Fatal Discord

by Michael Massing

  “one infallible oracle of Christ”: Collected Works of Erasmus, vol. 5, no. 710, November 13, 1517, 195–199. This letter is the preface to the paraphrase.

  Querela Pacis: See the dedicatory preface, ibid., vol. 5 [July? 1517], 21–25. The tract itself is in vol. 27, 292–322; “What land has not been soaked,” 305; “What has a miter to do,” 307: “The English are hostile,” 315.

  in more than twenty editions: Ibid., vol. 27, 291. José Chapiro brought out an edition of Querela Pacis with the title Erasmus and Our Struggle for Peace (Boston: Beacon Press, 1950), dedicated to “The United Nations—Embodiment of the Ideals of Erasmus and Source of the Highest Hopes of Our Time.”

  Julius Exclusus e Coelis: Collected Works of Erasmus, vol. 27, 168–197; “I suppose,” 169; not to those carrying, 174; “You won’t open up,” 197.

  “How I have enjoyed”: Ibid., vol. 4, no. 532, February 18 [1517], 245.

  An “egregious absurdity”: Ibid., vol. 5, 66.

  he did not have a mind: Ibid., vol. 5, 84.

  Thomas More sent him: Ibid., vol. 4, no. 502, December 15, [1516], 169–172.

  Erasmus had embarked on a project: Ibid., vol. 71, xix–xxii; Henry de Vocht, History of the Foundation and the Rise of the Collegium Trilingue Lovaniense, 1517–1550, part 1, 1ff, 46ff; Augustijn, Erasmus, 115–116.

  Matthaeus Adrianus: De Vocht, History of the Foundation, 60, 241–256.

  several old manuscripts: Collected Works of Erasmus, vol. 4, 173. See also Bentley, Humanists and Holy Writ, 132–133.

  the first attack: Collected Works of Erasmus, vol. 5, no. 597, to Thomas More [July 10, 1517], 11; Augustijn, Erasmus, 113–15; Huizinga, Erasmus, 132–133; Bainton, Erasmus of Christendom, 138; Erika Rummel, Erasmus and His Catholic Critics, vol. 1, 49–59.

  “impious and most unworthy”: Rummel, Erasmus and His Catholic Critics, vol. 1, 50.

  “If only you had refrained”: Quoted in Augustijn, Erasmus, 115.

  Many were troubled: See, for instance, the letter from Symphorien Champier, a French physician and admirer of Lefèvre, in Collected Works of Erasmus, vol. 5, no. 680A [September 1517], 142–145.

  sent Erasmus a barbed letter: Ibid., vol. 5, no. 769, February 2, 1518, 287–293.

  In a caustic reply: Ibid., vol. 6, no. 844, May 15, 1518, 27–36.

  Edward Lee: Ibid., vol. 5, no. 765 [January 1518] 281–282; vol. 7, no. 106, February 1, 1520, 171–195; vol. 72, xi–xxv, 7–9. See also Coogan, Erasmus, Lee, and the Correction of the Vulgate, 20; Bainton, Erasmus of Christendom, 136–137.

  He was deeply troubled: Collected Works of Erasmus, vol. 72, 408, 412; Coogan, Erasmus, Lee, and the Correction of the Vulgate, 53ff.

  Lee (like Luther) feared: Collected Works of Erasmus, vol. 72, 269; Coogan, Erasmus, Lee, and the Correction of the Vulgate, 35–36.

  “How I wish”: Collected Works of Erasmus, vol. 5, no. 815, April 17 [1518], 388.

  “They thank me openly”: Ibid., vol. 5, no. 794, to Pierre Barbier, March 6, 1518, 339.

  sent a courier with letters: Ibid., vol. 5, 297.

  went to Thomas More: Ibid., vol. 5, no. 785, March 5, 1518, 325–329.

  CHAPTER 16: A DRUNKEN GERMAN

  “My poor worn body”: Luther’s Works, vol. 48, no. 21, May 30, 1518, 69. On his cowl, see vol. 48, 50.

