, and a good day to you 
 and yours, as it is to me and mine!" was his 
 joyous answer. ^^ I go to see the priest about 
 the christening, good neighbor!" 
 
 1 
 
MARTIN OF JVIANSFELD 
 
 **The christening?" exclaimed Mother 
 Liesel, excited at once. 
 
 *^The christening?" echoed her husband, 
 Gottfried, hobbling to the door as fast as 
 his rheumatism would let him, to look out 
 over his wife's shoulder. 
 
 ^^Last night," said Hans Luther, drawing 
 his short figure to its full height, and feel- 
 ing at least a head taller than usual, ^4ast 
 night * God sent us a little son — our first- 
 born ! And to-day he is to be christened in 
 St. Peter's church, if the priest is willing." 
 
 *^A boy?" ^'A little son?" cried the 
 friendly old couple. *^The blessing of the 
 saints be upon him!" added pious Liesel. 
 ''What will he be named?" 
 
 ''This is the day of St. Martin," said 
 Hans. "No doubt he will be named for the 
 holy saint. Would Martin Luther not sound 
 well, think you?" 
 
 "Aye, aye! and what will you make of 
 him?" inquired old Gottfried with a chuckle. 
 "I wager, as you came along so fast, it was 
 
 •Luther was born November 10, 1483. 
 
 2 
 
ST. MARTIN'S DAY 
 
 his future you were planning! Will lie be 
 a miner, like his father?" 
 
 ''I cannot say, Father Gottfried," replied 
 the young man, ''that I did not plan many 
 things in my mind. If it is in my power 
 and he proves a good scholar, I should like 
 to give him a better chance than I have 
 had. I was thinking I might make him a 
 lawyer, or " 
 
 *'0r a professor in the university," 
 laughed the old man, ''or a priest, or a 
 bishop, or maybe pope — who knows*? A 
 wonderful child, friend Hans ! there is noth- 
 ing he may not become." 
 
 Hans Luther laughed and shook his 
 head, starting again on his way. The old 
 couple stood still in the doorvv^ay, looking 
 after him with kindly eyes. 
 
 ''A good, steady man," said Gottfried, 
 approvingly. 
 
 "They are good neighbors," said Liesel. 
 ^'I feel that I have known them long, even 
 though they have lived here only a little 
 
 3 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 while. I must go and see Gretclien * and 
 congratulate her on her boy's coming. She 
 will be a proud mother!" 
 
 '*I wish," said Gottfried, thoughtfully, 
 *'that I had asked him if he needed a loan. 
 It is but lately that they moved here, and 
 now comes the expense of the little one; 
 and the priest, to be sure, will w^ant money 
 for the christening. It makes it hard!" 
 
 ^^Hard, indeed !" said Liesel, turning back 
 into the little house to set upon the table 
 the breakfast of black bread and oatmeal 
 porridge, which latter was steaming in a 
 kettle over the open fire. ^^ Already the 
 priest gets his tenth of all we have — grain, 
 grass, wood, lambs, geese, and chickens! A 
 tenth of all the cheese is his, and the but- 
 ter and milk ; even every tenth egg that my 
 poor hens lay must the father take. Never 
 fear but Hans will pay w^ell for the chris- 
 tening of his little Martin! But he will 
 not begrudge it — so proud is he of his 
 
 * Diminutive of Margaret, and used in this book as showing 
 interest and affection. 
 
ST. ]\IxVRTIN'S DAY 
 
 little son. He does not tliink what it will 
 cost to make him a lawyer!'' 
 
 But, while old Liesel grmnbled over her 
 breakfast porridge, the three bells of St 
 Peter's church were sounding gaily for the 
 saint's day just begun; and Hans Luther 
 was hastening home again, with a light 
 heart, through the clear November sun- 
 shine; and Margaret, his wife, was croon- 
 ing softly over her tiny boy the old-time 
 lullaby : 
 
 * * Now sleep, now sleep, my little child ; 
 He loves thee, Jesus, meek and mild ; 
 Sweet dreams he'll send, and happy fate ; 
 He'll make thee wise, and good, and great. 
 
 Jesus, Master mild, 
 
 Protect my little child!" 
 
THE schoolmaster's DUNCE 
 
THE schoolmaster's DUNCE 
 
 ALONG an unpaved street of the min- 
 ing town of Mansfeld, a schoolboy- 
 was loitering his way homeward, late in 
 the afternoon. The rugged cliffs, dark with 
 thick woods and pierced by the black shafts 
 of the copper mines, threw their long shad- 
 ows across the clustering roofs of the little 
 town, which, like Eisleben, a few miles 
 away, lay in the county of Mansfeld. 
 
 Six months after little Martin was born, 
 Hans and Margaret Luther with their little 
 boy had come to the town of Mansfeld to 
 live. They were beginning to leaiTi, as the 
 friendly Gottfried and Liesel had predicted, 
 that they must earn more money if their 
 boy was ever to have an education, and 
 
 9 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 here in Mansfeld Hans believed he had a 
 better chance than in Eisleben. 
 
 The schoolboy on his homeward way did 
 not whistle or leap ; indeed, he walked wea- 
 rily, and his face was clouded. Once he 
 glanced up at the dark hill where the castle 
 of the counts of Mansfeld frowned over 
 the town; and as he looked he saw the 
 figure of a woman bent beneath a load of 
 broken branches, coming slowly along the 
 road that led from the forest. 
 
 ^ * It is my mother, ' ' said the boy to himself. 
 ''She has been gathering wood for the fire." 
 
 He stopped for a moment, as though he 
 would wait for her; then, feeling tenderly 
 of a badly bruised shoulder, he walked on 
 again, shaking his head, having evidently 
 decided that a burden was not the thing for 
 his back at present. 
 
 Another turning brought him face to face 
 with several men in grimy clothing, return- 
 ing from their day 's work in the mines. One 
 of them called to him and he waited, know- 
 ing his father's voice. 
 
 10 
 
THE SCHOOLMASTER^S DUNCE 
 
 ^^riow is it with the school, my son?'^ 
 asked Hans Luther, as Martin fell into step 
 beside him. ^^ Are you learning well ?" 
 
 The boy twisted his sore shoulders un- 
 easily and gave his answer in a low tone. 
 
 *^I do not know, father," he said. ^^The 
 schoolmaster says we are all dunces and will 
 never learn the Latin. ' ' 
 
 **But you, Martin, you can rattle off the 
 Latin words fast enough," said Hans, anx- 
 iously. ^^He has had time to make a scholar 
 out of you, surely! Why, when you were 
 so little that you could not climb the hill to 
 the schoolhouse, did not our neighbor's boy, 
 Hans Emler, carry you up on his back*? 
 What a little mite you were!" 
 
 And, with a hearty laugh, the father 
 struck his boy a sounding blow on the 
 slioulder. ]\Iartin winced with pain and 
 great tears started from his eyes. 
 
 *^How now?" cried Hans, noticing how 
 the bov started and shrank. **Are vou so 
 tender that a hand cannot be laid upon 
 you*? What ails you, boy?" 
 
 11 
 
IMARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 ^^My— my shoulder is sore," muttered the 
 boy, unwillingly. 
 
 ''Hal has the master been beating you?" 
 exclaimed the father, with sudden suspi- 
 cion. 
 
 ^^Yes," admitted Martin, very low. 
 
 ^'To-day?" 
 
 ''Yes, father." 
 
 ''More than once?" 
 
 Martin hesitated so long that his father 
 became vexed, and cried out, sternly, 
 
 "Answer me, boy! how often did he whip 
 you to-day?" 
 
 "Fifteen times!" cried Martin, in des- 
 peration. "But father, I could not help it! 
 He asked me things we had never learned, 
 and beat me when I answered incorrectly. 
 You will not whip me again?" 
 
 By this time they were at the door of 
 the little house where the Luthers made 
 their home. Several younger children had 
 been playing on the door-step ; but just then 
 they caught sight of the mother approach- 
 
 12 
 
TPIE SCITOOLIMASTEirS DUNXE 
 
 ing with her load of firewood, and started 
 on a race to meet her. 
 
 Hans drew Martin into the house, and 
 gently commanded him to open his coat. 
 When he saw the bruised shoulders, the 
 father stood so long in silence that the boy 
 looked around fearfully expecting to see a 
 frowning brow. But Hans only turned 
 away, bidding him gruffly to fasten his 
 clothing again, which was finished just as 
 the other children came trooping back to 
 the door. 
 
 ^^Did you see the kobolds in the forest, 
 mother r' questioned one. 
 
 ^^Tell us a story of the gnomes that live in 
 the ground!" cried another, helping to pile 
 the sticks in the comer. 
 
 But the mother's quick eye had seen 
 Martin fumbling at his cx)at-collar, and she 
 put the little ones aside, and went to her 
 eldest son with a look that questioned his 
 act. The bright, dark eyes of the boy, so 
 like her own, met hers frankly, and 
 straightening her wean^ back, she said 
 
 13 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 cheerily, ^^If the world smiles not on you 
 and me, the fault is ours, Martin!" 
 
 And with this saying, which was a great 
 favorite of hers, Margaret Luther hastened 
 to kindle her fire and prepare the evening 
 meal for her hungry family. 
 
 After the simple supper had disappeared 
 and the children had all gone to their early 
 slumbers, Hans and Margaret sat beside 
 the dying embers on the hearth and talked 
 long and earnestly about their plans and 
 wishes for Martin. 
 
 ^'If it had been for a lie or a theft," said 
 the mother, indignantly, ^^I would not 
 think the master did wrong. Children must 
 suffer for these things or they grow up 
 wicked. I have with my own hand whipped 
 Martin even till the blood came for stealing 
 a single nut. But for not knowing the 
 strange words of the Latin !" 
 
 ''It is not so much the beatings," said 
 Hans — for those were the stern days, when 
 parents believed that the rod was not to 
 be spared. '* All boys are whipped in school. 
 
 14 
 
^ (^ 
 
THE SCHOOLMASTER'S DUNCE 
 
 But it does not seem to me that this man 
 knows how to teach. I mean that Martin 
 shall have as good schooling as I can give 
 him. If only I could afford to send him to 
 Magdeburg ! The Null brothers have a good 
 school there. They are not monks, l)ut a 
 teaching brotherhood who are banded to- 
 gether to educate boys, and who teach all 
 good things by preaching and example. 
 Peter Eeinicke has a son there." 
 
 **Yes, Eeinicke!" said Margaret. **He is 
 overseer of the mines, and can well afford 
 to send his son away to school. But how 
 is it with us ? All these mouths to feed, and 
 the boy cannot even help! He has no skill 
 at mining; but he must go to school, and 
 even that is not good enough for him — he 
 must be sent away to school, to study with 
 rich men's sons! Not but what the boy is 
 as bright as any of them," she added, with 
 a touch of x:>ride. 
 
 ^^Well, well, Gretchen," said her hus- 
 band, ^^I can almost see my way clear to 
 leasing a furnace. If I can do that, I will 
 
 15 
 
]MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 begin the smelting of the ore instead of 
 mining, and it will pay much better. Then 
 Martin shall go to Magdeburg!" 
 
 And rising, with a yawn, he closed the 
 door for the night. 
 
 16 
 
THE SINGER IN THE STREET 
 
n 
 
 THE SINGER IN THE STREET 
 
 A LITTLE company of schoolboys had 
 just set out across snowy fields from 
 the city of Magdeburg toward an outlying 
 village. The center of interest in the group 
 seemed to be a lad of about fourteen, whose 
 sparkling eyes shone above cheeks that 
 were rather pale and wasted, and whose 
 clear voice rang out through the frosty air, 
 as he declared, 
 
 ''No, I am quite well again, and the walk 
 will do me good!" 
 
 Hans Luther had at last attained his 
 purpose of sending Martin to the school 
 of the Null brothers at Magdeburg. The 
 proceeds of the smelting furnace yielded 
 enough to pay for the schooling and books, 
 but did not provide board and lodging; 
 
 19 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 and Martin, like other poor scholars, had to 
 earn these by singing from door to door 
 and receiving food in return from the peo- 
 ple of the city and neighboring villages. 
 
 ^^We heard that your sickness was very 
 bad, Martin," said one of the lads as they 
 trudged toward the village. 
 
 *^I thought I was about to die," said 
 Martin, seriously. ^'I had a burning fever, 
 and, as you know, the doctors say that in 
 such a case one must not drink water." 
 
 *^Yes, I know it only too well!" said an- 
 other. ^^I thought my tongue would wither 
 in my mouth when I was sick a year ago!" 
 
 ''Well," said Martin, laughing, ''it was 
 my good fortune that on Friday, which was 
 a holy day, the people of the house where 
 I stay were all gone to church. I was so 
 wretched that I made up my mind I would 
 have one good, cold drink, if I died of it. 
 
 "I was too weak to walk, but I set out 
 to crawl on my hands and knees to the 
 kitchen. It seemed like twenty leagues; 
 but at last I reached it, and there stood a 
 
 20 
 
THE SINGER IN THE STREET 
 
 great jug; and oh, thanks to St. Martin, 
 it was full of fresh, cold water! 
 
 **So I drank and drank, and when I 
 could drink no more, I crawled back to my 
 bed and fell asleep. "When I woke, the 
 fever was gone, and in a few days I was 
 quite strong again." 
 
 **St. Martin was kind to you, or else the 
 doctors are all wrong," laughed his friend. 
 
 '^And now," continued Martin, ^* since I 
 am getting well, I am as hungry as a wolf, 
 and I could hardly wait to get out and sing 
 again, and earn more food. I was deter- 
 mined to come with you this Christmas eve, 
 for then people may give us cakes instead 
 of bread, and other good things besides." 
 
 **Hark to the glutton!" cried another. 
 **But we all like Christmas, for indeed it is 
 a time of plenty, and the poor scholars get 
 their share." 
 
 ^* Besides," added Martin, in a different 
 tone, ** there are no songs so beautiful as the 
 Christmas hymns." And he began to hirni, 
 
 21 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 in a sweet boyish soprano, the old German 
 carol, 
 
 *'A little babe, so pure and blest.'* 
 
 **Yes, that is very well for you," said 
 one boy, in a complaining tone. ^*You have 
 a good voice and love to sing! As for 
 me, I grow sick of trailing from door to 
 door singing songs that mean nothing to 
 me, and getting a crust now and then like 
 a beggar! If I did not look forward to a 
 day when I shall be learned and rich and 
 do as I please, I could not endure it!" 
 
 *^Men do harder things than that," said 
 Martin Luther, his dark eyes growing soft 
 and deep with the vision. **I can never 
 forget what I saw since I came to Magde- 
 burg. You know what I mean — the Prince 
 of Anhalt, who has laid aside his title and 
 rank and entered the monastery; how he 
 goes in the coarse garb of a monk, so thin 
 from fasting that he can hardly staggei 
 up and down the streets with a sack on his 
 back, begging bread for the brothers in 
 
 22 
 
THE SINGER IN THE STREET 
 
 the convent! Our trials are nothing to his! 
 
 *^And often, in my home in Mansfeld," 
 he continued, ^^I have seen the pilgrims go- 
 ing to the holy jilaees in the neighborhood, 
 coming from miles around to have their 
 diseases taken away; and those too weak 
 to walk were carried to some place where 
 they could hear the bells of Wimmelberg 
 church, believing that the very sound would 
 make them well. 
 
 ^'And I saw the child-pilgrims — little 
 boys and girls, eleven hundred from Eisle- 
 ben alone — following the standard of the 
 red cross to Wilsnach without money or 
 food, begging their way as they journeyed. 
 Some were not eight years old, but it was 
 said that in a day and a night, they marched 
 eighty miles! They were ready to drop, 
 
 yet—" 
 
 * ' Here we are ! ' ' whispered another. * ' This 
 is a large, fine farmhouse ; let us sing here 
 first." 
 
 The little group gathered close about the 
 door, and presently the notes of a carol 
 ^23 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 rang out, with the clear, sweet voice of 
 Martin leading: 
 
 **In sweetest exultation 
 Let every voice arise; 
 Our Hope and Consolation 
 Within a manger lies!*' 
 
 Suddenly a harsh voice broke in upon the 
 melody. The door of the house was flung 
 open, and the farmer appeared, crying 
 roughly : 
 
 ** Where are you, young rascals?" 
 
 Terrified by such a reception, the boys 
 broke and fled, their scanty scholars' gowns 
 flapping about their heels as they ran. They 
 expected no less than a beating if the farmer 
 caught them; and still the loud voice kept 
 roaring after them, increasing their fright. 
 
 But Martin caught a note of laughter in 
 the harsh shouts, and rallied the timid 
 singers. 
 
 ^^Look, look! it is not a club he has in 
 his hands ; he is holding two great, big sau- 
 sages, and calling us to come and get them." 
 
 24 
 
THE SINGER IN THE STREET 
 
 Fearful still, but resolved to have the 
 sausages, the boys at last came back and 
 received the gift amid roars of laughter 
 from the burly farmer. They thanked him 
 heartily, finished their interrupted song, and 
 trudged on to the clustered lights of the 
 village. 
 
 *^ Mother, do listen!" exclaimed the little 
 daughter of Conrad Cotta, a wealthy citizen 
 of Eisenach. ''The boys are singing at the 
 door; and what a beautiful voice one of 
 them has!'' 
 
 Ursula Cotta came and stood at the win- 
 dow beside her little girl. A fair, stately 
 woman she was, smiling beneath the snowy 
 cap of the German house-mother, with her 
 long, white apron embroidered across the 
 bottom, her velvet pouch and bunch of keys 
 dangling at her side, and her look of quiet, 
 matronly dignity. 
 
 ''He has a fine face," she said, half to 
 herself. "A good face. Poor boy, how 
 thin he looks!" 
 
 25 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 And, stepping to the door, she called the 
 singers to enter. 
 
 Martin Luthel*, whose sweet voice had 
 won the attention of the good Ursula, had 
 spent only a year in Magdeburg. Then 
 Hans had remembered that he had a num- 
 ber of relatives living in Eisenach, and de- 
 cided to send Martin to the school in that 
 place. 
 
 But the relatives were not wealthy peo- 
 ple, and Martin's poverty was little bet- 
 tered by the change of abode. He still went 
 about the streets singing for his daily bread, 
 and now and then receiving a little money. 
 
 The house of the Cottas was warm and 
 cozy, compared with the poor lodgings 
 where Martin spent most of his nights. "We 
 should not think it very comfortable, with 
 its bare walls and carpetless floors, and 
 only the great firexDlace giving out a fitful 
 heat; but nobles and princes had few bet- 
 ter houses in those days, and this was a 
 home of luxur^^, contrasted with many in 
 Eisenach. 
 
 26 
 
THE SINGER IN THE STREET 
 
 There was good soup and plenty of bread 
 for the singers. Dame Ursula cut it with 
 her own plump hands and waited on them 
 like a mother, asking meantime kindly 
 questions about their homes and parents. 
 The little folks came up shyly and watched 
 the singers while they ate, and afterward 
 begged for more songs. 
 
 As the boys were leaving. Dame Ursula 
 held Martin back a moment. 
 
 ^^I want you to visit us often again," 
 she said softly. *^Come back after your 
 school hours; I want to talk with you and 
 hear you sing.'' 
 
 The children clapped their hands at the 
 words. 
 
 From that day Martin felt that he had a 
 new home. Much of his time was spent with 
 the Cottas, and his hollow cheeks began 
 to fill out under the influence of the good 
 things he shared at Dame Ursula's table. 
 Cold and hunger were things of the past, 
 and a happy home circle gladdened his 
 lonely heart. 
 
 27 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 So passed four happy years. And no less 
 improved was Martin's treatment in school. 
 
 ^^Our master, the learned Trebonius," he 
 told Dame Ursula, *^ never comes into the 
 schoolroom in the morning without tak- 
 ing off his cap to us. One of the boys 
 asked him why he did it, and he said: *I 
 take off my cap before the future mayor, 
 chancellor, or learned doctor whom God 
 may have chosen any of you, my pupils, 
 to become.' " 
 
 **And so they may, Martin," said his 
 motherly friend. *^You yourself may be 
 called to a great work, and you must be 
 ready for it." 
 
 **The saints grant it!" said Martin de- 
 voutly. 
 
 At length came word from Mansfeld. 
 Hans Luther was prospering, and had now 
 two furnaces instead of one. Martin was 
 to leave Eisenach, and enter the university 
 at Erfurt, there to realize his father's fond- 
 est hopes by studying to prepare himself 
 for the profession of law. 
 
