Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/344

 277. LUTHER TO SPALATIN.

Enders, ii. 459. (Wittenberg), July 14, 1520.

Greeting. Dear Spalatin, if you have any influence with the elector, please get him to write a severe and caustic let- ter to our rector.^ The man's signal folly yesterday almost involved us in murder and blood. Insanely he stirred up a riot' on the part of the students against the town-council and in- nocent people, he who ought to have quieted them. I was present at the meeting, where they were all mad with drink; nothing was said except what might inflame the fierceness of the youths. This confusion in our university shames me, for it will at length bring us opprobrium. Peter Lupinus spoke well against the tumult, but he was so received by Dr. Thomas Eschaus that I at once arose and left, seeing that Satan was presiding over the meeting. It is said that the youths are al- lowed to carry arms against the order of the elector.

It is better that a smaller number should study here than that we should have these riots. All the good condemn this madness. To-morrow, with God's help, I shall try to do what I can to quiet this. Nothing was done according to the elec- tor's recent decree. The old men were wilder than the young. I know it is the doing of Satan, for as he cannot hurt the Word of God which is now returning to us, he seeks this way to dis- parage it. Truly we must strive against him with what power we can lest he should prevail with these men of blood.

I think you have received my letter and this of Schaum- burg.* Please send them back to our friends when you have read them. Farewell and pray for me.

Martin Luther, Augustinian,

278. LUTHER TO SPALATIN.

Enders, ii. 441. (Wittenberg), July 17, 152a

Greeting. Dear Spalatin, we think that Lira's dream* meant

'Peter Burlthard.

Lucas Cranach, who, besides being a painter, drove various trades. Student riots were not uncommon then, and, indeed, are not unknown now on the continent of Europe. I have myself seen riots at the Sorbonne, which, but for the inter- vention of the police, might have led to bloodshed.
 * Cf. supra, no. 230. The students were for some reason exasperated against

'No. 269.

^Something of which apparently Spalatin had written, of which nothing else is known.

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