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 223. MARCO MINIO TO THE SIGNORY OF VENICE.

Marino Sanuto: Diarii (Extracts on Luther, edited by G. M. Thomas under the title: M. Luther und die Reformationsbewegung. . . . in Aussiigen aus Marino Sanuto's Diarien, Ansbach, 1883), xxviii. 136, Italian. R. Brown: Calendar of State Papers,. , In Venice. London, 1869, iii. 11. English. Rome, February 4, 1520.

Minio was Venetian ambassador at Rome 1516-19.

In Germany, an Austin friar, called Friar Matthew [ !] Luther, had written works against the Pope and the Church, and had preached publicly at Nuremberg to that effect, which facts having come to the knowledge of the Pope, he had appointed a commission of learned Observant friars, and had appointed two cardinals as their chiefs, namely, the Bishop of Ancona and Cajetan, who were very learned, that they might suppress this opposition in the Church.

224. MARCO MINIO TO THE SIGNORY OF VENICE. Sanuto, xxviii. 141. Italian. Brown, iii. 12. English.

Rome, February 4. 1520.

Three days ago a commission of all the Generals of the Mendicant orders was held, and such as were not present at Rome were represented by the Procurators of such orders, the chiefs of this commission being the Cardinals of Ancona and Cajetan.

This Commission was appointed in order to condemn cer- tain propositions of Friar Martin Luther, who had preached in Germany against the authority and power of the Pope, and has a considerable party and is much favored by the Elector of Saxony. An attempt is thus being made to de- prive Luther of the protection he enjoys, and of his adherents, and the bull is being drawn up; but the course taken by the Commission was injudicious for the said friar's propositions were read and the votes on them demanded without any deliberation.

This friar Martin founds his arguments chiefly on the gospels: he acknowledges the doctors of the Church, such as St. Augustine, but not the other doctors, and he scoffs at St. Thomas Aquinas, Scotus and the Hke. It is a very scandalous affair.

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