Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/544

 iie Emperor several times, assenting apparently to the decree, 3ut raising many objections; and as yet nothing is settled. The Emperor, however, seems to be firmly opposed to Luther, ^nd not without reason, for Luther has reached such a pitch 3f madness and fury that he rejects the decrees of the coun- cils; says that any layman can administer the sacrament of the eucharist; that matrimony can be dissolved; that simple fornication is no sin, and hints at that community of women, treated by Plato in his Republic,

During the night after the day on which the Emperor dis- missed Luther, a placard was fastened to the doors of the Cathedral, whereby four hundred nobles and persons of in- ferior rank threatened the opponents of Luther and defied them to battle, especially mentioning the Archbishop of Mayence, whom they vituperated grossly.

Had Luther conducted himself at Worms with greater moderation and prudence, and not meddled so erroneously with sacred matters, but abided by his original propositions, he would have had all Germany on his side, such is the bias towards his ravings of many of the Germans. . ..

Luther's books are sold publicly at Worms, although the Pope and the Emperor, who is on the spot, have prohibited them. At home many of the chief princes encourage Luther. I do not know how the affair will end, but dread the result. I have neither spoken to the man nor even seen him, at which you perhaps will marvel; but the question is treated so acri- moniously that the nature of the times requires reserve. Luther disappointed the expectations of almost everybody at Worms, for he exhibits neither moral purity nor any prudence. Of scholarship he is devoid; in short, he excels only in rash- ness. • ..

464. MARINO CARACCIOLO AND JEROME ALEANDER TO VICE-CHANCELLOR CARDINAL DE' MEDICI AT ROME.

Kalkof!: AUander, 182. Worms (April 27), 1521.

On the nineteenth of this month we sent your Lordship an account of the pious and laudable decision of the Emperor, which he wrote down with his own hand and communicated to the princes in the certain expectation of thereby preventing

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