Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/460

 arrival in Flanders, in getting an imperial mandate and forth- with burning Luther's books and other libels, have rather hurt the cause and myself than otherwise, for it has made my lords at Rome think that the Lutheran rebellion has been thereby crushed, and has given them a full sense of security in thinking that the Germans are the best of Christians and the truest sons of the Holy See. For otherwise I cannot understand how they should so long have neglected not only me, but their own honor and advantage and a question of life or death for Christendom and the Papacy.

Your Lordship will be pleased to remember that from the very first by God's grace I worked with such power that, almost before the Emperor and his councillors knew that a mandate had been issued, they saw the books consumed by fire; and that at Cologne, before anyone was aware of it, a similar beautiful execution took place, and that with such skill that the Emperor himself observed to the Bishop of Liege and many other gentlemen, that I really acted with becoming decision. But now the whole of Germany is in full revolt; nine-tenths raise the war-cry, "Luther," while the watchword of the other tenth who are indifferent to Luther, is : "Death to the Roman Curia." All of them have written on their banners a demand for a council to be held in Germany, even those who are favorable to us, or rather to themselves. Some are moved by fear, some by hope, and some by their private interests. Indeed, some sign should be given at Rome to show that the danger is not underesti- mated. The bull accrediting me, and giving me power to name representatives, should be sent; also the breves to the persons I already mentioned, and numerous letters of intro- duction to princes and bishops, together with fifty copies of the bull of condemnation to give to bishops and prelates, and money for my expenses and for secretaries and agents. Even if they are all much exasperated against us, yet a handful of gold will make them dance to our pipe, though even thus it is hard to win them, and impossible in any other way. If we delay longer it is to be feared that the Lutherans will gain such strength that the imperialists will fear to pass any edict against them, for they even now hesitate, in order, as they

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