Von Miltitzens Abfertigung am päbstlichen Hof, seiner Reise nach Deutschland und Ankunft in Sachsen.
A. How Miltitz announced to the Elector of Saxony, and also to Spalatin, the mission carried out to him by the Pope.
248 Carl von Miltitzen's letter from Rome to Spalatin, in which he reports that the Pope has appointed him nuncio and consecrated the
Rose to be delivered to the Elector of Saxony.
Dat. Rom, 10 Sept. 1518.
This letter is found in Latin in Tentzel's historical report, vol. II, p. 53; in Löscher's Ref.-Acta, vol. II, p. 550 and in Seidemann, "Karl von Miltitz", p. 3. - The gaps are filled in by us.
Translated from Latin.
Carl von Miltitz, papal chamberlain.
I apologize to others for not writing to them because I have not had time and could not wait longer.
Inscription.
To the venerable and dear man, Mr. Georg Spalatin, [his] extremely dear [friend].
B. What instructions, brevia and letters are given to Miltitz.
249 Papal Instruction or Commissoriale, given to von Miltitz for his journey to the court of the Electorate of Saxony concerning the rose to be presented. Dated Tuscanelle, a small town in the diocese of Viterbo, October 15, 1518.
This document is found in Latin and German in Tentzel's Hist. Bericht, Vol. II, pp. 56 and 58, only in Latin in Löscher's Ref.-Acta, Vol. II, p. 554.
After Spalatin's translation.
Leo Babst the Zcehend.
To our beloved son Karl von Miltitz, our honorable chamberlain, nuncio and commissioner.
Beloved son. The Blessedness and the Bestowal. Because we in the Lord are particularly
if you have modesty, faith and discretion. Accordingly, we have appointed you as our nuncio and commissary, or skilful and commanding officer, the Golden Roses, a gift which, according to ancient custom, the most noble of our princes is required to be given to a future prince, to the beloved son of the noble man Frederick Duke of Saxony, of the Holy Roman Empire. We have accepted him on account of his noble name and his virtue with such an honor and reward, together with several letters of indulgence, to be brought to the same prince in our name, out of the kindness and esteem of the holy muties of the Church. To be considered and set forth in the present letter. The Duke will be moved by these and many other special graces and honors with which the Holy See has endowed his house, to uphold the praise and glory of his nobility and of the Holy Church, and we will wait with reasonable assurance. Because his nobility will do this, he will do a thing that will be pleasing to his Christian mind, and through it, besides the highest Godliness and faith, he will earn the highest praise and honor from God and man, and for this reason he will show us gratitude and goodwill. However, we will publicly order you, in the name of holy obedience and by the penalties of the highest ban and of our grace, if you do otherwise, so that you will fall repudiatively, that you will be judged from above by the same Duke, on the advice, will, and expressed permission of our beloved son Thoman of the title of Tant Sixten Priest Cardinal of our and named Stul in Teutschen Landen Legaten, neither hand over nor answer anything, in any way. nor subject yourself to it, considering all that is contrary to it. Given in Tuscany, under the fishermen's ring, on the nineteenth day of October, in the year five hundred and eighteen, of our Baptism the Sixth.
Jacobus Sadoletus.
Papal decree to the Elector of Saxony himself, in which Luther is most disgracefully scolded. Dated Oct. 24, 1518.
In Tentzel's Hist. report Latin, vol. II, p. 71, German p. 75; in Löscher's Ref.-Acta, vol. II, p. 556 only Latin. The date, which is faded in the original Latin, was given by Spalatin as Oct. 24.
After Spalatin's translation.
Beloved son. Noble man. The Bliss etc. the most holy golden roses given with our hands, and on the fourth Sunday of the last Lent (quadragesime) gloriously wept, here most worthily given, and a thing of secret hidden meaning, and a notable adornment of the noble house of the Dukes of Saxony and your nobility in this year, we have so much liber decided by the beloved son Karl von Miltitz to send to our notaries and cameryrs also to your noble faithful subjects the clerics of Meissen diocese, that the same Karl, what we have to do in the most holy procession against the most cruel crime of the holy Christian name, and the sacrilege and excessive error of your brother Martinus Lotterst), wisely and adequately as we trust your nobility and schickl. know how to show it. Noble man and beloved son. We are always afraid of such a delicate and necessary move, and it makes us feel so much better from day to day that we have to worry about the Turk's most unpleasant gryms. And although we may think that he is in delay, yet he is still willing, as much as is possible, to harm the Christians, who, as we have learned, are of the opinion that he will attack the Christians as soon as he is able. Now your nobility is at peace because of the Christians' affairs by God's help, and so many kings and rulers have been amicably agreed upon, among whom you are powerful with arms and strength of mind and spirit, that this holy procession is begun by means of God's prompting, and that we, with your nobility and other Christian kings and rulers, and the holy Christian faith, intend to carry out such a procession, and how much we believe that your nobility, that our comfortable and diligent beger, because of which we have asked for five years, has learned and noted all the cryts in Christianity, not only from our legate, but also from other of our writings and messages, and that all our worries and thoughts are in this very kind and necessary work. Accordingly, we wish to write little of such a move, and to have it pointed out to us by our friend Karl mer. So that your nobility may realize that they can do nothing more righteous to their great and noble comforts, and nothing less to God, than that they, together with other Christian monarchs and princes, turn their comforts to it, and all their fortunes to dissemination.
1) Also in Latin: NÄrtini I^ottsr.
most holy train. Since we intend and intend to spend this amicably, and to do so with all our creatures, Sathanas presents the son of loss or damnation, Martinus Lother, 2) of the Order of Saint Augustine, who may preach to the Christian folk, before the words and opposites of your authority, against us and the holy Holy Trinity, which is not only reprehensible according to the most obvious heresy, but is also severely punishable, and since all this is completely hidden from us and your nobility, we do not want to report it any further. And even if we do not want to be punished because of our and your nobility's We do not wish to tolerate such a leniency, so that the gullible folk may easily be led to an evil opinion with the utmost anger. We also know and have no doubt that we will not tolerate such a lame and rude thing, so that the gullible followers of the Lord's evil opinion will be easily angered, so that lazy and rude things will not grow up in the Lord's healthy treasury, and so that the arts of this free Martin will cease, so that he will not plant the roots too deeply and hard, so that they will not be uprooted from the Lord's field, which we have followed, We also know and doubtless consider that it will not little weigh down your conscience, and tarnish your and your most noble ancestors' reputation and honor (who have always been the most powerful opponents of heresy), and shall be contrary and burdensome to your nobility. For this reason, we have ordered the same Charles, our deputy and chamberlain, to have a diligent investigation of this through our writings and letters and to do and take other measures against the aforementioned Martin; also against those who are in bondage to Martin, and who are of his evil opinion. This is further clarified and understood in our constitution and decree. We also remind you of your nobility in the Lord, and ask you cousinly to consider in high esteem your reason and a great and Christian prince's virtue, so that your nobility is adorned with such a good gift and filled with its good odor, to show to the same Charles the aforesaid favor and support, and what the same Charles will show to your nobility on our behalf I will believe no less than ourselves when they hear us speak presently. Then, in that your nobility will do a thing worthy of such a powerful prince of the highest praise, our blessed God, of which the matter is acted upon, and will show us and the named Stul the-
2) In Latin: Lottsr; likewise in the following documents of the same date.
672 L. v. a. ii, 446 f. Sect. I. M.'s dispatch, Instructionen etc. No. 250 ff. W. xv, 8i4-8is. 673
half in their delicate and honest petitions and requests from day to day more and more gracious and mild. Date "ivitatis vetons Viterliisiisis Dio6668i8 8Ub> aimulo xi8oatori8 the XXIV. ovt. XV 0. XVIII. of our Pabstthumbs in the sixth.
