gives fair words, but all empty and vain. For his whole soul is intent on making Luther recant, not considering that Luther offers to stay still and debate publicly at Augsburg, and to give an answer and reason for this debate; yes, for every word in it But the unjust judge does not want him to de- bate, but to recant. Nevertheless, Dr. Luther has in writing so answered his fundamental argument, that the cardinal is straightened therein, and no longer trusts his own argu- ment, but seeks here and there, this and that, how he may extirpate innocent blood and force recantation. God will be the just judge and protector of the truth.
He says also that there is in the land a letter^ of the Gen- eral against Luther. Dr. Peutinger has heard that it is also against me, with the purpose of throwing us in prison and using force against us. God be our guard! Finally I fear our professor must appeal and expect force. God help him! His enemies have become his judges; and those who sue him give judgment against him. Herewith I commend myself to your Grace and your Grace to the eternal God. I know nothing as yet certain to write. But if the affair shall take a more favorable turn I will write in haste to your Grace.
Your Grace's humble, obedient chaplain,
Dr. John von Staupitz.
87. ERASMUS TO JOHN LANG AT ERFURT. AUeiH iii. 408. Louvain, October 17 (1518).
Please believe, most candid of theologians, that if you van- quish me in writing letters, I at least do not yield to you in love. For Hess,* that man of all accomplishments, stumbled apon me first ill and then very busy. I love Staupitz,* the
^Supro, no. 75.
SHelioB Eobaniu Hcmiu (1488-October 4, 1540), properly Koch, matriculated at Erfurt in 1504 and the next years published poems on the plague and on a student brawl, of which extracts are reprinted by Preserved Smith, op. cit., 442fF. Althou^ a hard drinker, in 15 17 he became professor of Latin at Erfurt. Late in X518 be went to Louvain to see Erasmus, of which he published an account in his H, Eobani Hesti a profeciione ad D. Erasmum kodoeporicon . . . Erfurt, 1519, a rare book, of which a copy is at Harvard. He took with him letters from Lang and others, one of which Erasmus is here answering. In 1526 he went to teach at Nuremberg, in 1533 returned to Erfurt, and in 1536 was called to the University of Marburg, where he spent his remaining years. Allffemeine deutscke Biographte.
- This is Erasmus' first allusion to Staupitz. It is possible that he met him at
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