Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/468

 ��councillors — and also all the princes, spiritual and temporal, as well as the other Estates of the Empire and the imperial councillors. As the emperor's command had been given me only the day before, I had little time for preparation, yet thanks to my continual occupation with the cursed stuff, about which I had often spoken publicly as well as privately, I was, thank God, so well instructed, that, although I said sufficient in three hours, yet I could have talked four hours more. I hear from more than one quarter that my oration is considered able, apt and fortunate; but I, who can never satisfy myself in such things, think it mediocre and only partially successful. Even what was accomplished I do not ascribe to my own talent or eloquence, of which I have little or nothing, but to the grace of God, to the power of the good cause and to the terrible and monstrous opinions of Luther, which I cited from his books only to refute them. I pointed to the disagreeable consequences which might grow from this doctrine, and to the shame which threatened the nation; I reminded them that the Empire was only maintained by the same policy by which it had been won, that the Empire and the College of Electors had only been granted to Charlemagne and Otto on account of their proved attachment to the Roman See; and finally I mentioned, among many other things, the Council of Constance and the Hussites. Among my audience were many princes favorable to Luther, and the secretaries of the Elector of Saxony, who, although from lack of time I spoke very rapidly, took much of my oration down. And now already, as I hear, they spread abroad the lie that I at- tacked hatefully their prince. They circulated the same slander at Cologne, although when I handed the breve to their lord I took the Bishops of Trieste and Trent as well as Carac- ciolo as witnesses. The reward for my restraint was that the elector in his answer to my oration as reported by the rascal who wrote it down yesterday complained to us that I had attacked him. These beasts must always invent new lies to give color to their evil speaking and to instigate their prince. His servants, who are all arch-Lutherans, have always done that. However, had he been present, I would moderately and courteously have taunted him a little, for we can no more

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