 28 
 
A PROUD FATHER 
 
Ill 
 
 A PROUD FATHER 
 
 THE household of Hans Luther was all 
 astir, and it could easily be seen that 
 some great event was at hand. Such scrub- 
 bing and polishing, such baking and brew- 
 ing! And, indeed, there was plenty to do; 
 for the home was no longer the little house 
 to which Hans used to come home with the 
 soil of the mines upon him, and from which 
 his good Gretchen went out to gather the 
 fagots for the fire. 
 
 Hans had prospered, and was now a 
 citizen of note in Mansfeld. He had taken 
 a house befitting his means ; and the family 
 was now preparing to receive a visit from 
 the son of whom his parents were justly 
 proud. 
 
 Four years ago, a youth of seventeen had 
 31 
 
IVIARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 enrolled at the University of Erfurt as 
 ** Martin Luther, from Mansfeld.'' To-day 
 he was coming home in triumph, having 
 lately received his degree as Master of 
 Arts, standing second in his class. 
 
 ^'Here he comes! Oh, father, mother, 
 here is Martin!" screamed the younger 
 children, and all the neighborhood flocked 
 out to see their scholar. While his horse 
 was being led away to the stable, he held 
 quite a reception, greeting heartily the well- 
 known faces, seen but seldom during those 
 years of absence. 
 
 **Will you not come within?" queried 
 Hans, holding open the door for his son 
 with deep respect. Martin looked at him 
 in surprise ; for his father had never spoken 
 to him in that tone before. 
 
 **Come in, I pray you!" repeated Hans 
 Luther; and Martin saw that his father's 
 eyes were full of the tears of happy pride. 
 
 All day Hans and Margaret waited on 
 their Master of Arts with every mark of 
 
 32 
 
A PROUD FATHER 
 
 honor, until his modest soul could endure it 
 no longer. 
 
 '^Ah, my father!" at length he exclaimed, 
 when the visitors were gone, and parents 
 and son were alone at last. ^*Be not so 
 ceremonious with your boy! What am I 
 but your Martin, even as before'?" 
 
 **You are now a scholar, my son," re- 
 plied Hans, seriously, ^^and I do honor to 
 Master Martin Luther!" 
 
 ^^Have you never heard the saying," 
 laughed Martin, ^Hhat in Erfurt there are 
 as many Masters of Art as there are stones 
 in the pavement?" Then, seeing his father's 
 look of disappointment, he added quickly, 
 **But indeed it is a glorious thing to attain 
 to one's degree! When our examinations 
 were passed, we were taken in procession 
 through the streets by our fellow students, 
 with banners, torches, and music, and all 
 the people of Erfurt saluting us as * Master' 
 on this side and on that. What a moment 
 of majesty and splendor was that! It 
 
 33 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 seems to me that no earthly joy can equal 
 it." 
 
 *^Tell lis about your days at Erfurt, 
 my son," begged Margaret, sitting close be- 
 side her boy. *^You have been away so 
 long, and we have known so little of what 
 you were doing! Tell me not of your 
 strange studies with the names I cannot set 
 my mouth to pronounce; tell me rather 
 of your companions, and how your time 
 was spent outside of your schoolrooms." 
 
 ^^ There was one," said Martin, thought- 
 fully, ^^who was there when I entered, but 
 three years ahead of me. His name was 
 George Spalatin, and I learned to know 
 him very well. He is a man I would fain 
 keep all my life for a friend. There was 
 another, Lange by name, whom also I think 
 I shall never forget. There was young 
 Eoban Hess, who entered but a year ago; 
 a brilliant lad, a poet and scholar such as 
 seldom comes even to Erfurt. 
 
 ** There was a man of another sort," he 
 went on, breaking into a laugh, ^^who was 
 
 34 
 
A PROUD FATHER 
 
 my room-mate for a couple of years. How 
 he hated study! I do not think he ever 
 took up a book unless I lectured him soundly 
 for his indolence. One day, when I had 
 been scolding him, he sat down with a book 
 in his hand, and after glaring at it angrily 
 for half an hour he suddenly threw it on 
 the floor and stamped on it, exclaiming: 
 ^You want to make a fool of me, do you? 
 From the word *' study" comes the word 
 ^^ stupid." Study always makes dunces!' 
 And he tramped off, leaving the book on the 
 floor for me to pick up ! It was not all study, 
 though ; we had happy times of good fellow- 
 ship with jesting and song. 
 
 ^^Once I hurt my leg and was laid up for 
 some time by the accident. I had not been 
 long in the rooms where I then was, the 
 people were strange to me, and, though 
 they were kind, I was very lonely and the 
 hours hung heavy on my hands. 
 
 ^^At last, runnnaging about in a large 
 closet in the wall, I found an old lute. How 
 rejoiced I was! It was out of repair, but 
 
 3S 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 I strung it up and thrummed on it all day 
 long! I taught myself to play a little, 
 though I had no teacher, and when I was 
 well again, I took it to some of our merry 
 gatherings, and the students were delighted 
 to have a little accompaniment to their 
 songs. They called me *the musician' after 
 that!" 
 
 '^You never forgot your prayers, Mar- 
 tin?" asked the mother wistfully. His face 
 lit up with a new brightness as he answered : 
 
 **My motto, through all my school-days, 
 has been, ^To pray well is to study well.' 
 Every day I began with prayer, dear 
 mother. 
 
 ^'1 found something one day that was 
 wonderful to me, and I wish I had it for 
 my own. I was looking for a book in the 
 library at the university, when I found a 
 book I had never seen before. It was the 
 "Word of God, in Latin ; the whole of it, not 
 just the parts we hear in church; and I 
 opened it to see what it was like. 
 
 ** Mother, it opened at the story of Han- 
 36 
 
I FOUND SOMETHING ONE DAY THAT WAS WONDERFUL. 
 THE WORD OF GOD, IN LATIN " 
 
 . IT WAS 
 
A PROUD FATHER 
 
 nah, the mother of Samuel ; how she prayed 
 to God to give her a son, and she would 
 devote him to the service of God ; and when 
 he was old enough, she took him to God's 
 house and left him there with the old priest. 
 And one night the Lord spoke to him in a 
 vision. But then it was time to go to my 
 next lecture, and I could read no more. 
 
 ^^But it made me think of my own good 
 mother, and wonder if the Lord would ever 
 call me to carry a message for him. And 
 if he does," said Martin, with deep rever- 
 ence, ^^I want to be ready to answer him, 
 and say, ^ Speak, for thy servant heareth,' 
 just as Samuel did." 
 
 And Father Hans, from his corner by the 
 hearth, uttered a long sigh, and had no word 
 to say; but pious Mother Margaret, hold- 
 ing her boy's hand in her work-hardened 
 fingers, said clearly and tenderly, ^^Amen!" 
 
 37 
 
A DAY OF DECISION 
 
IV 
 
 A DAY OF DECISION" 
 
 IT was now time for Martin to take up 
 the actual study of law, if he were going 
 to fulfil his father's ambition. Hans would 
 hear of no delay. Regardless of expense 
 he purchased for his son the costly books 
 he would require, and sent him back to 
 Erfurt in time for the opening of the law 
 school in May. 
 
 Martin was not enthusiastic about the 
 study of law. 
 
 *^ Lawyers," he once remarked, ^^say a 
 great deal and use many words, but with- 
 out understanding. They take the money 
 of the poor, and with their tongue thresh 
 out both their pocket and their purse." 
 
 But his father wished him to become a 
 lawyer, and he entered upon the task obe- 
 diently, if not joyfully. 
 
 41 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 The spring and summer of 1505 were 
 times of trouble at Erfurt. The terrible 
 disease known as the plague broke out, and 
 the students as well as the townspeople were 
 attacked by it. Some died of it, others 
 fled from the city in a panic. One of Mar- 
 tin's particular friends among the students 
 died about this time, and a great sadness 
 filled the mind of the young scholar. 
 
 Besides, the law studies became more dis- 
 tasteful to him every day. More and more 
 his mind turned toward the thought of 
 God who called Samuel, and who might even 
 now be calling him to a different sort of 
 work. 
 
 ^^I am not making the most of my life," 
 he often said to himself. *^I am given up 
 to worldly studies and pursuits instead of 
 being devoted to something that would help 
 to save my own soul and the souls of 
 others." 
 
 Again and again there came to him the 
 memory of the pilgrims he had seen throng- 
 ing to the holy shrines; of the Prince of 
 
 42 
 
A DAY OF DECISION 
 
 Anhalt carrying his sack of broken bits, 
 begging for food on the streets of Magde- 
 burg; of the monlvs of a little monastery 
 near Eisenach with whom he had been very 
 friendly while he lived with the Cotta f am- 
 
 iiy. 
 
 *' Surely," he thought, ^Hhe best way of 
 pleasing God is to do as these have done; 
 to deny oneself all ease and pleasure, to 
 withdraw from the world, and to give one's 
 whole life to prayers and deeds of charity!" 
 
 There came back to him now the remem- 
 brance of a painting he had seen in a church 
 while he was at school at Magdeburg. 
 
 ^*It was a great ship," he reminded him- 
 self, '^sailing safely on stormy waters. On 
 its deck was the pope, with his cardinals and 
 bishops around him. All the crew were 
 priests and monks. The ship was the 
 Church, and it was bound for the harbor 
 of heaven. 
 
 ^^AU about, in the water, were the poor 
 people who were neither monks nor priests 
 but just common men like myself. Here 
 
 43 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 and there one of the crew flung out a rope 
 from the vessel for one of them to grasp; 
 but most of them were sinking in the waves. 
 Only those on board were safe!" 
 
 So heavily did these thoughts weigh upon 
 him that about the last of June he went 
 home to Mansfeld for a short visit, hoping 
 to talk the matter over with his father and 
 get permission at least to give up the study 
 of law. 
 
 ^^Do not venture to speak to your father 
 of such a thing!" counseled his mother, 
 to whom he hinted his intention. ^^AU his 
 pride and his hope are in you, and it will 
 break his heart to have you give up your 
 studies. Already he plans a good marriage 
 for you which will connect us with a wealthy 
 family. Anger him not; go back, my son, 
 and pray to the good God to make your way 
 clear!" 
 
 Martin stayed but a few days at home. 
 He was so thoroughly out of harmony with 
 his father's joyous predictions of a brilliant 
 
 44 
 
A DAY OF DECISION 
 
 career that on the second of July he left 
 Mansf eld to return to Erfurt. 
 
 The air was close and oppressive, but he 
 chose to walk rather than to ride, hoping 
 that the exercise would help to throw off the 
 gloomy thoughts that filled his mind. He 
 felt like a prisoner whom love and duty 
 held faster than iron bars. 
 
 ^^I am a coward!" he told himself. **I 
 know that I am doing wrong, yet I am too 
 weak to tell my father! Truly his disap- 
 pointment would be great. But if my 
 father's anger would be terrible, how much 
 more dreadful would be the wrath of God! 
 He might justly punish me for my disobe- 
 dience." 
 
 The sky darkened more and more as he 
 went on, but he scarcely noticed it. All 
 through the sultry afternoon he tramped the 
 dusty roads, his dark eyes clouded with 
 trouble. 
 
 The evening was drawing near and he was 
 close to the little village of Stotternheim, 
 
 45 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 only a few miles outside of Erfurt, when 
 the gathering storm broke in fury. 
 
 It was too late to seek shelter. The wind 
 swept vast waves of dust up from the road, 
 stifling and blinding him; the darkness 
 grew more and more dense; the lightnings 
 cleft the gloom like the sword of an angry 
 angel, and the thimder seemed to shake the 
 very foundations of the earth. 
 
 Martin struggled on, scarcely knowing 
 in what direction he went. All the wrong 
 acts he had ever done, all his doubts about 
 the future, all his fears of the God who 
 now ax)peared to him as an awful Judge 
 rather than as the Friend who spoke to 
 Samuel — all these thoughts seemed to hav6 
 taken the form of dreadful demons, and 
 to be pursuing him. 
 
 Suddenly a blaze of blue flame split the 
 darkness close beside him. A dazzling ball 
 of fire aimed, as it seemed, directly at his 
 head came plunging through the tempest, to 
 disappear in the ground only a few feet 
 from where he stood. A clap of thunder 
 
 46 
 
A DAY OF DECISION 
 
 followed whicli rattled like a roll of mus- 
 ketry about him. 
 
 Martin fell half dazed upon the ground. 
 For a few moments the violence of the shock 
 held him unable to move or think. Still 
 the storm raged and beat upon him. Pres- 
 ently struggling to his knees he clasped his 
 hands and tried to pray. The wind snatched 
 the words from his mouth, and carried them 
 away with mocking shrieks. Desperate with 
 fear in the midst of the tumult, words 
 sprang to his lips as though some power 
 stronger than himself had forced them from 
 him. 
 
 ^'Help me, dear St. Anna!" he gasped. 
 ^^Save me, and I will become a monk!" 
 
 Then he fell exhausted and lay trembling 
 on the rain-beaten earth. 
 
 The storm had almost spent its force. 
 In a few minutes the wind began to sub- 
 side; the lightning flashes grew more re- 
 mote, and the thunder rumbled farther 
 and farther away. 
 
 At last, as Martin lay on the groimd, he 
 47 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 ventured to open his eyes and saw that it 
 was growing lighter. He rose again to 
 his knees, and, behold! a shaft of golden 
 light from the setting sun shone full into his 
 lifted face. He stretched his hands to meet 
 it, and felt that St. Anna had accepted his 
 vow. 
 
 It was a drenched and silent student who 
 reached his lodgings late that evening. Dur- 
 ing the next few days his friends wondered 
 greatly what had happened to Martin. His 
 merry laugh was hushed, his lute was hid- 
 den, and he went about like a man in a 
 dream. 
 
 About two weeks after the storm they 
 learned the meaning of the change. The 
 students to whom he was most attached, 
 and a few of the townspeople in whose 
 homes he had been intimate, received little 
 notes of invitation, which caused them fur- 
 ther surprise. 
 
 *^Come and take supper with me on the 
 sixteenth," wrote Martin. ^*I have a heavy 
 
 48 
 
"slowly the heavy door swung open; and when it closed, it 
 
 HID THE beloved FORM OF THEIR 'MUSICIAN'" 
 
A DAY OF DECISION 
 
 task before me, and would first spend a 
 pleasant evening with my friends." 
 
 When the little company was gathered, 
 it seemed as though they must have misread 
 the mysterious words of the note. Never 
 had Martin seemed happier. His voice and 
 lute led them, after supper was over, in 
 song after song. All the lively pranks and 
 jests of student life, all the happy times 
 he had spent in Erfurt he recounted with 
 relish. 
 
 ^'Martin is himself again to-night," whis- 
 pered his friends to one another, delighted 
 to see him so cheerful. *^It is long since 
 he has shown so merry a face." 
 
 At length the lute was laid aside, and 
 Martin rose and stood looking about upon 
 his guests. 
 
 ^^Dear friends," he said — and there was 
 no merriment now upon his lips — ^^I have 
 called you together to say farewell. Once 
 more I have enjoyed your good company, 
 but it is the last time. To-morrow I shall 
 enter the monastery here in Erfurt to save 
 
 49 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 your souls and mine by penances and pray- 
 ers, if God and the holy saints be gracious." 
 
 A clamor of remonstrance arose. There 
 were tears and protestations, but all in vain. 
 IsTothing could change his purpose or alter 
 the firm lines of his quiet lips. 
 
 The next morning, a few of the students 
 walked sorrowfully with him to the gate of 
 the monastery, and waited while he knocked 
 for admission. 
 
 Slowly the heavy door swung open; and 
 when it closed, it hid the beloved form of 
 their ^^ musician" from their tearful eyes. 
 
 50 
 
THE FIRST MASS 
 
THE FIRST MASS 
 
 i( 
 
 GOOD morning, neighbor Gretchen. I 
 have come to see how you are, now 
 that the excitement is over, and the men 
 are off at last on their way to Erfurt." 
 
 The comely face of Anna Klein, neighbor 
 and friend of the Luthers, wore a broad 
 smile, which was quickly reflected on the 
 lips of Margaret Luther. 
 
 *^Good morning, Anna. Yes, indeed, there 
 was excitement this morning while they 
 were getting ready to go. Never in his 
 life was my Hans so particular about the 
 putting on of his best suit, and the polish- 
 ing of the buckles on his horse's harness. 
 *We must not shame him,' he kept saying. 
 * We must do honor to Martin, and to Mans- 
 feld, too!'" 
 
 53 
 
MARTIN OF IVIANSFELD 
 
 ^^They will make a fine showing, truly," 
 said Anna. '* Twenty riders, all in their 
 best, bringing liberal gifts for the monas- 
 tery!" 
 
 '^ There will be some from Eisenach, too," 
 said Margaret. *' Martin wrote that he had 
 invited my kinsman, Conrad Hutter, who 
 lives there, and the priest, Father Braun, 
 who is a good friend of his." 
 
 ^*It is a great occasion, when the young 
 priest holds his first mass," said Anna. '^It 
 would have been a pleasant thing for you 
 to go along, Gretchen.", 
 
 '^What should I do among all the men?" 
 laughed Margaret. ^ ' They will talk of great 
 matters that a plain, unlearned woman can- 
 not understand ; and I would be left sitting 
 in a corner ! I was glad enough to see Hans 
 go," she added, more gravely. 
 
 *^It is almost two years since he has seen 
 Martin, is it not ? ' ' asked Anna. Her friend 
 nodded. 
 
 *^Not since he entered the monastery," 
 54 
 
THE FIRST MASS 
 
 she said. ' ' Indeed, I thought he would never 
 consent to see him again." 
 
 ^^He was terribly angry when the news 
 came that Martin was going to be a monk," 
 said Anna. *^I remember how my hus- 
 band and other friends came and tried to 
 reason with him, but he would hear noth- 
 ing." 
 
 ^^ Never since I have known him," said 
 Margaret Luther, ^^was Hans so enraged; I 
 dared not say a word to him. I take blame 
 to myself, too; for I knew that Martin 
 wanted to give up his studies, and I would 
 not let him tell his father. That was what 
 angered him most — that Martin never told 
 him. But he is a good son and a loving one, 
 and would not have disappointed his father 
 except that he believed God called him." 
 
 ^'Hans has softened much in the last 
 year, ' ' remarked Anna. 
 
 ^*Yes, since our two younger boys died 
 of the plague, and the report came to us 
 that Martin was also dead," said the 
 mother, with a sigh. ^^Hans is still grieved 
 
 55 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 that Martin is a monk, yet he is proud of 
 him, too. He was always so proud of 
 Martin!'' 
 
 ^^He will be prouder of him yet," proph- 
 esied Anna, drawing her cloak about her. 
 '^Martin is no ordinary young man. Well, 
 good-by, Gretchen. I must go and bake 
 some bread ; Peter took along all I had for 
 a lunch upon the way." 
 
 The service was over. 
 
 Hans Luther came out of the church a 
 little behind his Mansf eld friends, drawing 
 his rough old hand hastily across his eyes. 
 
 He was trying to realize that the earnest 
 young priest whom he had just seen per- 
 forming the most sacred ceremony of the 
 Church — the mass, or communion service — 
 was really his own son, Martin. 
 
 It was not the priestly robes that made 
 him look different; nor the hoUowness of 
 his pale cheeks; nor even the head shaven 
 about the crown — ^the badge of the monk. 
 
 It was the look on his face that changed 
 56 
 
THE FIRST MASS 
 
 him so; the look of deep reverence, ahnost 
 fear; of humility and self -distrust, and yet 
 of something lofty; the look that made 
 Hans know, for the first time, how much the 
 new-made priest took to heart his profes- 
 sion. 
 
 ^^If he must be a priest," the father said 
 to himself, ^*he will be a good one. He 
 does not take it lightly, as so many do. 
 How he trembled as he read the mass! 
 Once he stopped as if he were overcome, 
 and looked around almost as if he would 
 run away. My heart stood still for fear 
 he would break down. 
 
 ^^He does not look, either, like one of 
 the fat, selfish, monks who live idly in the 
 monasteries, gorging themselves on what 
 they squeeze out of the poor people. He has 
 been fasting, not feasting! 
 
 *^He means well, and he will try to do 
 what is right ; but things will never be as we 
 had hoped! 
 
 **Well, to-night comes the banquet; then 
 we shall feel more at home!" 
 
 57 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 But when he was seated that evening at 
 the banquet, in the place of honor beside 
 his son, Hans was not more at ease. Not 
 only the good neighbors from Mansfeld 
 were there, but Martin's more distinguished 
 and scholarly friends of Erfurt; for this 
 was one occasion when they might all meet 
 and rejoice with him. 
 