  There wasn’t any: As Brecht notes in Martin Luther (202), Luther’s letters until January make no mention of the indulgence issue.

  he began to provide it: Luther’s Works, vol. 31, introduction to “Explanations of the Ninety-Five Theses,” 79; “Test everything,” 83.

  Luther recommended to his friend: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, no. 49, February 19 [1518], 71–72.

  “that such a conflict”: Luther’s Works, vol. 48, no. 18, to George Spalatin, January 18, 1518, 55.

  “is so merry”: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, no. 42 [early November 1517], 63.

  he thought of translating the work: Ibid., vol. 1, no. 130, 165.

  In a message to Spalatin: Ibid., vol. 1, no. 46, December 31, 1517, 67.

  Whenever he addressed opponents: Luther’s Works, vol. 48, no. 18, to George Spalatin, January 18, 1518, 53–54.

  heard the first rumbles: Brecht, Martin Luther, 203, 207; Schwiebert, Luther, 323; Fife, Revolt of Martin Luther, 261.

  One of those peddlers: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, 76.

  “overwhelmed with abuse”: Ibid., vol. 1, to George Spalatin, February 15, 1518, 70–71.

  tirade directed at him: Brecht, Martin Luther, 211.

  “is nothing less than”: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, 76.

  Titled Asterisks: Fife, Revolt of Martin Luther, 335–336.

  Sermon on Indulgences and Grace: Ibid., 263; Friedenthal, Luther, 159–160; Brecht, Martin Luther, 208; Pettegree, Brand Luther, 80–81. As noted in The Annotated Luther, vol. 1, The Roots of Reform, ed. Timothy J. Wengert (3–4), it was this work, even more than the Ninety-Five Theses, that made Luther widely known.

  “I know perfectly well”: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, no. 54, to Johann Staupitz, March 31, 1518, 78.

  to be held in Heidelberg: On the Heidelberg disputation, see Brecht, Martin Luther, 213–215; Bainton, Here I Stand, 65–66; Todd, Luther, 120–123; Mullett, Martin Luther, 79; Luther’s Works, vol. 31, 37–38.

  “Everybody advises me”: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, no. 51, March 21, 1518, 74–75.

  left Wittenberg on foot: Ibid., vol. 1, no. 55, to George Spalatin, April 15, 1518, 79.

  “terribly fatigued”: Ibid., vol. 1, no. 56, April 19, 1518, 79–80.

  Luther had prepared: Luther’s Works, vol. 31, “Heidelberg Disputation,” 39–70; “that he can obtain grace,” 50.

  Luther made a strong impression: Friedenthal, Luther, 165.

  “If the peasants would hear this”: Luther’s Works, vol. 48, 61.

  The count palatine wrote to Frederick: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, no. 58, May 1, 1518, 83.

  “Although our chief men”: Ibid., vol. 1, no. 57, May 1, 1518, 81–83.

  were largely immune: Luther’s Works, vol. 48, no. 20, to George Spalatin, May 18, 1518, 60–63.

  “twice-deadly cabbage”: Ibid, 62.

  the Church’s use of excommunication: Friedenthal, Luther, 166–167; Schwiebert, Luther, 331.

  Luther inveighed against these practices: Schwiebert, Luther, 332–333; Bainton, Here I Stand, 67–68; Todd, Luther, 125.

  the Dominicans had spies: Schwiebert, Luther, 340–341.

  “The more they threaten”: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, to Wenzel (Wenceslas) Link, July 10, 1518, 97.

  Explanations of the Ninety-Five Theses: Luther’s Works, vol. 31, 79–252; “a very good pope,” 155; “he is a human being,” 171; the “horrible murders,” 171; a “veritable Babylon,” 156; “infernal abyss,” 237–238; “extortion,” 249; “future reformation,” 250.

  the accompanying letter: Ibid., vol. 48, no. 21, May 30, 1518, 64–70.

  In that letter: Preserved Smith, The Life and Letters of Martin Luther, 44–46.

  was close to realizing his goal: See Roscoe, Life and Pontificate of Leo X, vol. 2, 113; Pastor, History of the Popes, vol. 8, 184ff; “Leo X,” in The Catholic Encyclopedia.

