But the journey of the reformer, through all of this long road was almost like a triumphal procession.
Crowds gathered everywhere to behold the man who had dared to bid defiance to the terrors of that spiritual power before which the haughtiest monarchs had trembled.

The people had read the writings of Luther, and justly regarded him as the advocate of civil and religious liberty.

The nobles, who had often been humiliated by the arrogance of the pontiff, admired a man who was bringing a new power into the field for their disenthrallment.
When Luther had arrived within three miles of Worms, accompanied by a few friends and the imperial herald who had summoned him, he was met by a procession of two thousand persons, who had come from the city to form his escort.

Some friends in the city sent him a warning that he could not rely upon the protection of his _safe conduct_, that he would probably be perfidiously arrested, and they intreated him to retire immediately again to Saxony.

Luther made the memorable reply, "I will go to Worms, if as many devils meet me there as there are tiles upon the roofs of the houses." The emperor was astonished to find that greater crowds were assembled, and greater enthusiasm was displayed in witnessing the entrance of the monk of Wittemberg, than had greeted the imperial entrance to the city.
It was indeed an august assemblage before which Luther was arrayed.