Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/95

 64. JOHN ECK TO ANDREW CARLSTADT.

J. G. Olearius: Scrinium Antiquarium, Halle, 1671, p. 30. Ingolstadt, May 28* 1518.

Most famous Carlstadt, I have heard that you and your Wittenbergers are moved against Eck, because I wrote some- thing privately for my bishop^ against the opinion of our common friend Martin Luther, thinking that this trifling effort of mine would never be subjected to the criticism of learned men. I suspect, though I do not know, how it slipped out of the hands of my bishop and was laid before you. Had I known this would have happened, I should not have written ex tempore without consulting any books, just as my thought suggested, nor should I have composed it in so hasty and careless style. But as you know, we arc all freer in writing private letters than when publishing. Wherefore I am much surprised that you are so incensed against your most devoted Eck. They say that you charge Eck with fawning on the bishop. You do not know how incapable is Eck of such a thing. All who know Eck freely confess that he is a

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man who cannot be insincere. Nor, could I have flattered, would I have done so, especially that bishop with whom, I believe, from some accidental cause, indulgences have very little weight. People also say that you are planning a single combat with Eck. I can hardly believe that. If it is true, I wonder why you do not gird yourself against your neighbors of Frankfort on the Odor, and against the inquisitor, who intimates that Luther has erred a hundred times, or rather that he is wild, mad and insane, and have expressed this opinion in published writings. Truly, if I may presume upon my recently formed friendship, I shall consider it a friendly act if you will let whatever you meditate against innocent Eck fall into oblivion. For it was not my intention to hurt Luther. If you think meanly of Eck's friendship, and propose to disregard it, I neither can nor desire to impose a rule on you ; but you will do better to inform Eck as soon as possible if you wish to publish anything. When I learn that

^Adolph of Anhalt, Bishop of Meneburg: 1514-36. He was a brother of Ernest of Anhalt (infra, November 4, 15 '9* no. 193) and of hovda of Anhalt, the begging prince whom Luther saw at Magdeburg in 1497. Smith, p. 4.

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