 As the conversation became more and 
 more animated, the brilliance of Martin's 
 share in it marked him out as the master 
 of them all. No humor was so sparkling 
 as his, no replies so ready; and on more 
 serious themes he was equally at home. 
 Hans found himself thinking with regret 
 of the magnificent lawyer Martin would 
 have made ! 
 
 At last, before he knew it, a deep sigh 
 broke from the father's lips. Martin, who 
 was in the midst of a clever retort, stopped 
 instantly, and turned to him. 
 
 ^^What is wrong, dear father?" he asked 
 anxiously. Hans could conceal his feelings 
 no longer. 
 
 58 
 
THE FIRST MASS 
 
 ''I must sit here," he exclaimed impa- 
 tiently, ^^and eat and drink, when I would 
 much rather be any^vhere else!" 
 
 ^^Is it not a time of joy to you, my 
 father?" asked Martin, gently. **Are you 
 not now content, seeing what a holy calling 
 I have entered? Why were you so angry 
 with me, and would not forgive my becom- 
 ing a monk'?" 
 
 ^^Did you never hear," said Hans, lifting 
 his gray head with dignity, ^Hhat a son must 
 be obedient to his parents?" Then, turning 
 to the company who were now listening 
 intently, he continued : 
 
 ^^And you, learned men, did you never 
 read in the Scripture, ' Thou shalt honor thy 
 father and thy mother'?" 
 
 Silence reigned for a moment. The young 
 priest sat with bowed head. 
 
 ^^But, neighbor Hans," spoke up honest 
 Peter Klein, from Mansfeld, ''Martin had a 
 sign from God — a call from heaven. Is 
 not God to be obeyed, above father and 
 mother?" 
 
 59 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 *'God grant it be so!" said Hans Luther, 
 his rugged face working with strong emo- 
 tion. *^I have yet to be convinced that it 
 was not a trick of the Evil One, who loves 
 to deceive!" 
 
 With these words he rose from the table. 
 
 ** Martin," he said, with open arms, ** em- 
 brace me now and let us say farewell. To- 
 morrow morning, with the dawn, we ride 
 home again to Mansfeld." 
 
 60 
 
BROTHER MARTIN" 
 
VI 
 
 BROTHER MARTIN 
 
 A LITTLE group of monks had gathered 
 in the cloister of the monastery at Er- 
 furt, on a quiet summer evening. The 
 center of attention was a man of middle 
 age, with a stern and care-worn face, who 
 had just come out of the main building. 
 
 ^^I beg of you, my brothers, do not be 
 excited," he was saying. **The report you 
 have heard is untrue. Our brother is not 
 dead, though for a time he lay unconscious. 
 He is now reviving, and I have sent to him 
 his confessor whose presence he desires." 
 
 *^May we ask, father," inquired one, 
 *'why the choristers were sent for?" 
 
 ^^Here they come!" said the subprior. 
 *^They can tell you themselves; business of 
 importance calls me elsewhere." 
 
 63 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 *'It seems to me," said another, looking 
 after the subprior's retreating figure, **that 
 the reverend father is unusually short in 
 his answers." 
 
 '^My own dull wits," remarked a third, 
 ^^ would almost lead me to imagine that he 
 is displeased at Brother Martin for not 
 being really dead!" 
 
 ^*It must be a disappointment!" laughed 
 the second. *^ Think what a great thing for 
 the convent, if we could have taken credit 
 for a new saint!" 
 
 *^Well, we shall have one, sooner or later, 
 if Martin persists in his penances!" said 
 the other. **But wait!" he cried out to the 
 choristers, who were hastening past. *^Tell 
 us why you were summoned to Brother 
 Martin's cell." 
 
 Two of the singers shook their heads 
 and hurried on ; but the third, a rosy, good- 
 natured little man, came and sat down on 
 a bench near the group, and answered 
 readily : 
 
 *^0h, Martin has been fasting and tor- 
 64 
 
BROTHER MARTIN 
 
 taring himself again. You know what a 
 persistent fellow he is; the ordinary rules 
 of the convent were not enough for him, 
 and he has made out a set of extra ones 
 for himself. Flesh and blood cannot en- 
 dure what he inflicts on himself." 
 
 **But you are not answering our ques- 
 tion, Brother Thomas," said several, im- 
 patiently. 
 
 **Wait, wait, good brothers!" said the 
 little man, who rather enjoyed his impor- 
 tance of the moment. **I will tell you all 
 about it. 
 
 *'You know. Brother Martin is exceed- 
 ingly fond of music. He believes that when 
 the Evil One tempts us, music can drive 
 him away; and truly," he added, with great 
 self-satisfaction, *^I cannot say I ever suffer 
 many temptations. It must be because I 
 am always busy about the music!" 
 
 **Go on! Go on!" was the chorus. 
 
 **Well, to-day the foolish fellow has been 
 shut in his cell since early morning. He 
 has fasted since day before yesterday, has 
 
 65 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 kept vigil all last night upon Ms knees, and 
 this morning Brother Stephen, whose cell 
 is next to his, heard blows of the lash re- 
 sounding. ' ' 
 
 *^What a holy life he leads!" cried one 
 enthusiastic brother. 
 
 '^Holy — yes, but very uncomfortable!" 
 declared Brother Thomas, rubbing his fat 
 sides, and stretching himself with a yawn. 
 '^Of course, he fainted again! Stephen 
 heard him fall, and called the subprior. 
 They had to burst the door open, and it was 
 a long time before he came to himself." 
 
 ''But what had you to do with it all?" 
 said an eager listener. 
 
 ''When he first opened his eyes," said 
 Thomas, "he stared so wildly, and muttered 
 so foolishly, that they thought his mind 
 unbalanced. So the subprior sent Brother 
 Stephen for us; and as we chanted our 
 hymns, slowly he grew calm, and at last he 
 looked at us with reason in his eyes. 
 
 "Music is great, my brothers, and won- 
 derful is its power; but now I think the 
 
 66 
 
BROTHER MARTIN 
 
 best thing to do would be to give him some- 
 thing to eat!" 
 
 **You are a worldly-minded man, Thom- 
 as!" declared one, laughing. ^*You have no 
 fancy for becoming a saint ! But indeed, no 
 such devotion as Brother Martin's has 
 been known in this house for many years. 
 Should he die, many miracles would be 
 performed here, and much money would 
 flow into our coffers. I am almost sorry for 
 the subprior!" 
 
 ^^Nay, I would not see our Martin die, 
 even to be made a saint," said another 
 monk. **He is a lovable man, and as pious 
 and humble as he is devoted. Do you remem- 
 ber, when first he entered here as a novice, 
 how some of the brothers thought he would 
 be proud, because he was known in all Erfurt 
 as a fine scholar?" 
 
 *'Yes, and I remember," said Thomas, 
 '^how meekly he did all the menial services 
 that were laid upon him — sweeping and 
 scrubbing, and begging from door to door. 
 ^He is no better than we,' some jealous 
 
 67 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 ones said. *Let the proud scholar take the 
 sack on his shoulder, and go into the streets, 
 to beg of his former friends!' " 
 
 ^^That made no difference to Martin," 
 said the other. ^'In fact, he was so eager 
 for discipline that he wished for more 
 burdens to be added rather than to have 
 less than others.'' 
 
 *^ Listen!" said a brother, ^*I hear the 
 sound of carriage wheels without." 
 
 And presently a monk from within the 
 building announced that the vicar-general 
 of their order. Dr. John Staupitz, had come 
 unexpectedly to visit the monastery and 
 would remain a few days. 
 
 *^I am glad of that!" said Thomas, trot- 
 ting along more briskly than usual, as they 
 all hastened to greet their honored head. 
 *^ Brother Martin loves Dr. Staupitz and 
 honors him above all men. Perhaps he 
 can get him to listen to reason." 
 
 ^^Not if the subprior can help it!" re- 
 marked his nearest neighbor in a w^hisper. 
 
 It was not until the next morning that 
 68 
 
BROTHER MxVRTIN 
 
 the vicar-general entered the little cell where 
 Martin lay. 
 
 '^Do not rise, my son!" said the good 
 man, as Martin tried to greet him, and 
 sank back in extreme weakness. ^'What is 
 this you have been doing to yourself?" 
 
 ^^Oh, my father!" said Martin, extending 
 a wasted hand, ^^my sufferings are nothing 
 compared with my sins! If I could wipe 
 them out by fasting and scourging, how 
 gladly would I do it!" 
 
 ^^What are your sins, my son?" inquired 
 the great man kindly. ^^Let me judge 
 whether they are deserving of such severe 
 punishment. ' ' 
 
 ^'They are grievous, dear father!" said 
 the young man. ^^ Twice in the past week 
 have I fallen asleeiD over m^^ prayers ; three 
 times have I made mistakes in repeating 
 the words of the mass. Many vain and 
 idle thoughts pursue and tempt me by night 
 and day to forget my duties." 
 
 '^Brother Martin," said the superior, 
 gravely, ^^have you no real sins to con- 
 
 69 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 fess? These are painted sins — a mere pic- 
 ture and no reality. Your very fasting 
 and watching have brought you to a state 
 where such mistakes and omissions are 
 natural. How can you stay awake, when 
 you are dying for sleep*? How can you 
 help forgetting, when you are weak unto 
 starvation? Are these all your sins?" 
 
 **Alas, no!" sighed Martin. **I am of a 
 proud and hasty temper, and often feel 
 impatient with others. Sometimes I envy 
 those who are peaceful and happy; some- 
 times I feel rebellious at the demands of 
 God, who by a dreadful experience drove 
 me into the convent." 
 
 ''Now you are speaking of real sins, my 
 son," said Dr. Staupitz. ^^What is the cure 
 for these? What did your confessor tell 
 you, when he was with you last night?" 
 
 *'He reminded me," said Martin, ^Hhat 
 we say, in the Apostles' Creed, ^I believe in 
 the forgiveness of sins.' " 
 
 *^AhI" said Staupitz, ^^Have you asked 
 that your gins be forgiven?" 
 
 70 
 
BROTHER MARTIN 
 
 ^'Yes, yes! but liow can I be sure of if?" 
 ^'Only by believing in Christ, my son!" 
 ''In Christ!" said Martin, with a shud- 
 der. ''I am afraid to speak to him! 
 Twenty-one saints have I chosen to be my 
 special patrons; each day I pray to three, 
 so that in a week I have invoked them all. 
 But how shall I speak to the great Lord of 
 alir' 
 
 ''That is not our dear Lord Christ of 
 whom you are afraid," said Dr. Staupitz. 
 "Christ does not terrify; he only consoles. 
 Leave your prayers to the saints, your fast- 
 ing and penances, and learn all you can 
 of Christ." 
 
 And, rising, he blessed the young monk, 
 laying his hand tenderly on Martin's head. 
 "He is a youth of a noble spirit," he said 
 to the subprior, whom he met outside the 
 door of the little cell, "but he is carrying 
 his penance too far, and will kill himself 
 if he keeps on. He needs outside interests 
 and work for others. I have a plan in 
 mind which I think will help him." 
 
 71 
 
MARTIN OF ]\IANSFELD 
 
 '^Wliat strange advice/' mused Martin, in 
 his cell. ^'The subprior is always saying 
 it is more discipline we need ! But Father 
 Staupitz is not like any of the others." 
 And, rising on one elbow, he reached out 
 to the table beside him, where the red 
 leather cover of his Latin Bible made the 
 one spot of brightness in the gloomy cell. 
 
 72 
 
A VISIT TO EOME 
 
VII 
 
 A VISIT TO ROME 
 
 AFLAT, sandy plain; a walled town 
 wherein dwelt a few thousand people 
 in low, frame houses mostly thatched with 
 straw; and, looking down upon this dreary 
 prospect, two large churches — the Town 
 Church and the Castle Church — and a mon- 
 astery where a new university was finding 
 its first home ; this was Wittenberg. 
 
 Martin Luther looked about him with 
 homesick eyes. After the beautiful wooded 
 hills among which he had always lived, this 
 poorly-built town, with the river Elbe wind- 
 ing past its gates, had little attraction for 
 him. 
 
 ^^He has sent me to the very borders of 
 the civilized world," he said to himself, 
 *'but I would go anywhere for Dr. Staupitz ; 
 
 75 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 besides, lie is my superior and it is my duty 
 to obey." 
 
 This was the change the good Doctor 
 had planned for Brother Martin. The 
 great Elector,* Frederick the Wise, had 
 lately founded a university at Witten- 
 berg; Dr. Staupitz was its dean, and he 
 had summoned Martin to leave the cloisters 
 at Erfurt and come to Wittenberg to teach 
 in the new college. 
 
 To his friend, the good Father Braun in 
 Eisenach, Martin wrote soon af ter»: 
 
 *^ Wonder not that I departed without 
 saying farewell. For my departure was 
 so sudden that it was almost unknown to 
 my fellow monks. Now I am at Witten- 
 berg, by God's command or permission, I 
 am well, but my duties are very severe." 
 
 There was no more time for mourning 
 over sins, real or imaginary. Hard but 
 healthful work was Martin's now — teaching 
 
 * One of the seven great princes who at that period 
 had the right of electing the emperor. 
 
 76 
 
A VISIT TO ROME 
 
 and studying himself that he might teach 
 better. 
 
 But a greater event was near at hand. 
 A year or two after going to "Wittenberg, 
 while back at Erfurt for a time, the sub- 
 prior called him into his room. 
 
 ^^ Brother Martin," he said, "you know 
 that Brother John of Mecheln is going to 
 Rome, on business for Dr. Staui)itz. It is 
 not fitting that he should travel alone, and 
 we have chosen you to be his companion." 
 
 Martin bowed low in assent. 
 
 "This is a great opportunity for you, 
 Brother Martin," continued the subprior. 
 "To tread the ground where the blessed 
 apostles and martyrs dwelt ; to pray at the 
 holy shrines and gain merit from the saints ; 
 perhaps to see the Holy Father, the Pope — 
 these are wonderful privileges." 
 
 Martin expressed his thanks, and left 
 the cell like one in a dream. To see Rome, 
 the Eternal City! the center and capital 
 of the Christian world — ^this was joy for 
 which he had never dared to hope. Now, 
 
 77 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 surely, he would find peace from his tempta- 
 tions and satisfaction for his soul ! 
 
 Since Dr. Staupitz had talked with him, 
 he had read much in his Latin Bible and 
 had come to know Christ better ; but he still 
 felt that he must have the saints to stand 
 between him and the Son of God, and be- 
 lieved that God was pleased and that man 
 earned merit by prayers and penances. 
 
 ^'I will visit every shrine at Rome," he 
 said to himself, "1 will pray at every holy 
 place. If I cannot find holiness at Rome, 
 it is nowhere in the world." 
 
 It was a bright October day when Brother 
 John and Brother Martin set out from 
 Erfurt. They were not allowed to walk side 
 by side, spending the time in conversation, 
 but must walk silently, in single file. 
 Brother John was much occupied with the 
 thought of the business on which he was 
 sent; but the bright eyes of Martin were 
 busy along the way, on this his first real 
 journey. 
 
 The whole way was taken on foot, so that 
 78 
 
A VISIT TO ROME 
 
 he had plenty of time to see all that was 
 about him. From monastery to monastery 
 they went, stopping with the brothers for 
 entertainment, and then setting out again. 
 
 Across the Alps they journeyed; then 
 down over the fertile plains of Lombardy 
 into Italy the beautiful. 
 
 Now it was hard for Martin to keep 
 silence, trudging behind his unheeding com- 
 panion. Such grapes and peaches, such 
 oranges and lemons, he had never seen! 
 The river Po, flowing between the Alps and 
 the Apennines, struck him with wonder and 
 amazement. 
 
 ^^A merry water!" he murmured to him- 
 self, as he journeyed along its banks. 
 * ' Truly a prince among rivers ! ' ' 
 
 The mild climate was another surprise; 
 but he and his companion soon found that 
 it was more treacherous, if softer, than the 
 air of their colder land. 
 
 '^How wretched I feel!" said Maii:in to 
 Brother John, when they arose one morn- 
 
 79 
 
IVIARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 ing. ^^I have a fever, and pain m my 
 head." 
 
 ^^It is the air!" said John ruefully. 
 *^We should have known better than to 
 sleep with open windows in this marshy 
 country. I also haA^e fever, and a raging 
 thirst." 
 
 That was a hard day for the travelers. 
 In spite of sickness, they x)lodded on. At 
 last the thirst became too great. 
 
 ^'Brother John," said Martin, in despera- 
 tion, ^'I can endure it no longer! I must 
 drink some of this fair, flowing water!" 
 
 "It is deadly!" said John, rousing him- 
 self. "Do not touch it! The fever will 
 pass away, but the water is poisonous! 
 Come, Martin, it is not pure, like our moun- 
 tain streams; do not look at it!" 
 
 They toiled on, the hot landscape swim- 
 ming before their fevered eyes. At last 
 Brother John turned joyfully to the lag- 
 ging ]\Iartin. 
 
 "Look! God has sent us fruit to quench 
 our thirst!" 
 
 80 
 
A VISIT TO ROME 
 
 And he pointed to a stone wall over which 
 there hung a branch freighted with two 
 luscious pomegranates. 
 
 How delicious the sweet juice was to 
 their parched throats! After this they 
 traveled on less painfully, and by evening 
 the fever was gone. 
 
 At last, after a journey of some six weeks, 
 they reached the hilltop from which the 
 traveler catches the first glimpse of the city 
 of Eome lying outspread upon its seven 
 hills, with the Tiber winding below. 
 
 To Martin the sight was overwhelming. 
 
 ^'Hail, holy Rome!" he cried aloud, fall- 
 ing on his knees, with arms outstretched 
 toward the city. 
 
 Brother John crossed himself devoutly, 
 but wasted no time in raptures. 
 
 ^^Come, Brother Martin, we must reach 
 the gates before nightfall. The city is still 
 some miles away, and the whole country 
 around is infested with robbers who may 
 even be greedy enough to rob poor monks 
 like us!'' 
 
 81 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 During the next four weeks Martin hast- 
 ened from shrine to shrine, visiting every 
 holy place in Eome. To those who did 
 this the Church promised forgiveness of all 
 tlieir sins as well as freedom from the tor- 
 ments of purgatory, through which they 
 were taught that men must pass before 
 entering heaven. 
 
 Ten times while in Rome he said mass; 
 but he found this very different from the 
 solemn service in the church at Erfurt 
 
 The Italian priests were careless and 
 irreverent. Many would be saying masses 
 at neighboring altars in the same church at 
 one time. 
 
 '* These priests," complained Martin to 
 Brother Jolm, ^^read seven masses while I 
 am finishing one! They hurry through 
 as if it were a jest; and then they cry 
 out at me, ^ Hurry, hurry! you are too slow!' 
 They have no reverence for sacred things!" 
 
 ^^Many things in Eome are not as they 
 are with us," said John, gravely. 
 
 And so Martin found it to be. There 
 82 
 
A VISIT TO ROME 
 
 were careless and unworthy priests in all 
 places but at Rome the spirit of irrever- 
 ence was general. The thirst for money was 
 in the souls of the clergy from the pope 
 down, and Martin was often sick at heart 
 to see how the priests cheated and mocked 
 the people who trusted them. 
 
 From these things he turned with re- 
 lief to the sacred shrines. 
 
 ^^The apostles and saints, at least, are 
 true!" he said to himself. ^^Here the holy 
 Peter walked! here Paul the aged lay in 
 prison, and went forth at last to his mart3rr- 
 dom! I will pray to them and to all the 
 other saints to be kept from the sins I see 
 about me." 
 
 He sought the churches where relics of 
 the saints were displayed for worship — a 
 bone of one, the hair of another, a piece of 
 the true cross — all falsehoods, by means of 
 which the priests got money from the be- 
 lieving people. 
 
 Last and greatest of all he sought the 
 83 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 Holy Staircase near the church of St. 
 John. 
 
 This was a stone stairway, said to have 
 been brought from Jerusalem where it 
 formed part of the palace of Pilate, and 
 was trodden by the feet of the Savior at 
 the time of his trial. These stairs the 
 devout pilgrim was expected to climb on 
 his knees; and for every step he was 
 granted nine years' indulgence, or forgive- 
 ness for all sins he might commit. 
 
 Up these stairs Martin set out to climb 
 laboriously, pausing at every step to offer 
 prayers. 
 