251 Papal Breve to the Electoral Supreme Minister and Hereditary Marshal in Lower Bavaria, Mr. Degenhard Pfeffinger, concerning Miltitzen's action with the Elector of Saxony against Luther, dated October 24, 1518.
This writing is found in Latin in the Wittenberg (1550), tom. I, toi. 233; in the Jena (1579), toru. I, toi. 208d; and in the Erlanger, opp. var. arZ., tom. II, p. 446. German in the Altenburg, vol. I, p. 254; in the Wittenberg (1569), vol. IX, bl.61But because in all these editions the text is faulty and the date is wrong (Jan. 1, 1519), Cyprian had it printed from the original in his Urkunden vol. II, p. 82 (but also with a wrong date: XXIII ootobr.). From it Löscher, Ref.-Acta, vol. II, p. 559 has communicated it and corrected the date in a marginal note.
Translated from Latin.
Pope Leo X.
To our dear son, Degenhard Pfeffinger, our dearest son, the noble Lord, Duke Frederick of Saxony etc., Rath.
Beloved Son, salvation and apostolic blessing!
(1) Out of what heartfelt opinion and fatherly love we have consecrated the most sacred golden rose, which the Roman Popes are accustomed to consecrate annually on the Sunday of Lent in Holy Lent, not without great secrecy, and to dedicate and send to one of the most excellent Christian kings or princes, but this year to the noble, our beloved son, Frederick, Duke of Saxony etc., who, according to the custom of his noble ancestors, deserves well and may deserve even better for us and this holy apostolic see, your devotion will be understood more thoroughly by our beloved son, Carl von Miltitz, our nuncio and secret chamberlain, who is always at hand, besides other things that concern us and the above-mentioned see's dignity and authority.
(2) Moreover, because we know in what great grace and favor, and indeed justly, your devotion is with the said prince, and how great and highly he esteems your salutary, wise counsel, we admonish the same your devotion in the Lord, and fatherly desire that, out of dutiful devotion
and reverence to us and to the said Holy See, to signify with diligence what great honor and delicious gift we have now deemed worthy of thoughtful Princes.
3. Your devotion also wanted to consider how horrible and frightening is the great foolishness and sacrilege that Satan's child, brother Martin Luther, practices by spreading a public heresy, known to everyone, in the holy church, so that the laudable name of such a powerful prince, as well as his ancestors' delicious good rumor, might be stained; as your devotion will hear from our reported nuncio, Carl, who also wanted to remind the said prince of this by salutary counsel and well imagine, so that our and the apostolic see's dignity and majesty would not be blasphemed, nor that prince's honor and good reputation would be stained. That also the sacrilegious foolishness of brother Martin may be resisted, and the error, which unfortunately is all too great, and which the common rabble so easily believes is sown, and which in time would take deep root, may be controlled, especially by your help and faithful counsel, and even eradicated.
4. in which your devotion will do a pleasing service to God, our Blessed One, whose cause it is, and a very pleasant work to us, who seek with the greatest diligence, as much as we can, nothing else than that such noxious weeds, thistles and thorns be eradicated from the Lord's field. For this your devotion in its Christian petition and desire shall find us and the above-mentioned See more gracious and kind. How then your devotion will be heard further and better by the aforementioned Carl,-of which we have been told enough.
Given in the old city of the Viterbian diocese, under the fishermen's ring, the 24th of October, 1518, of our papacy in the 6th year.
252 Letter from the Papal Vice-Chancellor, Cardinal Julius de Medicis, who later became Pope under the name of Clement VII, to Mr. Degenhard Pfeffinger to assist the Papal Nuncio in his action against Luther with the Elector of Saxony. Dated Rome, October 11, 1518.
This writing is found in the Latin Wittenberg edition (1550), torn. I, toi. 233d; in the Jena (1579), toro. I, toi. 209 and in the Erlangen, opp. var. ars., tona. II, o. 447. German in the Wittenberg (1569), vol. IX, bl. 6Id; in the Jena (1564), vol. I, bl. 138;
in the Altenburger, vol. I, p. 254 and in the Leipziger, vol. XVII, p. 218. In all of these somewhat deficient and with the wrong date: Jan. 5, 1519. A more accurate and better impression is in Cyprian) vol. II, p.84 and in Löscher, vol. II, p. 560.
