Biographie. Life by O. Gemen in Mitteilungen des Altertumsvereins fur Zwickau, vi., vii. (1899, 1902). Cf, also G. Buchwald; Unge- druckte Predigten des J. S, Egranus (at Zwickau 1519-22). Leipsic» 191 1. Cf, supra, no. 46.
Greeting. I have seen the theses of Dr. Diingershcim of Ochsenfurt,* apparently directed against you, though without mentioning your name. Be strong and constant, dear Egranus, as you ought. If these things were of the world, the world would love its own. Whatever is in the world must neces- sarily perish in the world, that the spirit be glorified. If you are wise, congratulate me, as I do you.
A man of signal and talented learning and of learned talent^ has recently written a book called Obelisks against my Theses. I mean John Eck, doctor of theology, chancellor of the Uni- versity of Ingolstadt, canon of Eichstatt, and now, at length, preacher at Augsburg, a man already famous and widely known by his books. What cuts me most is that we had recently formed a great friendship. Did I not already know the tnachinations of Satan, I should be astonished at the fury with which Eck has broken that sweet amity without warning and with no letter to bid me farewell.
In his Obelisks he calls me a fanatic Hussite, heretical, seditious, insolent and rash, not to speak of such slight abuse as that I am dreaming, clumsy, unlearned, and that I despise the Pope. In short, the book is nothing but the foulest abuse, expressly mentioning my name and directed against my Theses. It is nothing less than the malice and envy of a maniac. I would have swallowed this sop for Cerberus,* but my friends compelled me to answer it. Blessed be the Lord Jesus, and may he alone be glorified while we are confounded for our
'Jerome Dungersheim (1465-1540), of Ochsenfurt on the Main, matriculated at Leipsic 1484, was B. A. in 1485, M. A. 1489. Ordained priest 1495, and took a degree in theology at Cologne in 1496, after which he lectured at Leipsic. 1501 he became priest at Zwickau, in 1504 went to Italy. 1505 returned to lecture at Leipsic. He wrote several works. Wrote to Erasmus about his New Testament, March x8, 15 17 (Allen, op, cit.» ep. 554). Life in the Allgemeing Deutscht Biographie, The theses referred to here were directed against some propositions made by Egranus in the Zwickau puIpiL Egranus answered them in an article published within two weeks after this letter was written, for which Luther wrote an introduction. Weimar, i. 315. On Dtxngersheim's relations with Luther, infra, i9«.
SAs Burke would have said: "This honeyed opiate compounded of treason and murder."
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