Note 1353 — Chapter XXVII

“Enchiridion,” Ingolst., 1556, f. 167, 167´. In the prefatory letter of dedication to Cardinal Farnese, Eck expresses himself in his usual manner against the ill-advised attempts of Catholics at mediation: “Hinc parum profecit conventus Ratisponensis (1541) in causa fidei et plurimorum fidelium exspectationem fefellit.”—In the matter of religious conferences and disputations Eck had ripe experience on his side. Though once very ready to accept a challenge to dispute, he nevertheless wrote later in the “Enchiridion” concerning controversies with heretics: “Hæretici non quærunt disputationem nisi multis malitiis involutam.... Fraudulenter obtendunt disputare non coram doctis et literatis ac in theologia exercitatis, sed coram indoctis, vulgaribus laicis”; the learned men at the Universities would otherwise have already tackled Luther. After mentioning the other disadvantages of the disputations he concludes: “Catholici ergo debent vitare disputationem cum huiusmodi” (ibid., p. 163 seq.).