we should like to put down this movement, from which we fear much disorder and error may arise, we earnestly re- quest you to bring the said Luther with you to the next Diet at Worms, where we will have him sufficiently examined by learned and wise persons, and have no wrong nor anything illegal done to him. We beg you to prevent farther trouble and to command the said Luther in the meantime not to write or publish anything against his Holiness or the Roman see. Thereby you will do us special pleasure which we shall graciously acknowledge.
343. LUTHER TO JOHN LANG AT ERFURT. Enders, ii. 532. Wittenberg, November 28, 1520.
Greeting. Reverend Father, we rejoice that the elector has returned.* I pray you to pray for us. Duke George is in- sane; he is more than furious. We daily expect anathemas and thunderbolts from that quarter. We think to stick to our appeal. I see that the affair is verging to a great tumult; may God turn it to the good I We have read the answer' of our elector given to the papal Nuncios Aleander and Carac- ciolo; it is so learned and acute that we see they got nothing from him. I will send it later. The same Aleander is taxed with many vices in a libellous but clever book.' The men of Cologne and Louvain have burnt my books. We know not what will happen. Farewell in the Lord. Our vicar* has gone to Sternberg; brother John has turned to follow him.
Martin Luther.
344. LUTHER TO SPALATIN. Enders, ii. 534. Wittenberg, November 29, 1520.
Greeting. Dear Spalatin, I gave a letter for you to the messenger going to Grimma; now that the reverend Father
>The elector returned to his own land on Noyember 20.
'On Noyember 4, at Cologne, the nuncios had intenriewed Frederic and demanded that Luther be punished or delivered up. After consulting Erasmus on November 5, Frederic refused the requests of the legates on November 6. Cf. Smith, 100.
'Aleander was attacked in many contemporary satires; perhaps the one meant is the Acta Academiae Lovaniensis, on which cf. Smith, 98.
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