The foolish man hoped
that, from fear of your name, I should yield and keep silence; for I
do not think he presumed on his talents and learning. Now, when he sees
that I am very confident and speak aloud, he repents too late of his
rashness, and sees--if indeed he does see it--that there is One in
heaven who resists the proud, and humbles the presumptuous.
Since then we were bringing about by this disputation nothing but the
greater confusion of the cause of Rome, Charles Miltitz for the third
time addressed the Fathers of the Order, assembled in chapter, and
sought their advice for the settlement of the case, as being now in a
most troubled and perilous state. Since, by the favour of God, there
was no hope of proceeding against me by force, some of the more noted of
their number were sent to me, and begged me at least to show respect to
your person and to vindicate in a humble letter both your innocence
and my own. They said that the affair was not as yet in a position of
extreme hopelessness, if Leo X., in his inborn kindliness, would put his
hand to it. On this I, who have always offered and wished for peace, in
order that I might devote myself to calmer and more useful pursuits, and
who for this very purpose have acted with so much spirit and vehemence,
in order to put down by the strength and impetuosity of my words, as
well as of my feelings, men whom I saw to be very far from equal to
myself--I, I say, not only gladly yielded, but even accepted it with joy
and gratitude, as the greatest kindness and benefit, if you should think
it right to satisfy my hopes.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25