To the strict, honorable Mr. Degenhard Pfeffinger, the most illustrious Lord, Duke Frederick of Saxony 2c, Councillor, our special friend.
1. Most honorable sir, dearest friend! Because the venerable gentleman, Carl von Miltitz, our most holy Lord Pabst Leo X's chamberlain etc., is now traveling in Germany on some business of papal sanctity, we did not want to let him go to your feast of honor without our writing. For we know the esteem, grace and favor in which your Feast of Honor is held by the Most Serene and Serene Prince, on account of her virtues and sincere disposition, and how she has always had an inclined will to promote the cause of our Most Holy Lord and the Apostolic See.
2. request that your honorable feast also remain in this sense; and because the occasion now arises, that this holy apostolic see faithfully command the most illustrious prince the necessary things, and hold and persuade his lordship to follow in the footsteps of their noble ancestors, whom the enemies of the holy Roman church, where they had their residence, persecuted, and also for some time did not permit to dwell in their lands and cities. Our most holy lord, the pope, and the entire Roman court, certainly have the same friendship for the most illustrious prince.
For his noble nature, noble virtues and deeds give everyone good hope that he will hold his own.
Furthermore, we want to have ordered Mr. Carl your festival of honor most diligently, with a high request that it should help him and his things with the most illustrious prince, so that your festival of honor does our most holy lord and us a great favor. Which is well done.
Ex capite montis, ben 11 October 1518.
Your Julius, Vice Chancellor.
253 Papal Breve to Spalatin of October 24, 1518.
This breve is found in Latin in the Wittenberg edition <1550), tom. I, toi. 234; in the Erlanger, opp. var. arA, tom. II, p. 448; and in Löscher's Ref.-Acta, vol. II, p. 561. In all these editions with the false
Date: I. Jan. 1519. German in Spalatin's translation in Cyprian, Vol. II, p. 86 with the correct date. In the margin, Löscher has also made the correction.
According to Spalatin's own translation.1)
Babst Leo der Zcehend entbeutt dem Georgio Spalatino seinen geliebten son, seines geliebten sons des Edeln manns Fridrichen, Hertzogen zu Sachßen, diener. His greetings and best wishes.
Out of what great joyful affection and veteran love, we bless and bless the Most Holy Golden Roses, which we present and send to the most distinguished Christian conyge or prince on the fourth Sunday in Lent, out of great mystery. We give this to our beloved son, the nobleman Frederick Duke of Saxony, as one who, like others of his most illustrious predecessors, has held himself in the best way against us and the Holy See. In order that he may also earn much more from us, he will have sent, paid for and delivered to us a few florins of roses. All this will be more fully known and heard by your attention from our beloved son, nuncio, skilful, noble chamberlain and servant Karin von Miltitz. Knowing then that you are in the grace of the same Prince, that he also esteems your noble and wise counsel, we therefore remember and acknowledge your consideration in the Lord, and request you to consider and observe, out of your noble consideration and reverence for us and the same Royal See, what great honor, what great treasure, we have esteemed the same Duke Fridrichen. You should also consider how horrible is the excessive joy of Martin Luther, the child of the devil, which also tastes of secret heresy, and how such a great prince's noble and rudimentary name and praise, as well as the praiseworthy rumor of his predecessors, may well be cleared. You shall advise the said our skilful hornet, and the same Duke, by your salutary counsel, of this. Thereby ours and the said Stul ere also his own of the duke's good reputation. In addition, the reverend Martini Jr's wealth and freedom will be punished, so that, unfortunately, such an old and grievous evil and error from among the common man, who believes it to be too easy and too dangerous, may be removed by your good promotion and advice. In this will your devotion, God of our heaven,
1) This letter is in all respects the same as the one mentioned above, No. 251 (to Pfeffinger); however, according to the older translation by Spalatin himself, it is here indented again (Walch).
