Carter Lindberg is Professor Emeritus of Church History at Boston University. His numerous publications include The European Reformations, 2nd edition (2009), Love: A Brief History through Western Christianity (2008), and A Brief History of Christianity (2005), The Pietist Theologians (2004) all published by Wiley-Blackwell.

Preface to the Second Edition xvi

Preface to the First Edition xviii

Abbreviations xx

1 The Late Middle Ages 1

1.1 Jean de Venette: Chronicle 3

1.2 Social Tensions: The Reformation of the Emperor Sigismund (c.1438) 3

1.3 The Crisis of Values: "Reynard the Fox" (1498) 4

1.4 Jakob Wimpfeling: The Origins of Printing, from Epitome Rerum Germanicarum (1505) 5

1.5 Sebastian Brant: The Ship of Fools 5

1.6 "The Piper of Niklashausen," A Report of His Preaching (1476) 7

1.7 Ulrich von Hutten: Vadiscum oder die Römishe Dreifaltigkeit (1519) 8

1.8 Jacob Wimpfeling: Grievances of the German Nation (1515) 8

1.9 Pope Boniface VIII: Unam Sanctam (1302) 9

1.10 Pope Clement VI: Unigenitus Dei Filius (1343) 10

1.11 Pope Sixtus IV: Salvator Noster (1476) 10

1.12 Marsilius of Padua: Defensor Pacis (1324) 10

1.13 Conciliarism: Opinion of the University of Paris (1393) 11

1.14 Pierre D'Ailly: Conciliar Principles (1409) 11

1.15 The Council of Constance: Haec Sancta (1415) and Frequens (1417) 12

1.16 Pope Pius II: Execrabilis (1460) 12

1.17 Pope Leo X: Pastor Aeternus (1516) 13

1.18 John Wyclif: "On Indulgences" 13

1.19 John Hus: The Treatise on the Church 13

1.20 Gabriel Biel: "Doing What is in One" 14

1.21 Johannes Tauler, OP: Sermon Extract 14

1.22 Theologia Deutsch 15

1.23 Ludolf of Saxony: Vita Jesu Christi 15

1.24 Gerard Zerbolt: The Spiritual Ascents 16

1.25 Thomas à Kempis: The Imitation of Christ 16

1.26 Johannes von Staupitz: Sermon Extracts 17

1.27 Dietrich Kolde: A Fruitful Mirror or Small Handbook for Christians (1508) 17

1.28 François Rabelais: On Education 18

1.29 Lorenzo Valla: The Falsely Believed and Forged Donation of Constantine 19

1.30 Nicholas of Lyra: Interpretation of the Bible 19

1.31 Desiderius Erasmus: Praise of Folly (1509) 20

1.32 Erasmus, "Letter to Martin Dorp" (1515) 21

1.33 Ulrich von Hutten: Letters from Obscure Men (1515) 21

2 The Dawn of a New Era 23

2.1 Martin Luther: Recollections of Becoming a Monk 24

2.2 Luther's Conversion 25

2.3 Luther's Theological Emphases 25

2.4 Luther: "Disputation Against Scholastic Theology" (1517) 26

2.5 "Official Catalogue" of Relics in the Wittenberg Castle Church 27

2.6 Archbishop Albert of Mainz: The Commission of Indulgences 27

2.7 Tetzel: A Sample Sermon 28

2.8 A Contemporary Description of Indulgence Selling 29

2.9 "The Robbing of Tetzel" 29

2.10 Luther: "The Ninety-five Theses" (1517) 29

2.11 Bucer's Description of Luther at the Heidelberg Disputation (1518) 30

2.12 Prierias: Dialogue Against the Arrogant Theses of Martin Luther on the Power of the Pope (1518) 31

2.13 Luther's Hearing before Cardinal Cajetan at Augsburg (1518) 31

2.14 Georg Spalatin: Recollections of Frederick the Wise on Luther 32

2.15 Peter Mosellanus: Description of Luther, Karlstadt, and Eck at the Leipzig Debate 32

2.16 Capito: Letter of Support to Luther (February 1519) 33

2.17 Luther: Treatise on Good Works (June 1520) 34

2.18 Luther: To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation Concerning the Reform of the Christian Estate (1520) 34

