He was not allowed to remain tranquil in his retreat. Spalatin, in conformity to the orders of the Elector, sent him a note of the articles of which it was proposed to demand a retractation from him. A retractation after the refusal at Augsburg![441]... "Fear not," he wrote to Spalatin, "that I will retract a single syllable, since their only argument is to insist that my writings are opposed to the rites of what they call the Church. If the Emperor Charles summon me merely for the purpose of retracting, I will answer him that I will remain here; and it will be just the same thing as if I had been to Worms and come back again. But if, on the contrary, the emperor chooses to summon me in order that I may be put to death, I am ready to repair at his call; for, with the help of Christ, I will not desert his word on the battle-field. I know it: these bloody men will never rest till they have deprived me of life. Oh, that none but papists would become guilty of my blood!" [441] Si ad me occidendum deinceps vocare velit...offeram me venturum. (L. Ep. i, p. 574.) CHAP. V. Will a Safe-conduct be given?--Safe-conduct--Will Luther go?--Holy Thursday at Rome--The Pope and Luther. At length the emperor decided. The appearance of Luther before the Diet seemed the only thing fitted to bring this affair which occupied the whole empire, to some kind of termination. Charles V resolved to cite him, but without giving him a safe-conduct. Here Frederick again began to act as his protector. Every body saw the danger which threatened the Reformer. Luther's friends, says Cochlœus, were afraid that he would be delivered up to the pope, or that the emperor himself would put him to death as unworthy, on account of his obstinate heresy, that any faith should be kept with him.[442] On this subject there was a long and keen debate among the princes.[443] Struck, at last, with the general agitation then prevailing almost throughout the whole population of Germany, and afraid that, as Luther passed along, some sudden tumult or dangerous sedition might break forth,[444] (doubtless in favour of the Reformer,) the princes deemed it wise to calm men's minds on his account, and not only the emperor, but also the Elector of Saxony, Duke George, and the Landgrave of Hesse, through whose states he had to pass, each gave him a safe-conduct. [442] Tanquam perfido hæretico nulla sit servanda fides, (Cochlœus, p. 28.) [443] "Longa consultatio difficilisque disceptatio." (Ibid.) [444] "Cum autem grandis ubique per Germaniam fere totam excitata esset...animorum commotio." (Ibid.) [Sidenote: THE SAFE-CONDUCT.] On the 6th March, 1521, Charles V signed the following summons addressed to Luther:-- "Charles, by the grace of God, elected Roman Emperor, always Augustus, etc., etc.