Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/108

 evil to evil and obstinately persisting in his heresy, has pub- lished some other propositions and slanderous books, contain- ing other heresies and errors. This disturbed our mind not a little. Wherefore, agreeably to our pastoral duty, desir- ing to prevent such a pest from growing strong and infecting the minds of the simple, we, by these presents, direct you (in whose circtmispection we confide much in the Lord, on account of your singular learning, your experience and your sincere devotion to this holy see of which you are an honor- able member) not to delay on receipt of this letter, but, since the affair has become notorious and inexcusable and has lasted long, to force and compel the said Martin, now declared to be a heretic by the said auditor, to appear personally before you. To accomplish this, call on the assistance of our most beloved son in Christ, Maximilian, Emperor Elect of the Romans, and of the other German princes, cities, corpora- tions and powers, both ecclesiastical and secular; and when you have Martin in your power, keep him under a safe guard until you hear further from us, as shall be determined by us and the apostolic see.

If he shall come to you of his own accord, craving pardon for his rashness, and showing signs of hearty repentance, we give you power of kindly receiving him into the communion of holy mother Church, who never closes her bosom to him who returns. But if, indeed, persevering in his contumacy, and despising the secular arm, he will not come into your power, then in like manner we give you power of declaring in a public edict like those which were formerly written on the praetor's bill-board,* to be posted in all parts of Germany, that he and his adherents and followers are heretics, excom- municated, anathematized and cursed, and are to be avoided by all the faithful as such. And in order that this plague may be the more quickly and easily exterminated, you may admonish and require, by our authority and under pain of excommunication and other penalties mentioned below, all and singular prelates and other ecclesiastical persons, as well sec-

edicts. Ducange, #. v. The phrase simply means, therefore, notices to be posted up in public.
 * The Album praetorium was the place where the praetor used to publish bis

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