842 LUTHER'S CORRESPONDENCE AND Ut a8i
on Reforming the Christian Estate,^ It will mightily offend Rome by exposing her impious arts and usurped powers. Farewell and pray for me.
Brother Martin Luther.
38a LUTHER TO MICHAEL WITTIGER, CANON AT
BRESLAU. Enders, ii. 449. Wittenberg, July jo, 152a
Greeting. I was unwilling to write to you, excellent Sir, since our common friend Schleupner could tell you every- thing better by word of mouth. He knows everything about us, but he desired me to put down at least a line. So I do as he wishes. Various books are written against me in Ger- many and Italy, but it is well. None write but most asinine asses who betray themselves by their stupidity. I am quite well in body and mind, except that I should prefer to sin less. I sin more every day, for which I complain to you and your prayers. The Dominicans have quieted down, an edict" having been published forbidding them to write against me. In their place have succeeded the people of Samaria, the priests of Bethaven,* the Franciscan Observants. If they conquer, they will do it by their excessive stupidity. I never remember to have read stupider men, who never know whether they con- quer or are conquered. Poor people, to be exposed to these wolves! But the Lord will see to it. Farewell in him.
281. ERASMUS TO [LEWIS PLATZ] RECTOR OF ERFURT.
Erasmi epistolae (London, 1642), xii. 2Z' Erasmi opera (1703), iii- 334. LouvAiN, July 31 (i5»).
In both reprints of this letter just cited the name of the rector is omitted and the date is given "15 18." The name of the addressee and the date of the letter are given by the Akten der Erfurter V^ versitdt, ed. J. C. H. Weissenbom (Halle» 1884), ii. 314, which show that Platz was rector at this time, and speak of Erasmus' letter to him in the following terms : "The humanities ought not to burst in on a university like ravaging enemies, but to come as guests to cherish culture. . . . Therefore we have elected Lewis Platz, of Melsungeo*
iLuther's greatest work, Weimar, vi. 497. English by Wace and Buchkci*' Luther's Primary Works. Cf. Smith, op. cit., chap. viiL 'Nothing is known of this; perhaps a satire is meant. •"The house of vanity," •'. #., "of idols." Joshua, vii. a.
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