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 211. RECTOR. PROFESSORS AND DOCTORS OF THE UNI- VERSITY OF ERFURT TO DUKE GEORGE OF SAXONY.

Gess, L 113. (Erfurt), December 29, 1519.

We have received your Grace's letter recently sent us, con- cerning certain articles and points which Dr. Eck, Dr. Luther and Dr. Carlstadt publicly debated at your Grace's University of Leipsic, and stating your Grace's desire and the said uni- versity's friendly request that we should diligently examine the said disputation and give you our opinion and judgment on the same. In this as in all other matters we desire to serve your Grace with all our power, but, after repeated con- sultation, we find that in this case it is not fitting for us to decide and judge the contentions which were brought for- ward between the aforesaid doctors in this debate, inasmuch as the disputants did not agree to ask our opinion, either in letters or otherwise. Moreover we are credibly informed that they are not of one mind and accord on this matter. Furthermore it is not agreeable to us to exclude from the decision the learned doctors of the two orders, Dominicans and Augustinians in our university, as your Grace requests. Wherefore, we humbly pray your Grace to excuse us. . ..

212. ERASMUS TO MARTIN LIPSIUS OF BRUSSELS. Erasmi opera (1703), iii. 534. Louvain/ (Late), 1519.

. . . They are starting a foolish and pernicious tragedy against Luther. They will later know that I favor not Luther, but the peace of Christendom. However Luther may have written, this tumult does not please any wise man. . ..

213. WILLIAM NESEN TO ULRICH ZWINGLI AT BASLR Corpus Reformatorum, xciv. 378. (Louvain, end of 1519.)

William Nesen (1493-1524), of Nastatten, matriculated at Basic 1511, M. A. 1515. About this time he became proofreader for Frobcn and met Erasmus. Early in 151 7 he went to Paris as tutor to the sons of Nicholas Stalberger, remaining with them till 15 19 when, at Erasmus' invitation, he came to Louvain. His lectures were pro- hibited by the university, so he undertook to teach a Latin school at Frankfort 1520-3. He then visited Luther at Wittenberg, the Re- former dedicating to him his Adversus armatum Virum Cochlaeum,

^£x museo nostro.

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