Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/558

 the people esteem him and justify him by the mistaken reflec- tion that he was not allowed to debate. Yet it is certain, if no reasons had prevented this, and if we had not had to fear the endless procrastination desired by the Lutherans, and had therefore allowed him a disputation, that he would never have appeared in the open field. For in one of his private hearings, he was, as those present tell me, convincingly re- futed in more than six points by the Official of Trier, and Cochlaeus, I understand, did the same when he invited Luther to his room [April 24] for a debate, which Luther declined in the presence of many nobles. Otherwise his appearance has had the most salutary consequences, for now the Emperor and almost all other persons recognize that he is a foolish, immoral, crazy man. At the very first glance the Emperor said: "He will never make me a heretic," and as the titles of the books were read before the Diet, he said openly and repeated later, that he would not believe they were all composed by Luther. His drunkenness, as well as his many faults in glance, mien and walk, in word and deed, have robbed him of all the glory he enjoyed before the world. . . . Finally, let me remind you to send the bull against Luther quickly, so that it can be printed and sent all around at once. It should be dated like the first on January 3, and should only name Luther and his followers in general. I will tell you the rest when I leave Germany.

469. MERCURINO GATTINARA TO CARDINAL MATTHEW

SCHINNER.

Reickstagsakten, ii. 658. (Worms, May i, 1521.)

Very reverend Sir, this morning we held a consultation on Luther's affair, and it seemed best that Aleander should make a draft of the edict,^ which shall then be read in council and on adoption shall be translated into German and pub- lished in order that there may be some execution done before the Diet separates. Please, therefore, have the draft of the said edict made as quickly as possible.

Documents of the Continental Reformationt no. 45. It wm drawn up May 8, Imt not signed and promulgated until May 26. On it, see further Smith, p. 120.
 * /. 9., tbe Edict of Worms, outlawing Luther. Reprinted by B. J. Kidd;

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