The History of the World V . . . .

[The Capo]

The Tale of New Spain

Spanish sailor Cristobal Colon was one of the few people to answer to Queen Isabella's call for intrepid sailors who would be willing, in the name of Spain, to search for the New World and return with maps. His bid was temporarily put down with the death of Isabella and the rise of Gaspar Guzman de Olivares, who balked at any notion of exploration and instead focused on establishing his own power. Unfortunately the Conquistadors under Carlos V were successful and Isabella's lineage was returned to the throne. Carlos revived Isabella's plan for exploration of the new world, and called upon the services the young and ambitious Cristobal Colon... except he was no longer young, and hardly ambitious. After negotiating a deal with Emperor Carlos V and his chief Naval Officer, Admiral Jose Maria de Hidalgo, they convinced the old man to muster his men for one last voyage; one that would make him the governor of any new territory discovered for Spain.

It was around this time that the Northern Alliance (Inca, English) decided to release a plan calling for organization of the New World settlements, their own official claim to the entire New World, and of course plans to give land grants to countries in need (such as America, France, and Germany). Part of the statement was particularly bothersome to the Emperor...

Section 4) Any military units (settlers included, but not scouting units) involved in any actions not sanctioned or previously accorded in these proceedings will be considered hostile and dealt with swiftly by all participating members. If this shall result in declarations of war between nations, they will be considered, at least by the Northern Alliance members, valid only in the new continent (i.e. there will be no military reprisals in the “Old World” as a result).

With this statement looming overhead the mission had a setback, the only problem was that the ship had already left from Santo Rodrigo on its quest, so Spanish Foreign Minister Pedro Abarca de Bolea had to work quickly in order to assure the safety of the crew (which was primarily private citizens, and not military, however there were sufficient military forces to warrant problems from the English and Inca if they were so inclined). After negotiations finished Bolea had ensured not only the safe passage of Colon's crew, but also a military agreement in general with Spain against barbarians, as well as a promise that Spain would either recieve a barbarian city or a land grant in return.

The following is a collection of excerpts from the journals of General DeMores, Cristobal Colon, and Admiral Hidalgo...

1288 a.d. - The people on the ship are growing restless, rumors of a mutiny have begun. I knew I should have stayed home, I knew once the war started and I lost support of the throne I had been saved from a terrible mistake. We have no proof of the New World! Only stories from the English and Inca, who have been our enemies as of late. Our Emperor believes them! It is quite foolish indeed, and this should prove how much faith in this mission and the so-called Admiral. It is insane that I, a merchant of great experience and expertise, have to succumb to the will of this boy Admiral, this Hidalgo. What could he possibly know about ships? Spain doesn't have a navy! Well, it seems as if dinner has been prepared, that is the one thing I can say about this mission - thus far we have been well stocked with food.
-Cristobal Colon

1292 a.d. - We have seen many things on our journey, but the latest two things have been the most promising; a Chinese ship, and land! Glorious land! There has been no evidence of natives, however, we've only seen forests and hills so far, no sign of roads, farming, mining, or even any smoke. We are begining to think this world may be uninhabited, but we can be sure from the absence of development that we are seeing virgin soil (unless of course we are somewhere undeveloped, like France, which would prove to be embarassing). Even the melencholy mood of that old man Cristobal has improved, the second he saw the Chinese ship you should have seen his eyes; he was so worried that there would be an insurrection, but we have enough men to contain any type of uprising, besides, these sailors will be payed handsomely when we return to Spain. In any event we should reach land very shortly, of course our first order of business will be to ensure that we have a place to break camp, and potentially leave behind a few people while the rest remain on the ship to explore the rest of this continent.
-Admiral Hidalgo

1292 a.d. - These sailors are a joke! I can't wait to see some action, the Chinese commanders have already told me rumors that we were sending another ship, with more troops, under the command of Prince Carlos VI! I can't wait, but in case these are lies I want to keep it from the old man and the Admiral, they don't need to know about this, it will make the sailors lazy anyway. It is going to be there job to find food for everyone, and if they think we have armies coming they'll stop, I know this lot, they are about as loyal as the Imperial coffers allow them to be. Supposedly there is a barbarian Empire in this continent's interior, they call themselves the Numidians. The Chinese say they have an impressive city, but not as impressive as the Sarmatians, we will see how impressive these barbaric weapons can be, hopefully sooner rather than later.
-General DeMores


