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[Erasmus then speaks of his letters to Luther and Albert of Mayence, complaining of their publication and of their being shown to the Pope, as he has heard from Aleander that they were. He has not read Luther's books. He has heard that his life is approved even by his opponents. He warned him to spare the Pope, the princes and the universities — ^this, perhaps, in allusion to Luther's plan for reforming the universities set forth in the Address to the German Nobility, pub- lished August, 1520. This does not show that Erasmus favored Luther, for he would have answered the Sultan as politely. He has not written against Luther because it is above his powers and the judgment of the University of Paris is expected. No one hurts the Pope as much as the monks. Of those who have answered Luther, Prierias pleased Erasmus little, Augustine (Alveld) less; Thomas Rhadinus he cannot judge, and only John Turenholt is to be com- mended for using arguments rather than abuse. Erasmus closes by expressing the profoundest reverence for the Roman Church.]

��352. ERASMUS TO WOLFGANG CAPITO AT MAYENCE S. Hess: Erasmus von Roterdam (Zurich, 1790), ii. 551.

LouvAiN, December 6, isaa

. . . The theologians think Luther cannot be completely vanquished except by my pen, and they tacitly implore me to write against him. Far be this insanity from me! Dorp is not concerned in this hateful scheme, and yet he could not be more hurtful to me than he is. Farewell.

The Italians seem to conspire against us to destroy the whole glory of German erudition. Aleander has this more at heart than the Lutheran affair. If he does this unpunished by the Germans I will become a Frenchman. Again fare- well. . ..

353. LUTHER TO SPALATIN. Enders, iii. 12. Wittenberg, December 7, 152a

Greeting. I enclose letters and I am writing to the pastor of Lochau,^ Spalatin, and do you try to restrain yourself a little in giving me so many commands. A man could not so suddenly start such a conflagration in this little hole if he gave the world nothing. I received the bone image. The book dedicated to Fabian von Feilitzsch had begun to be printed, so that it could not be changed; but what does it matter that it is dedicated to him who now lives more than

^Francis Gunther.

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