Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/510

 432. ALEANDER TO VICE-CHANCELLOR DE' MEDICI AT

ROME.

KaikofiF: Aleander, 141. Worms^ March 29, 1521.

. . . Luther has published at Basle a commentary^ on the first thirteen Psalms of David, with, as preface, a letter of a certain "von Schonberg," who according to his own words is of low estate and not a noble, but who overflows with venomous hatred towards Rome. In his letter he summons the whole of Germany against Rome. I have only been able to read a few pages of the book, as it only came to me yesterday even- ing from Frankfort. As always, Luther shows himself variable and full of contradictions ; in the preface he praises the Pope and in another place pulls down the papacy. Almost in the same breath he praises and blames. If he continues as thor- oughly as he begins it will be a monstrous and strange book. • • •

If Luther does not come we shall soon make an end of the business, and if he does, we shall do our duty and take all suitable measures, from which I promise myself good success, if only the imperialists don't give us a shameless box on the ear.

The considerations which your Lordship wrote us in your last letter, which we read with pleasure and due respect, are extremely impressive and have been urged by us, along with other reasons, a hundred times. They are enough to melt stones to pity. But here we preach to deaf ears; they only answer that they act as they must if we expect success and not to have all our trouble in vain. Well, we shall see! Al- though many doubt that Luther will come, the imperialists think it certain, and, to judge by their citation, they greatly desire his presence. I have heard nothing new as yesterday and to-day* I have busied myself a little with God and my con- science and therefore did not go to court. All the princes are now taking thought for their salvation. I have not yet

^Martini Lutheri piae et doctae in psalmos operationet, 2521. (Reprinted, Weimar, v.) With a letter to Germany by Ulrich Hugwald, dated "ex Schonen* berga." Published by Adam Petri at Basle. Mutius Hugwald (1496- 1571) had already published Luther's Tesseradecas at Basle. He came to Wittenberg in July, 1521, and later became an Anabaptist and professor at Basle.


 * Holy Thursday and Good Friday.

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