1293 a.d. - We reached land sometime in the morning that day, and decided to make our presence felt by lodging the banner of the Holy Spanish Empire and spreading the word of God to the natives, who told us of two tyrannical Empires; the Numidians and Sarmatians, who had control of this area of the New World. They assured us that despite their own simple existance, the Numidians and Sarmatians had powerful armies and lived in large cities that were said to rival even those of Spain! My men were already worried, and wished to return to the ship, which we did. When I told General DeMores about the barbarian Empires he assured me that Spain would crush them, and said from now on our mission would be to discover their locations and bring in military forces. It had also come to his attention that our diplomats had made an agreement with the Inca which would in turn bring a force of Spanish Conquistadors to the area, so many things are happening this old man is feeling a bit overwhelmed.
-Cristobal Colon

1301 a.d.- We continued on our quest to map the continent, which was proving to be much larger than anticipated. The General stayed behind to meet the troops arriving from Cuzco, while Cristobal and I commanded the fleet towards the south of the continent, it came to our attention that the English had already established settlements including the conquest of the Vandal empire, and the territory of Illinois, word from the English claimed that the Sarmatian Empire was due north of Illinois but warned us that Sarmatian ships were powerful, and would challenge our authority over the seas. We weren't worried however, as there was no evidence to support that the natives had the technological advancements we had; clearly there were roads, but none that could compare to those in the old Continent.
-Admiral Hidalgo

1306 a.d. - Our soldiers reached the New World along with Prince Carlos VI, who I was pleased to meet. He had recently married the daughter of the great General Mendoza and wanted to establish himself as a military commander; so he came along with the Conquistadors. We met with the Incan army, and things were quite tense at first, however we learned to work together and it showed that through cooperation we could settle our differences, it was from the coast that we marched towards Numidia, the capital city of the heathen Numidians...
-General DeMores



1310 a.d. - After three years of battle we finally broke the city walls, I suffered some slight injuries but two whole garrisons of Conquistadors bravely lost their lives at the walls of Numidia, a combined force of Incan, Spanish, and English troops took the barbarian city down to the jubilation of the surrounding natives. I will have to spend much time here with Prince Carlos VI as the Incans have no officials to rule the city, so it is going to be up to us to stamp out the Numidian insurgency and establish order in the city. We will then make our treck to Sarmatia, as the Prince assures us that Spanish Cavalry will soon arrive in the area...
-General DeMores



1314 a.d. - Under the command of Prince Carlos VI our forces marched east towards a hold-out Numidian village, which was quite easy to defeat (their only forces were crude bowmen), the village was plundered of the small riches it had and the natives were questioned as to the location and power of the Sarmatian Empire. Apparently prior to the landing of the Inca, the Numidians and Sarmatians had brokered a peace which gave them control of the entire area, including control over the natives. The villagers told us that one such village was to our east, and north of that area would be the Sarmatian capital. Our men fought bravely and destroyed the second village, finally arriving at Sarmatia, which was quite large and well defended.
-General DeMores

1328 a.d. - We should have listened to the English! The Sarmatian fleet met us just north of Illinois, and the Admiral decided to engage them directly, causing the death of numerous sailors and soldiers despite our victory. Admiral Hidalgo said it would be best for us to beach our ship until we can finish repairs, and generally search the area, according to his map we should be quite close to the Sarmatian empire, and thus close to the forces of General DeMores and Prince Carlos VI. I am begining to think I will not survive this trek to make it back to Spain, let alone to govern any territory in this wild part of Terra. Perhaps history could be my prize, hopefully by the end of this journey my regrets will be gone. But alas, I realize that at any moment my life could end whether it by the hand of the heathens, or the hand of God Himself.
-Cristobal Colon

1328 a.d. - Hail the Spanish navy! Finally some action! The Sarmatian triremes were no match for us, and we sent them deep into the unforgiving sea with a message to their ancestors; you will soon be meeting the remnants of your people! Certainly the armies of DeMores and Carlos are close to Sarmatia, why else would they send this fleet against us? That old man Cristobal can worry all he wants, and complain about his men dying, but that is what they signed up for and they knew the risks of this voyage. I can't wait to return to Spain and tell the Emperor of my victory and of our successes, certainly Pope Paul will appreciate a New World for the one true faith to spread and grow in! I am quite optimistic, and hope to make it to Sarmatia before the battle ends, how glorious it will be to see the forces of Holy Spain smite the evil heathens!
-Admiral Hidalgo

1347 a.d. - Captain William Manning, who was running things in England made a surprise visit to our camp, and held a meeting with Prince Carlos and I. He was happy to discover that Carlos VI married General Mendoza's daughter, Manning apparently had been a friend of Mendoza's many years ago, and appreciated hearing about Mendoza's granddaughter. He was a very nice man, who seemed to be unaffected by his rise to power, he expressed hopes that our countries could again be friends and discussed plans to use English troops to help the Spanish put down the Sarmatian defenses. It was quite strange to me how new everything was here, the New World was truly that; where else would you see Spain fighting alongside the Northern Alliance? Things were different here though, the treaties and feelings of the old world were gone and were replaced with a feeling of brotherhood, and mutual protection against unknown barbarian enemies. Captain Manning told us that English and Incan forces were on the way, and we would be wise to make camp among the forests in the hills near Sarmatia, he suggested that we not give word to the Sarmatians that we intend on attacking, and they may not bother us. Things were about to get interesting, and I could prove my salt as a General here on this day in Sarmatia!
-General DeMores



