Page 8 - 08 Luther Before the Diet

present his case to the Diet. “It was a proud

day for the nuncio. The assembly was a great

one: the cause was even greater. Aleander

was to plead for Rome, ... the mother and

mistress of all churches.” He was to vindicate

the princedom of Peter before the assembled

principalities of Christendom. “He had the gift

of eloquence, and he rose to the greatness of

the occasion. Providence ordered it that

Rome should appear and plead by the ablest

of her orators in the presence of the most

august of tribunals, before she was

condemned.”—Wylie, b. 6, ch. 4. With some

misgivings those who favored the Reformer

looked forward to the effect of Aleander's

speech. The elector of Saxony was not

present, but by his direction some of his

councilors attended to take notes of the

nuncio's address.