es meanwhile were fed most pleasantly
on the fat of the land.

There was just one means which they used to quiet opposition, to
wit, the protection of your name, the threat of burning at the
stake, and the disgrace of the name "heretic." It is incredible
how ready they are to threaten, even, at times, when they
perceive that it is only their own mere silly opinions which are
contradicted. As though this were to quiet opposition, and not
rather to arouse schisms and seditions by sheer tyranny!

None the less, however, stories about the avarice of the priests
were bruited in the taverns, and evil was spoken of the power of
the keys and of the Supreme Pontiff, and as evidence of this, I
could cite the common talk of this whole land. I truly confess
that I was on fire with zeal for Christ, as I thought, or with
the heat of youth, if you prefer to have it so; and yet I saw
that it was not in place for me to make any decrees or to do
anything in these matters. Therefore I privately admonished some
of the prelates of the Church. By some of them I was kindly
received, to others I seemed ridiculous, to still others
something worse; for the terror of your name and the threat of
Church censures prevailed. At last, since I could do nothing
else, it seemed good that I should offer at least a gentle
resistance to them, i. e., question and discuss their teachings.
Therefore I published a set of theses, inviting only the more
learned to dispute with me if they wished; as should be evident,
even to my adversaries, from the Preface to the Disputation.[3]

Lo, this is the fire with which they complain that all the world
is now ablaze! Perhaps it is because they are indignant that I,
who by your own apostolic authority am a Master of Theology, have
the right to conduct public disputations, according to the custom
of all the Universities and of the whole Church, not only about
indulgences, but also about God's power and remission and mercy,
which are incomparably greater subjects. I am not much moved,
however, by the fact that they envy me the privilege granted me
by the power of your Holiness, since I am unwillingly compelled
to yield to them in things of far greater moment, viz., when they
mix the dreams of Aristotle with theological matters, and conduct
nonsensical disputations about the majesty of God, beyond and
against the privilege granted them.

It is a miracle to me by what fate it has come about that this
single Disputation