Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/569

 Mayence, and have mentioned it in the edict. But it is now too late, as the preparation of the latter must no longer be delayed, for some sudden event might come between, and the Emperor threatens to leave soon, and so we fear that the time will be too short for us. . ..

Luther dismissed the imperial herald, saying that he felt safer without him. He had an escort of fifty horsemen. It is surmised that he got rid of the herald to return to this neigh- borhood, presumably to a castle of Sickingen, from which vantage point he can, especially after the appearance of the edict, raise a rebellion. . ..

476. ALEANDER TO GATTINARA AT WORMS. Reichstagsakten, ii. 639. (Worms, May 8, 1521.)

I am sending the edict on the Lutheran affair in Latin and German. May God grant that whatever is best for the peace and preservation of our religion may come to pass. Certainly nothing could be saner, juster or more legal than what is said about Luther in the first part of the edict. For every- thing has been done, as is stated in the edict, to show that his Imperial Majesty has omitted nothing which might have led to a peaceful solution of the problem, so that in the judgment of all and even of Luther no one can be said to be more clement. The second part of the edict is a prohibition to print bad books, and although it is absolutely advisable and conceded without debate, yet that your illustrious Lordship may be able to show his Majesty that nothing is rashly done, I am sending the decree drawn up by the Bishop of Trieste and adopted after so much discussion, consultation and exami- nation of the German Diet. May your illustrious Lordship consider it and refer it to the Emperor and Diet, showing that we seek nothing in it except what law and equity demand.

477. ERASMUS TO JUSTUS JONAS. Erasmi opera (1703), iii. 639. Louvain, May 10, 1521,

There has been a persistent rumor here, dear Jonas, that

^The Edict of Worms, condemning Luther, was drafted by the PriTj Council on May 8, and signed, without changing this date, on May 26. Cf. Smith, 120. J. Paquier: Jhrome Aleandre, p. 268. The edict reprinted in Kidd: DocufnttUs, no. 45.

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