1350 a.d. - Finally the Incan and English troops arrived as Manning had promised, their catapults rained down fireballs upon the unsuspecting Sarmatian rabble. Incan, English and Spanish Cavalry punished their defenses, until finally our Conquistadors cleaned up the mess and the Spanish flag was raised over the city. Quickly the soldiers went to work dismantling the pagan shrines and altars in the city to make way for Christian missionaries. The insurgency raged on for many nights, but ultimately could not withstand our forces. The Emperor will be proud, as proud as I am today, of the work we have done and would be quite interested to note that the Incan and English kept up their end of the deal, so now we had to keep up ours. The Prince named Cristobal Colon the governor, but will rule the city until his arrival with Admiral Hidalgo, I am sure both will be impressed with the skill displayed by the Spanish military.
-General DeMores



1350 a.d. - When we reached the city it was hard to tell whether or not the day was ours, until General DeMores himself ran into the sea holding up a large blue banner holding the crest of Spain and the House of Bourbon (to which Prince Carlos VI held his allegience). We knew then that we were safe, and the look on Cristobal's face was priceless; it was the face of an old man, who had worked hard all of his life finally seeing his retirement, he would be governor of Sarmatia - the largest Empire in the New World - he would be the favorite of the Emperor, and would be known throughout history as the man who cased this, despite his lack of actual involvement in the military victories. Regardless, I am happy for him, he put a lot on the line out here and everything worked out for him. I am sure all of us will return to Spain with more prestige than when we left it. I myself have changed, early on in the voyage, when we left Santo Rodrigo I thought they sent me on a wild goose chase! Braving the icebergs of the harsh nothern oceans, I thought this was a futile attempt. But now I realize what glory we have achieved, I can say to my family and friends when I return, to my Emperor, that I braved the mysterious seas, the dark jungles, and the raging barbarians of the New World for Spain! I was proud to do it, and I will never forget this journey and the sacrafices of the brave sailors and soldiers, Spanish, English, Incan alike, who risked their lives for glory, God and Country!
-Admiral Hidalgo


Back in Madrid, Years Later...

Cristobal Colon became the Imperial Governor of Sarmatia, which was renamed San Pedro in honor of Czar Peter II who converted Russia to Christianity. He returned to Madrid with gold plundered from the campaign, which was well recieved in the courth of Carlos V, he also brought slaves, spices, and tales of adventure that all Spaniards could be proud of. He brought back a newfound respect for the English and Inca as well, who fought alongside the Spanish like brothers. For his role in the voyage Cristobal was named an Admiral of Spain, and given title and a small estate in Aragon (not to mention his posessions in the New World). The Emperor would later say that when Colon mentioned he was old, and happy he could finally retire, it made him consider his own retirement as well...



NEXT: The Tale of the Spanish Mission!

[NicodaMax]

From: Sapa Inca
To: All Nations

Hail these glorious days, for our people have learned to live in peace and great rewards have come from this cooperation. It is thus fitting that this new continent, these new lands, the "New World", as we have called it until now, recieve the name of

Concordia

Our cartographers are preparing more detailed maps of Concordia, but we have recieved this from the explorers themselves and is this of great historical value.

[Robert]

The Americans are very curious to know where their settler will found the city of New Boston....!

[KunojiLym]

To: The Sapa Inca and Captain Manning

Russia will like to request the use of the easternmost island depicted on the map for a new Russian settlement. In exchange, the Tsar is prepared to assign a detatchment of our elite Cossasks to Concordia to eliminate the remaining barbarian threat.

Boris Shuisky
Prime Minister of the Russian Empire

[OzzyKP]

btw, you guys should make all the maps from now on, they are much cooler than mine.

[NicodaMax]

btw, you guys should make all the maps from now on, they are much cooler than mine.

As a result of working together, the Inca have aquired some very nice artistic know-how from spanish cartographers.

[The Capo]

Official Spanish Statement



Governor Cristobal Colon, Duke of Asturias, Governor of New Spain.