 Suddenly in the middle of the flight of 
 steps he stopped. 
 
 Clearly and unmistakably a voice had 
 spoken to him. Not with his ears, but in the 
 depths of his heart he heard it; and the 
 words were those he had read so often in 
 his Latin Bible : 
 
 ''The just shall live by faith." 
 
 Not by doing acts of merit, not by pray- 
 ers and penances, just by believing in 
 
 84 
 
A VISIT TO ROME 
 
 Christ, the pardoner of sins! It was just 
 what Dr. Staupitz had told him long ago 
 at Erfurt. 
 
 *'What are you doing here, Martin?" he 
 said to himself. ^^This is not the way to 
 please God!" 
 
 If any one had been watching the Holy 
 Staircase he would have been horrified by 
 what happened next. 
 
 Martin rose to his feet and walked firmly 
 down the steps, worn into hollows by the 
 knees of many pilgrims. Off he strode, and 
 never looked behind; and as he went he 
 repeated softly to himself the words, 
 
 '^By faith! by faith!" 
 
 85 
 
DOCTOR MARTIN 
 
vin 
 
 DOCTOR MARTIN", 
 
 THERE are two churches, Kunz, I 
 see two spires rising above the 
 houses. Be sure to get the right one!" 
 
 ^^Have no fear, Else. We shall know 
 the Castle Church by the streams of pil- 
 grims going to see the holy relics. Come, 
 this is the way." 
 
 The wrinkled features of the old couple 
 beamed with delight as they hastened along 
 the narrow street. Their homespun cloth- 
 ing and toil-worn hands revealed them as 
 hard-working peasants; their dusty shoes 
 told that they had walked many miles on 
 their pilgrimage. 
 
 ^* There are a great many holy relics that 
 the Elector has gathered, are there not?" 
 asked Else as they hurried on. 
 
 89 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 '^More than five thousand!" said Kunz 
 proudly. ^^ Never was there such a collector 
 of relics as our gracious Elector Frederick ! 
 He brought back many of them from his 
 pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Father Just told 
 me; but he is getting new ones all the 
 time." 
 
 ^^ Shall we know which is St. Elizabeth's 
 hair?" queried Else, dubiously. ^'That is 
 the one I wish most of all to see; because 
 I was born on her day, and named for her, 
 and I pray to her every day. Can we find 
 it among so many*^" 
 
 ^' There will be some one to tell us which 
 it is," said Kunz. ^*Look, we are almost 
 there! This must be the church." 
 
 ^^Yes," said a man standing near by, 
 ^^This is the new Castle Church which the 
 Elector has just built. You would not 
 think to see it, that a few years ago there 
 was nothing here but a little building of 
 wood plastered with clay in the cracks, 
 and a pulpit of rough boards! But the 
 Elector does nothing by halves. He has 
 
 90 
 
DOCTOR MARTIN 
 
 built a church that is worthy of the holy 
 relics." 
 
 ^'This is the place, then, to see the relics'?" 
 questioned Kunz. 
 
 '^Come, I will go with you and show 
 you the way," said the man. '^So many 
 come here that the sacristans are always 
 busy and it might be some time before they 
 could attend to you." 
 
 The kind stranger piloted the old people 
 safely into the chapel where the relics were 
 kept. 
 
 ''Here is where you pay your money. 
 Now, this way, friends ! Here are the relics ; 
 you could not see them all if you stayed 
 for days, but I will show you where some 
 of them are. Here is a tooth of St. Beatrice ; 
 here a bone of St. Juliana ; these are finger 
 bones of the Holy Iimocents, slain by King 
 Herod; here is " 
 
 ''Why are you nudging my arm. Else?" 
 inquired Kunz. "Oh, yes, she wants to see 
 the lock of St. Elizabeth's hair, good sir." 
 
 "Oh, that is not so distinguished a relic," 
 91 
 
MARTIN OF IMANSFELD 
 
 said the maiL *'It comes from our own 
 part of the country; just over yonder at 
 the Wartburg you know, was the saint's 
 home. Yet she is truly a saint of great 
 power/' he added, crossing himseK de- 
 voutly. 
 
 ^'It is black I'' said old Else, in disap- 
 pointment. ^^I always imagined that St. 
 Elizabeth had golden hair shining like the 
 sun! And is this truly the hair of my 
 sweet St Elizabeth*? I must say a prayer 
 to her t'' 
 
 The well-worn rosary slid through the 
 knotted old fingers, as bead after bead was 
 dropped by Else— ^ bead for every prayer. 
 Kunz stood by with bowed head, and their 
 guide was silent till the old woman's de- 
 votions were finished. 
 
 **Have you long to stay in Wittenberg^" 
 he asked, as Else arose from her knees. 
 
 "We thought of staying several days,*' 
 said Kunz. "We have friends who live just 
 outside the gates.*' 
 
 "Then you can eome here at other times, '^ 
 92 
 
DO YOU SEE THE PEOPLE THRONGING INTO YONDER DOOR.-" DR. MAR- 
 TIN LUTHER IS GOING TO PREACH TO-DAY " 
 
DOCTOR MARTIN 
 
 said the man, **an(i see all the mar\xlous 
 things at your leisure. Just now there is 
 something else tliat you ought not to miss. 
 Do you see the i)eople thronging into yonder 
 doorl Dr. Martin Luther is going to 
 preach to-day; would you not like to hear 
 him?" 
 
 '^Dr. Martin Luther!" echoed the old 
 couple. 
 
 ' ' Oh, yes ! ' ' said Kimz. ' * Even in our vil- 
 lage there are those who have been to hear 
 him, and they say he is a wonderful 
 preacher. Does he preach here all the 
 time?" 
 
 *^No, he has lately become pastor of the 
 other church here — ^the Town Church," said 
 their guide. **But right here, in the little 
 old church from the board pulpit, he 
 preached his first sermon some years ago. 
 And as to-day is a festival and the day 
 before the dedication of the new church, he 
 has been asked to preach here. Shall we go 
 in to hear him?" 
 
 About two hours later, Kimz and Else 
 93 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 were returning slowly to the gate of the 
 city. 
 
 ^^Did I hear him aright T' asked Kunz, 
 rubbing his puzzled brow. ^^ Why, it sounded 
 as if he meant to say that pilgrimages and 
 relics and all the rest were of no use!" 
 
 ^^He said they often did more harm than 
 good," said old Else, ^^and that people 
 trusted to them rather than to faith and 
 the love of God." 
 
 ^^If that were so," said Kunz, ^Hhen 
 there would be no need to spend money for 
 indulgences, God would forgive us with- 
 out that. I remember he said, ^Indulgences 
 do nothing but teach people to fear the 
 punishment of sin, instead of the sin it- 
 self.' " 
 
 ^^ Truly, we know ourselves," said Else, 
 ^^how wicked George, the blacksmith's son, 
 bought an indulgence for three years, and 
 then came home and robbed his poor old 
 father; and he said he had done no sin, 
 because all the evil he might do in the next 
 three years was already forgiven!" 
 
 94 
 
DOCTOR MARTIN 
 
 *'I wish I knew what to think!" sighed 
 Kimz. *^If these sayings are true, we may 
 as well go home and say our prayers to 
 God, instead of praying before the relics 
 of the saints!" 
 
 *^I am sure he meant every word he said," 
 declared Else. ^'His bright, dark eyes 
 seemed to look straight into our hearts. 
 He is a good man, I know." 
 
 ^'Here is the gate," said Kunz. ^^Let us 
 walk a little faster; I am very hungry!" 
 
 In the palace of the great Elector, 
 Frederick the Wise, sat two men. One was 
 stout and of middle age, with richly curl- 
 ing beard and princely dress; the other, 
 slender and scholarly, was the court 
 preacher and private secretary of the Elec- 
 tor — George Spalatin, Martin's college 
 friend. 
 
 *^And what has the bold fellow to say 
 this time'?" inquired the Elector, glancing 
 at a letter which Spalatin had just opened. 
 
 ^^He thanks your Grace for the gown 
 95 
 
MARTIN OF IVIANSFELD 
 
 you sent him," said Spalatin, with a smile. 
 ^^He adds, ^It is of cloth almost too rich 
 for a preacher's robe, were it not the gift 
 of a prince.' " 
 
 <^Why, the little monk can turn a com- 
 pliment as well as if he had been brought 
 up in a court," laughed the Elector, not 
 ill pleased. '^What else does he say?" 
 
 *^ There are no compliments in the rest 
 of it," said Spalatin, doubtfully. 
 
 ^'I wager not!" said Frederick, stroking 
 his beard. ^^He is not given to compli- 
 menting me or my doings. Yet I am al- 
 ways curious to know what he will say and 
 do next. Read on, George." 
 
 ^^ 'As to what you write,' " read Spalatin, 
 *' 'about the most illustrious prince speaking 
 of me frequently and praising me, it does 
 not please me at alL I daily see and experi- 
 ence that those profit me most who speak of 
 me worst Yet I pray you permit me to 
 thank our prince for his favor and kind- 
 ness, though I would not be praised by you 
 
 96 
 
DOCTOR MARTIN 
 
 or any man; for the praise of man is 
 vain, and that of God only is true.' '' 
 
 ''There it is!" said Frederick. ''What 
 can you do with a man who would rather 
 have blame than praise? He cared not a 
 bit for my displeasure when he preached 
 two months ago, in my own Castle Church, 
 against relics and indulgences! I have no 
 doubt he will do the same thing again!" 
 
 "He is not ungrateful, Your Grace," said 
 Spalatin. "He well knows that it was your 
 Highness who gave the money for his doc- 
 tor's degree, which he could never have paid 
 himself; and I have not failed to tell him 
 of many other favors from your Grace. But 
 he is far more concerned about the favor of 
 God." 
 
 "And he is right!" said the noble Fred- 
 erick. "Sometimes I think I ought to take 
 a lesson from him. George, tell me now 
 what was in that letter you got from him 
 last spring, which you tried to conceal, and 
 begged me not to ask you to read!" 
 
 "Tour Grace," began Spalatin in mis- 
 97 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 ery; but the Elector clapped him kindly 
 on the shoulder. 
 
 *^You must and shall tell me! I promise 
 you I will do him no harm. If I am wrong, 
 I can bear to learn it even from a poor 
 teacher in my own university ! If I cannot 
 do this, let men no more call me Frederick 
 the Wise!" 
 
 Unable to find further argument, Spala- 
 tin drew from a hidden pocket in his gown 
 a worn and faded letter. 
 
 ^' 'Many things,' " he read, '' 'please your 
 Elector and appear glorious in his eyes, 
 which displease God. I do not deny that 
 the prince is most wise in all worldly mat- 
 ters, but in those which pertain to God 
 and salvation I think he is seven times 
 blind. I do not wish you to conceal this; 
 I am ready to say it to him myself.' " 
 
 Spalatin glanced up, in some anxiety. 
 The Elector sat with bowed head, pulling 
 nervously at his beard. 
 
 At last he looked up, and there was no 
 anger in his face. 
 
 98 
 
DOCTOR MARTIN 
 
 ''You may go, George," he said gently. 
 ''I wish to be alone and think quietly awhile 
 on these bold words. What a courage has 
 the little monkl'' 
 
 99 
 
THE SOUND OF HAMMER-BLOWS 
 
IX 
 
 THE SOUND OF HAMMER-BLOWS 
 
 THE small town of Juterbog was in a 
 great stir one fair morning in the year 
 1517. Everybody was in festal array and 
 on the main street a procession seemed to 
 be forming. 
 
 Here were the magistrates of the little 
 town; the teachers of its schools, leading 
 their scholars; priests, monks, men and 
 women of every degree, carrvdng candles 
 and garlands. Over their heads waved 
 banners and pennants of every description. 
 It was plain that this was a great occa- 
 sion. 
 
 **Why, good morning, cousin Heinz!" 
 exclaimed a portly citizen, whose dress 
 and the badge he wore proclaimed him a 
 member of the ^* guild" or union of bakers. 
 **I did not know you were here!" 
 
 103 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 ^^I came last night from Wittenberg,'' 
 said Heinz in reply, "I wanted to see what 
 is going on here." 
 
 ^^Ah, you can't have such grand doings 
 as this in Wittenberg!" laughed the baker. 
 ^^Is it true that the Elector Frederick has 
 forbidden the sale of indulgences in his 
 dominions?''' 
 
 ^'Yes, Fritz, it is true!" replied his 
 cousin. ^^He wants his people to keep all 
 their money to pay for his own churches 
 and colleges! He has no mind to divide it 
 with the Holy Father at Eome!" 
 
 ^^It matters not to me who gets the 
 money," said Fritz, '^whether it is Pope 
 Leo or our ovni prince, Albert; whether 
 it goes to build St. Peter's Church at Rome, 
 or to pay for making our Albert an arch- 
 bishop. All I care for is to receive the 
 pardon, and have an easy mind for the rest 
 of my life!" 
 
 ^^For myself," said Heinz, ^^I think it is 
 very good of the Holy Father to sell thus 
 to us the extra merits of the saints. They 
 
 104 
 
THE SOUND OF HAMMER-BLOWS 
 
 do not need them for themselves, and it is 
 a great thing for folks like you and me 
 who are too busy to spend our lives pray- 
 ing and doing deeds of charity, like St. 
 Martin, St George, and all the rest of 
 them." 
 
 ^'Bj the way," said Fritz, suddenly re- 
 minded of something, **how about your 
 Dr. Martin, over there in Wittenberg? I 
 hear he does not like the selling of pardons. " 
 
 *^He has preached against it several 
 times," said Heinz, grudgingly. 
 
 ^^What would he say, if he knew one of 
 his flock had come twenty miles to meet 
 Friar Tetzel and get an indulgence?" in- 
 quired Fritz, laughing. 
 
 ^^It is none of his business!" declared 
 Heinz, defiantly. * * But I '11 confess to you, ' ' 
 he said, in a lower tone, looking around 
 to see that no one else was listening, ^*that 
 I should not care to go and tell Dr. Martin 
 that I had been here. I am not sure, after 
 all^ that I will buy a pardon j I only came 
 
 105 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 to see the procession, and hear what the 
 friar has to say." 
 
 *^I must leave you now!" said Fritz, 
 catching a signal from another of the 
 bakers. *^Our guild is ready to fall in line; 
 the procession is about to move. I will 
 see you again, cousin." 
 
 The banners moved forward; the choris- 
 ters of the parish church struck up a chant, 
 and the whole company began their march. 
 Yonder on the road was a distant cloud of 
 dust. Friar John Tetzel was coming to 
 set up the sale of pardons in Juterbog. 
 
 First out of the dust-cloud appeared a 
 man on horseback, bearing a great red cross. 
 Next came another rider, holding a velvet 
 cushion on which lay a roll of parchment, 
 with a heavy seal hanging from it. 
 
 ^^That is Friar Tetzel's commission from 
 the Holy Father to sell us pardons!" went 
 around the whisper. 
 
 Next was carried upon a wagon a great 
 box, which was full of pardons, ready to be 
 signed with the names of purchasers. 
 
 106 
 
THE SOUND OF HAMMER-BLOWS 
 
 Last, but most important, came the chest 
 in which the money was to be placed. 
 
 After all these badges of his office, with 
 other monlvs in attendance, came the power- 
 ful figure of John Tetzel — a man of about 
 sixty, erect and proud, looking about on 
 the people who had come to meet him as a 
 monarch might acknowledge the greetings 
 of his subjects. 
 
 The procession from the town, which had 
 taken the side of the road when the red 
 cross drew near, now fell in behind the new- 
 comers, and followed into the village. Over 
 a flower-strewn way, with songs of triumph, 
 the people of Juterbog conducted the seller 
 of pardons into their little city. 
 
 Up the street and into the church they 
 went; the first magistrate humbly holding 
 the friar's stirrup while the rider dis- 
 mounted. 
 
 The red cross was set up in front of the 
 high altar; the chest of indulgences was 
 placed beside it. Then Friar Tetzel mounted 
 the pulpit and preached to a crowded house. 
 
 107 
 
IVIARTIN OF IVIANSFELD 
 
 As lie proceeded, many of his hearers wept 
 and trembled. Dreadful were the pictures 
 he drew of the torments of purgatory. There, 
 he told them, their parents and friends were 
 suffering in the flames, and to give them a 
 chance for rescue he had come this day to 
 Juterbog. 
 
 ^^Lo, heaven is openi" he cried, **When 
 win you enter, if not now? Oh, senseless 
 men, who do not appreciate such a shedding 
 forth of grace, how hard-hearted you are! 
 For twelve pennies you can deliver your 
 father, yet nevertheless you are so ungrate- 
 ful as not to relieve him in his distress. I 
 tell you that if you have but one garment you 
 should part with it rather than fail of such 
 grace!'' 
 
 After the sermon the traffic began in ear- 
 nest All smiles and bows was Friar Tetzel 
 now. 
 
 **This way! just step this way, my dear 
 friends. That is right ! Ah, this is a blessed 
 day! Ab soon as the money tinkles in the 
 
 108 
 
THE SOUND OF HAMMER-BLOWS 
 
 chest the soul of your friend will take its 
 flight for Paradise 1 
 
 ^'Tes, you can buy an indulgence for your 
 whole life, if you will, and it will keep you 
 out of purgatory in the bargain. Blessed be 
 the saints and our Holy Father, Leo!" 
 
 When at last Heinz of Wittenberg passed 
 out of the church door, a fair, new pardon, 
 signed and sealed^ reposed in the bosom of 
 his doublet 
 
 He was not the last of Dr. Martin's flock 
 to seek the sign of the red cross, where the 
 eloquent friar ^^sold grace for gold,'* as 
 thedx fearless preacher put it. 
 
 In spite of all that Martin Luther could 
 say, many of his people went, secretly or 
 openly, to Juterbog; and few if any came 
 honae without an indulgenca 
 
 ^'Why does not Dr. Martin do some- 
 thing'?" asked many of his Wittenberg 
 friends as the days went by. *^He could hit 
 the traffic a harder blow than it has ever yet 
 received, if he only would. Why does he 
 waitr' 
 
 109 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 And then, on a misty autumn morning 
 — ^the 31st of October, 1517 — there was an 
 echoing soimd of hammer-blows along a 
 quiet street in Wittenberg. 
 
 Some of the neighbors peered from their 
 doors to see what caused the noise ; but all 
 they saw was the figure of a man, robed in 
 the black gown of a scholar, walking quickly 
 away from the Castle Church ; and there, on 
 the church door, was a broad sheet of white. 
 
 There was nothing unusual about that. 
 Notices were often posted on the doors of 
 the church; and those who recognized the 
 figure in the black robe only said: 
 
 *^Dr. Martin has a long notice to post to- 
 day." 
 
 But about the time of the afternoon serv- 
 ice, held in honor of the Eve of All Saints, 
 there was a diferent scene about the church 
 door. Students and professors elbowed one 
 another for a chance to read what was writ- 
 ten on that white sheet. Townspeople, com- 
 ing to the service, formed an outer circle, 
 asking curious questions. Here and there, 
 
 110 
 
THE SOUND OF HAMMER-BLOWS 
 
 a friendly scholar was translating bits of the 
 Latin into German for the benefit of less 
 learned friends. 
 
 ^^The preachers of indulgences are mis- 
 taken who say that the Pope 's pardon frees 
 a man from all punishment and makes his 
 salvation sure." 
 
 '^ Every Christian who truly repents has 
 full forgiveness of sins, even without letters 
 of pardon." 
 
 *^ Christians are to be taught that he who 
 gives to the poor or lends to one in need does 
 better than he who buys indulgences." 
 
 *'If the Pope knew how the preachers of 
 indulgences rob the people, he would rather 
 have St. Peter's Church in ashes than have 
 it built with the flesh and bones of his 
 sheep." 
 
 *^To bring out the truth, Dr. Martin Lu- 
 ther will hold a debate on these questions at 
 Wittenberg. Those who cannot be present, 
 but wish to take part in this debate, are asked 
 to send their opinions by letter." 
 
 ^^Is that all?" demanded a prosperous 
 111 
 
IVIARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 citizen of Ms student nephew, who had been 
 interpreting for him. 
 
 ^'No, there are ninety-five such statements, 
 or theses,'' said the young man. ''I tell 
 you, uncle, this will make a stir!" 
 
 The student was not mistaken. Within 
 two weeks, all Germany was ringing with the 
 Ninety-five Theses of Dr. Martin Luther, 
 preacher and professor at Wittenberg ; and 
 Friar John Tetzel with frowning brow had 
 left his money-chest a little while and was 
 busily penning a reply. 
 
