One day the Margrave of Brandenburg, with several other princes, arrived at Wittemberg to visit Luther. "They wished to see the man,"[357] said the Margrave. In fact all wished _to see the man_, whose word alarmed the pope, and caused the pontiff of the West to totter on his throne. [357] Videre enim hominem voluerunt. (L. Ep. i, p. 544, Jan. 16, 1521.) [Sidenote: SATIRES. ULRICH VON HUTTEN.] The enthusiasm of Luther's friends increased from day to day. "Unparalleled folly of Emser!"--exclaimed Melancthon--"to presume to measure weapons with our Hercules, overlooking the finger of God in the actions of Luther,[358] as the king of Egypt overlooked it in the hand of Moses." The mild Melancthon found strong expressions to excite those who seemed to him to retrograde or remain stationary. "Luther has stood up for the truth," wrote he to John Hess, "and yet you keep silence. He still breathes, he still prospers, though Leo is indignant and roars with rage. Remember, it is impossible for Roman impiety to approve of the gospel.[359] How should this unhappy age be without its Judases, Caiaphases, Pilates, and Herods? Arm yourself then with the power of the Word of God against such adversaries." [358] ... Dei digitum esse quæ à Martino fiant. (Corp. Ref. i, p. 282.) [359] "Non posse Evangelium Romanæ impietati probari." (Ibid. p. 280.) All the writings of Luther, his Lord's Prayer, and especially a new edition of the German theology, were eagerly devoured. Reading societies were formed, for the purpose of procuring his works, for the use of the members. Friends made new impressions of them, and circulated them by means of hawkers. They were also recommended from pulpits. A German church was demanded, one in which no dignity should in future be conferred on anyone who was not able to preach to the people in German, and the German bishops of which should every where oppose the papal power. Moreover, cutting satires directed against the leading Ultra-Montanists were circulated throughout the provinces of the empire. The opposition united all its forces around this new doctrine, which give it precisely what it wanted, by justifying it in regard to religion. The greater part of the lawyers, weary of the quirks of the Ecclesiastical tribunals, attached themselves to the Reformation, but its cause was keenly embraced above all by the Humanists. Ulric von Hütten was indefatigable. He wrote letters to Luther, to the legates, and the leading men of Germany. "I tell you, and tell you again, O Marinus!" said he to the legate, Carracioli, in one of his publications, "the mists with which you blinded us are cleared away--the gospel is preached--the truth proclaimed--the absurdities of Rome treated with contempt--your ordinances languish and die--liberty begins."[360] [360] "Ablata illa est a vobis inducta olim nostris oculis caligo, prædicatur Evangelium .. spes est libertatis" ... (Ulric ab Hütten Eques Mar. Carrac. L. Op. Lat. ii, p. 176.)