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In Germany to the Leipsic Disputation - James Aitken Wylie

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was born (1469) at Gaeta, a frontier <strong>to</strong>wn of <strong>the</strong><br />

Neapolitan kingdom, <strong>to</strong> which events in <strong>the</strong><br />

personal his<strong>to</strong>ry of a subsequent Pope (Pius IX.)<br />

long afterwards gave some little no<strong>to</strong>riety. He<br />

belonged <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Dominican order, and was,<br />

moreover, a warm admirer and a zealous defender<br />

of <strong>the</strong> scholastic philosophy. The cardinal's<br />

manners were suave <strong>to</strong> a degree, but his spirit was<br />

stern. Beneath a polished, courtly, and amiable<br />

exterior, <strong>the</strong>re lurked <strong>the</strong> Dominican. His talents,<br />

his learning, and his fame for sanctity made him<br />

one of <strong>the</strong> most distinguished members of <strong>the</strong><br />

Sacred College. His master, <strong>the</strong> Pope, reposed<br />

great confidence in him, and he merited it; for De<br />

Vie was a sincere believer in all <strong>the</strong> dogmas of <strong>the</strong><br />

Church, even in <strong>the</strong> gross forms in<strong>to</strong> which <strong>the</strong>y<br />

now began <strong>to</strong> develop; and no one placed <strong>the</strong> Papal<br />

prerogatives higher, or was prepared <strong>to</strong> do s<strong>to</strong>uter<br />

battle for <strong>the</strong>m, than he. Cardinal Cajetan <strong>to</strong>ok his<br />

place on <strong>the</strong> judgment-seat with much pomp, for he<br />

held firmly by <strong>the</strong> maxim that legates are above<br />

kings; but he sat <strong>the</strong>re, not <strong>to</strong> investigate Lu<strong>the</strong>r's<br />

cause, but, <strong>to</strong> receive his unqualified and<br />

unconditional submission. The cause, as we shall<br />

154

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