TO: Captain William Manning, Sapa Inca
FROM: Governor Cristobal Colon of New Spain

The Emperor is extatic that we have been able to work together so well and has comissioned me with the task of making a Spanish land claim in the New World. We do not want much, but as Spain proper is without many ports we would like to secure an area that would at least allow us 2 to 3 more settlements, with AT LEAST two of them being port cities, this is the land claim made by the Imperial Authority in Madrid;



Now, not to disagree with our beloved Emperor, but I believe the small gulf or harbor to the south of the Spanish claim, at the mouth of said harbor, should be one position of a Spanish port, which would extend this land claim slightly. On its face, however, I believe this is a fair claim and side with the Emperor, a couple more settlements surrounding our current settlement will not be too imposing. We await your responses.

Thank you,

Governor Cristobal Colon

[deity]

Originally posted by CyberShy
The Americans are very curious to know where their settler will found the city of New Boston....!

Captain Manning is on a ship at sea but forwards this rough alteration to ease George's apprehension!!

[deity]

Originally posted by KunojiLym
To: The Sapa Inca and Captain Manning

Russia will like to request the use of the easternmost island depicted on the map for a new Russian settlement. In exchange, the Tsar is prepared to assign a detatchment of our elite Cossasks to Concordia to eliminate the remaining barbarian threat.

Boris Shuisky
Prime Minister of the Russian Empire

To: Boris Shuisky
Prime Minister of the Russian Empire

From: Sir Alfred

I find your request most interesting.

As Elizabeth's ardent supporter I must say NO to your request as I'm sure she would.

Manning has left me in charge and no doubt will over turn my decision when he returns but as far as I'm concerned the true ruler of England is Elizabeth and Manning is simply the Protector.

Firgive my harshness but I find the treatment of the Americans throughout the eons of toime most discgraceful and rue the day that I took Novgorad and did not burn it!

[Frank Johnson]

From: Foreign Office of the Consul of the 108 Stars
To: Northern Alliance
Fwd: Other New World Powers

Greetings from the Consul of the 108 Stars. We regret that our first offical communication from the newly elected government of the Chinese people, respresenting them and his Most Honored Emperor Jian Fu Lin, must be brief and deal directly with the matters at hand. There is much for our new government to carry out, however his Most Honored Emperor has directed that the people's will be known concerning colonization of "Concordia" as our first offical act of foreign policy in the Consol of the 108 Stars.

In light of the recent exchange of knowledge with English emissaries for the expertise of English naval design, in exchange for Chinese scholarly methodology, the people of China view this action as tactit concent to the Colonization of parts of Concordia for the Empire of China. To state otherwise would be to imply that these craft would have no peaceful purpose and would be useful only as weapons of war. Since the Great Emperor and the Chinese people feel strongly that this is not the intent of the Northern Peoples, we sumbit the following claim on behalf of the Chinese people. Your approval and assistance in finalizing this matter quickly is greatly apprciated.

[deity]

Re: Official Spanish Statement

Originally posted by The Capo


Governor Cristobal Colon, Duke of Asturias, Governor of New Spain.

TO: Captain William Manning, Sapa Inca
FROM: Governor Cristobal Colon of New Spain

The Emperor is eCStatic that we have been able to work together so well and has comissioned me with the task of making a Spanish land claim in the New World. We do not want much, but as Spain proper is without many ports we would like to secure an area that would at least allow us 2 to 3 more settlements, with AT LEAST two of them being port cities, this is the land claim made by the Imperial Authority in Madrid;



Now, not to disagree with our beloved Emperor, but I believe the small gulf or harbor to the south of the Spanish claim, at the mouth of said harbor, should be one position of a Spanish port, which would extend this land claim slightly. On its face, however, I believe this is a fair claim and side with the Emperor, a couple more settlements surrounding our current settlement will not be too imposing. We await your responses.

Thank you,

Governor Cristobal Colon

Intercepted by Sir Alfred...

"Tell them to take the Russian islands I say... the Inca must not be denied any of their new land now, particularly since the loss of Novgorad..."

he takes another swig of the cheap Spanish wine leftover from the LPA.

"Ah, I was a great warrior and I took Novgorad! For my Queen, my Queen, oh where oh where is my Queen??? Is she really in hiding with Rho d'Berth?"

Sir Alfred was getting quite drunk and was seen throwing up in the Big Crab (Vomatorium)

His aides were distressed at such a sight - how the mighty have fallen..

[deity]

Originally posted by Frank Johnson
From: Foreign Office of the Consul of the 108 Stars
To: Northern Alliance
Fwd: Other New World Powers

Greetings from the Consul of the 108 Stars. We regret that our first offical communication from the newly elected government of the Chinese people, respresenting them and his Most Honored Emperor Jian Fu Lin, must be brief and deal directly with the matters at hand. There is much for our new government to carry out, however his Most Honored Emperor has directed that the people's will be known concerning colonization of "Concordia" as our first offical act of foreign policy in the Consol of the 108 Stars.

