Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-01-21


penalty oftreason, we hereby forbid you to re-
ceive the said Luther from the moment when
the said term is expired, or to harbour or TO give
him meat or drink, or by word or act, publicly
or in private, TO aid or sbct him. We further
cnioin you TO seize, or cause him to be seized,
where ever he may be- and TO bring him before
us without delay or hold him in durance until
you shall be informed how to deal with him, and
have received the reward due to your co-opera-
ton in this holy work.
AS TO his adhcrents, you are enjoined to seize
upon them, putting them down and confscating
their property.
Touching his writings-seeng that the best
of food is held in horror by all men when the
least poison is mixed theyewitl, how much more
should such writings, wherein the main object
is mortal venom, be not merely rejected, bu, de-
stroyed You WILL therefore, burn, or in other
ways utterly destroy them.
'As to the authors. poets, printers, painters,
vendcrs or purchasers, OF caricatures or pla-
cards against the Pope or the Church, you are
enioined to seize on their persons and property,
and deal with them as may seem ht.
And ifany one, whatever may be his rank,
should dare to act contrary to this decree ofour
Imperial Majesty, We command that he be
placed under ban of the Empire.
Let each one observe this decree
Such was the edict signed in the cathedral
of Worms. 1t was more than Roman bull,
which though issued in Italy might not be car
ried into execution in Germany. The Empe.
ror himself had spoken, and the Diet, had rati-
! fed the decree The whole body of Roman
! lists shouted for Joy. The tragedy is over, en-
claimed they. "For my part said Alphonso
Veldez, Spaniar1 of Charles S court, Il am per-
suaded it is not the last act but the beginning
Valdez clearly perceived that the movement
was in the Church, the people, the age,-and
that were Luther to fall, mis- cause would not
perish with him. But none could help seeing
the eminent and inevitable danger in which
the Reformer was placed, and the superstitious
multitude were impressed by feeling of nor
ror at the thought of that ncarnate Satan whom
the Emperor pointed to as clothed with a
monks habit.
The man against whom the mighty ones Of
this earth were thus forging their thunderbohs,
OH leaving the pulpit of Eisenach, endeavored
to muster resolution to take leave of some of
his dearest friends. He decided not to take
the road to Gotha and Erfurth, but to proceed
by way Of the village of Mora, the birthplace
Of his father, in order once more to see his
grandmother (who died four months afterwards
aud to visit his uncle, Henry Luther, aud
some ether relations. Schurlf Jonas, and
Suavan set out for Wittemberg I.uther enter
ed his Wagon, accompanied by Amsdorff, and
piuaged into the forest of Thuringen.
That same evening he arrived in the village
of has fathers. The aged peasant pressed tc
his heart that grandson who had dared to con-
front the Emperors and the Pope. Luther pas
scd the following day with his relations, joyful
ly contrasting its sweet tranquility with tho
turmoil Of Worms. The next day he again Sc,
out in company with Amsdorff and his brother
James. 1t was in these secluded spots that the
Relormer's fate was on the point of being de-
: cided. They skirted the woods OF Thurngin
taking the path that leads to Waltershausen
) AS the Wagon was passing narrow defil'
near the ruined church of Glisbach, short dis
tancc from the castle OF Atcnstcin, suddenly
noise was heard and in moment five horse
men, masked and armed from head to foot, fel
) upon them His brother James, as soon as h(
caught sight OF the assailants, jumped from tht
Wagon, and fed as fast as he could without ut
terng a word The driver would have resisted
STOP cried hoarse voice, and instantly OIL,
Of the attacking party threw him to the earth
: Another ot'the masks grasped Amsdorff, ant
: held him fast While this was doing, the tire
horsemen Land cold on Luther maintaining pro
7 found silence. They forced him to alight, an
throwing a knights cloak over his shoulders
set him on led horse that they had with then
: This done the two other masks let 90 Amsdor
II and the vaggoner, and the whole sprang int
their saddles One dropped his cap, but di
c not stop to recover it, and in the twinkling {
J. an eve, the party and their prisoner were 10,
lf in the thick gloom of the forest. AT first the
IT took the direction of Broderode but they r,
g pidly changed their route, and without requl
ting the forest, rode first in one direction an
E. then ia another, turning their horses, feet
ID battle any attempt to track their course. Ii
~ thei, little used TO riding, was soon overcon
H. with fatigue, His guide, ermitted him to stC
9 a few inStauts. He rested on the earth besl,
Il