676 L. V.". II, E f. Sect. I. M.'s dispatch, Instructionen etc. No. 253 ff. W. XV, 819-821. 677
Whose business it is to do a pleasing wrrck, to us also, who have no greater lead, to clear the dreps 1) and weeds from the Lord's field, to the highest gratitude. On the other hand, in your kind and Christian request, your prayer shall be more gracious to us and to the said school. As then your consideration of the said Charlemagne is to be further ordered. Given in the Alben Statue of the Bishopric of Viterbo under the Fisherman's Ring, on the xxiiiite day of October. Thousand five hundred and eighteen. Our bishopric in the sixth year.
254 Cardinal von Medici's letter to Spalatin against Luther, according to Spalatin's German
Translation. Dated October 20, 1518.
This letter is found in Latin in the Wittenberg edition (1550), körn. I, toi. 234I>; in the Jena (1579), torn. I, toi. 2095; in the Erlanger, opp. var. ur§., tom. II, p. 450 and in Löscher, ref.Acta, vol. Ill, p. 7. German in the Wittenberg (1569), vol. IX, p. 62; in the Jena (1564), vol. I, p. I38b; in the Altenburg, vol. I, p. 255 and in the Leipzig, vol. XVII, p. 219. In all these editions with the wrong date: I.Jan. 1519. With the correct date according to Spalatin's translation in Cyprian, vol. II, p. 89 and in Löscher, Ref.-Acta, vol. II, p. 562. In the Altenburger, vol. I, p. 265 in another translation with the date February 7, 1519 (Seidemann, Miltitz, p. 5).
Julius Vice-Cantzler.
1) lollium - lollipop, dizzy oat.
255 Papal breve to the Naumburg canon, Donat Groß, October 24, 1518.
This breve, which is identical with the one to Pfeffinger (No. 251) and Spalatin (No. 253), is first printed in Latin and German after the original by the hand of Spalatin in Cyprian's "Nützliche Urkunden", Vol. II, p. 91 and afterwards in Löscher's Ref.-Acta, Vol. II, p. 563.
Beloved Son. The Blessedness and the Favourable Benediction. With what great affection and cousinly love we wish the most holy roses, which are used to be given and sent by the priests on the fourth Sunday in Lent, to the beloved son of the nobleman Frederick Duke of Saxony, as the one who, according to his most apparent predecessors. And that he may still show himself to be good to us, your consideration of our beloved son Karl von Miltitz, our skillful, holy chamberlain and servant, and several other opinions which have been painted for us and for the Holy See, will be heard more commonly. When we now know that you are in the good graces of the said Duke, and that your wise and noble counsel is greatly respected, we therefore remind you and urge you to show your consideration for the Duke, and cousinly request that you consider your gracious consideration and reverence for us and for the same see in the right way. You should also consider how great and terrible is the excessive joy of one of the devil's brothers, Martinus Lother, who also tastes of the most obvious heresy and may spoil the noble name of such a great duke and his predecessors. And if you have heard the same from our nuncio or the learned ones, that Jhenig berurten Hertzogen raten, dadurch vnser selbst v demselben Stuls eren v und wirden, auch vilgedachten Hertzogen ere wol geraten vnd geholfen, vnd genannter Martinus Freuel gedempfft vnd unterdrückt, and that this burdensome error, which is thus seen in the common faithful followers, is put down most of all by your advice and help, in which your faithfulness to God our Saviour, which is this matter, is an acceptable thing, and for us, which we have a greater vindication than to root out the weeds from the master's field, to act. However, your consideration against us and the said school in their
To the beloved son Donat Grossen Tumhernn zu Naumburg.
256 Papal decree to the then captain and council of the city of Wittenberg against Luther, issued October 24, 1518.
This breve is in Cyprian's Urkunden, vol. II, p. 98, in Latin and German, in Löscher, vol. II, p. 564 only in Latin.