In light of the recent exchange of knowledge with English emissaries for the expertise of English naval design, in exchange for Chinese scholarly methodology, the people of China view this action as tactit concent to the Colonization of parts of Concordia for the Empire of China. To state otherwise would be to imply that these craft would have no peaceful purpose and would be useful only as weapons of war. Since the Great Emperor and the Chinese people feel strongly that this is not the intent of the Northern Peoples, we sumbit the following claim on behalf of the Chinese people. Your approval and assistance in finalizing this matter quickly is greatly apprciated.

Read above Jian... but discusion must ensue to consider a request from the Chinese as soon as Manning becomes available...

[KunojiLym]

To Sir Alfred

Novgorod has been and will always be part of the Russian Motherland. Your comments are most provocative and unsettling, and we request an apology. In the meantime, I must also note that Captain Manning is, for all intents and purposes, in charge of England. I will forward your heedless comments to him when he returns from his trip.

Boris Shuisky
Prime Minister of the Russian Empire

[KunojiLym]

A Treatise on Good Works
by Dr Martin Luther, 1340

Excerpts from the Introduction and Conclusion

We ought first to know that there are no good works
except those which God has commanded, even as there is no
sin except that which God has forbidden. Therefore
whoever wishes to know and to do good works needs nothing
else than to know God's commandments. Thus Christ says,
Matthew xix, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the
commandments." And when the young man asks Him, Matthew
xix, what he shall do that he may inherit eternal life,
Christ sets before him naught else but the Ten
Commandments. Accordingly, we must learn how to
distinguish among good works from the Commandments of
God, and not from the appearance, the magnitude, or the
number of the works themselves, nor from the judgment of
men or of human law or custom, as we see has been done
and still is done, because we are blind and despise the
divine Commandments.

The first and highest, the most precious of all good
works is faith in Christ, as He says, John vi. When the
Jews asked Him: "What shall we do that we may work the
works of God?" He answered: "This is the work of God,
that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent." When we hear
or preach this word, we hasten over it and deem it a very
little thing and easy to do, whereas we ought here to
pause a long time and to ponder it well. For in this work
all good works must be done and receive from it the
inflow of their goodness, like a loan. This we must put
bluntly, that men may understand it.

We find many who pray, fast, establish endowments, do
this or that, lead a good life before men, and yet if you
should ask them whether they are sure that what they do
pleases God, they say, "No"; they do not know, or they
doubt. And there are some very learned men, who mislead
them, and say that it is not necessary to be sure of
this; and yet, on the other hand, these same men do
nothing else but teach good works. Now all these works
are done outside of faith, therefore they are nothing and
altogether dead. For as their conscience stands toward
God and as it believes, so also are the works which grow
out of it. Now they have no faith, no good conscience
toward God, therefore the works lack their head, and all
their life and goodness is nothing. Hence it comes that
when I exalt faith and reject such works done without
faith, they accuse me of forbidding good works, when in
truth I am trying hard to teach real good works of faith.

....

There is a second bearing of witness to the truth, which
is still greater, with which we must fight against the evil
spirits; and this concerns not temporal matters, but the
Gospel and the truth of faith, which the evil spirit has at no
time been able to endure, and always so manages that the great
among men, whom it is hard to resist, must oppose and
persecute it. Of which it is written in Psalm lxxxii, "Rid the
poor out of the hand of the wicked, and help the forsaken to
maintain his just cause."

Such persecution, it is true, has now become infrequent; but
that is the fault of the spiritual prelates, who do not stir
up the Gospel, but let it perish, and so have abandoned the
very thing because of which such witnessing and persecution
should arise; and in its place they teach us their own law and
what pleases them. For this reason the devil also does not
stir, since by vanquishing the Gospel he has also vanquished
faith in Christ, and everything goes as he wishes. But if the
Gospel should be stirred up and be heard again, without doubt
the whole world would be aroused and moved, and the greater
portion of the kings, princes, bishops, doctors and clergy,
and all that is great, would oppose it and rage against it, as
has always happened when the Word of God has come to light;
for the world cannot endure what comes from God. This is
proved in Christ, Who was and is the very greatest and most
precious and best of all that God has; yet the world not only
did not receive Him, but persecuted Him more cruelly than all
others who had ever come forth from God.

Therefore, as at that time, so at all times there are few who
stand by the divine truth, and imperil and risk life and limb,
goods and honor, and all that they have, as Christ has
foretold: "Ye shall be hated of all men for My Name's sake."
And: "Many of them shall be offended in Me." Yea, if this
truth were attacked by peasants, herdsmen, stable-boys and men
of no standing, who would not be willing and able to confess
it and to bear witness to it? But when the pope, and the
bishops, together with princes and kings attack it, all men
flee, keep silent, dissemble, in order that they may not lose
goods, honor, favor and life.

