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that some suspect that if the Emperor seems to favor Luther the Pope will gather an army of French and Swiss to keep him to his duty by threatening the kingdom of Naples. But more than enough of this. Offer your most Christian elector Velleius, and commend me warmly to his highness. Give Luther and Melanchthon my greetings. Please do not pub- lish this letter. Farewell, most distinguished Sir! . •.

422. ERASMUS TO ALEXANDER, SECRETARY OF THE

COUNT OF NASSAU.

Erasmi opera (1703), iii. 1695. Louvain, March 13, 1521.

... I do not read Luther's books nor have anything in common with him more than with any Christian. Certainly I should prefer him corrected than slain. And if any poison has infected the people, no one can draw it out again as well as he who has put it in. But I do not object if they wish Luther roasted or boiled ; the loss of one man is small. And yet we ought to think of the public peace. Would that the crafty rather than wise agents for this affair were as prudent as they seem zealous in the cause of the Pope. Certainly none hurt the Pope's dignity more than those who clamor hatefully against Luther ; no one commends him to the people more than they do. So stupidly and tumultuously is the busi- ness conducted by certain monks, not one of whom is a good man ! ' The bull commands them to preach against Luther, that is, to rebutt his opinions with proof from Scripture and to teach better ones. But no one takes the pen to refute him, i though many desire it; there is none who argues, but all j revile and often lie about it. They say that he would abolish confession and purgatory and that he writes blasphemy against God. A certain Jacobin at Antwerp said that he had written that Christ did his miracles by magic. A Carmelite preach- ing before the king of France said that now the Antichrist had come, and that there were four harbingers : some Fran- ciscan* or other in Italy, Lefevre d'fitaples in France, Reuchlin in Germany, and Erasmus in Brabant. At Bruges a Fran- ciscan, a suffragan of the Bishop of Toumai, preached in the church of St. Donatian a whole hour against Luther and mc

'Saronarola was a Dominican, but perhaps he is meant.

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