books of Eck and Emser and others which sundry persons threw on. We did it to show the incendiary papists that it took no great power to bum books they could not refute. This is my news. . . . Farewell. Martin Luther.
356. ERASMUS TO CHRISTOPHER HEGENDORFINUS AT
LEIPSIC
Erasmi opera (1703), iii. 601. Louvain, December 13, 1520. wrote a poem on the Leipsic debate. In 1525 he became professor of to Rostock. Allgemeine deutsche Biographie,
. . . What Eck is doing at Leipsic others are doing with greteiter zeal here. But I have determined to be a spectator of this play, so that even if it turns out well I shall ask no praise, and if otherwise I shall have no blame. But it dis- pleases me to hear that Eck is mocked in posters. It is a dangerous example which might be used against anyone. Again, what is more foolish than to provoke those whom you cannot control? Finally, what is less becoming Germans, whose warlike qualities have been especially praised, than to fight by means of anonymous books, by which they hurt some who are innocent and help the cause of their opponents? . . . Now Luther provokes men who, even if they are in the wrong, which I do not determine, cannot be put down. In the meantime, odium is heaped on good learning, against which they send out these hornets, which could hardly be borne as the last resource of the vanquished. What then shall we say of the victors doing this? Either I am blind or else they are aiming at someone other than Luther. They hasten to fight with the Muses. If the event does not confirm my suspicions, I shall not refuse to be taken for a fool.
357. THE ELECTOR FREDERIC OF SAXONY TO CHIfiVRES
AND NASSAU.
Reichstagsakten, ii. 467, note.* German. Alstet, December 14, 1520. Frederic received the letter of Chievres and Nassau at Eilenburg, December 7 (supra, no. 341), and answered it as follows:
- A di£Feretit form of Uiit note is given from a German original by H. von
Schubert: Die Vorgeschichte der Berufung Lutkers auf den Reichstag mu Worms. iSitsungsber. der Heidelberger Akademie, vi. 191 2), p. 27.
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