Beloved Son. The Blessedness and the Benediction. We have not received any complaint from our hearts, and have been informed by many scriptures and rumors of what has been considered and held to be Christian by you and in the faithful followers of the end and the opposite world in Germany, which has always been Christian. And to the Holy Spirit in the lowest and most humble manner, a son of the perditionis filius Martinus Lother, with the advice of the devil, to the most common feyndt vnser selickeit. He is not afraid to be publicly admitted, not only with preaching, but also with vilification, all because it not only smacks and tastes of the most well-known heresy, but is also subject to great and severe punishment, and is longer unacceptable to us and to you on account of your honesty and reverence toward us, and if we do not accept it, it may be too much and too deep in the too easy believing folk, because we then want to be that weed painted with ours, and with the help of your right and fair help and favor out of the good and fertile field of the Lord, to clear it out and to pay it back, we have out of special trust in the faithfulness and honesty of the beloved son of Carl von Miltitz. We have, out of special trust to the faithfulness and speech of the beloved son of Carl of Miltitz, given him, by other writ, some condemnation, which we, as is proper, and as such a wicked and convenient matter requires, intend to be soon and well executed and enforced. All of which we wish to report to you and to show you our cousin's affection for you.
Now we hope that this same Charles will make our prayers easier, wiser, and more useful, so that we can show him your help and goodwill. For this reason we remind and acknowledge your devotion in the Lord, and the painting of the entire Christian church of ourselves, and of all the faithful, kind mother, and of the Christian faith, to which you also confess our own, and to maintain the said church, we ask of the Lord most earnestly and civilly. We would like to consider carefully and faithfully how important it is, and what great reward it would give, if the joy and the damnable sin and the greatness of the reign of Martin were to arise, and to show Charles our Commissioner such convenient chance and support that he may carry out all his duties freely and without hindrance. Therefore, God our Savior accepts this matter. And to please us and the aforementioned Council, with your special praise. Given in the old city of Viterbo bishopric, under the fisherman's ring, on the fourth and twentieth day of October. One thousand. And in the eighteenth and sixth year of our birthright.
Evangelista.
The beloved sonen dem Haubtman vnd Ratßherr der vornemen Stat Wittenberg Brandenburger Bistumbs.
6) How Miltitz set out on his journey to Germany and what he did on the way.
Luther's report to Spalatin that Miltitz was certainly on his way, and that he was not unaware of how the pope wanted to present the prince with the golden rose, along with his thoughts about it.
See Appendix, No. 26, § 3 and No. 16, § 11.
258 Albert de Mironibu's letter to Spalatin, in which he implores him to report whether the long-awaited Herr Carl von Miltitz has finally arrived, and if so, where he has traveled on to and where he is now to be seen; if, however, he has not yet arrived, he is to be contacted.
If he has come, he would like to inform him of this as soon as possible. Dat. 22 Dec. 1518.
This letter is found in Latin in Cyprian's Useful Documents, vol. II, p- 44, after the original.
Translated from Latin.
Hail. Worthy, dear sir! Although Carl von Miltitz promised you in three letters, some of which I have read myself, that he would return from Rome, I have not heard the least about his arrival since I left you. Accordingly, I ask your love very much that you give me news with the bearer of this when he has arrived, and where he has gone from the Elector, and where he can now be found; but if he should not yet be back, which seems more likely to me, then I implore you to give me news of his arrival in writing immediately at my expense, where it can happen without causing you inconvenience. That will be very dear to me. For there are some who want to speak to him about an important matter for urgent reasons. Farewell and continue to love your friend Albert, and if there is any strange news, let me know. From my hostel Mittelfron. In the year after the redemption of Christ 1518, December 22.
Albertus de Mironibus.
Luther's report of how Miltitz, on his journey, had inquired everywhere in the inns what they thought of the Roman See and of Luther, and how they had consistently been more on this side than on the Pabst's; all from Miltitz's own mouth, as he faithfully told Luther himself afterwards.