Why do they do this? Because they have no faith in God,
and expect nothing good from Him. For where such faith and
confidence are, there is also a bold, defiant, fearless heart,
that ventures and stands by the truth, though it cost life or
cloak, though it be against pope or kings; as we see that the
martyrs did. For such a heart is satisfied and rests easy
because it has a gracious, loving God. Therefore it despises
all the favor, grace, goods and honor of men, lets them come
and go as they please; as is written in Psalm xv: "He
contemneth them that contemn God, and honoreth them that fear
the Lord"; that is, the tyrants, the mighty, who persecute the
truth and despise God, he does not fear, he does not regard
them, he despiseth them; on the other hand, those who are
persecuted for the truth's sake, and fear God more than men,
to these he clings, these he defends, these he honors, let it
vex whom it may; as it is written of Moses, Hebrews xi, that
he stood by his brethren, regardless of the mighty king of
Egypt.

Lo, in this Commandment again you see briefly that faith must
be the master-workman in this work also, so that without it no
one has courage to do this work: so entirely are all works
comprised in faith, as has now been often said. Therefore,
apart from faith all works are dead, however good the form and
name they bear. For as no one does the work of this
Commandment except he be firm and fearless in the confidence
of divine favor; so also he does no work of any other
Commandment without the same faith: thus every one may easily
by this Commandment test and weigh himself whether he be a
Christian and truly believe in Christ, and thus whether he is
doing good works or no. Now we see how the Almighty God has
not only set our Lord Jesus Christ before us that we should
believe in Him with such confidence, but also holds before us
in Him an example of this same confidence and of such good
works, to the end that we should believe in Him, follow Him
and abide in Him forever; as He says, John xiv: "I am the Way,
the Truth and the Life," -- the Way, in which we follow Him;
the Truth, that we believe in Him; the Life, that we live in
Him forever.

From all this it is now manifest that all other works, which
are not commanded, are perilous and easily known: such as
building churches, beautifying them, making pilgrimages, and
all that is written at so great length in the Canon Law and
has misled and burdened the world and ruined it, made uneasy
consciences, silenced and weakened faith, and has not said how
a man, although he neglect all else, has enough to do with all
his powers to keep the Commandments of God, and can never do
all the good works which he is commanded to do; why then does
he seek others, which are neither necessary nor commanded, and
neglect those that are necessary and commanded?

The last two Commandments, which forbid evil desires of the
body for pleasure and for temporal goods, are clear in
themselves; these evil desires do no harm to our neighbor, and
yet they continue unto the grave, and the strife in us against
them endures unto death; therefore these two Commandments are
drawn together by St. Paul into one, Romans vii, and are set
as a goal unto which we do not attain, and only in our
thoughts reach after until death. For no one has ever been so
holy that he felt in himself no evil inclination, especially
when occasion and temptation were offered. For original sin is
born in us by nature, and may be checked, but not entirely
uprooted, except through the death of the body; which for this
reason is profitable and a thing to be desired. To this may
God help us. Amen.

[KunojiLym]

Nailed on church doors all over Russia, but particularly in Yaroslavl'

DISPUTATION OF DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER
ON THE POWER AND EFFICACY OF
INDULGENCES

OCTOBER 31, 1341

Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light,
the following propositions will be discussed at St. Petersburg,
under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther,
Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in
Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that
those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us,
may do so by letter.

In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam
agite, willed that the whole life of believers should be
repentance.

2. This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance,
i.e., confession and satisfaction, which is administered by
the priests.

3. Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no
inward repentance which does not outwardly work divers
mortifications of the flesh.

4. The penalty [of sin], therefore, continues so long as
hatred of self continues; for this is the true inward
repentance, and continues until our entrance into the kingdom
of heaven.

5. The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any
penalties other than those which he has imposed either by his
own authority or by that of the Canons.

6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that
it has been remitted by God and by assenting to God's
remission; though, to be sure, he may grant remission in cases
reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in
such cases were despised, the guilt would remain entirely
unforgiven.

7. God remits guilt to no one whom He does not, at the same
time, humble in all things and bring into subjection to His
vicar, the priest.

8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and,
according to them, nothing should be imposed on the dying.

9. Therefore the Holy Spirit in the pope is kind to us,
because in his decrees he always makes exception of the
article of death and of necessity.

10. Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those priests who,
in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penances for
purgatory.

11. This changing of the canonical penalty to the penalty of
purgatory is quite evidently one of the tares that were sown
while the bishops slept.

12. In former times the canonical penalties were imposed not
after, but before absolution, as tests of true contrition.

13. The dying are freed by death from all penalties; they are
already dead to canonical rules, and have a right to be
released from them.

14. The imperfect health [of soul], that is to say, the
imperfect love, of the dying brings with it, of necessity,
great fear; and the smaller the love, the greater is the fear.