 ^'In four weeks," wrote one of Martin's 
 friends, ^^the Theses were spread over all 
 Christendom, as though the angels were the 
 postmen," 
 
 112 
 
DR. MABTIN'S bonfire 
 
DR. martin's bonfire 
 
 "T II THAT is the matter this morning?" 
 V V asked the youngest professor of the 
 University of Wittenberg laying down his 
 book in despair. 
 
 ^*0h, dear Master Philip," spoke np a 
 restless student, ** please pardon us! Your 
 lecture is most excellent, but you know we 
 are all excited, and it is hard for us to give 
 attention to-day." 
 
 The thin face of Master Philip Melanch- 
 thon broke into a smile. He was scarcely as 
 old as many of his pupils, and his slight 
 figure and homely features had been a dis- 
 appointment to those who saw him when 
 first he came to Wittenberg. But one lec- 
 ture was enough to make them feel that no 
 more learned man had ever entered among 
 them. 
 
 115 
 
IVIARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 Most of all was Martin Luther drawn to 
 this youth, fourteen years younger than him- 
 self, so different in every way from the bold 
 preacher against indulgences. 
 
 ^^I am bom to fight with mobs and evil 
 spirits," he often said, *^and so my writings 
 are very stormy and warlilvc. I must re- 
 move trees and stumps, cut away thorns and 
 thickets, and fill up quaking bogs. I am 
 the rough woodsman who must blaze the 
 way and clear the path. But Master Philip 
 comes along gently and quietly; builds and 
 plants, sows and waters with joy according 
 to the gifts God has richly bestowed upon 
 him." 
 
 Master Philip was beloved by all the 
 students. His lecture-room was always 
 crowded. But Dr. Martin was their hero; 
 and to-day they were all in excitement be- 
 cause of a rumor that was afloat about him. 
 
 The students were quick to catch Master 
 Philip 's smile. 
 
 *^Tell us, dear sir," pursued the speaker, 
 ^^is it true that we are to have a bonfire T' 
 
 116 
 
MASTER PHILIP WAS BELOVED BY ALL THE STUDENTS 
 
DR. MARTIN'S BONFIRE 
 
 ^^You will know to-morrow morning!" 
 said the teacher, his face growing grave once 
 more. *^But, since all of us are inclined to 
 think of other things, we will dismiss for 
 to-day." 
 
 With the roar of a breaking torrent the 
 crowd of eager students surged from the lec- 
 ture-room. 
 
 **It scarcely seems like three years," said 
 Urban Gratz to his friend Franz Spengler, 
 as they left the classroom together, ^^ since 
 we stood around the door of the Castle 
 Church, reading Dr. Martin's great chal- 
 lenge to the pope ! ' ' 
 
 ^^How much has happened since then!" 
 replied Franz. ^^Dr. Martin is now the best 
 known man in all Europe. But he did not 
 think, when he posted his Theses, that he 
 would ever be at strife with the whole 
 Church of Eome!" 
 
 ^^Nor be cast out of it by the pope!" re- 
 turned Urban. ^^How he urged us always 
 to be loyal to the head of the Church, and 
 
 117 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 said that surely the pope could not know 
 what his priests and bishops were doing.'' 
 
 **He thought the Holy Father would 
 surely judge his case justly," said Franz, 
 *^but he has found out that there was no 
 justice for him in Rome." 
 
 *^Dr. Martin cares little that he has 
 been declared a heretic,'' laughed Urban. 
 ^^When this bull of the pope came out, it 
 gave him sixty days to recant his errors. 
 Now six months have passed and he has not 
 taken back a word!" 
 
 **What a fuss they have made over him, 
 sending learned doctors and cardinals to 
 change his mind!" rejoined Franz. ^^But 
 this bull makes me angry, little as Dr. Mar- 
 tin cares for it. The decrees of the pope, if 
 he were really a good or wise man, would 
 not condemn without reason." And he be- 
 gan to recite the opening sentence of the 
 bull or decree issued by the pope against 
 Martin Luther. 
 
 ** Arise, Lord, plead thine own cause, arise 
 118 
 
DR. MARTIN'S BONFIRE 
 
 and protect the vineyard thou gavest Peter 
 from the wild beast who is devouring it." 
 
 *'Wild beast!" he quoted, scornfully. 
 ^^Our Dr. Martin! Never mind, we shall 
 have some fun to-morrow!" 
 
 **The students at Leipsic tore the bull to 
 pieces, ' ' said Urban. ' ' At Erfurt, they threw 
 it into the water, saying, *It is only a bubble ; 
 let it float!' Here we shall give it to the 
 flames. I hope Dr. Martin himself will do 
 it!" 
 
 Next morning the students shouted with 
 joy over the announcement they found 
 posted in Master Philip's handwriting. 
 
 ^'Whoever is devoted to gospel truth, let 
 him be on hand at nine o'clock by the Church 
 of the Holy Cross, outside the walls " 
 
 Most of the readers waited to see no more ; 
 they knew well why the summons was 
 given. There was no thought of lectures that 
 day. Long before nine o'clock, streams of 
 townspeople and students went pouring out 
 of the city gate, seeking good places to see 
 what was about to happen. 
 
 119 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 Already willing hands had brought wood, 
 and had piled upon it the books that con- 
 tained the laws of the Church of Rome. 
 
 '^He is coming! Our Doctor is coming!" 
 ran a murmur through the crowd. 
 
 Pale but resolute, with set lips and clutch- 
 ing a roll of parchment in his hand. Dr. 
 Martin came from the city gate. Around 
 him were the professors of the University, 
 all in the robes of their office. 
 
 The students were ready to cheer, but the 
 grave looks of their teachers held them in 
 check. This was no holiday game, but the 
 defiance of a brave man to a Church that 
 had 3ast him out for trying to cleanse it of 
 its errors. It might mean life or death for 
 the fearless Doctor, trouble for Wittenberg, 
 and difficulties for its princely master, the 
 Elector Frederick. 
 
 Now the little company had arrived at 
 the heap prepared for the burning. 
 
 Master Philip, kneeling down, set fire to 
 the wood. The whole assembly seemed to 
 hold its breath. It was so still that all could 
 
 120 
 
DR. MARTIN'S BONFIRE 
 
 hear the crackling of the little flames as 
 they rose around the dry fagots. A thin col- 
 umn of blue smoke rose quickly into the 
 frosty December air. 
 
 Silently they watched while the fire drew 
 the leathern covers and crisped the edges of 
 the books that lay upon it. 
 
 When all was well kindled, Dr. Martin 
 came forward. The pope's decree was un- 
 rolled in his hand, the hulla or seal that gave 
 it the name of bull dangling close above the 
 flames. 
 
 Then the strong, penetrating voice of Mar- 
 tin Luther rose high and clear without a 
 quiver or a break. It was not his own en- 
 emy, but that of Christ and the truth which 
 he was about to destrov. 
 
 *^ Because thou hast troubled the Holy One 
 of God,'' he cried out to the parchment dan- 
 gling from his hand, ^^may eternal fire con- 
 sume thee!" 
 
 In another moment, the parchment lay 
 curling and twisting like a living thing 
 among the flames. 
 
 121 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 Then the students could be restrained no 
 longer. Some one began to sing the great 
 diant of thanksgiving : 
 
 * ' ' We praise thee, O God !' ' 
 
 Voice after voice caught it up, until the 
 Vrhole company was rolling the melody up to 
 the cloudy winter skies. 
 
 Then Dr. Martin and the other professors 
 turned and went back to the city. 
 
 All day the excited students went about 
 the town gathering all the books that they 
 could find written by Luther's opponents — 
 of whom therf^ were many — and bringing 
 them to the bonfire, to keep it burning. 
 
 The spirit of sport came upon them and 
 they held a mock funeral over the ashes, with 
 chants and orations. 
 
 But Dr. Martin spent many hours in 
 prayer. He had attacked the evils in the 
 Church; the Church had cast him out. He 
 had great need of converse with the God in 
 whose name he had made his protest. 
 
 122 
 
BEFORE THE GREAT CJOTJNCIIi 
 
XI 
 
 BEFORE THE GREAT COUNCIL 
 
 A CARRIAGE, in which sat four men, 
 was rapidly approaching the imperial 
 city of Worms. After it rode a nmnber of 
 horsemen, and before it advanced a herald, 
 bearing the yellow and black banner of the 
 empire. 
 
 *^See how the people are pouring from the 
 gate to receive him!'' said one of the riders, 
 Dr. Justus Jonas of Wittenberg, to a com- 
 panion. **Hark! the watchman on the gate 
 sounds a trumpet, to announce his coming to 
 the whole city ! Now all the people are leav- 
 ing their midday meal, and pouring into the 
 streets to see Dr. Martin Luther!" 
 
 ' ' He is coming ! he is coming ! ' ' rose the cry 
 within the city. 
 
 *'Come, hasten! let us see the great man," 
 exclaimed one citizen to another. 
 
 125 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 '^TMs is a great day!" replied his neigh- 
 bor, as they strained their eyes toward the 
 gate. * * The man is coming who has taken up 
 the cause of the people against the priests 
 and bishops, yes, against the pope himself! 
 No wonder the whole nation has arisen to 
 stand behind him ! ' ' 
 
 '^Not all!'' said a surly voice beside them. 
 ''Not all, good neighbor. Archbishop Al- 
 bert is furious with him; Duke George de- 
 clares that he shall lose his head. It will be 
 well for the noisy heretic if he returns alive 
 from Worms." 
 
 ^^He has the emperor's promise of safe- 
 conduct ! ' ' said the first. 
 
 ^*So had John Huss at Constance," re- 
 turned the other, ^ ' yet they burned him alive ! 
 This Luther should be careful how he an- 
 swers the great and mighty Council." 
 
 ^^See !" said another, pointing to an upper 
 window. **See the pope's ambassador, the 
 wily Aleander, peeping from his window, 
 like a snake from a hole, to see what Dr. 
 Martin looks like." 
 
 126 
 
BEFORE THE GREAT COUNCll. 
 
 ^^He dare not come out," said the first 
 speaker. ^^He is so hated here, since Dr. 
 Martin's books were burned at his insistence, 
 that he would run the risk of being stoned, 
 if he showed himself just now." 
 
 *'And much good it did to bum them!" 
 said his friend. *^The city is full of them 
 again ; they are offered for sale even at the 
 doors of the bishop's palace." 
 
 *^Wait, neighbors," said the surly voice 
 once more. ^^It may not be books alone that 
 are burned at Worms, before the Diet is 
 over." 
 
 ^'He comes! he comes!" broke out the 
 shouts again, as the banner of the empire 
 came in sight. 
 
 Around the corner came the carriage, and 
 halted at the hotel of the Kjiights of St 
 John. Out of it stepped a short, dark- 
 haired man in a black gown. 
 
 He cast a glance around, with his pierc- 
 ing, dark eyes. The throng pressed to touch 
 his garments. 
 
 Up at the housetops he looked ; down the 
 127 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 street and up again. Every door, every win- 
 dow, was crowded with gazing faces. 
 
 ^^God be with me !" exclaimed Martin Lu- 
 ther, feeling suddenly that the eyes of all 
 Germany, yes, of all Europe, were upon him. 
 
 Then, turning quickly, he passed into his 
 hotel. 
 
 That evening came his friend, George 
 Spalatin, the Elector's secretary, to greet 
 Dr. Martin. 
 
 '* Thank God that you have arrived in 
 safety!" he exclaimed, greeting Martin with 
 warm affection. 
 
 ^^Our journey has been safe and prosper- 
 ous, dear George," returned Dr. Martin, 
 brightly. 
 
 *'He speaks very mildly of his triumphal 
 procession," said Dr. Jonas, laughing. '*At 
 every city and hamlet he was met by 
 marching and singing people, cheering him 
 on his way. 
 
 *^When we came near Erfurt the whole 
 town poured out to welcome him. Profes- 
 sors, students, citizens, all came flocking out. 
 
 128 
 
BEFORE THE GREAT COUNCn. 
 
 Dr. Eoban Hess, one of his old college mates, 
 had prepared a poem in his honor ; another 
 delivered an oration. 
 
 ^^We stayed there over Sunday; and an- 
 other good friend of Dr. Martin's, Prior 
 John Lange, asked him to preach for him. 
 The church was so crowded that one of the 
 galleries cracked, and the people thought it 
 was going to break down. But Dr. Martin 
 cried out to them to have no fear, and quieted 
 them ; then he went on and finished his ser- 
 mon. 
 
 ^^ Everywhere the people begged him not 
 to come to Worms. 
 
 '' ^ Your life is not safe, dear Dr. Martin. 
 Do not go on,' was the cry on every hand. 
 But he answered, 
 
 " 'Though there were as many devils in 
 Worms as there are tiles on the houseroof s, 
 I would still go on!' " 
 
 ''Yes," replied Spalatin, ''I myself was 
 afraid, and sent him a message to turn back ; 
 but his faith and courage make me ashamed 
 to fear. The Elector is here, and will stand 
 
 129 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 by Ms professor and Ms umversity to the 
 utmost of Ms power/' 
 
 ^^I have a stronger Friend than the great 
 Elector, dear George/' put in Martin with 
 a quiet smile. 
 
 Next day the summons came for Martin 
 to appear before the great Diet, or council 
 of the empire, which was holding its ses- 
 sions in the bishop 's palace. 
 
 The streets were so thronged that the im- 
 perial herald was not able to get Dr. Mar- 
 tin safely through the crowd; they were 
 obliged to go back into the hotel garden and 
 so make their way to the garden of the 
 palace. 
 
 Into the great hall the herald led the soli- 
 tary, black-robed figure. Within sat wait- 
 ing for him all the nobles and princes of 
 the empire. 
 
 Just as the doors were opened, the gray- 
 bearded old general, George of Frundsberg, 
 stepped to his side and slapped him on the 
 shoulder. 
 
 * ' Little monk, little monk ! ' ' he said kindly, 
 130 
 
BEFORE THE GREAT COUNCIL 
 
 a 
 
 you are about to go into a more terrible 
 battle than I and my knights have ever 
 fought; but if your cause is just, and God 
 is with you, go forward boldly, and have no 
 fear!" 
 
 And from all around came cries of encour- 
 agement. 
 
 ^ ^ Play the man ! Fear not ! ' ' 
 
 From the crowd outside, and the people in 
 the streets, arose shouts that could be heard 
 within the palace. 
 
 '^ Luther, our Luther!" ''God bless Dr. 
 Martin!" 
 
 So he went in, with smiling lips, to face 
 the brilliant assembly. 
 
 On the throne chair, in his robes of state, 
 sat the young emperor, Charles the Fifth. 
 His long, pale face was calm as marble ; but 
 as his eyes fell on the slight figure following 
 the herald a sneer crossed his cold lips. 
 Turning to the nobles beside him he said dis- 
 dainfully, 
 
 ' ' Is that the monk ? He will never make a 
 heretic of me!" 
 
 131 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 All about him gathered the princes of his 
 realm — archbishops, cardinals, electors, mar- 
 graves, dukes, and landgraves ; beside these, 
 the ambassadors of all the principal rulers 
 of Europe. 
 
 Among them all Dr. Martin saw but one 
 face he could count friendly — the broad, 
 good-natured countenance of the wise Elec- 
 tor Frederick. Cold and hostile looks were 
 plenty; and among them the dark, crafty 
 face of the pope's ambassador, Aleander, 
 cast on him such a look of hatred that he 
 said to himself : 
 
 *^So must Annas and Caiaphas have 
 looked on my Lord and Master!" 
 
 ^^What terrible eyes he has!" thought 
 Aleander, shrinking from the keen gaze. ' ' I 
 wish he would not look at me!" 
 
 Beside the throne stood a table with books 
 upon it. As Luther glanced toward it, he 
 saw the titles of several of his own books. 
 
 Then the voice of the chancellor broke 
 the silence. 
 
 *^ Martin Luther, his imperial majesty has 
 132 
 
BEFORE THE GREAT COUNCIL 
 
 summoned you here, that you may recant 
 and recall the words you have written in 
 these books, published by you and spread 
 abroad. 
 
 '^ First, do you confess that these books, 
 having your name on the title-page, were 
 written by you ? 
 
 ^^ Second, will you recall and retract what 
 vou have said in them, or will vou reaffirm 
 what is written therein?" 
 
 ' ' Let the titles of the books be read ! ' ' cried 
 a voice. 
 
 As the names of the books were read, one 
 after another, Luther bowed his head, assent- 
 ing to each. At the close, he spoke. 
 
 ^^I cannot deny that I have written all the 
 books named ; and I have also written some 
 others not mentioned here. 
 
 "As to the other question, it is too grave 
 to be answered in a word; for, not having 
 considered what I am to reply, I might not 
 answer wisely, and might utter either more 
 or less than the exact truth. 
 
 "Therefore, I beg that your Imperial 
 133 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 Majesty will give me time to consider, that I 
 may answer the question without denying 
 my Lord or losing my own soul." 
 
 There was a buzz of excited conversation 
 among the councilors. The Italian ambassa- 
 dors did not want delay; the heretic had 
 spoken in a low voice, and they believed that 
 he was frightened and ready to recant if he 
 were threatened. 
 
 At length the chancellor announced that 
 a delay of twenty-four hours should be 
 granted; and the herald led Martin back 
 to his room at the inn. 
 
 im 
 
^^HERE I stand'* 
 
XII 
 
 '*HERE I stand" 
 
 FRIGHTENED^ not at all!'' declared 
 Justus Jonas next day to the friends 
 who besieged the hotel all the morning. 
 *^You will hear whether he is frightened 
 when he is ready to give his answer!" 
 
 '^But why did he not answer at once?" 
 asked one impatient noble. 
 
 **Dear sir," said Dr. Jonas, ^^he wanted 
 to consult a Friend." 
 
 *^What friend?" exclaimed the noble in 
 surprise. ' ' Surely Dr. Martin needs no one 
 to tell hun w^hat to say! Did he consult a 
 lawyer, so that he might be sure of saying 
 nothing his enemies might turn against 
 him?" 
 
 *^A11 night," said Dr. Jonas, in a lower 
 tone, *^all night we have heard Dr. Martin's 
 
 137 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 Toice, in his room, talking with his Friend, 
 
 *^ 'O thou, my God!' we heard him say, 
 ^ stand by me against the wisdom of the 
 world ! It is thy cause, not mine. For mine 
 own honor I am not concerned; with these 
 great men of the world I have nothing to do. 
 I am ready to sacrifice my life, as patiently 
 as a lamb. But the cause is thine ; thou must 
 help me to defend it!' " 
 
 The nobleman's voice was husky, as he 
 turned away. 
 
 * ' God grant it ! " he said. 
 
 Once more, late in the afternoon, the 
 herald came to conduct Dr. Martin before 
 the Diet. The crowd in the streets was 
 greater than ever, and again they made their 
 way through the gardens to the palace. 
 
 ^^How cheerful he looks!" said the watch- 
 ers in the palace court, as Martin passed into 
 the building. 
 
 '^ Perhaps he has made up his mind to re- 
 cant," said one. ^^He knows he is safe." 
 
 The hall was so crowded that the princes 
 had difficulty in getting to their seats. Al- 
 
 138 
 
"HERE I STAND" 
 
 eander was not present. He said that the 
 pope's ambassador could not demean him- 
 self by hearing a heretic speak. Probably 
 the ^Herrible eyes" of the lonely monk had 
 more to do with his absence. 
 
 Again the chancellor called on Dr. Mar- 
 tin to recant. His words were bitter and 
 threatening ; but they made no change in the 
 serene look on the face of the accused. 
 
 Then Martin Luther began to speak. All 
 hesitation was gone from his manner. His 
 head was raised, and his ringing voice 
 reached every comer of the crowded hall. 
 
 *'Most serene Lord and Emperor," he be- 
 gan, **most illustrious princes, most clement 
 lords " 
 
 The throng grew still as death to listen. 
 The April twilight was darkening, and 
 torches had been lighted to illuminate the 
 hall. The heat grew intense; yet no one 
 stirred, while Dr. Martin spoke on and on. 
 
 *^My books are of three kinds," he said. 
 *^Some are works on pious subjects, to which 
 no objection can be made by any one. Some 
 
 139 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 are attacks on the power of the pope and 
 the many evils in the Church ; these I cannot 
 retract, without denying the doctrine of 
 Christ. The third kind are those in which 
 I have answered those who have written 
 against me; in these I may have been too 
 severe, and have made some mistakes in the 
 way of speaking too violently. 
 
