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In Germany to the Leipsic Disputation - James Aitken Wylie

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Being on <strong>the</strong> spot he might as well try his hand at<br />

arranging "bro<strong>the</strong>r Martin's" business. But no one<br />

was deceived. "The Pope's chamberlain comes,"<br />

said Lu<strong>the</strong>r's friends <strong>to</strong> him, "laden with flattering<br />

letters and Pontifical briefs, <strong>the</strong> cords with which<br />

he hopes <strong>to</strong> bind you and carry you <strong>to</strong> Rome." "I<br />

await <strong>the</strong> will of God," replied <strong>the</strong> Reformer.<br />

On his journey Miltitz made it his business <strong>to</strong><br />

ascertain <strong>the</strong> state of public feeling on <strong>the</strong> question<br />

now in agitation. He was as<strong>to</strong>nished <strong>to</strong> find <strong>the</strong><br />

hold which <strong>the</strong> opinions of Lu<strong>the</strong>r had taken on <strong>the</strong><br />

German mind. <strong>In</strong> all companies he entered, in <strong>the</strong><br />

way-side taverns, in <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>wns, in <strong>the</strong> castles where<br />

he lodged, he found <strong>the</strong> quarrel between <strong>the</strong> monk<br />

and <strong>the</strong> Pope <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>pic of talk. Of every five<br />

Germans three were on <strong>the</strong> side of Lu<strong>the</strong>r. How<br />

different <strong>the</strong> mental state on this side <strong>the</strong> Alps from<br />

<strong>the</strong> worn-out Italian mind! This prognosticated an<br />

approaching emancipation of <strong>the</strong> young and<br />

ingenuous Teu<strong>to</strong>nic intellect from its thraldom <strong>to</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> traditionalism of Italy. At times <strong>the</strong> Pope's<br />

chamberlain received somewhat amusing answers<br />

<strong>to</strong> his interroga<strong>to</strong>ries. One day he asked <strong>the</strong><br />

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