225. LUTHER TO SPALATIN. Enders, ii. 315. (Wittenberg), February 5, isaa
Greeting. At length I send my letters* to the bishops; yon find out whether it is best to send them, especially after, in the manner of the Leipsic garty, the Bishop of Meissen has posted up an inhibition-^ against my sermon on the sacrament, with whom they hope many others will agree. But I will publish a contradictory notice, and with God's help will show up these silly carnival masks.
Insane Eck foully attacks Carlstadt and me in a new pamphlet.' Carlstadt is preparing to answer him, and in such heat that he has given his reply the title: Against the blockish ass and pretended doctor, etc. If possible, persuade him either to abstain from cursing back, or not to answer at all; for in his book that wretched sophist has made himself sufficiently contemptible and disgusting, so that no one could make him more so by upbraiding him, and would only make a cover for his baseness, by which it would seem less base. For I have begun to despise the man as I never before d^ spised anyone. Carlstadt will not suffer my advice in this matter, nor would it be safe for you to let him think I had spoken to you about it, for the man is very suspicious. . . .
I remember that I wished that Melanchthon had a wife suited to his character, nor am I sorry for this wish. For I fear the fate which pursues great geniuses will overtake him, especially as he is very careless about domestic matters and his health. But I do not see that he is yet inclined to matrimony. . . .
226. MARCO MINIO TO THE SIGNORY OF VENICE. Sanuto, xxviii. 143, tergo. Italian. Bro¥m, iii. 16. English.
Rome, February 11, 152a
The Commission of Franciscan Observants appointed by the Pope against that Friar Martin Luther in Germany, had
> Letter to Albert of Mayence, supra, no. 222, and one of the same date ani ptmilar purport to Adolph, Bishop of Merseborg. Enders. i^ 31 1- The letten were sent on by Spalatin.
'Dated Stolpen, January 24. Printed, Kriangen Edition, Opera rnirii argumttM, IV. 139.
- C antra Martini Ludderi obtusum propugnatortm Andream, etc. Dedicati o n
dated Ingolstadt. December 3, 1519.
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