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 622 LUTHER'S CORRESPONDENCE AND Let

and afterwards boasted of it as if he had had a relic of the greatest saint in his hands. I expect they will soon say he works miracles. As this Luther alighted, he looked around with his demoniac eyes and said: "God will be with me." Then he entered a room where many gentlemen visited him, with ten or twelve of whom he dined ; after the meal was over the whole world flocked to see him.

What will his Holiness, what will the world now say of the credit and good faith, of the resolutions and promises of the Emperor? God forgive those who have counselled him so ill, or rather who have injured and misguided him. Your Lordship would not be surprised, but amazed by these actions. Yet there is nothing remarkable in the bad result of our ef- forts; while the imperialists promise miracles they take the very worst measures, so that, if they do not act with evil intent, we must at least consider them not only cowardly, but posi- tively senseless. Already the Elector of Saxony triumphs and demeans himself like an emperor or king, does what he pleases against God and reason, and does so all the more since the Elector of Brandenburg has announced to the Emperor his intention of marrying his first-born to Lady Renee,* sister of the Most Christian Queen ;^ on this account the Saxon is treated more respectfully than ever. But they ought to know what I a long time ago told Chievres privately, that one fine day they would find themselves betrayed by this elector and other German princes. This is the present state of affairs, and it will get worse daily, as it usually does at German Diets. Then as the imperialists have reckoned more with men than with God, the Lord of Heaven will mock them.

448. JEROME DE' MEDICI TO FREDERIC GONZAGA,

MARQUIS OF MANTUA

Kalkoff: Brief e, AT- Worms, April 16, 1521.

Jerome de' Medici of Lucca, doctor of law, count palatine and minister of the Marquis of Mantua, died circa 1556. Kalkoff, loc, cit, 92, s. V.

To-day Martin Luther, the heretical monk, came hither. I Calvin risited her court and won her tjmpathy for the Reform. 'Claude de France, daughter of Louit XII. and wife of Francis I.

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