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46 Kayser, raised their voices in protest. These were the convents of Nuernberg, Kulmbach, Koenigsberg in Franconia, Sangerhausen, Nordhausen, Sternberg in Mecklenburg and Erfurt. They were afraid that, instead of the ideal of the "Observantes" being assimilated by the "Conventuales" through this union, the levity of these would find access into their own ranks. When all other means had failed they did not hesitate to send a delegation to the General of the Order at Rome, in order to nullify the union and make their ideal secure. As a member of this delegation the monastery at Erfurt elected the monk, Martin Luther. He could hardly have been the litis procurator, but only the socius itinerarius. For the former position an experienced man was required, one who understood the procedure at the Roman See — perhaps the distinguished monk of Nuernberg, Anton Kress, was entrusted with this position. At their arrival in Rome the commissioners brought their matter to the Procurator in January, 1511, but a deaf ear was turned to them. So after a stay of four weeks in Rome they started their journey homeward, their mission unfulfilled. Even to-day we can read an entry into the General's diary for January, 1511, which says: "Appellare ex Legibus Germani prohibentur." But the journey to Rome brought no new light or peace to Luther's soul, not even the ascent of the Scala Santa of Pilate.40

At the same time Boehmer gives a minute description of Rome at that time, where every statement made is carefully proven by the literature of the age, and where, for the description of the immeasurably sunken state of morals, the not altogether unknown yet not very thoroughly used book, "The Lozana Andaluza," of Francisco Delirado, Venice, 1528, is made use of. Boehmer also