Note 1484 — Chapter XX

“Werke,” Erl. ed., 25², p. 251 ff.: “Ratschlag von der Kirche.... Mit einer Vorrede und Glosse M. Luthers,” 1538. The writing begins: “The Pope with his wretched Council is like a cat with her kittens,” and concludes (p. 277): Unchastity “is no sin at Rome.” Yet unchastity was one of the abuses assailed in the very writing which he here reprints, which urges that “Rome ought to be the model and example of all other cities.” Of the ambition prevalent at Rome he writes in his usual way (p. 253): “If all such filth were to be stirred up in a free Council, what a stench there would be.” On the title-page he depicts three cardinals: “Desperate knaves, bent on cleansing the Churches with foxes’ brushes” (p. 254).