 ^^But, if any one can show me anything in 
 any of my writings which is false and con- 
 trary to the Word of God, I am ready to 
 throw my books into the fire with my own 
 hands!'' 
 
 *^ Speak to the point, Luther! Will you, 
 or will you not recant ? ' ' cried the chancellor. 
 
 Then Martin, his deep eyes glowing like 
 stars, flung back the immortal answer : 
 
 ^^ Unless I am convinced, by the Holy 
 Scriptures — not by the word of popes and 
 councils, for they may be in error — but by 
 the Word of God himself, by which alone 
 my conscience is bound, I neither can nor 
 will recant anything!" 
 
 A tumult of voices arose. The chancellor 
 140 
 
"HERE I STAND" 
 
 began to argue, the princes to interrupt. Out 
 of the niidst of the din once more arose the 
 voice of Martin Luther, clear and firm as an 
 angel's trumpet: 
 
 ''Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. 
 God help me ! Amen ! ' ' 
 
 Then the young emperor arose, dismissing 
 the Diet. The assembly poured out of the 
 hall, pushing and thronging so that several 
 of the imperial guards had to he sent to Mar- 
 tin's side, to lead him safely through the 
 crowd. 
 
 As he passed out of the doors, with a 
 guard on either side, the nobles in the court 
 cried out, 
 
 ''He is arrested! they are taking him to 
 prison!" 
 
 "They are taking me to my hotel," called 
 out Martin, and the crowd was pacified. 
 
 Across the palace yard and into that of 
 the hotel he was led, to the inn where his 
 waiting friends had spent the anxious hours. 
 
 '^I am through! I am through!" cried 
 141 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 Martin exultingly, with uplifted hands, as 
 they rushed to meet him. 
 
 *^You have retracted nothing, dear Dr. 
 Martin"?'' cried his faithful friend, Nicholas 
 Amsdorf. 
 
 ^^Eetracted?" exclaimed Martin, with the 
 ring of victory in his voice. '^Even though 
 I had a hundred heads, I would have had 
 them all cut off before I would have retracted 
 anything!'' 
 
 The traveling carriage in which Dr. Mar- 
 tin and his companions sat was rolling slowly 
 along a forest road not far from the town of 
 Eisenach. Martin had been spending the last 
 few days in visiting the scenes of his boy- 
 hood. He had just left the home of his aged 
 grandmother in the little village of Mora. 
 Of his traveling companions none were left 
 but Nicholas Amsdorf and a monk from Wit- 
 tenberg named Petzenstein. 
 
 ^'Well, Dr. Martin, we shall soon be in 
 Wittenberg again; and what then?" asked 
 the monk, as they journeyed along. 
 
 142 
 
"HERE I STAND" 
 
 ^'Yes; what then?" laughed Dr. Martin, 
 in reply. 
 
 **You do not seem to consider, Brother 
 Martin, that the emperor is about to de- 
 clare you an outlaw!" continued the monk. 
 
 ^'Yes, brother, I know it well enough," 
 said Martin. *^I think I have heard all the 
 points of that decree on which Aleander and 
 the emperor are so busy. My books are all 
 to be burned, and no more are to be pub- 
 lished, sold, or read. I am to be seized 
 wherever found and handed over to the em- 
 peror for justice. All men are forbidden to 
 give me food or shelter or to aid me in any 
 way. I am a condemned heretic, a man out- 
 side of the law ! How happy the pope will 
 be!" 
 
 *'You take it very lightly. Brother Mar- 
 tin," said the monk, gloomily. 
 
 *^My cause is in good hands," said Martin 
 cheerily. *^One who is stronger than pope 
 or emperor has cared for me and will not 
 leave me now ! ' ' 
 
 The twilight came on early under the dense 
 143 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 leafage of the forest. Still the horses 
 plodded on. The monk was plainly nervous, 
 and Amsdorf now and then cast uneasy 
 glances on either side ; but Dr. Martin's face 
 was cheerful and serene, and his talk be- 
 trayed no fear. 
 
 Suddenly a sound of galloping hoofs smote 
 their ears. Before the sleepy driver of the 
 carriage could do more than look around, 
 five horsemen, wearing masks, barred the 
 way. 
 
 ^^ Robbers!" cried the monk, in terror, 
 leaping from the carriage, and making off 
 into the woods. 
 
 To him the horsemen paid little attention ; 
 nor yet to Amsdorf, who was not so greatly 
 alarmed. 
 
 With a show of force, they dragged the 
 driver from his seat. 
 
 ^^Be still!" said one of the masked men to 
 him with a threatening gesture. '^We will 
 do you no harm. We want nobody but Dr. 
 Martin Luther." 
 
 Martin was already standing up in the car- 
 144 
 
iMig^WEt 
 
 WE WANT NOBODV BUT DR. MARTIN LUTHER " 
 
"HERE I STAND' 
 
 riage. With no resistance he allowed his 
 captors to throw about him the long cloak 
 of a knight, and lead him away into the for- 
 est, where a haltered horse awaited him. 
 
 *^0n again to Wittenberg!'' commanded 
 Nicholas Amsdorf, when the highwaymen 
 had vanished with their prize. ''We must 
 go and tell them that Dr. Martin has been 
 seized and carried off. May God keep him in 
 safety!" 
 
 145 
 
''knight George" 
 
XIII 
 
 Q' 
 
 '* KNIGHT GEORGE" 
 
 PRING had passed into summer and 
 k3 smnmer into autumn. Now the snows 
 of winter were bending the great trees 
 around the high castle of Wartburg, crown- 
 ing the lofty hill above the tovra of Eisenach. 
 
 One December day, before the early 
 shadows had begun to fall, a man on horse- 
 back might have been seen ascending the 
 steep path to the castle. The road was partly 
 broken, but in places where the snow had 
 drifted he was obliged to dismount and lead 
 his horse around. 
 
 Mounting again, after one of these ex- 
 cursions from the way, he caught sight of a 
 figure moving under the leafless trees. Rid- 
 ing forward a little farther, he halted to look 
 more closely. 
 
 149 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 It was a man in the garb of a knight, with 
 a sword belted to his side and a dark cloak 
 hanging from his shoulders. A thick, black 
 beard covered the lower part of his face; 
 above it sparkled eyes at once kind and keen. 
 
 When the eyes glanced toward the road 
 and perceived the rider sitting his horse like 
 a statue, the knight turned, scattering with 
 a hasty gesture the remainder of the crumbs 
 with which he had been feeding a little flock 
 of snowbirds. 
 
 **Is it you, my dear George?" he cried. 
 ''Have you come at last to see me?" 
 
 ''MartiQ, is it really you?" queried 
 George Spalatin, still looking dubiously at 
 the knightly figure. 
 
 ' ^ No, no ! " laughed the black-bearded man. 
 ''Martin is not known about here. To all 
 but the lord of the castle I am Knight 
 George, paying a long visit to Wartburg." 
 
 Spalatin dismounted and threw the bridle 
 over his arm. Together the two friends 
 walked slowly up the winding path toward 
 the castle. 
 
 150 
 
To AIJ. HIT THE LORD OF THE CASTLE 1 AM KMi.HT GEORGE 
 
"KNIGHT GEORGE" 
 
 ^^ First you will go, of course, to the good 
 knight of the castle," said Martin. ^^Then 
 come to my room, for I have many things 
 to say to you in private.'' 
 
 Several hours later, they sat in the Decem- 
 ber d,usk with no other light than that of a 
 wood-fire crackling merrily, in an upper 
 chamber of a small building apart from the 
 main body of the castle. 
 
 ^^This is a safe and quiet retreat you have 
 chosen for me, George," said Martin, ^^or I 
 should say, our gracious master the Elector 
 for I guessed all along that he was at the 
 bottom of the plan to hide me away, though 
 you tell me he would not for a long time al- 
 low you to tell him where I was." 
 
 *^ It is a safe retreat, while you stay in it, 
 Martin," said Spalatin, rather severely. 
 '^But you show too much anxiety to be out of 
 it ; and that is why I have come here in the 
 middle of winter." 
 
 ^^Oh! so you know I have been to Witten- 
 berg!" said Martin serenely. ^*It was only 
 for three days, George; I did not even go 
 
 151 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 near my lodgings, but spent the time in the 
 house of Nicholas Amsdorf ; and you know 
 I was well disguised. Why, you yourself, 
 when you came just now, hardly knew me 
 in this beard!" 
 
 **It was too great a risk,' said Spalatin, 
 shaking his head. ^^AU the country rang 
 with the sudden disappearance of Martin 
 Luther ; and spies have been busy ever since 
 to discover your whereabouts. You will be 
 caught ; and then you know what to expect." 
 
 ^^Dear friend," said Martin, gravely, 
 'Hhere are many troubles at Wittenberg and 
 I felt that I must go and help to quiet them. 
 Perhaps before long I shall go back to stay ; 
 I must, if I am needed." 
 
 '^Then you go at your own risk," said 
 Spalatin abruptly. 
 
 ^^I shall not ask the Elector to protect 
 me," returned Martin. ^^I shall go under 
 a far higher protection than his 1 
 
 ^^But now, dear George, be not angry with 
 me. I have surely been patient and quiet all 
 these months, even when I was ready to die 
 
 152 
 
"KNIGHT GEORGE" 
 
 of idleness. I have roamed the woods gath- 
 ering wild strawberries in sunamer and nuts 
 in autumn; I have even tried to engage in 
 the pleasures of the chase with the knights 
 of the castle, and have decided that these 
 sports of the nobility are not for a plain doc- 
 tor like me!'' 
 
 ^^Did you not enjoy the hunting?" in- 
 quired Spalatin, his face relaxing into a 
 smile. 
 
 ^^A bitter-sweet pleasure!'' said Dr. Mar- 
 tin. ^^We caught two hares and three poor 
 little partridges — a fine occupation for men 
 of leisure ! 
 
 *^One poor little hare came running to me, 
 as if it would ask me to save it. I hid it in 
 my sleeve, and stood aside; but the dogs 
 smelt it out, and bit it through my coat, 
 breaking its leg. I have had enough of such 
 hunting!" 
 
 '^But you had books," said Spalatin. 
 
 ' * Yes, and wrote them ! ' ' said Martin. * * I 
 have been busy enough at that. The trouble 
 
 153 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 is that you and tlie Elector want to stop me ; 
 my writings are too bold for you." 
 
 *^ There are only a few we want to keep 
 back," said Spalatin. *^Here you are writ- 
 ing about the vows of the monks being of 
 no effect ; and over there at Wittenberg your 
 monks are leaving the monastery and ex- 
 citing the people by trying to take up other 
 occupations. If all the monks leave their 
 houses and go out to become tradesmen, how 
 shall the poor weavers and bakers and mer- 
 chants live any more^" 
 
 ^^I must say what is the truth, George," 
 said Martin, ^^no matter what comes of it. 
 I was a monk myself, and am set free from 
 that bondage by the grace of God. I know 
 now that it is not his will that men should 
 leave the common path of life to serve him. 
 I have dedicated my book on the vows of 
 monks to my good old father, who told me 
 from the first that they were wrong. 
 
 ^^But now, George, I have a plan which 
 may suit you better. We talked it over at 
 Wittenberg." 
 
 154 
 
"KNIGHT GEORGE" 
 
 **What is that?^' asked Spalatin. 
 
 ^'George," said Dr. Martin, drawing hia 
 chair nearer to his friend, **I have taken 
 many of the old beliefs away from the 
 people. 
 
 '^I have told them that masses and pil- 
 grimages, relics and indulgences, prayers to 
 the saints and to the Virgin Mary, are all 
 of no use. 
 
 ^*I have taught them that the priests and 
 the bishops are not to be followed unless 
 they speak the truth of God. I have broken 
 the chains in which they were held and freed 
 them from obedience to the pope. 
 
 *'I have told them, over and over, that they 
 need no man or saint to stand between them 
 and their Father in heaven. 
 
 *'But how shall they worship him whom 
 they do not know? How shall they know 
 him, except through his own Word ? 
 
 '^ You know that the priests have tried to 
 keep the people from reading God's Word 
 for themselves. Even among the learned, 
 few know the Bible as they should ; and the 
 
 155 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 common people cannot read it because they 
 know no Latin. It is true that some have 
 tried to put the Word of God into our lan- 
 guage ; but these translations are full of er- 
 rors, and they are not in simple words that 
 common folks can understand." 
 
 *'You mean " said Spalatin. 
 
 ' ' I mean, ' ' said Dr. Martin, ^ ' that I am be- 
 ginning to put the New Testament into such 
 German as the mother uses in the home, the 
 child in the street, the common man in the 
 market-place. I mean that I am going to 
 put the Bible in their own speech into the 
 hands of the people of Germany!" 
 
 ^^ Martin," said Spalatin, *Hhis is a great 
 undertaking ! Will not the poor and humble 
 be too ignorant to understand even in such 
 language the great truths of the Bible?" 
 
 ^^Tou speak like a priest!" said Martin, 
 vigorously. ^ ' God will make his Word plain. 
 'The entrance of thy word giveth light.' 
 That is the promise!" 
 
 156 
 
THE STRANGER AT THE BLACK BEAR 
 
XIV 
 
 THE STRANGER AT THE BLACK BEAR 
 
 TWO young men were traveling along a 
 muddy road in a pelting thunderstorm. 
 
 '^We are almost at Jena now, Walter," 
 said the elder of the two. ''There we shall 
 find shelter.'' 
 
 ''Yes, here is the gate!" said the other. 
 *'How glad I shall be to get out of the 
 storm!" 
 
 Into the streets they passed, and began to 
 inquire for lodgings. From inn to inn they 
 went, but nowhere could find entertainment ; 
 and aU the time the rain came pitilessly 
 down. 
 
 ' ' There seems to be no place for us, John, ' ' 
 said Walter anxiously. ' ' Shall we not go out 
 again and try to find shelter in some vil- 
 lage or farmhouse?" 
 
 159 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 To the gate they turned again; and just 
 beneath it they ran ahnost into a well- 
 dressed citizen, standing under the arch to 
 wait for a lull in the tempest. 
 
 ^^ Where are you going, friends, in such a 
 storm?'' he inquired kindly. 
 
 ^^ We are going to seek lodging in the coun- 
 try, sir," replied John. 
 
 **It is very late," said the man, with fa- 
 therly interest. * ' The night will come on be- 
 fore you can reach the nearest village ; and 
 in this driving rain you may easily miss the 
 road. Would it not be better to stay in the 
 city to-night?" 
 
 '^Dear sir," said John, **we called at all 
 the inns to which we were directed, but 
 everywhere we were turned away, and could 
 get no lodging. We must go farther, for 
 we cannot sleep out in the rain." 
 
 ^^Have you tried the Black Bear?" asked 
 the good man. 
 
 ^' Where is that, sir? We did not see it." 
 
 ^^Just outside the city," was the reply. 
 160 
 
THE STRANGER AT THE BLACK BEAR 
 
 ''Look this way; you can see the lights twin- 
 kling through the mist.'' 
 
 ''Thank you, thank you, kind sir!" ex- 
 claimed the young man. "Come, Walter, 
 we will hasten on ! " 
 
 At the inn of the Black Bear, the drenched 
 and shivering travelers were met by the 
 landlord at the door. 
 
 "Yes, I have room for you," he said hos- 
 pitably. "Come in, come in, and dry your- 
 selves at the fire." 
 
 In the guest-room of the inn a man sat 
 reading at the table. He looked up as the 
 landlord opened the door. 
 
 "Come in and sit down with me, friends," 
 he said heartily. "Ah, you have been 
 drenched in the storm!" 
 
 The two young men entered bashfully. 
 
 "We are not fit to sit at the table with you, 
 sir, ' ' said John. ' ' We are covered with mud. 
 We will sit here on a bench by the door." 
 
 "You will do nothing of the sort," he said, 
 closing his book. "You will come to the 
 table, and the landlord will bring something 
 
 161 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 to warm your chilled bones and keep you 
 from taking cold.'' 
 
 Modestly the travelers took their seats 
 near the stranger. He was dressed in the 
 costume of a knight, a red leather cap, hose 
 and doublet, and a sword by his side. 
 
 ^^How his deep eyes sparkle!'' whispered 
 Walter to John. ^'1 can hardly bear to look 
 into them!" 
 
 ^* You are Swiss," began the stranger, not- 
 ing the dress of the young men. ^^From 
 what part of Switzerland do you come*?" 
 ''From St. Gall," replied the elder. ''I am 
 John Kessler,* and this is my friend, Wal- 
 ter Brun. We are going to Wittenberg." 
 
 ''Ah!" said, he; "at Wittenberg you will 
 find some good countrymen of yours. Dr. 
 Jerome Schurf and his brother Augustine." 
 
 "Can you tell us, sir," asked Walter 
 eagerly, "whether Martin Luther is now at 
 Wittenberg?" 
 
 "I have good reason to believe," said the 
 man, "that Luther is not now at Wittenberg 
 
 * A real name. That of his friend is invented. 
 
 162 
 
THE STRANGER AT THE BLACK BEAR 
 
 but will soon be there. But Dr. Philip Me- 
 lanchthon is there; he teaches Greek, and 
 there are others who teach Hebrew. I would 
 advise you to study both of these languages, 
 for they will help you greatly in understand- 
 ing the Holy Scriptures.'' 
 
 *' Thank God!" said Kessler fervently. 
 *'We are both resolved, if our lives are 
 spared, to see and hear Dr. Luther. In- 
 deed, it is on his account that we are taking 
 this journey." 
 
 *^How is that?" asked their companion. 
 
 **Both of us," said John Kessler, *^have 
 been brought up from boyhood by our 
 parents to be priests. Now we understand 
 that Luther wants to overturn the priest- 
 hood, and we want to hear what he has to 
 say about it." 
 
 ^ ^ Oh ! " said he. ^ ^ And what do they think 
 of Luther in Switzerland?" 
 
 '^Some thank God," said John, **that 
 through him God's truth has been revealed; 
 others, especially the priests, call him a ter- 
 rible heretic." 
 
 163 
 
IMARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 ^^Ah, yes, the priests, of course!" said the 
 man, with a smile. 
 
 Meantime, Walter had picked up the book 
 which the stranger had laid on the table and 
 showed it silently to his friend. It was a 
 copy of the Psalms in Hebrew! More and 
 more the young men wondered who this man 
 could be. 
 
 Just then the landlord came to the door 
 and beckoned to Kessler to come out. 
 
 '*I perceive," he said, ^Hhat you would 
 like to see and hear Luther. Well, it is he 
 who is sitting and talking with you ! ' ' 
 
 '^Oh, come, Mr. Landlord, " said John, tak- 
 ing it as a joke, *^you are making sport of 
 me." 
 
 ^^No, it is really he," said the innkeeper, 
 **but do not act as if you knew him." 
 
 John hastened back into the room and 
 made an excuse to draw Walter to one side 
 and tell him what the landlord had said. 
 
 ''Oh, no, John!" said Walter. ''Surely 
 YOU are mistaken! Did not the landlord 
 say 'Hutten"? The names sound somewhat 
 
 164 
 
THE STRANGER AT THE BLACK BEAR 
 
 alike. Perhaps it is the brave and learned 
 knight, Ulricli von Hutten." 
 
 **Well, perhaps he did," said John uncer- 
 tainly. ''It eould liardl}^ be Dr. Luther in 
 such a garb!'' 
 
 Presently two merchants came in to spend 
 the night. One of them laid on the table an 
 unbound book. 
 
 ^^What book is thaf?" asked the stranger. 
 
 ^*It is Dr. Luther's explanation of some 
 of the Gospels and Ex)istles, which has just 
 been i)rinted," said the merchant. *^Have 
 you seen it?" 
 
 *^I shall soon," was the knight's reply, 
 which made the students look at each other 
 again. 
 
 Now the landlord called them all to sup- 
 per. Again the students x^rotested that they 
 were not fit to sit with the others, and asked 
 to have something at a table apart. 
 
 *^Come on! come on!" said the knight. 
 *^ Sit down here with us ! I am going to pay 
 for your supper. ' ' 
 
 All through the meal, students and mer- 
 165 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 chants could scarcely eat for listening to the 
 stranger's delightful conversation. 
 
 After supper, when the merchants went 
 out to see to their horses, John said to the 
 knight, 
 
 **You have done us great honor and 
 great kindness, noble sir. We never ex- 
 pected to sit at a table with the famous 
 Hutten." 
 
