lord cardinal^ refused to allow me to hold at Augsburg, is coming off at Leipsic. For I am challenged by John Eck, and should I decline, in so just a cause, to meet him, with how much shame should I brand not only myself and all my fridnds, but our most illustrious elector and our whole order and my university. In this debate the whole case will be examined by many learned men impartially, with good arguments on both sides, which could not be the case before either the archbishop or the cardinal. So that it is better that your proposal should wait on the debate than that the debate be hindered. . . .
But come! Even if all these difficulties were met, yet would I not wish to have the cause tried by the cardinal. I do not want him present, for he is not worthy of it. He tried to harass me from the Christian faith at Augsbuig, wherefore I doubt whether he is a Catholic Christian him- self. If I had time I would write to the Pope and cardinals and expose him, unless he should retract all his rank errors. I regret that the legates of the Apostolic See are men who try to destroy Christ.
Thus, Sir, I think that I have justly excused myself from coming. I might add that a certain spy, armed with many letters, has been here, seeking first you and then me, and he excited a lively suspicion that he was preparing some violence against me;* finally he was obliged to flee, lest he should be ducked in the Elbe, as he almost was and would have been had not we prevented it, for men thought that he was your agent, especially after we heard that you were lingering in Germany, though you promised us to go straight to Rome. So it happened that although I exonerated you from this charge, yet I saw that there were snares all around for me to fear. . . ,
If what you write is true about having to come after me with papal letters, may God grant that you come safely. I am very busy, serving many men, and am not able to lose time and wander abroad without causing loss to many. Farewell,
excellent Sir. ^ ,, t «.. >• ^ -
Brother Martin Luther, Augushntan,
^Cajetan, of course, is meant.
SThis was probably the man of whom Ltither tpoke as comiof to Tisit him with sinister intent. Cf. Smith, p. 68.
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