2.19 Luther: The Babylonian Captivity of the Church (1520) 37

2.20 Luther: The Freedom of a Christian (1520) 40

2.21 Pope Leo X: "Exsurge domine" (June 15, 1520) 41

2.22 The Papal Nuncio's Reports from the Diet of Worms 41

2.23 Luther before Emperor and Empire at the Diet of Worms (1521) 42

2.24 Charles V: Message to his Council (April 19, 1521) 43

2.25 The Edict of Worms (May 26, 1521) 44

2.26 Albrecht Dürer's Diary: Rumors of Luther's Capture (1521) 45

3 Implementation of Reforms 46

3.1 Thomas More to Martin Dorp (1515) 47

3.2 Erasmus: Paraclesis (1516) 48

3.3 Luther: "On Translating: An Open Letter" (1530) 48

3.4 Luther: A Brief Instruction on What to Look For and Expect in the Gospels (1521) 49

3.5 Jörg Vögeli: Letter to Konrad Zwick (1523) 50

3.6 Philipp Melanchthon: "On Improving the Studies of Youth" (1518) 50

3.7 Melanchthon: "Theses Against Scholastic Theology" (1520) 51

3.8 Andreas Bodenstein von Karlstadt: "The 151 Theses" (1517) 52

3.9 Karlstadt: The Meaning of the Term "Gelassen" and Where in Holy Scripture It is Found (1523) 52

3.10 "The Hammer of Witches" (1486) 53

3.11 Karlstadt: Exposition of Numbers 30 Which Speaks of Vows (1522) 54

3.12 Luther: The Judgment of Martin Luther on Monastic Vows (1521) 54

3.13 Luther: The Estate of Marriage (1522) 55

3.14 Ursala of Münsterberg: A Nun Explains Her Leaving the Convent (1528) 56

3.15 Argula von Grumbach 56

3.16 Katharina Schütz Zell: Writings on Reformation and Marriage 57

3.17 Katherine Rem: A Nun Rejects the Reformation (1523) 58

3.18 Caritas Pirckheimer: A Journal of the Reformation Years 1524-1528 58

3.19 Karlstadt: On the Abolition of Images and That There Should Be No Beggars Among Christians (1522) 59

3.20 The Wittenberg Movement: The University Report to Elector Frederick (1521) 61

3.21 The Wittenberg Movement by the End of 1522 61

3.22 Nicholas Hausmann: A Report Concerning the Zwickau Prophets (1521) 62

3.23 Melanchthon: Report to Frederick on the Situation in Wittenberg (1521) 62

3.24 Luther: Letter to Elector Frederick (1522) 63

3.25 Luther: The Invocavit Sermons (1522) 64

3.26 Luther: Against the Heavenly Prophets (1525) 65

3.27 Karlstadt: Several Main Points of Christian Teaching Regarding Which Dr. Luther Brings Andreas Carlstadt Under Suspicion Through False Accusation and Slander (1525) 66

4 Social Welfare and Education 68

4.1 Canon Law 69

4.2 Johann Geiler of Kaysersberg: "Concerning Begging" 69

4.3 The Nuremberg Begging Order of 1478 70

4.4 Luther: "Foreword" to Mathias Hütlin's The Book of Vagabonds (1510) 71

4.5 Luther: The Blessed Sacrament of the Holy and True Body of Christ and the Brotherhoods (1519) 72

4.6 Anonymous: "What is Loan-Interest Other than Usury?" (1522) 73

4.7 Luther: Trade and Usury (1524) 74

4.8 Luther: "That Clergy Should Preach Against Usury" (1540) 75

4.9 Social Welfare Legislation: The City of Wittenberg (1522) 76

4.10 Social Welfare Legislation: Leisnig (1523) 77

4.11 A Conversation Concerning the Common Chest of Schwabach, Namely by Brother Heinrich, Knecht Ruprecht, Spitler, and Their Master of the Wool Trade (1524) 78

