Consilivm Cvivsdam ex Animo Cvpientis Esse Consvltvm et Romani Pontificis Dignitati et Christianae Religionis Tranqvillitati

Abstract

As we have already seen, Erasmus had carefully prepared the way for the proposal that the Lutheran affair be settled by a court of arbitration ¹). In the Consilium cuiusdam the plan, hitherto expressed only in general terms, appeared for the first time in a definite and practicable form. It marked the consummation of the Erasmian policy, the point toward which the humanist had been working for the preceding two years. Yet the name of Erasmus did not appear in connection with the Consilium; nor did he ever assume full responsibility for it. For several reasons he did not wish it to appear that he had taken the initiative in originating the scheme. His safety had already been threatened by the inquisitors, and he wished to avoid the necessity of presenting the plan in person at Worms 2). Moreover, his neutrality had been compromised, despite his protests that he knew and cared nothing about Luther, by the indiscreet publication of some of his letters and by the noticeable similarity of his works to those of the reformer. Aleander and many others considered him the guiding spirit of the new movement.