  “All men who have any gifts”: Collected Works of Erasmus, vol. 3, no. 340, July 18, 1515, 144–145.

  eighty-eight lecturers: Burckhardt, Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy, 141.

  Fifth Lateran Council: Pastor, History of the Popes, vol. 7, 5–6, and vol. 8, 384ff.

  named thirty-one new cardinals: Ibid., vol. 7, 196–208.

  800,000 ducats: Ibid., 211.

  a crusade against the Turks: Ibid., 213–235.

  projected cost of such an expedition: Ibid., 224–225.

  Raphael remained in charge: Scotti, Basilica, 134–136.

  Luther recalled having heard: Fife, Revolt of Martin Luther, 257.

  Volta had relayed that demand: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, 106.


  their annual chapter meeting: Schwiebert, Luther, 338–339.

  asked Sylvester Prierias: Ibid.; Bainton, Here I Stand, 68; Todd, Luther, 132–133; Fife, Revolt of Martin Luther, 276–277.

  Dialogue Against the Presumptuous Conclusions: Brecht, Martin Luther, 242–243.

  Count Albrecht of Mansfeld wrote: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, no. 69, Luther to Wenzel (Wenceslas) Link, July 10, 1518, 97.

  the treacherous act Luther experienced: Ibid., vol. 1, no. 117, Luther to George Spalatin, January 14 [1519], 149–152; Todd, Luther, 134–135.

  a “wild, entangled jungle”: Luther’s Works, vol. 48, 72, 79.

  a blistering response: Brecht, Martin Luther, 243–245.

  “I now need your help”: Luther’s Works, vol. 48, no. 22, August 8, 1518, 70–73.

  Maximilian was writing to Leo: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, no. 70, August 5, 1518, 98–100.

  hurriedly drew up a breve: Ibid., vol. 1, no. 73, August 23, 1518, 101–104; Pastor, History of the Popes, vol. 7, 368–370.

  Leo drafted a stern note: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, no. 74, August 23, 1518, 105–106.

  Luther anxiously implored Spalatin: Ibid., vol. 1, no. 76, August 28, 1518, 108–109.

  CHAPTER 17: UNBRIDLED

  able to find a horse: Collected Works of Erasmus, vol. 5, 329.

  sent a gift of sixty angel-nobles: Ibid., vol. 5, 410–411.

  prepared a fierce attack: Ibid., vol. 6, no. 843, May 7, 1518, 3–26. The location that the editors give for this letter—“On the Rhine?”—suggests some uncertainty about exactly where Erasmus wrote it; “The business in hand,” 15.

  Arriving in Basel: Ibid., vol. 6, 39.

  “put a bridle of self-restraint”: Ibid., vol. 4, September 2, 1516, 62.

  would be the most provocative: Ibid., vol. 6, introductory note to letter no. 864, 107.

  Erasmus offered a lengthy catalog: Smith, Erasmus, 172; Coogan, Erasmus, Lee, and the Correction of the Vulgate, 30; Jarrott, “Erasmus’ Biblical Humanism,” 140–143; Opera Omnia Desiderii Erasmi, 6(5): 204–211.

  even bolder at Matthew 16:18: Bentley, Humanists and Holy Writ, 185; Opera Omnia Desiderii Erasmi, 6(5): 247–248.

  Erasmus condemned the proliferating shrines: Opera Omnia Desiderii Erasmi, 6(5): 298–300; J. A. Froude, Life and Letters of Erasmus, 129–130.

  note on 1 Corinthians 7:36–39: Opera Omnia Desiderii Erasmi, 6(8): 142–190; Payne, Erasmus, 121–125.

  some fifty highly obscure questions: Rummel, Erasmus’ Annotations, 144–145.

  a letter to his friend Paul Volz: Collected Works of Erasmus, vol. 6, no. 858, August 14, 1518, 72–91; “the whole philosophy of Christ,” 77; “that some of them think,” 86; “a refuge from the world,” 89.

  “tend not to Christ’s glory”: Ibid., vol. 6, 79.