 The stranger laughed merrily. Just then 
 the landlord came in, and the knight said to 
 him, 
 
 *^I have become a nobleman to-night, for 
 these Swiss imagine that I am tJlrich von 
 Hutten!" 
 
 *^You are not he, but Martin Luther!" 
 said the landlord, seeing his good humor. 
 
 **They take me for Hutten, you for Lu- 
 ther!" laughed the stranger. **Whom shall 
 I be next?" 
 
 He rose, threw his cloak over his shoul- 
 der, and said to the puzzled students, 
 
 ** When you reach Wittenberg, give my re- 
 gards to Dr. Jerome Schurf." 
 
 166 
 
THE STRANGER AT THE BLACK BEAR 
 
 ** Willingly/' said Kessler, *4f we knew 
 what name to give him!'' 
 
 **Say only," said the stranger, '* *He who 
 is to come sends greetings.' " 
 
 The students went their way next morn- 
 ing toward Wittenberg. The next Satur- 
 day, they called on Dr. Schurf to present 
 their letters of introduction. 
 
 There sat the stranger, looking just as 
 they had seen him in the guest-room of the 
 Black Bear! 
 
 **You are really Martin Luther!" ex- 
 claimed John Kessler, in delight. 
 
 A great laugh arose from all the friends 
 assembled in the room — Dr. Philip, Justus 
 Jonas, Amsdorf , and others. 
 
 Martin himself laughed most heartily of 
 all; and pointing to Melanchthon, said, 
 *^This is Dr. Philip, of whom I told you. 
 Welcome to Wittenberg, dear fellow travel- 
 ers." 
 
 Dr. Martin had come back to stay. The 
 Wartburg could hold him no longer; there 
 was too much to do at Wittenberg! 
 
 167 
 
**LORD KATIE" 
 
x^^ 
 
 ''lord katie" 
 
 "TS Mistress Cranach at home?" asked a 
 X morning visitor, standing at the door of 
 Master Lucas Cranach, the noted artist of 
 .Wittenberg. 
 
 **Tes, Mistress Katie!" said the little 
 maid. *^Will you please come in?" and, 
 leading the guest through the long corridor, 
 she announced the arrival by opening a door, 
 and saying, *^Here is Mistress Katherine Lu- 
 ther!" 
 
 The wife of Lucas Cranach rose, with both 
 hands extended, to greet with pleasure a 
 familiar and welcome guest. 
 
 * * How are you, dear Katie ? ' ' she said. ' * I 
 did not expect to see you so early ; but then, 
 you are always up with the birds ! No won- 
 der Dr. Martin calls you 'The Morning Star 
 
 171 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 of Wittenberg, ' because jou always rise be- 
 fore the sun." 
 
 *^It was market morning, you know," said 
 Mistress Katie, removing ber cloak. ^^I 
 wished to go early, so that I could get here 
 before Dr. Martin had finished the sitting 
 he was to give Master Lucas for his portrait. 
 I haye sent the little maid home with the bas- 
 ket, and now I will talk with you and wait 
 for him." 
 
 As she spoke she picked up a piece of the 
 mending with which Mistress Cranach was 
 busy, and without ceremony began to work 
 on it. 
 
 Mistress Katie was dressed in the usual 
 morning costume of a German housewife — 
 white cap and kerchief over a dark woolen 
 dress with close-fitting sleeyes and full skirt. 
 
 Her auburn hair was parted smoothly and 
 almost hidden under the ample folds of the 
 cap. Her dark-blue eyes were quick and 
 glancing; her rather plain face was both 
 shrewd and kindly. She was almost thirty 
 years of age. 
 
 172 
 
HERE IS MISTRESS KATHERIXE LUTHER 
 
"LORD KATIE" 
 
 *^How much better Dr. Martin is looking, 
 Katie/' remarked her friend, as their busy 
 fingers made the needles fly. **He is not the 
 same man since his marriage. Truly, you 
 take good care of him!" 
 
 ^'And no light task it is," laughed Dr. 
 Martin's wife. **If you could see how hard 
 it is to get him to dinner when he is busy 
 with his writing ! That is partly the reason 
 I came to wait for him to-day ; I have fresh 
 greens for dinner, and if he and Master Lu- 
 cas get to talking, or if he comes home, slips 
 into his study, and locks the door, the greens 
 may stand till they are spoiled, though he 
 really is very fond of them !" 
 
 *^His whole heart is in his work," said 
 Mistress Cranach, smiling. ^'1 can imagine 
 that he often forgets his meals." 
 
 *^ Before we were married," said Katie, 
 **he says he had no regular meal-times, but 
 went and got something to eat when he hap- 
 pened to think of it, unless he was invited 
 out to dine. No wonder he was hardly ever 
 well ! Even yet he has severe spells of illness 
 
 173 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 at times. He has never taken care of him- 
 self, or thought of his own health, in all his 
 life.'' 
 
 ^^Then it is high time some one did it for 
 him," said her friend. ^*But I can guess 
 that it is not easy to train him into regular 
 habits." 
 
 **You should have seen the house when I 
 came into it!" said Katie. *^He hardly 
 ever made his bed properly, but left it open 
 so that it would be easier to get into. His 
 papers and books were littered about every- 
 where, and he makes a terrible outcry even 
 now if they are disturbed. His little dog 
 used to make a bed in his papers, and often 
 chewed them up, as well as his boots and 
 leather belts ! 
 
 *'I keep the dog outside, clean up as much 
 as I dare, and shut my eyes to the heaps of 
 papers! But he knows he is much more 
 comfortable, though he doesn't like to be dis- 
 turbed by sweeping and dusting." 
 
 ^^He has no care for little things," said 
 Mistress Cranach. 
 
 174 
 
"LORD KATIE'» 
 
 **No, nor greater things, sometimes," said 
 Mistress Katie. **He would give away every- 
 thing we have in the house if I did not watch 
 him I Let any poor student come with a tale 
 of wo, and Dr. Martin gives him the last 
 penny in his purse! He gives away his 
 clothing, the food from the table, and the 
 gold and silver dishes that our friends gave 
 us when we were married. 
 
 **The other day, one of his friends invited 
 him to his marriage. Dr. Martin could not 
 go, but he wrote him a letter, saying, 
 
 '* *I am sending you as a gift a large sil- 
 ver vase which was given to us and which 
 I hope you will accept in token of our love 
 and good wishes.' 
 
 ''The letter lay open on the table, and he 
 was called away before it was finished. I 
 suspected he had some such plan, for I saw 
 him casting looks at the vase while he wrote. 
 So I put it away. 
 
 ''When he came back, the vase was gone! 
 He looked at me, and laughed ; then he put a 
 postscript to his letter. 
 
 175 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 *' ^I am sorry I cannot send you the vase, 
 after all ; because my Lord Katie, who rules 
 me and my household, has hidden it away ! ' " 
 
 ^^That is right, Katie," said her friend, 
 approvingly. ' ' He would beggar himself and 
 you if you did not look after such things. 
 He is the greatest man in Germany, but he 
 is like a child when it comes to matters of 
 money. We knew that long ago. He never 
 thinks of himself." 
 
 *^He is the best and greatest man in the 
 world," declared his wife, the quick tears 
 starting to her keen eyes. '^Were it not for 
 him and the books he wrote I should still be 
 a lonely nun in the convent at Nimbschen." 
 
 *^You were not meant for a nun, dear 
 Katie," said Mistress Cranach. **Some 
 women might have been happy in such a life, 
 though since we have known Dr. Martin we 
 believe that it is not the right way to please 
 God, but you have the talents of a house- 
 wife and a man of business as well ! ' ' 
 
 **I never could spend my time in a little 
 cell even at the convent," said Katie. *'I 
 
 176 
 
"LORD KATIE' 
 
 used to beg the abbess to let me go out and 
 help to manage things on the estate of the 
 convent — to oversee the farming, the buying 
 and selling of cattle, the weaving and bleach- 
 ing of linen, and all the rest ; and she found 
 I was much better indoors when I had been 
 busy outside for a while. 
 
 **I would never have chosen to be a nun; 
 but my mother died when I was a little girl, 
 and my father sent me to be brought up in 
 the convent. When Dr. Luther's books 
 came out, we managed to get some and read 
 them. When I read the one on the vows of 
 monks and nuns, I felt as if some one had 
 opened the door of a prison, and called me 
 out into the bright sunshine ! You know the 
 rest, dear friend — ^liow twelve of us escaped, 
 and nine came to Wittenberg ; how the good 
 people here received and sheltered us ; how 
 good Mistress Eeichenbach gave me a home, 
 until Dr. Martin asked me to be his wife. 
 I owe everything to him." 
 
 ^^What is this?" interrupted a merry 
 177 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 voice. ^^Lord Katie here, and talking about 
 me, as usual. What sermons these women 
 preach! Their tongues are never still!'' 
 
 And Dr. Martin entered, with his hand- 
 some and stately friend, the artist Cranach. 
 
 ''Never was such a manager as my Lord 
 Katie,'' continued Dr. Martin jestingly. 
 ''She has made me dig a garden, and plant 
 lilies and roses as well as things to eat. Now 
 we are making a fish-pond, and soon we 
 shall have fish for our table. 
 
 "She takes students to board, and lays 
 money aside. Presently we are going to 
 buy a little farm which she can manage to 
 her heart's content. 
 
 "She is like the virtuous woman in the 
 Proverbs ; she rises while it is yet dark, she 
 plants a vineyard, she works willingly with 
 her hands, and eats not the bread of idle- 
 ness! 
 
 "It is true, she interrupts me sometimes 
 by asking questions, or calling me to dinner 
 when I am busy writing; but," he added, 
 dropping his bantering tone, "she is a true 
 
 178 
 
"LORD KATIE" 
 
 helpmate to me, and I thank God for her." 
 And while the happy tears dimmed Katie's 
 
 blue eyes, Master Lucas, stroking his long 
 
 beard, replied, 
 
 **You have proved the truth, dear Dr. 
 
 Martin, of the Scripture which says, * Whoso 
 
 findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and ob- 
 
 taineth favor from the Lord.' " 
 
 179 
 
WIDENING CIRCLES 
 
XVI 
 
 WIDENING CIKCLES 
 
 THE living-room in the old monastery, 
 abandoned now by all the monks and 
 for many happy years the home of Dr. Mar- 
 tin Luther and his family, was all aglow, 
 and ringing with sounds which would have 
 astonished the prior and the brothers who 
 once dwelt there. 
 
 In the midst of the room stood an ever- 
 green tree, bedecked with toys and candles. 
 Hans Luther, aged nine, was buried in the 
 pages of a new book. Martin, junior, a rosy 
 boy of five, jumping up and down in glee 
 under the spicy branches, was blowing with 
 all his might on a toy trumpet. 
 
 Quiet, dainty Magdalene, his six-year-old 
 sister, was sitting on the floor, rocking a new 
 doll in a tiny cradle, and trying to sing it 
 
 183 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 a cradle-song, sadly interrupted by the 
 blasts of the trumpet. 
 
 Paul, aged two, sat in a corner, examin- 
 ing the construction of a wooden horse ; and 
 Baby Margaret, in her mother's arms, 
 crowed in delight, and stretched her little 
 arms to catch the glittering balls that 
 adorned the Christmas tree; while ^^ Auntie 
 Lena," or Magdalene von Bora, Katherine 
 Luther's aunt, held up a gaily colored rat- 
 tle, shaking it to attract the baby's atten- 
 tion. 
 
 Into the midst of this happy group walked 
 three men in doctors ' gowns, smiling as they 
 saw the pretty picture under the green 
 boughs. 
 
 ' ' Father ! Father has come back ! ' ' shouted 
 Martin, flinging himself bodily on the first 
 of the newcomers. 
 
 ^^ Yes, the sick girl I went to see is better," 
 said Dr. Martin, with a nod to Katie. ^^ And 
 look whom I have brought with me! Dr. 
 Jonas, and— 
 
 **Dr. Philip!" cried the boy, running up 
 184 
 
WIDENING CIRCLES 
 
 to the frail, gentle man in the fur-lined 
 robe, whom all the children loved as one of 
 the family. ' ' See my horn ! You may blow 
 it, if you want to!" 
 
 Little Magdalene came shyly to lay her 
 doll in Dr. Philip's hand. He sat down and 
 lifted the little girl to his knee, where she 
 nestled until her father sat down, with the 
 bab}^ laughing and jumping in his arms. 
 Then she slid quietly off, and went over to 
 her father, leaning against his knee without 
 a word, till he noticed her presence, and 
 put his arm around her. 
 
 ^^It is growing late," said Mistress Katie, 
 ^^but the children would not hear of going to 
 bed till you had come home, so that we could 
 sing our Christmas carols together." 
 
 '^Well, well," said Dr. Martin, 'Hake the 
 baby, then, Katie, till I get my lute, and we 
 will end the day as it should be ended." 
 
 Book, trumpet, and toy horse were laid 
 aside; the doll was tucked tenderly in 
 its cradle, and the little group, gathering 
 around Dr. Martin, sang carol after carol, 
 
 185 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 even the children chirping the melodies, if 
 sometimes uncertain about the words. 
 
 ''Sing our songs, father!" begged Hans, 
 in a pause ; and, smiling, the father led them 
 in one of the simple Christmas hymns he had 
 composed for them : 
 
 **Away in a manger, no crib for his bed, 
 The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head ; 
 The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay, 
 The little Lord Jesus, asleep in the hay." 
 
 ''Sing about the cradle, father, dear!" 
 whispered Magdalene, rocking her doll gent- 
 ly; and so they sang another of Dr. Mar- 
 tin's sweet songs: 
 
 **Yet were the world ten times as wide, 
 With gold and jewels beautified. 
 It would be far too small to be 
 A narrow cradle. Lord, for thee 
 
 *'Ah, dearest Jesus, holy ChUd, 
 Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled, 
 Within my heart, that it may be 
 A quiet chamber kept for thee ! ' ' 
 186 
 
WroENING CIRCLES 
 
 At the last note, laying the lute aside, the 
 father knelt by his chair. Hans promptly 
 dropped beside him; Magdalene slipped to 
 her knees by the tiny cradle, and folded the 
 doirs hands before she clasped her own. All 
 the rest knelt also, except the mother, on 
 whose lap Baby Margaret had fallen asleep, 
 and who sat with head bowed over her little 
 one. 
 
 With words as simple and tender as the 
 songs they had just been singing, the father 
 commended them all for the night to the care 
 of God, who had sent his dear Son to be the 
 world's Christmas gift. 
 
 ^^Now, Katie, take these sleepy little folks 
 to bed!" commanded Dr. Martin, as they 
 rose from their knees. ^* Philip, Jonas, and 
 I will sit here and talk a little while. Good 
 night, my Hans ; good night, dear little Mag- 
 dalene; good night, Martin and Paul!" 
 
 And the drowsy procession trooped away 
 to happy dreams. 
 
 ' ' What a delightful evening ! ' ' said Philip, 
 his thin face beaming with pleasure, as he 
 
 187 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 waved a last good night to little Magdalene. 
 
 ^'You would not think you were in the 
 house of a condemned heretic and outlaw, 
 would you, dear Philip'?" said Dr. Martin, 
 with a short laugh. *^ Often I wonder how 
 it is that a man with a price on his head 
 should dare to be merry and live in such 
 security; and I can only say that it is the 
 Lord's doing." 
 
 *^And that of the princes who took our 
 side," said blunt Justus Jonas. *'So many 
 came over to us, even at Worms, that the em- 
 peror 's ban was dead before it was issued!" 
 
 ^* Truly," said Philip, ''the princes have 
 been loyal! I shall never forget, at Augs- 
 burg, when we were about to present the 
 Confession of our faith to the Diet there, 
 how I urged that it should be signed only 
 by us doctors and preachers, who were al- 
 ready so deep in the matter that it could not 
 hurt us to be still deeper. 
 
 *^Then our noble Elector, John the Con- 
 stant — ^who came out far more openly on our 
 
 188 
 
< 
 
 
 I 
 
 ': ,S ■ SS 
 
 V 
 
 ,i 
 
 m 
 
 1 
 
 
 m 
 
 B 
 
 1 
 
 m 
 •^1 - 
 
 -*M 
 
 If 
 
WIDENING CIRCLES 
 
 side than even the Elector Frederick did — 
 said, 
 
 " ^Not so, Philip! I, too, will confess my 
 Christ!' 
 
 ^'Then the seven princes signed the Con- 
 fession of Augsburg, and showed to all the 
 world what the faith is in which we stand." 
 
 ^^I never felt the weight of the emperor's 
 ban so heavily as at that time!" said Dr. 
 Martin. ^^How I longed to be with you at 
 Augsburg ! Yet I dared not go into the em- 
 peror's presence, but could go only as far 
 as Coburg, and sit there and wait for news 
 from the Diet!" 
 
 ^'It was indeed a great occasion for us," 
 said Philip, '*but, though you were not there, 
 you were still the center and the soul of it 
 all! For who but you has been our leader, 
 from the day you nailed that paper of yours 
 on the door of the Castle Church ? 
 
 ^^ Sometimes I imagine, " continued Philip, 
 thoughtfully, ^Hhat I see this great move- 
 ment, the Reformation, as men call it, 
 spreading out like circles on still water, 
 
 189 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 widening and widening till they reach the 
 farthest shores of earth. 
 
 ^^ Already it has spread to France, Eng- 
 land, Switzerland, and the northern lands. 
 Ever the circles widen; everywhere men 
 called of God are taking up the work, pro- 
 claiming liberty of conscience, and the free 
 Word of God. 
 
 *^But the source and center of it is here 
 at Wittenberg; just like the stone thrown 
 into the water, from whence the ripples 
 spread. And the stone — the first word of 
 protest — ^was thrown by Martin Luther!" 
 
 ^^ People begin to call us * Protestants' 
 now," remarked Jonas. 
 
 ^^Yes," said Philip, ^^ but we do not merely 
 denounce evils. A ^protest' means a wit- 
 nessing for something. We witness for the 
 truth of God." 
 
 ^^And for the Word of God in the hands 
 and in the lives of all men, " said Dr. Martin, 
 quickly. '^Sometimes I think, Philip, that 
 the greatest work you and I have ever done, 
 and that for which the world will thank us 
 
 190 
 
< 
 
 < 3 
 
WIDENING CIRCLES 
 
 most, is giving our people the Bible in their 
 own language." 
 
 '^The new German Bible, which has just 
 appeared entire," said Jonas, ^4s a wonder- 
 ful work, dear friend. How quickly it is be- 
 ing followed by others, in all the countries 
 to which the Reformation has spread, put 
 into the daily speech of the people ! This is 
 a great gift to the world." 
 
 *^Amen!" said Dr. Martin. ^^I hope that 
 soon the workman at his bench and the 
 housewife in her kitchen shall know more of 
 God's Word than monks and priests did in 
 days gone by." 
 
 ^^By the way," said Philip, laughing, with 
 a glance at Katherine, who had returned to 
 the room some moments before, ^'how does 
 your ^gracious lady doctoress,' as you call 
 Mistress Katie, get on with her task'?" 
 
 <<Very well, indeed," laughed Dr. Martin, 
 in reply. ' ' She will surely earn the fifty sil- 
 ver florins I promised her, if she would read 
 the new Bible through before Easter. 
 
 ^^My Katie is a learned woman, you must 
 191 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 know; only she is so busy with her farm, 
 her house, and her children, and with the 
 care of her troublesome husband, that she 
 seldom takes time to read anything. But 
 this she must read, whether she will or no !" 
 
 Katie laughed with them, as the men arose 
 and prepared to go. 
 
 *^A happy Christmas to you all!" said 
 Jonas. 
 
 ^^And blessings on your roof, and all be- 
 neath it!" added Philip earnestly. 
 
 *^In the name of the Christ-child!" fin- 
 ished Dr. Martin, as he lighted them to the 
 door. 
 
 192 
 
IN DK. martin's garden 
 
XVII 
 
 IN DK. MAETIN'S GAEDEN 
 
 ON a bright summer evening Dr. ISTiclio- 
 las Amsdorf was strolling leisurely 
 along toward the old monastery where his 
 friend, Dr. Luther, made his home. 
 
 As he reached the gate leading into the 
 garden lie heard a sound unusual in that 
 happy place; it was the sound of a child ^s 
 voice crying bitterly. 
 
 He pushed open the gate and went inside. 
 
 On the grass sat little Magdalene ; and in 
 her hand lay a dead sparrow. Over her 
 stood Hans, with boyish dislike of tears, tr}^- 
 ing to check her weeping. 
 
