only for your sake, but because of his own candid confession that it would displease him, if not me, to have anything [untoward] happen by reason of someone else's guilt or malice. Therefore you have my authority to do what you want in this matter, and so does Eck. I only charge your kindness to see that he does not reply too sharply to our Carlstadt, considering, as he ought, that the first fault was his in stirring up a quarrel with friends. Since I sent my Asterisks to him privately, I believe he will be under no neces- sity of answering them unless he wants to. But if he prefers to answer, I am ready for him, though I should prefer peace. Act therefore so that we may know that you grieve with us that this temptation has been sent by the devil, and also that you rejoice with us that with Christ's aid it has been overcome and quieted. Farewell. I wrote you before, but I see you have not yet received the letter.
Brother Martin Luther, Augtistinian,
68. SILVESTER PRIERIAS TO LUTHER. Enders, L 163. (Rome, June, 1518.)
This letter is dated by Enders Erste Monate, 151 8/' but as the Dialogue, to which it is the preface, appeared in June (F. Lauchert: Die Italienischen lit, Gegner Luthers, 9), it may be dated in that month, and is dated by the St Louis edition, xxi. no. 81, "Zweite Halfte Juni, 1518."
Silvester Mazzolini, of Prierio, in Piedmont (1456-1523), entered the Dominican order at the age of 15, and was made priest eight years later. He taught at Bologna and Padua. In 1508, he was elected Vicar of the Lombard Province of his Order, and for the three following years was a member of the inquisition at Brescia. He wrote a good deal on scholastic topics. In 1514, he was called by Leo X. to teach at Rome, and in the following year was made Master of the Sacred Palace; or official theological adviser to the Pope, in which capacity he took an active part against Reuchlin. Luther's Theses were sent to the Pope by Albert of Mayence, reach- ing Rome before the end of 15 17. Prierias was asked to give an opinion on them, which he did with great thoroughness, and which he published, of his own accord, under the title of Dialogus de post estate Papae, in June, 1518. Luther answered, and the controversy continued. Life of Prierias, by F. Michalski, 1892- Cf. Lauchert, op, cit,, 7ff, and Realencyclop'ddie.
It has been long, Martin, since I have ceased writing, chiefly
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