Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/467

 wrote to me excited by the wish to know what I am doing in the North. I answered briefly that I should go to Wittenberg if Vadian would call. . ..

396. ALEANDER TO THE VICE-CHANCELLOR DE' MEDICI

AT ROME, Kalkoff: Aleander, 82. Worms, February 12, 1521.

On the tenth of this month I received your Lordship's letter with the bull^ against Luther, and some breves, as well as the order for 400 gulden, for which I humbly thank his Holiness and your Lordship. ... In the preparation of the bull I could mention many errors fatal to our cause, but time presses me, for this morning the Emperor with his own mouth commissioned me to speak^ of the Lutheran cause and make our demand before his Majesty, the electors and Diet to- morrow. The time is too short to do much, but I shall work all night and pray God to strengthen me to protect his cause. I am of good confidence if only my strength holds out, for almost every night, or at least on many days, I suffer from fever. . ..

397. ALEANDER TO THE VICE-CHANCELLOR DE' MEDICI

AT ROME. Kalkoff: Aleander, 85. Worms (February 14), 1521.

As I learned to-day that the courier who should have left day before yesterday is still here, I had him give back my packet of letters and added this sheet, to inform your Lord- ship that yesterday, on Ash Wednesday, after dinner, I de- livered an oration about three hours long before a very numerous assembly. Present were the Emperor, all the elec- tors save the Saxon — who excused himself on the ground of ill health and was represented by his chancellor" and several

^This was the bull Decet Pontificem Romanum, promulgated at Rome» Janu- ary 3, and sent to Aleander with Medici's letter of January 38. Besides con- demning Luther* it mentioned the names of some of bis adherents, such as Hutten» which Aleander judged to be unwise. He therefore sent it blck for revision, which was accomplished. The bull was thus first posted by him at Worms on May 6.

This speech reprinted in Forstemann: Neues Urkundenbuch, p. 3off. C/. Smith, X09.

"Gregory Bruck (1483 or 1486-1557), born near Wittenberg, where he studied 1502-3, then at Frankfort on the Oder, then back to Wittenberg, where he became bachelor of law 1509. In 1520 he entered the elector's senrice, soon rising to the highest position, that of chancellor. AUgemeine deutsche BiographU.

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