that he was therefore to be more highly esteemed than St. Augustine, who was a sinner and both could err and had erred. So, recently, they have made likenesses of him with the Dove over his head and with the cross of the Lord, and on another sheet with an aureole. The people buy these pic- tures, kiss them and carry them even in the palace. Your Lordship can see from this what people we have to deal with. Not the good old Catholic Germany! God grant that worse does not come to pass!
The good Erasmus daily sends messengers with letters here, in which, although no one accuses him, he protests that he has had nothing to do with certain books, of which he writes that Luther has denied having written them. The result of his excuses is that the Emperor and many important men have of their own accord come to believe that he is the author of these books, as I, too, in my letters have stated, although I now deny it. I am much surprised that in Rome people have shown my despatches to others who, it seems, have informed Erasmus about them, so that now he loudly complains of me and urges his friends to attack me, which, however, does not worry me much. I wish he would have some consideration at least for the faith and the Church, and of me as long as I am in this dangerous land. But if he con- tinues to speak evil of others, he will find someone who can tell much worse things about him and with more truth. . . .
364. ELECTOR FREDERIC OF SAXONY TO THE EMPEROR
CHARLES AT WORMS.
Reichsiagsakiett, ii. 470. Alstet, December 20, 1520.
Most gracious Lord. Your Imperial Majesty's letter from Oppenheim on November 28 has been received becomingly and humbly by me. [Here follows the contents of the letter.] I humbly give your Majesty to know that I have never under- taken to answer for Dr. Martin's writing or preaching, and do not now, but have left him to answer for himself, as I have often written to his Holiness the Pope and to his am- bassadors. But I wrote to Chievres and Nassau humbly to beg your Majesty to do nothing against Luther before he is heard, so that the truth whether he has erred in his writings
�� �
