Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/347

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May God graciously put His Spirit into your Grace's heart, with all His light and power, to do what is well-pleasing to Him. Amen.

Your Grace's humble servant, Martin Luther.

710. THE EMPEROR TO THE DUKE OF SESSA, HIS AMBAS-

SADOR AT ROME.

Gayangos, 1525-26, no. 245. Toledo, October 31, 1525.

. . . With Teg2Lrd to Luther and the Pope's declaration to you that the best remedy for the extirpation of his sect is our presence in those parts, we entirely agree with him; but his Holiness ought so to dispose matters that it may be done to his own satisfaction and the rest of the Italian potentates, and as a Catholic Prince we shall not be wanting. We wish we had at present a sufficiently qualified person to send to those parts who might manage matters so as to prevent any action to the Pope's detriment ; but not having here by us any other but John Hannart, who is not acceptable to our brother the Archduke, or the Provost of Valcheuek, who at present is unwell, and incapable of such work as that de- manded, it will be necessary for us to think of some other expedient You will tell his Holiness, in our name, that we are extremely sorry that, at the present moment, we cannot apply a remedy to such evil; but in order to stop the ex- orbitant demands there made against the Church, we have written to the Archduke our brother and to the Electors and other influential members of the diet not to meddle with matters that may turn against the Holy See; and if they can break up the diet to do it as soon as possible.

711. SIR ROBERT WINGFIELD TO WOLSEY.

Letters and Papers of Henry VIII, iv, no. 1737.

Maunes, November 2, 1525.

Zurich and some of the other Swiss cantons have openly adopted the opinions of Luther and the rest, though they do not altogether agree with the others, have protested that the Pope shall no longer dispose of benefices, or have any spiritual jurisdiction except in cases of matrimony. For other cases

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