I gave him little hope, as I know that all positions are full everywhere, yet I dismissed him in the name of God, who provideth for the ravens.
If you want your Katie von Bora, you had best act quickly, before she is given to someone else * who wants her. She has not yet conquered her love for you. I would gladly see you married to each other. Farewell.
643. CASPAR CONTARINI TO THE SIGNORY OF VENICE. Brown, 1520-6, no. 884. Vallaooud^ October 16, 1524.
Am informed by the Florentine ambassadors that the Pope has complained to the Emperor, that in the letter written by him to Germany against Luther at his Holiness's request, mention is made of calling a council, which, under existing circumstances, the Pope considers impossible. The Emperor says that he inserted the paragraph about a council for favor- ing the papal cause and diminishing the power of Luther, it appearing to him that this hint of a council might somewhat estrange the Germans from the Lutheran creed and recon- cile them to the Romish Church, but that he was willing to write in any form the Pope pleased, and when forwarding the letter to the Archduke Ferdinand he desired him not to present it until acquainted with the wish of his Holiness.
644. A SPY TO PAUL NANI, BAILIFF OF VERONA. Brown, 1520-6, no. 88g. Bolzano, October 24, 1524.
The only news here is that the Archduke Ferdinand at Vienna has issued proclamations prohibiting all persons from following Martin Luther, or believing in him, under penalty of prosecution and being beheaded. Some persons, scorning to be afraid, were discovered, and he caused two or three great personages to be beheaded; so he is shut up in a town, not daring to quit it, and the country is in confusion, as generally reported here.
64s. LUTHER TO NICHOLAS HAUSMANN IN ZWICKAU. Enders, v, 52. WrrxENBERC, November 17, 1524.
Grace and peace in the Lord. I have not forgotten you, my
1 This "someone else" was Caspar Glatz. He was at this time a member of the Wittenberg Faculty and bad been its Rector.
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