Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/357

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294. ERASMUS TO GERARD NOVIOMAGUS.

Erasmi opera (1703), iii. 577. Louvain, September 9, 152a

Gerard Geldenhauer, of Nymegen (Noviomagus), (c. 1482-1542), an author and the secretary of Philip and Maximilian of Burgundy. In 1525 he visited Wittenberg and went over to the Reformers, aboot which time his friendship with Erasmus cooled. Married 1527; after 1532 professor at Marburg. Allen, op. cit., ii. 379.

... I fear the worst for poor Luther, so hot is the con- spiracy against him, so deeply are the princes and especially Pope Leo offended in him. Would that Luther had followed my advice and had abstained from that of hateful and sedi- tious men. He would have had more fruit and less envy. It would not satisfy his enemies to put one man to death; if they succeed no one could bear their insolence. They won't stop until they have subverted all study of the classics. They are already attacking Reuchlin again only from hatred of Luther, who, against my advice, tried to join his name to that of Reuchlin, and thus hurt him while not helping himself. Eck debated; Hochstraten published I know not what axioms to which all had to subscribe. The professors of Louvain disputed and even published. The judgment of the University of Paris was expected, when lo! the whole thing suddenly seems to turn into a bull and into smoke. The terrible bull is published, although the Pope forbade its publication. I fear it will lead to a terrible riot. I do not judge the piety of those who have advised the Pope in this matter, but cer- tainly their counsel is most dangerous. The affair arose from the worst sources and has hitherto been carried on in the worst manner. The whole tragedy began in the hatred of sound learning and the stupidity of the monks. Then it was nourished to madness by reviling and malicious conspiracy. There is no doubt whither the thing is tending ; namely, to the extinction of sound learning and to the reign of barbarism. I have nothing to do with this tragedy. I might have a bishopric if I wrote against Luthen I regret that the gospel is thus oppressed, and that we are driven rather than taught, and taught those things which are repugnant to the Bible and common sense. Farewell, dear Gerard, and write when you can.

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