and we daily expect your happy return* with many new things to tell us and one old thing, namely, that there is no hope in the court of Charles. I am glad that Hutten has come out; would that he had intercepted' Caracciolo or Aleander.
We do not fear the excommunication threatened by the bull, although we hear that those two bishops* are about to set forth ; I will receive them fairly and give them their proper titles. Duke George, although in a rage, is said to control himself externally. Our Philip Melanchthon, under the name of Faventinus Didymus, is answering* Thomas Rhadinus, that is, Emser.
Melanchthon's wedding will be on November 26. The danger of malicious gossip forces us to hurry the day.
Henry Schmiedberg,* deceased, left me one htmdred gulden, which pleased me particularly, as the dying just man con- demns the unjust living, as the wise man says,^ and those who offered Eck cups full of gold^ for traducing God's Word may have something to make them angry, but which I never sought for. By this second sign Christ now warns them. For who would not consider Eck's ignominious reception at Leipsic and Erfurt as one of God's wonderful works? Yet hitherto hardened Pharaoh perseveres that there may be many signs. But be of good cheer and despise all that curse. Christ has begun this business and will complete it, whether I die or fly. Called in his name by Schmiedberg, I came to Eilenburg, but, in the meantime, he departed to the Lord. He is said to have died most constant in the faith, and (what is a great cross to my opponents) to have publicly professed and com-
iSpalatin and the elector left Cologne on November 7.
s*'Intercepi8set"; the meaning is somewhat doubtful, whether merely "frus- trated" or "seixed."
'Probably the bishops of Merseburg and Brandenburg. The latter passed through Wittenberg on his way to the Diet of Worms and tried to post the bull.
- His answer appeared first in February, 1521, Corpus Reformatorum, i. 285.
'Schmiedberg, of a prominent Leipsic family. Chancellor of Archbishop Philip of Naumburg and Freisingen, and Administrator of Naumburg. When the bull was sent to Naumburg the people stormed Schmiedberg's palace; the latter fell ill with fright and went to Leipsic, where he drew up a will, remembering Luther. Then he went to Eilenburg, and on growing worse had Luther summoned to him, but died on November 5 before the latter arrived. Enders, ii. 526.
•Book of Wisdom, iv. 16.
TDuke George gave Eck a cup full of gold.
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