Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/300

 makes me a heretic and boasts of so doing. For I hate that shameful way of life and should prefer to learn a trade to-day to support myself rather than live thus, and I shall die in this opinion, Eck notwithstanding.

I am surprised that my former letters have not reached you.

I am glad to read of the conflict of Emser and Schott.^ Farewell and pray for me.

Martin Luther, Augustinian,

234. LUTHER TO SPALATIN. Enders, ii. 346. (Wittenberg), March 2, 1520.

Greeting. I send some things' just out against Eck, dear Spalatin, which please return after reading. You see how Leipsic and Eck are going to be another Cologne and Hochstratten. In my judgment the Dialogue smells of Pirckheimer, for he is offended with Scheurl, and there are other indications. I am not pleased with this matter of raging against Eck, for it is a libel, and an open attack is better than a bite from under cover. Farewell and pray for me in the Lord.

235. G. COWPER TO HIS FATHER. THOMAS COWPER.

MSS. of the Shrewsbury and Coventry Corporations, 1899, p. 47. English. (Shrewsbury or Coventry), March 3, 1520.

This fragment is interesting as proving the early spread of Lutheran opinions in England. Thomas Cowper is mentioned quite frequently in the State Papers as a tax-collector and financial agent of the English government

... As for newes, ther ys none but of late ther was herytykes here which did take Luters opinyons. . ..

236. HERMANN HUMPIUS PHRYSO TO LUTHER.

Enders, ii. 350 Paris, March 14 (1520).

The author of this epistle, identified as Hermann Hajo Frisius (i. e., of Holland), is occasionally mentioned in the letters of Erasmus and his friends. Cf. Enthoven: Briefe on Erasmus, p. 129, and Dc

'Jolin Schott of Oberlindt made a pilgrimage to Palestine 1517; waa with Lather at Worms 1521; later an officer at Coburg. Enders, iv. 332. I can find nothinc of his quarrel with Emser.

This refers to the Eccius dedolatus (a pun on Eck, which in German means "corner," the whole phrase meaning, "The planed-off corner"), a broadside probably by Pirckheimer, though he denied the authorship of it.