Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/128

 1476, Ferrar 1471 and Tubingen 1476. In 1502 he was made Canon of Augsburg. He was at first strongly for Luther, then returned to the Catholic Church. His brother Bernhard (1457-1523) studied at Heidelberg, Ferrara and Tubingen. He was made canon of the cathedrals at both Eichstatt and Augsburg, between which he divided his time. He was a bitter personal enemy of Eck, and sided with Luther against him. For this Eck had him excommunicated in 1520. Bernhard submitted and was absolved, but still favored Luther until his death. Life by F. X. Thurnhofer. 1900.

My dear Spalatin! Your letter was welcome to my brother and myself, as coming from a good friend, but far more welcome to us was the opportunity of seeing and speak- ing to dear Dr. Martin Luther, so well endowed with both virtue and learning. We often visited him, as one we heartily love, and showed him our good will.

You will pardon me for saying that he was not well guarded when he left you, and was not provided with what he most needed. But among others the imperial councillors gave him safe-conduct, of which you should have thought first. When he had obtained the safe-conduct he appeared with more courage and confidence before the legate. You will learn from Luther himself, when, please God, he arrives home, what happened before the legate, so I won't bother you with it, for it would be a long song to sing here. But I will not conceal. from you that Dr. Luther acquitted himself before the legate as beseems a Christian man. First he of- fered to leave everything to our Holy Father the Pope, to support what pleased his Holiness and to root out what did not Secondly, he said that he had debated questions before the universities, according to their custom, and if they de- sired he would debate further. And if any one came with good reasons and arguments from Scripture he would abandon his opinion and embrace a better one. Further, that if the Christian Church desired to take exception to a single saying of his he would at once submit to her. It was not his in- tention and never had been to write or say anything against the holy see or against the honor or dignity of the Pope.

If, dear Spalatin, this seems to you to be Luther's opinion, it will become you to use your influence with our most Gra- cious Lord Elector Frederic, to get him to write or send an

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