15. This fear and horror is sufficient of itself alone (to say
nothing of other things) to constitute the penalty of
purgatory, since it is very near to the horror of despair.

16. Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ as do despair,
almost-despair, and the assurance of safety.

17. With souls in purgatory it seems necessary that horror
should grow less and love increase.

18. It seems unproved, either by reason or Scripture, that
they are outside the state of merit, that is to say, of
increasing love.

19. Again, it seems unproved that they, or at least that all
of them, are certain or assured of their own blessedness,
though we may be quite certain of it.

20. Therefore by "full remission of all penalties" the pope
means not actually "of all," but only of those imposed by
himself.

21. Therefore those preachers of indulgences are in error, who
say that by the pope's indulgences a man is freed from every
penalty, and saved;

22. Whereas he remits to souls in purgatory no penalty which,
according to the canons, they would have had to pay in this
life.

23. If it is at all possible to grant to any one the remission
of all penalties whatsoever, it is certain that this remission
can be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to the very
fewest.

24. It must needs be, therefore, that the greater part of the
people are deceived by that indiscriminate and highsounding
promise of release from penalty.

25. The power which the pope has, in a general way, over
purgatory, is just like the power which any bishop or curate
has, in a special way, within his own diocese or parish.

26. The pope does well when he grants remission to souls [in
purgatory], not by the power of the keys (which he does not
possess), but by way of intercession.

27. They preach man who say that so soon as the penny jingles
into the money-box, the soul flies out [of purgatory].

28. It is certain that when the penny jingles into the
money-box, gain and avarice can be increased, but the result
of the intercession of the Church is in the power of God
alone.

29. Who knows whether all the souls in purgatory wish to be
bought out of it, as in the legend of Sts. Severinus and
Paschal.

30. No one is sure that his own contrition is sincere; much
less that he has attained full remission.

31. Rare as is the man that is truly penitent, so rare is also
the man who truly buys indulgences, i.e., such men are most
rare.

32. They will be condemned eternally, together with their
teachers, who believe themselves sure of their salvation
because they have letters of pardon.

33. Men must be on their guard against those who say that the
pope's pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man
is reconciled to Him;

34. For these "graces of pardon" concern only the penalties of
sacramental satisfaction, and these are appointed by man.

35. They preach no Christian doctrine who teach that
contrition is not necessary in those who intend to buy souls
out of purgatory or to buy confessionalia.

36. Every truly repentant Christian has a right to full
remission of penalty and guilt, even without letters of
pardon.

37. Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has part in
all the blessings of Christ and the Church; and this is
granted him by God, even without letters of pardon.

38. Nevertheless, the remission and participation [in the
blessings of the Church] which are granted by the pope are in
no way to be despised, for they are, as I have said, the
declaration of divine remission.

39. It is most difficult, even for the very keenest
theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people
the abundance of pardons and [the need of] true contrition.

40. True contrition seeks and loves penalties, but liberal
pardons only relax penalties and cause them to be hated, or at
least, furnish an occasion [for hating them].

41. Apostolic pardons are to be preached with caution, lest
the people may falsely think them preferable to other good
works of love.

42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend
the buying of pardons to be compared in any way to works of
mercy.

43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor
or lends to the needy does a better work than buying pardons;

44. Because love grows by works of love, and man becomes
better; but by pardons man does not grow better, only more
free from penalty.

45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a man in
need, and passes him by, and gives [his money] for pardons,
purchases not the indulgences of the pope, but the indignation
of God.

46. Christians are to be taught that unless they have more
than they need, they are bound to keep back what is necessary
for their own families, and by no means to squander it on
pardons.

47. Christians are to be taught that the buying of pardons is
a matter of free will, and not of commandment.

48. Christians are to be taught that the pope, in granting
pardons, needs, and therefore desires, their devout prayer for
him more than the money they bring.

49. Christians are to be taught that the pope's pardons are
useful, if they do not put their trust in them; but altogether
harmful, if through them they lose their fear of God.

50. Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the
exactions of the pardon-preachers, he would rather that St.
Peter's church should go to ashes, than that it should be
built up with the skin, flesh and bones of his sheep.

51. Christians are to be taught that it would be the pope's
wish, as it is his duty, to give of his own money to very many
of those from whom certain hawkers of pardons cajole money,
even though the church of St. Peter might have to be sold.

52. The assurance of salvation by letters of pardon is vain,
even though the commissary, nay, even though the pope himself,
were to stake his soul upon it.

53. They are enemies of Christ and of the pope, who bid the
Word of God be altogether silent in some Churches, in order
that pardons may be preached in others.

54. Injury is done the Word of God when, in the same sermon,
an equal or a longer time is spent on pardons than on this
Word.