 ^^Come, sister," Nicholas heard him say, 
 *^ don't cry any more; it w^on't make the lit- 
 tle bird come back to life! Let's make a 
 nice little grave and bury it!" 
 
 195 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 But Magdalene only sobbed harder. 
 
 *' Listen, Lena, here is Dr. Nicholas; you 
 don't want him to see you cry like this. Be 
 a good girl, now!" 
 
 No use ! the tears ran all the faster. 
 
 Then the voice the little girl loved best of 
 all spoke to her gently, as Dr. Martin came 
 down the walk. 
 
 *^Dear Lena," said her father, taking the 
 child in his arms, '4t was God's little bird, 
 you know ; and God has taken it back again. ' ' 
 
 ''Will it fly around and sing again, up in 
 heaven?" asked Lena, through her tears. 
 
 ''Who knows?" said her father, soothing- 
 ly. "There are all sorts of beautiful things 
 in heaven, and there must surely be little 
 birds." 
 
 "And dogs, father!" put in Hans, around 
 whose feet a pet puppy was tumbling. ' ' Will 
 there be little dogs like Clownie in heaven?" 
 
 "Why not?" said Dr. Martin, leaning 
 down to pat the bright-eyed little animal. 
 "In the new heavens and earth, why should 
 there not be little dogs, with skin like silk 
 
 196 
 
IN DR. MARTIN'S GARDEN 
 
 and hair of gold, running about and play- 
 ing?" 
 
 Magdalene was comforted now, and her 
 sobbing grew quieter. 
 
 *^ Pardon, dear Nicholas," said Dr. Mar- 
 tin. ^^Now we can taUv ! Come and sit here 
 on the bench with us, and enjoy this beau- 
 tiful evening." 
 
 ^^ Father," said Hans, earnestly. '^Wolf 
 did not trap this bird ; we found it lying on 
 the grass. Wolf has not tried to catch any 
 birds since you read him your letter from 
 them!" 
 
 ^'What is this?" asked Amsdorf, entering 
 into the spirit of the occasion. ^^Have the 
 birds been writing letters to Dr. Martin?" 
 
 *^01d Wolf Sieberger, our man-of-all- 
 work about the place," said Dr. Martin, 
 smiling, ^'had set snares for the birds in 
 the garden here. So I wrote a letter of pro- 
 test, and read it to him, as if it had been sent 
 me by the birds themselves." 
 
 ^'You should have seen Wolf's face!" put 
 in Hans. ^^He didn't know what to say, 
 
 197 
 
MARTIN OF IVIANSFELD 
 
 but lie went out and put away all tlie traps. 
 Father, let me get the letter for Dr. Nicho- 
 las to read!" 
 
 Hans was back in a twinkling, bearing a 
 sheet of paper. 
 
 ^^ Just listen. Dr. Nicholas!" he cried, and 
 began to read. 
 
 ^^To the gracious master, Martin Luther, 
 preacher at Wittenberg: 
 
 *^We, thrushes, blackbirds, linnets, gold- 
 finches, together with other good and honor- 
 able birds who are to journey this autumn 
 over Wittenberg, beg to advise you that we 
 have information that Wolf Sieberger, your 
 servant, has paid a high price for some old, 
 worn-out nets, that he may rig up a snare 
 to take from us the liberty given us by 
 God to fly in the air and gather grains of 
 com on the ground. 
 
 ''Since this is very hard for us poor birds 
 who have no bams nor houses, we hiunbly 
 beg you to ask him to give up his plans un- 
 
 198 
 
IN DR. MARTIN'S GARDEN 
 
 til we have made our journey over Witten- 
 berg. 
 
 ^^If he will not do this, we hope that he 
 may be repaid by finding in his trap when 
 morning comes, frogs, locusts, and snails in- 
 stead of us!'' 
 
 ^^That reminds me,'' said Nicholas, ^^of 
 the letter I heard about, which your father 
 wrote from Coburg to some of the young 
 men who lived at that time here in the house. 
 Have you seen that, Hans, my boy?" 
 
 *^Yes," said Hans eagerly, ^^my mother 
 keeps a copy of it, with the letter he wrote 
 to me from Coburg. Shall I get them for 
 you?" 
 
 ^^Hans, you will tire Dr. Nicholas with 
 your chatter," said his father, looking up 
 from the little grave he was digging for the 
 dead sparrow. But Hans had already dis- 
 appeared. 
 
 ^'Let the boy go, Martin," laughed Nicho- 
 las. ^^He enjoys it, and so do I. I am never 
 happier than here among your children." 
 
 199 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 ^^Here it is," said Hans, coming back, 
 breathless. 
 
 ^^ There is a grove just under our win- 
 dow, like a small forest. There the jack- 
 daws and crows are holding a diet. They 
 fly in and out, and keep up a racket day and 
 night without ceasing. 
 
 *'I have not yet seen their emperor, but 
 their nobles and knights constantly flit and 
 gad about, not clothed expensively, but all 
 in one color, all alike black and all alike 
 gray-eyed. They sing the same song, but 
 the voices of young and old, great and small, 
 are different. 
 
 ^^They care nothing for grand palaces and 
 halls, for their hall is vaulted with the beau- 
 tiful, broad sky, its floor is paved with lovely 
 green branches, and its walls are as wide as 
 the world. They do not ask for horses or 
 armor, having winged chariots on which to 
 escape the hunter. 
 
 *^They are high and mighty .lords, but I 
 don't know yet what they are deciding. So 
 far as I can learn, they plan a great war 
 
 200 
 
IN DR. MARTIN'S GARDEN 
 
 against wheat, barley, oats, malt, and all 
 sorts of grain; and many a one will show 
 himself a hero, and do valiant deeds. It 
 gives a special delight to see in how knightly 
 a fashion they stmt about, polish their bills, 
 and prepare for victory over the grain. ' ' 
 
 ^^And this," said Hans, proudly unfold- 
 ing another paper, ^4s my own letter, the 
 first I ever got! Of course,'' he added, with 
 an air of dignity, ''I was just a very little 
 boy then!" 
 
 And once more he began : 
 
 *^To my dear son, Hans Luther. Grace 
 and peace in Christ, my darling little son. 
 I am very glad to hear that you are studying 
 well and praying diligently. Go on doing 
 so, my little son, and when I come home I 
 will bring you a beautiful present. 
 
 *^I know a lovely garden, where there are 
 many children. They wear golden coats, and 
 pick up fine apples, pears, cherries, and 
 plums imder the trees. They sing and jump 
 and are very merry. They also have beauti- 
 
 201 
 
MARTIN OF ]\IANSFELD 
 
 f ul little horses, with bridles of gold and sad- 
 dles of silver. 
 
 *'I asked the man who owned the garden 
 who the children were. He answered, 
 
 ^' 'These are the children who gladly pray 
 and study and are good.' 
 
 '^ Then I said, 
 
 '* ^Dear man, I also have a son, named 
 Hans Luther. Wouldn 't he like to come into 
 the garden, and eat such beautiful apples 
 and pears, and ride such fine horses, and 
 play with these children?' 
 
 '^Then the man said, 
 
 *' 'If he prays and studies gladly and is 
 good he, too, shall come into the garden, 
 and his friends Lippus and Jost with him. 
 And when they are all here, they shall have 
 whistles and drums and lutes and all sorts 
 of things to make music with, and they shall 
 dance and shoot with little crossbows.' 
 
 ''And he showed me a beautiful meadow in 
 the garden, ^ed for dancing. Gold whistles 
 were hung there, and drums and silver cross- 
 
 202 
 
IN DR. MARTIN'S GARDEN 
 
 bows. But it was still early, and the chil- 
 dren had not yet eaten, so I couldn't wait 
 for the dance, and I said to the man : 
 
 '' ^Dear sir, I will go as fast as I can, and 
 write it all to my dear son Hans, that he may 
 study and pray well and be good, and so 
 come into this garden. But he has an Aunt 
 Lena whom he will have to bring with him.' 
 
 ^^Then the man said, 
 
 ^' ^ Very well, go and write it to him.' 
 
 ^* Therefore, dear little son Hans, study 
 and pray bravely, and tell Lippus and Jost 
 to do so, too, and you shall all come into the 
 garden. The dear God take care of you! 
 Greet Auntie Lena and give her a kiss for 
 me. 
 
 "Tour loving father, 
 
 Maeti:?^ Luther." 
 
 '^Now, Hans," put in his father, ''the let- 
 ters are finished, the little bird is buried, 
 and the dew will soon be falling. Take your 
 little sister and go in; Dr. Nicholas and I 
 
 203 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 will come presentl}^, and then we shall sing, 
 for it is almost your bedtime.'^ 
 
 ^^It is wonderful to me, Martin," said 
 Nicholas, as the children disappeared, '^how 
 you can always take the time to play with 
 your little ones, and write to them, when 
 you are busy with such constant writing, 
 lecturing, and preaching, and often when 
 your own heart must be anxious and trou- 
 bled.'' 
 
 "The birds have been my preachers, dear 
 Nicholas," said Dr. Martin, pointing to a 
 low bough in the shrubbery, where a bird 
 sat quietly on her nest, almost within reach 
 of their hands. 
 
 ' ^ See the little bird ! " he continued. ^ ' She 
 puts her head under her wing and goes to 
 sleep secure in the care of the heavenly Fa- 
 ther. So ought we to be. 
 
 ''There is only one thing, dear friend, 
 that makes us happy and peaceful and free 
 from care. It is the promise of God. And 
 when we read his Word and ask him to take 
 care of us, we can all be happy together, 
 
 204 
 
the wartburg 
 
 a corner in the wartburg 
 
 Luther's room 
 
IN DR. MARTIN'S GARDEN 
 
 though the ban of the empire hangs over us 
 and our fears and anxieties are many. 
 Come, let us go in and sing together, 
 
 *A mighty fortress is our God!' '* 
 
 205 
 
THE LAST VICTORY 
 
XYIII 
 
 THE LAST VICTORY 
 
 MOTHER, mother!" cried Paul Lu- 
 ther, running into the living-room in 
 high excitement, ^^just think! Father is go- 
 ing to Mansf eld next week, and he says that 
 Hans and Martin and I may go along and 
 visit the cousins there and in Eisenach ! ' ' 
 
 The bitter winter of 1546 had laid its cold 
 hand on Wittenberg. Great storms had 
 swelled the Elbe to a torrent and blocks of 
 ice floated in the tossing waters. 
 
 The old, rambling monastery building was 
 cold and full of unexpected drafts; but in 
 the living-room the fire crackled cheerily. 
 
 Ten years had brought many changes to 
 the little group around Dr. Martin's fireside. 
 Hans, who followed Paul less eagerly into 
 the room, was a well-grown young man of 
 
 209 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 almost twenty. As if to fulfil the dream of 
 the grandfather for whom he was named, he 
 was beginning the study of law. 
 
 Martin, the younger, who sat reading by 
 the fire, was of lighter frame than his sturdy 
 brothers. At fifteen, he was long and lank, 
 with a look of frailty that often caused anx- 
 iety to the heart of Mother Katie. 
 
 Margaret, a pretty, lively girl of eleven, 
 was sewing by her mother's side. 
 
 Sweet Magdalene had, in her fourteenth 
 year, left the happy circle and gone to be 
 with the Father in heaven. 
 
 Dr. Martin, coming in with slower steps 
 behind his sons, was altered no less than they. 
 Ceaseless toil and ill health had set their 
 mark upon him. He walked heavily, and 
 Katie's eyes clouded as she saw how he la- 
 bored in breathing after his short walk; 
 but his eyes were bright as ever and his 
 greeting as cheery. 
 
 ' ' Come into my study, dear Katie, ' ' he said 
 to her, drawing her away from the excited 
 little group around the fire. 
 
 210 
 
THE LAST VICTORY 
 
 ^^Dear husband!^' exclaimed Katherine, 
 *^ surely you are not going again to Mansfeld 
 in this dreadful weather!'' 
 
 ^^I must, Katie," said Dr. Martin gravely. 
 *^The Counts of Mansfeld have promised 
 that they will try to come to an agreement if 
 I will act as peacemaker between them. I 
 have no choice but to go." 
 
 **You have already tried twice, and were 
 away from home over Christmas on that ac- 
 count," said Katie, ^'but it failed." 
 
 ^^That was because Philip was taken sick 
 and I had to bring him home again," said 
 her husband. 
 
 '^The Counts have been quarreling a long 
 time," persisted Katie, rebelliously. ^^They 
 might just as well wait till spring, and not 
 drag you away from home again in the mid- 
 dle of winter, when you have been so much 
 troubled with illness." 
 
 ^^ Their hearts are willing now, Katie," 
 said Dr. Martin. ^^If I wait, they may 
 harden again, and I can do nothing with 
 them." 
 
 211 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 ^'It is such a foolish thing to quarrel 
 about, anyway !" said his wife, still uncon- 
 vinced. ^^It is something so unimportant 
 that hardly anybody seems to know what it 
 is all about. Your health is surely worth 
 more than the petty disputes of Count Geb- 
 hard and Count Albert." 
 
 ^^The cause of the quarrel, indeed, is tri- 
 fling," said Dr. Martin, thoughtfully, ^^but 
 the consequences are great. 
 
 ^^Look, dear Katie ! I have taken a great 
 task on myself. I have separated a vast body 
 of people from the Church of Rome, and 
 have set up a new Church which is yet 
 feeble. I have proclaimed that there is 
 power in God's Word and in his Spirit, to 
 help men live right, without priests and con- 
 fessors. Nobles and people have believed my 
 word, and have staked their faith upon it. 
 The new Church stands in the eyes of all men 
 as a witness to the gospel. 
 
 ^^Now the brother Counts of my own 
 Mansfeld are at strife. The people see the 
 bad example. Our enemies say : 
 
 212 
 
THE LAST VICTORY 
 
 ** *This is a sample of your new freedom I 
 They might have taken their quarrel to the 
 pope, and he would have settled it, and set 
 them both a penance to perform, and that 
 would have been the end of it. But now 
 there is no reverence for the Holy Father, 
 and men do whatever they please ! ' 
 
 ^^ Besides, the people suffer when their 
 princes are at war. Often since this trouble 
 began I have had to present to the Counts 
 the complaints of their people, who are op- 
 pressed. 
 
 ^^For my own sake also, dear Katie, I can- 
 not refuse. When the Peasants' War arose, 
 I stood against it ; I rebuked the people for 
 rebelling against their rulers; I denounced 
 their strife and violence. Must I not preach 
 the same doctrine to the princes and nobles 
 if they forget to keep the peace T' 
 
 Katie, still unreconciled, shook her head 
 sadly, but she said no more. Silently she 
 spent the last few days in preparing com- 
 forts for the winter journey. 
 
 Across the storm-swept country the little 
 213 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 company journeyed with much difficulty and 
 many halts. At Halle, they found their way 
 blocked for five days by the Saale river, 
 which had flooded the land with water and 
 broken ice. 
 
 To the worried Katie, Dr. Martin wrote 
 back, while they waited, 
 
 *^Eead your Bible, dear Katie, and re- 
 member that God is almighty and could cre- 
 ate ten Dr. Martins if the old one were 
 drowned in the Saale. Dismiss your cares, 
 for I have One who cares for me better than 
 you or angels can." 
 
 Letters of anxious tone continued, how- 
 ever, to come from Wittenberg. Had he 
 kept his warm coat on? Was he guarding 
 against getting his feet wet ? Would he re- 
 member — and so forth, and so forth. Katie 
 was sure he was taking all sorts of needless 
 risks, removed from her watchful eyes. 
 
 ^^Most holy Lady Doctoress!" wrote Dr. 
 Martin at last, endeavoring to laugh away 
 her fears. ^ ' I thank you kindly for the great 
 anxiety which keeps you awake. Since you 
 
 214 
 
THE LAST VICTORY 
 
 began to worry, we have almost had a fire 
 in the inn just in front of my door ; and yes- 
 terday, due to your anxiety no doubt, a stone 
 nearly fell on my head, and might have 
 squeezed it up as a trap does a mouse, for 
 in my bedroom lime and cement had dribbled 
 down on my head for two days, until I called 
 attention to it, and then the people of the 
 inn just touched a stone as big as a bolster 
 and two spans wide, which thereupon fell out 
 of the ceiling ! For this I thank your anx- 
 iety, but the dear angels protected me. I 
 fear that unless you stop worrying the earth 
 will swallow me up!" 
 
 Meanwhile the work of reconciling the 
 brother Counts proceeded but slowly in the 
 town of Eisleben, which the travelers had at 
 last managed to reach. 
 
 '^The lawyers make it worse with their 
 endless quibbling," Dr. Martin declared. ''I 
 would gladly leave and go home, but my 
 duty holds me. " 
 
 Finally on St. Valentine's Day, he wrote 
 to Katie : 
 
 215 
 
MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 *^ We hope to come home this week, for the 
 Counts have settled ahnost everything, with 
 the exception of two or three points, among 
 them, that the two brothers. Count Gebhard 
 and Count Albert, shall again be brotherly. 
 To-day I am to undertake this, inviting them 
 to dine with me, that they may talk together, 
 for hitherto they have had nothing to say 
 to each other and have written very bitterly 
 in their letters. 
 
 *'The young lords and ladies, on the other 
 hand, are merry, go sleigh-riding together, 
 and play masquerading. 
 
 ^'I am sending you the trout given me by 
 Countess Albert. She rejoices with all her 
 heart over the reconciliation." 
 
 Two days later, the final agreement be- 
 tween the Counts was completed, and signed 
 by Martin Luther as a witness. The victory 
 was won; the brothers had met as friends 
 once more. 
 
 ^^Now we can go home!" he exclaimed ex- 
 ultingly to Dr. Jonas, when at last the weary 
 business was at an end. 
 
 216 
 
THE LAST VICTORY 
 
 But the exposures and hardships of the 
 journey had been too much for the weak- 
 ened frame. 
 
 Early on the morning of the eighteenth 
 of February his friends and his three sons 
 were called in haste, to speed the tired war- 
 rior on his homeward way. 
 
 ^^The faith, dear father, which you have 
 taught," said they, **is it yours to the end?" 
 
 Clearly and firmly rang out the answer, 
 
 ^^Yes!" 
 
 Then the victor passed on to his triumph. 
 
 *^He died for us!" said the reconciled 
 Counts, standing by the quiet bedside. 
 
 Nay, not for you alone, brother Counts of 
 Mansf eld, but for the mighty cause of peace 
 on earth, since all men are brothers. 
 
 217 
 
THE TOECH-BEAREES 
 
THE TORCH-BEARERS 
 
 IN" days of old, when great news came of 
 mighty happenings by land or sea, fleet 
 runners were chosen and equipped with 
 flaming torches to bear the word abroad. 
 
 Up to the beacon on the nearest hilltop 
 ran the first, and kindled there the flame that 
 told of victor}^ Then another distant wait- 
 ing athlete saw the flaring signal and 
 hastened to set the next beacon-fire blazing 
 on its hilltop. 
 
 On and on went the fiery message till all 
 the land was lit with the good news and every 
 city and hamlet rejoiced. 
 
 So, after the Dark Ages there came a man 
 who kindled the beacon of a new day; and 
 the flaming torch he bore was the Book of 
 
 221 
 
]MARTIN OF MANSFELD 
 
 God, given to the people in words that they 
 could understand. 
 
 Land after land all over the continent of 
 Europe caught fire. Everywhere the Bible 
 was translated into the language of the peo- 
 ple ; and still the light sped on. 
 
 Then God opened the doors of the New 
 World by the hand of explorers and discov- 
 erers ; and wherever the Western Continent 
 was peopled by men and women from the 
 lands of the Reformation, there may be 
 found the open Bible and liberty of con- 
 science. 
 
 Once more God pointed the way, and men 
 went forth to rediscover the ancient East. 
 And everywhere, in the footprints of the 
 traveler, has gone the man with the kindled 
 torch. 
 
 Carey in India, Moffat in Africa, Morrison 
 in China, Judson in Burma — the work of 
 each has been the same. Under foreign skies, 
 through heat and thirst and fever, threatened 
 by enemies, persecuted and imprisoned, they 
 have toiled with the same great purpose that 
 
 222 
 
THE TORCH-BEARERS 
 
 inspired the lonely outlaw in the Wartburg 
 — to spread far and wide the Word of God, 
 in the simple, daily language of the people. 
 And still the flaming line flashes on. But 
 the hand that lifted the light high and sent it 
 kindling on its way was the hand, in God's 
 good providence, of Martin Luther. 
 
 223 
 

 Date Due 
 
 
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