of the Chnstian religion. To these also the world owes the existence of unlearned theologians, and the neglect of good authors, and on these dogmas Professor Latomus promised a third book, but when he saw his first two received by all the learned with a loud laugh, he tliought it better to suppress it, rather than to disgrace the scholastic doctors by coming on the stage again. . . .
Now hear how mad they are. Listen ! They expect Luther's capture. What is this but to thirst for human blood? They are unable to teach him, yet they want to destroy him. Is this the role of hangmen or of theologians ? How great will be the indignation of posterity if they read that Luther was a good man, of a life miraculously pure, brilliant, learned, can- did, a good Christian, and a German patriot, and yet that when he first, in this age of perverse theologians and de- testable monkish tyranny, dared to warn them and to vindi- cate Christ, whose worship had been stained and almost wiped out by human doctrines, he was crushed not by arguments or texts of Holy Scripture, with which he always invincibly de- fended his own innocence, but by a fraudulent and tyrannical conspiracy of scoundrels? . . .
214. JOHN REUCHLIN TO MICHAEL HUMMELBERG AT
RATISBON.
Sitsungsberichte der phU.-hist, Classe der Akamedie der Wissen- schaften, Wicn., Ixxxv. (1887), 175. Ingolstadt, January 3, 1520.
Hammelberg of Ratisbon (1487-1527), studied at Paris 1504-11, and at Rome 1514-17, his specialty being Greek. Shortly after his return to Ratisbon he became a teacher, and as such enjoyed much reputation with the humanists. Some of his letters published in J. Paquier*s edition of Aleander's correspondence. Allen, op. cit, i. 515. AUgemeine deutsche Biographie.
... I am holding Melanchthon back lest he should be blamed for being such a faithful Achates to his Luther. But youths have no prudence. Perhaps he is sorry for so learned and so upright a theologian and takes it ill that Luther has su£Fered so much reproach for the love of the orthodox Church.* . . .
'SendiUn, Ifelanchthon's uncle, was trying at this time to get him to Ingol- •tadt to withdraw him from Luther's influence. Eck also took part in this plan.
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