  “Here you have the theological works”: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, no. 94, Wolfgang Capito to Candid Theologians (October 1518), 129–130.

  the anthology appeared in October 1518: Collected Works of Erasmus, vol. 6, 190–193; Smith, Erasmus, 218.

  the typesetters mischievously changed: Luther’s Works, vol. 48, 110.

  arranged for his famulus: Collected Works of Erasmus, vol. 6, 107.

  his detailed account of his journey: Ibid., vol. 6, no. 867, [first half of October] 1518, 112–126; “dirty pease porridge,” 114.

  “a customs officer devoted to the Muses”: Ibid., vol. 6, no. 879, October 19, 1518, 150.

  “countrified and simple style”: Ibid., vol. 6, 12.

  A good example came at Matthew 6:12: Opera Omnia Desiderii Erasmi, (6)5: 157–158.

  At Matthew 3:2: Jarrott, “Erasmus’ Biblical Humanism,” 125–126; Opera Omnia Desiderii Erasmi, 6(5): 110–112.

  one-word alteration he made: Bentley, Humanists and Holy Writ, 170; Rummel, Erasmus and His Catholic Critics, vol. 1, 123–125; Opera Omnia Desiderii Erasmi, 6(2): 13.

  Ratio Verae Theologiae: See Marjorie O’Rourke Boyle, Erasmus on Language and Method in Theology, 59–127; Bainton, Erasmus of Christendom, 156; Halkin, Erasmus, 128; de Vocht, History of the Foundation, part I, 303–306; Bentley, Humanists and Holy Writ, 180; Seebohm, Oxford Reformers, 278.

  “Summary Arguments Against”: See Rummel, Erasmus and His Catholic Critics, vol. 1, 21–22; Jan Krans, “Deconstructing the Vulgate,” in Wallraff, Basel 1516, 191–194.

  he complained that ten secretaries: Collected Works of Erasmus, vol. 6, no. 873, to Heinrich Beyming, October 17 [1518], 141.

  Two young humanists: Ibid., vol. 6, no. 870, to Conradus Mutianus Rufus, October 17, 1518, 131–132.

  “Eleutherius, I hear”: Ibid., vol. 6, no. 872, October 17 [1518], 137, 139.

  sent Wolfgang Capito an update: Ibid., vol. 6, no. 877, October 19 [1518], 147–149.

  CHAPTER 18: ONTO THE WORLD STAGE

  “It seems to me that the world”: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, no. 80, September 14, 1518, 113.

  he recommended his relative: Brecht, Martin Luther, 277–278. Schwartzerd is often described as Reuchlin’s grandnephew, but the exact nature of their kinship is unclear. What is clear is that Philip was Reuchlin’s protégé. See Timothy J. Wengert, Human Freedom, Christian Righteousness: Philip Melanchthon’s Exegetical Dispute with Erasmus of Rotterdam, 6; Price, Johannes Reuchlin, 19.

  a paean to Erasmus: Collected Works of Erasmus, vol. 4, no. 454, August 20, 1516, 40–42.

  he arrived in Wittenberg: Brecht, Martin Luther, 277–278; Friedenthal, Luther, 200–201, 223; Fife, Revolt of Martin Luther, 303.

  gave his inaugural address: Hillerbrand, Reformation, 58–60.

  “extremely learned and absolutely faultless”: Luther’s Works, vol. 48, no. 24, August 31, 1518, 78.

  “Never was there a greater man”: Quoted in Schwiebert, Luther, 299.

  the Imperial Diet in Augsburg: On Luther’s appearance at Augsburg, see Brecht, Martin Luther, 246–261; Fife, Revolt of Martin Luther, 286–297; Bainton, Here I Stand, 70–76; Schwiebert, Luther, 350–353; Mullett, Martin Luther, 82–89; Todd, Luther, 138–142; Friedenthal, Luther, 171–187; Roper, Martin Luther, 99–107. Luther’s own account is in Luther’s Works, vol. 31, “Proceedings at Augsburg,” 255–292.

  no happy encounters: Todd, Luther, 137.

