44

DOMESTIC MANNERS OF THE PEUSSIANS.

dense crowd waits for liim at the city gates. Before the caris seen the Imperial herald riding in füll costume; then comesLuther, with his friends Schurff, Suaven, and Amsdorff, seatedbeside him, under the awning of the humble vehicle, and Jonasfollows on horseback, whilst the cavaliers throng on either sideof the car. It is mid-day as they pass the gates, and thoughevery one is at table, the watchman on the tower of the Dom-kirche no sooner sounds his hörn than all rush forth into thestreets with the cry of " Luther is come !"

Two thousand persons bear him Company through thenarrow thoroughfares, and every moment the crowd increases.Suddenly a court fool, dressed in a suit of deep black, andbearing a large funeral cross, forces his way through the mul-titude, and advancos towards Luther, singing a satirical requiemfor the repose of his soul. The shouts of the throng, however,soon drown the ominous " De Profundis " of the jester.

And now comes the last and grandest scene of all; ascene that, for human dignity, is without a parallel in civilisedhistory. The hereditary Marshai of the Empire summons themonk of Wittenberg to the Diet, The herald, Gaspard Sturm,walks first; after him comes Ulrich of Pappenheim, the Mar-shai, and the Reformer follows. The crowd that fills thestreets is greater than ever. The tops of the houses and thepavements of the streets, above and below, are all coveredwith peasants and Citizens. It is almost impossible to advance,and the herald Orders Luther to be led through the gardensand passages of private residences, so as to avoid the pressureof the multitude which heaves to and fro like a sea in a storm.

" Make way ! make way ! " the herald cries; but no onemoves, and though the Imperial soldiers clear a passage bymain force, the people rush forward directly afterwards toenter the Hall with the monk, and are kept back only by thehalberds of the troops.