Exertions were made to bring him back into the path he was desirous of quitting. The old and crafty Cardinal Soderini of Volterra, the familiar friend of Alexander VI., Julius II., and Leo X.,[273] often let fall hints well adapted to prepare the worthy Adrian for that character, so strange to him, which he was called upon to fill. "The heretics," remarked Soderini one day, "have in all ages spoken of the corrupt manners of the court of Rome, and yet the popes have never changed them."--"It has never been by reforms," said he on another occasion, "that heresies have been put down, but by crusades."--"Alas," replied the pontiff with a deep sigh, "how unhappy is the fate of a pope, since he has not even liberty to do what is right!"[274] [273] Per longa esperienza delle cose del mundo, molto prudente e accorto. Nardi. Hist. Fior. lib. vii. [274] Sarpi, Hist. Council of Trent, p. 21. CHAPTER III. Diet of Nuremberg--Soliman's Invasion--The Nuncio calls for Luther's Death--The Nuremberg Preachers--Promise of Reform--Grievances of the Nation--Decree of the Diet--Fulminating Letter of the Pope--Luther's Advice. [Sidenote: DIET OF NUREMBERG.] On the 23d March 1522, before Adrian had reached Rome, the diet assembled at Nuremberg. Prior to this date the Bishops of Mersburg and Misnia had asked permission of the Elector of Saxony to make a visitation of the convents and churches in his states. Frederick, thinking that truth would be strong enough to resist error, had given a favourable reply to this request, and the visitation took place. The bishops and their doctors preached violently against the Reformation, exhorting, threatening, and entreating; but their arguments seemed useless; and when, desirous of having recourse to more effectual weapons, they called upon the secular authority to carry out their decrees, the elector's ministers replied, that the business was one that required to be examined according to the Bible, and that the elector in his advanced age could not begin to study divinity. These efforts of the bishops did not lead one soul back to the fold of Rome; and Luther, who passed through these districts shortly after, and preached in his usual powerful strain, erased the feeble impressions that had been here and there produced. [Sidenote: SOLIMAN INVADES HUNGARY--A NEW STORM.]