  “Now I must die”: Luthers Werke, Tischreden, vol. 2, no. 2668a; Bainton, Here I Stand, 70.

  a population of 50,000: Hajo Holborn, A History of Modern Germany, vol. 1, The Reformation, 72–76; Greg Steinmetz, Jacob Fugger: The Richest Man Who Ever Lived, 1; “Augsburg,” in Encyclopedia of the Renaissance.

  visited by one of Cajetan’s Italian courtiers: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, no. 83, October 10, 1518, 116–118.

  sent a letter to Melanchthon: Ibid., vol. 1, no. 84, October 11, 1518, 118.

  the Fugger Palace: Friedenthal, Luther, 171; Steinmetz, Jacob Fugger, 94.

  the extraordinary wealth of the Fuggers: Steinmetz, Jacob Fugger, xiii–xv, 22, 111; Holborn, History of Modern Germany, vol. 1., 73–74.

  Cajetan could not wait to leave it: On the cardinal, see Todd, Luther, 129, 131; Friedenthal, Luther, 172–175; Fife, Revolt of Martin Luther, 292; Brecht, Martin Luther, 246–247; Mullet, Martin Luther, 85; “Cajetan,” in The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation.

  “hound of hell”: Pastor, History of the Popes, vol. 7, 247.

  “sons of Nimrod”: Quoted in Todd, Luther, 130.

  Ulrich von Hutten: Friedenthal, Luther, 174.

  Maximilian’s physical decline: Todd, Luther, 130.

  A fratellino: Friedenthal, Luther, 175.

  the cardinal told Luther: Luther’s account of his meetings with Cajetan appears in Luther’s Works, vol. 31, “Proceedings at Augsburg,” 259–292.

  completely unsupported by Scripture: Ibid., 264–265.

  wrote to his colleague Andreas von Karlstadt: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, no. 85, October 14, 1518, 120.

  he wrote out his statement: Luther’s Works, vol. 31,
264–275; “I did not possess,” 266–267; “As long as these Scripture passages,” 274–275.

  presented his statement to the cardinal: These events are recounted in Luther’s letter to Spalatin, ibid., vol. 48, no. 26, October 14, 1518, 83–87.

  “Go, and do not return”: Ibid., vol. 48, 86.

  imparted a valedictory word: Ibid., vol. 48, no. 69, to Johann von Staupitz, January 14, 1521, 191.

  wrote a farewell note: Ibid., vol. 48, no. 27, October 18, 1518, 87–89.

  On the night of October 20, 1518: Schwiebert, Luther, 353–354; Friedenthal, Luther, 185; Brecht, Martin Luther, 260.

  “I have come today”: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, no. 93, October 31, 1518, 128–129.

  “You are not a bad Christian”: Luther’s Works, vol. 31, 278–279; “I do not care,” 282; “the clever tricks they used,” 285.

  “setting things in order”: Ibid., vol. 48, no. 29, November 25, 1518, 93–94.

  prepared his parishioners: Schwiebert, Luther, 367.

  there arrived another letter: Brecht, Martin Luther, 263.

  Frederick sent Cajetan his response: Ibid., 264.

  they were snapped up by townspeople: Todd, Luther, 143.

  CHAPTER 19: UNCOMMITTED

  Karl von Miltitz: On Miltitz, see Schwiebert, Luther, 370–379; Brecht, Martin Luther, 265–273; Friedenthal Luther, 188–195; Fife, Revolt of Martin Luther, 307–326; Mullett, Martin Luther, 92–95; Pastor, History of the Popes, vol. 7, 380–384.

  “the more they rage”: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, no. 103, December 9, 1518, 137.

  even if Miltitz had 25,000 Swiss soldiers: Luthers Werke, Tischreden, vol. 3, no. 3418, 308.

  he agreed to remain silent: See Luther’s two letters to Frederick, in Luther’s Works, vol. 48, no. 31, January 5 or 6, 1519, 96–100; no. 33, between January 13 and 19, 1519, 103–106.

  a “a kiss of Judas”: Brecht, Martin Luther, 269.

  In his letter to Leo: Luther’s Works, vol. 48, no. 32, January 5 or 6, 1519, 100–102.

  “With paternal love”: Luther’s Correspondence, vol. 1, no. 137, March 29, 1519, 172–173.

  “We have sent six hundred copies”: Ibid., vol. 1, no. 125, February 14, 1519, 161–162.