Soon after the debacle at the Diet of Worms and while the Diet was still in session, Emperor Charles V sent in a committee of delegates to try and reason with Luther. The Archbishop and Elector of Trier Richard von Greiffenklau zu Vollards, was given the job of brining Luther round but he was about as successful as his spokesman von der Ecken had been. Luther could not be bribed, cajoled or intimidated to abandon his position.

Finally Charles V issued the Edict of Worms, outlawing Luther and anyone who dared to share his ideas. The Edict stated "His books are to be eradicated from the memory of man" The Edict of Worms was signed into law by Charles on the 26th of May 1521, over a month after Luther had appeared at the Diet and when many of the pro-Luther German princes had already left Worms.