448 LUTHER'S CORRESPONDENCE AND Let 38S
384. BONIFACE AMERBACH TO BASIL AMERBACH AT
BASLE.
Burckhardt-Biedermann, 145. Avignon, January 25, 1521.
I have seen the bull against Luther printed at Paris. All true Christians must mourn that those whose business it was to nourish truth should have conspired against his life. But what will not the cursed thirst for gold and human ambition bring about? Beatus has written that the bull is published with notes by Hutten. Please send me this and any other new and agreeable German publications when you can. I mean little pamphlets, for it is sufficient to give me the titles of large books. . . .
��38s. ERASMUS TO A POWERFUL GENTLEMAN. Eriumi opera, iii. 631. Louvain, January 28, 1521.
... I am not sorry to hear that Luther's books are, as you write, in your hands, provided only that you read them as I do; gathering the good in them and skipping the bad. ... I have never had anything to do with Luther, except what common Christian friendship demanded. This is true and I have often asserted it. I am neither the author nor patron nor attorney nor judge for his books. . . . Now the bull has been published, which, terrible as it is, will not be able to alienate the minds of men from him. . . .
You exhort me to join myself to Luther and I would easily do so if I saw him on the side of the Catholic Church. Not that I say that he is not, or that I am able to condemn him. . . .
��386. DUKE JOHN OF SAXONY TO THE ELECTOR FREDERIC
IN WORMS.
T. Kolde : Friedrich der IVeise, 42. Coburg, January 28, 1521.
... I am very sorry to hear that Luther is so persecuted, but I shall trust in God, who will not abandon him. There are also many respectable persons who will do their best for Luther, for it always seems to me that he is in the right
way. • • •
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