Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/261

 256 LUTHER'S CORRESPONDENCE AND Let m

202. ADRIAN OF UTRECHT. CARDINAL OF TORTOSA, TO THE DEAN AND FACULTY OF THEOLOGY AT LOUVAIN.

Lutheri opera varii argumenti, iv. 176. P. Fredericq: Corpus inquisi- tionis Neerlandicae, iv. (1900), p. 17.

Pampeluna (Spain), December 4, 1515^

Adrian of Utrecht ( 1459-Septeniber 14, 1523), matriculated at Louvain 1476, in 1493 became professor of theology. In 1507 he was appointed tutor to Prince Charles. In 1516 he was made Bishop of Tortosa, Cardinal June i, 1517, and Pope January 9, 1522. As Pope he tried both to reform the Church and suppress Lutheranistn- L. Pastor: History of the Popes, English translation, vol. ix., 1910- P. S. Allen, op. cit., i. 380.

Famous and learned Professors, and dearest Friends ' Your letter of November 7 was delivered to me on the 26tf'^ of the same month. In it you show plainly what affectio you have for Christ and what zeal for his most holy faith. I saw the errors which you copied from the divers writings and tracts of Luther and sent to me; they are such crude and palpable heresies on their face that not even a pupil in theology of the first grade ought to have been caught by them.

He proves himself a heretic most of all by saying that he is ready to undergo the stake and death for his opinions, and that anyone who thinks the contrary is a heretic. I pass over the reasons which might be adduced to show the heresy of his single articles, so that I may avoid prolixity in matters not ambiguous or requiring it. I am greatly surprised that one who errs so manifestly and obstinately and who scatters his opinions broadcast, is allowed to err with impunity and with impunity to draw others into his pernicious errors.

You certainly deserve praise for having resisted, as much as you could, the pestiferous dogmas of the man, opposing to them a doctrinal condemnation so that his errors should not involve you, and that you should not be held guilty before the Lord of souls, which perish by reason of Luther's perverse doctrine. This would have happened had not you proved the falsity and pemiciousness of his doctrine by your cen- sure and by showing the plain truth, as the Saviour said:

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