55. It must be the intention of the pope that if pardons,
which are a very small thing, are celebrated with one bell,
with single processions and ceremonies, then the Gospel, which
is the very greatest thing, should be preached with a hundred
bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.

56. The "treasures of the Church," out of which the pope.
grants indulgences, are not sufficiently named or known among
the people of Christ.

57. That they are not temporal treasures is certainly evident,
for many of the vendors do not pour out such treasures so
easily, but only gather them.

58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the Saints, for even
without the pope, these always work grace for the inner man,
and the cross, death, and hell for the outward man.

59. St. Lawrence said that the treasures of the Church were
the Church's poor, but he spoke according to the usage of the
word in his own time.

60. Without rashness we say that the keys of the Church, given
by Christ's merit, are that treasure;

61. For it is clear that for the remission of penalties and of
reserved cases, the power of the pope is of itself sufficient.

62. The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of
the glory and the grace of God.

63. But this treasure is naturally most odious, for it makes
the first to be last.

64. On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is
naturally most acceptable, for it makes the last to be first.

65. Therefore the treasures of the Gospel are nets with which
they formerly were wont to fish for men of riches.

66. The treasures of the indulgences are nets with which they
now fish for the riches of men.

67. The indulgences which the preachers cry as the "greatest
graces" are known to be truly such, in so far as they promote
gain.

68. Yet they are in truth the very smallest graces compared
with the grace of God and the piety of the Cross.

69. Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commissaries of
apostolic pardons, with all reverence.

70. But still more are they bound to strain all their eyes and
attend with all their ears, lest these men preach their own
dreams instead of the commission of the pope.

71 . He who speaks against the truth of apostolic pardons, let
him be anathema and accursed!

72. But he who guards against the lust and license of the
pardon-preachers, let him be blessed!

73. The pope justly thunders against those who, by any art,
contrive the injury of the traffic in pardons.

74. But much more does he intend to thunder against those who
use the pretext of pardons to contrive the injury of holy love
and truth.

75. To think the papal pardons so great that they could
absolve a man even if he had committed an impossible sin and
violated the Mother of God -- this is madness.

76. We say, on the contrary, that the papal pardons are not
able to remove the very least of venial sins, so far as its
guilt is concerned.

77. It is said that even St. Peter, if he were now Pope, could
not bestow greater graces; this is blasphemy against St. Peter
and against the pope.

78. We say, on the contrary, that even the present pope, and
any pope at all, has greater graces at his disposal; to wit,
the Gospel, powers, gifts of healing, etc., as it is written
in I. Corinthians xii.

79. To say that the cross, emblazoned with the papal arms,
which is set up [by the preachers of indulgences], is of equal
worth with the Cross of Christ, is blasphemy.

80. The bishops, curates and theologians who allow such talk
to be spread among the people, will have an account to render.

81. This unbridled preaching of pardons makes it no easy
matter, even for learned men, to rescue the reverence due to
the pope from slander, or even from the shrewd questionings of
the laity.

82. To wit: -- "Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the
sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are
there, if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake
of miserable money with which to build a Church? The former
reasons would be most just; the latter is most trivial."

83. Again: -- "Why are mortuary and anniversary masses for the
dead continued, and why does he not return or permit the
withdrawal of the endowments founded on their behalf, since it
is wrong to pray for the redeemed?"

84. Again: -- "What is this new piety of God and the pope,
that for money they allow a man who is impious and their enemy
to buy out of purgatory the pious soul of a friend of God, and
do not rather, because of that pious and beloved soul's own
need, free it for pure love's sake?"

85. Again: -- "Why are the penitential canons long since in
actual fact and through disuse abrogated and dead, now
satisfied by the granting of indulgences, as though they were
still alive and in force?"

86. Again: -- "Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day
greater than the riches of the richest, build just this one
church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the
money of poor believers?"

87. Again: -- "What is it that the pope remits, and what
participation does he grant to those who, by perfect contrition,
have a right to full remission and participation?"

88. Again: -- "What greater blessing could come to the Church
than if the pope were to do a hundred times a day what he now
does once, and bestow on every believer these remissions
and participations?"

89. "Since the pope, by his pardons, seeks the salvation of souls
rather than money, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons
granted heretofore, since these have equal efficacy?"

90. To repress these arguments and scruples of the laity by force
alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the
Church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make
Christians unhappy.

91. If, therefore, pardons were preached according to the
spirit and mind of the pope, all these doubts would be readily
resolved; nay, they would not exist.

92. Away, then, with all those prophets who say to the people
of Christ, "Peace, peace," and there is no peace!

93. Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of
Christ, "Cross, cross," and there is no cross!

94. Christians are to be exhorted that they be diligent in
following Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and
hell;

95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven rather
through many tribulations, than through the assurance of
peace.