<P> On 16 April, Luther arrived in Worms . Luther was told to appear the following day before the Diet at 4 p.m. Dr. Jeromee Schurff, Wittenberg professor in Canon Law, was to act as Luther's lawyer before the Diet . </P> <P> On 17 April, the imperial marshal, Ulrich von Pappenheim, and the herald, Caspar Sturm came for Luther . Pappenheim reminded Luther that he should speak only in answer to direct questions from the presiding officer, Johann Eck . Eck asked if a collection of books was Luther's and if he was ready to revoke their heresies . Dr. Schurff said, "Please have the titles read ." There were 25 of them, probably including The 95 Theses, Resolutions Concerning the 95 Theses, On the Papacy at Rome, Address to the Christian Nobility, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and On the Freedom of a Christian . Luther requested more time for a proper answer, so he was given until the next day at 4 p.m. </P> <P> On 18 April, Luther, stating he'd prayed for long hours, consulted with friends and mediators, presented himself before the Diet . When the counselor put the same questions to him, Luther first apologized that he lacked the etiquette of the court . Then he answered, "They are all mine, but as for the second question, they are not all of one sort ." Luther went on to place the writings into three categories: (1) Works which were well received by even his enemies: those he would not reject . (2) Books which attacked the abuses, lies and desolation of the Christian world and the papacy: those, Luther believed, could not safely be rejected without encouraging abuses to continue . To retract them would be to open the door to further oppression . "If I now recant these, then, I would be doing nothing but strengthening tyranny". (3) Attacks on individuals: he apologized for the harsh tone of these writings but did not reject the substance of what he taught in them; if he could be shown from the Scriptures that he was in error, Luther continued, he would reject them . Luther concluded by saying </P> <P> Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God . I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience . May God help me . Amen . </P>

What was the purpose of the diet of worms