Page:Awful memorial of the state of Francis Spira (1).pdf/4

[4] with grievous accuſations. And to effect their purpoſe, ſome threatened him; others promiſed him favours and preferment; ſome would counſel him, and all joined to divide either his ſoul from his body, or both from G.

At this time one John Caſa was the Pope's Legate at Venice, a Florentintine by birth, and one that wanted neither malice againſt thoſe who were of Spira's opinion, nor craftineſs to effect his malicious purpoſes. To him thefe men re- paired with outcries againſt Spira, that he was the man that condemned the received rights of the Church, eluded the Eccleſiaſtical power, and ſcandalized the policy thereof; one of no mean rank being a man of ſome account and authority, and alſo learned in the Scriptures, eloquent in ſpeech, and, in one word, a dangerous Lutheran, having alſo many diſciples, and therefore a man not to be deſpiſed.

The Legate, upon hearing this, began to reflect on the terrible alteration that had lately happened in Germany; where, by the means of one man only, viz Luther, the Romiſh religion had ſuffered ſuch a blow, as that it could neither be cured by diſſimulation, nor defended by power, but the Clergy muſt either mend their manners, or loſe their dignities. On the other hand, when he ſaw how readily the common people, inhabiting the bordering country of Italy, were to entertain theſe new opinions, he now thought it no time to diſpute or perſuade, but with ſpeed repairs to the Senate, and procures authority from them to ſend for Spira.

Spira, by this time, had conſidered with himſelf thetha [sic] nature of his courage, how evident and notorious it was, and therefore ſubject to be envied by ſuch as neither liked his perſon nor