4.12 Luther: To the Councilmen of All Cities in Germany that They Establish and Maintain Christian Schools (1524) 79

4.13 Luther: A Sermon on Keeping Children in School (1530) 80

4.14 Luther: The Small Catechism (1529) 81

4.15 Luther: The Large Catechism (1529) 82

5 The Reformation of the Common Man 85

5.1 Müntzer to Luther (1520) 86

5.2 Müntzer: Prague Manifesto (1521) 86

5.3 Müntzer to Melanchthon (1522) 87

5.4 Karlstadt: Whether One Should Proceed Slowly (1524) 87

5.5 Luther: Letter to the Christians at Strassburg in Opposition to the Fanatic Spirit (1524) 88

5.6 Luther: Letter to the Princes of Saxony Concerning the Rebellious Spirit (1524) 89

5.7 Müntzer to the People of Erfurt (1525) 90

5.8 Müntzer to Frederick the Wise (1524) 90

5.9 Müntzer: Vindication and Refutation (1524) 91

5.10 Müntzer: Sermon to the Princes (1524) 92

5.11 The Twelve Articles of the Upper Swabian Peasants (1525) 92

5.12 Luther: Admonition to Peace. A Reply to the Twelve Articles of the Peasants in Swabia (1525) 94

5.13 Aspects of Müntzer's Military Campaign 95

5.14 The Massacre of Weinsberg (April 16, 1525): Report of the Parson Johann Herolt 96

5.15 Müntzer to the People of Allstedt (1525) 96

5.16 Müntzer's Revolutionary "Ring of Justice" in the Camp of the Frankenhausen Army 97

5.17 Luther: Against the Robbing and Murdering Hordes of Peasants (1525) 97

5.18 Luther: An Open Letter on the Harsh Book Against the Peasants (1525) 98

5.19 The Account of Hans Hut (1527) 99

5.20 Johann Rühl, Mansfeld Councillor, to Martin Luther (1525) 99

5.21 Aftermath of the Peasants' War: Report of the Bernese Chronicler, Valerius Anshelm 100

5.22 The Consequences of Luther's Stance during the Peasants' War: Hermann Mühlpfort, Mayor of Zwickau, to Stephan Roth at Wittenberg (1525) 100

6 The Swiss Connection: Zwingli and the Reformation in Zurich 102

6.1 Zwingli's Invitation to Zurich (1518) 103

6.2 Mandate of the Zurich Mayor and Council for Scriptural Preaching (1520) 104

6.3 Heinrich Bullinger: Account of Zwingli's Preaching Against Mercenary Service in 1521 104

6.4 The Affair of the Sausages 104

6.5 Christopher Froschauer's Defense (1522) 105

6.6 Zwingli: Concerning Choice and Liberty Respecting Food - Concerning Offense and Vexation - Whether Anyone Has Power to Forbid Foods at Certain Times - Opinion of Huldreich Zwingli (1522) 105

6.7 Petition of Certain Preachers of Switzerland to the Most Reverend Lord Hugo, Bishop of Constance, That He Will Not Suffer Himself to be Persuaded to Make Any Proclamation to the Injury of the Gospel, Nor Endure Longer the Scandal of Harlotry, But Allow the Priests to Marry Wives or at Least Would Wink at Their Marriages (1522) 106

6.8 Ordinance for Reform of the Great Minster (1523) 106

6.9 Institution of the Prophesy in Zurich 107

6.10 Zwingli: "Short Christian Instruction" (1523) 108

6.11...