This report can be read in Luther's preface to the first part of his Latin books, Walch, St. Louis Edition, Vol. XIV, 445.
260 Miltitzen's letter to Spalatin, informing him that he had already arrived in Gern and would be with him tomorrow in Altenburg. Dated Gera, Dec. 26, 1518.
This letter was first printed in Cyprian's Urkunden, vol. II, p. 104, from it in Löscher's Ref.-Acta, vol. II, p. 566.
Translated into German.
Venerable, as a brother highly honored etc. Our greeting before! Yesterday we arrived in the city of Gera with the respectable gentleman, Mr. Degenhard Pfeffinger, whom we had wished to meet in Bavaria, his fatherland. However, since I had firmly decided to follow the most reverend Lord, Cardinal St. Sixti, Legate de Latere, who was then in Austria with the Imperial Majesty, and heard that the said Lord Degenhard had gone to the most illustrious Prince's court camp, I did not want to pass by without meeting him before he arrived at the Prince. Therefore, I quickly decided to go to the most illustrious prince together with him.
But what the cause was, and for what reason I did it, you will hear from the aforementioned Mr. Degenhard in full, and tomorrow, God willing, you will also hear from me verbally. For I am only forced to forgive a little today, because I am somewhat indisposed. Herewith, I am at your Reverence's disposal, and I ask you to give a nice greeting, especially to Bernhard Hirsfeld, our brother. Farewell. From Gera, Dec. 26, 1518.
Your Reverence's humble servant Carl von Miltitz, apostolic nuncio.
To the excellent and venerable gentleman, Mr. Georg Spalatin, the most illustrious Duke Frederick of Saxony etc. Geheimsecretär, his dear and as a brother highly venerable Lord.
Altenburg.
The second section of the fourth chapter.
Of the Elector of Saxony's timidity, and how Luther should have left Wittenberg, but should and will finally stay there again.
A. How the court gave Luther to understand that he would like to see him leave Wittenberg.
261 Bavaru's account of the hardships Luther, who had been abandoned by the whole world, had to face, since Prince Frederick not only did not like his return from Augsburg to Wittenberg, but also hinted to him that he would like to go elsewhere.
From the Bavarus Manuscript, tom. I, p. 213, in Cyprian's Urkunden, vol.
Translated from Latin.
When Luther came to Augsburg to Cajetan and did not want to recant, he was alone there, abandoned by all human help and protection, by the emperor, the pope, the legate, the cardinal, the duke of Saxony, Frederick, his prince, his order, even Staupitz, his most trusted friend. Prince Frederick did not like him to return from Augsburg, just as he had not advised him to travel there. As he was not a little dismayed by this abandonment, he consulted with himself where he wanted to go; there was no hope in Germany, nor was it safe to stay in France because of the Pope's threats. Thus, he was in the greatest distress at that time. He therefore went back to Saxony. When he traveled the first day from Augsburg to Mannheim, he had a hard trotting nag, only knee breeches, no knife nor weirs, no spurs, and yet he came so far as Wittenberg. When he arrived there, the noble courtier (curtisanus) Carl Miltitz was there, and he had 70 brevia from the pope to the princes and bishops that they should send Luther captured to Rome to the pope. Prince Frederick, because he was worried that the pope would demand that he take Luther prisoner, gave him to understand that he should go somewhere else where he could hide himself safely. 1)
1) The continuation of this report will follow in No. 269.
Luther's report to Spalatin about how, if the papal ban were to arrive, he would certainly have decided to go to France, because the Elector himself wanted him to stay in another place and had therefore already had Spalatin negotiate with him at Lichtenberg.
See Appendix, No. 23, 8 3.
B. Per University of Wittenberg intercession for Luther.
The University of Wittenberg's petition for Luther to Prince Frederick of Saxony when Luther wanted to leave Wittenberg. Dated November 23, 1518.
This letter is found in Latin in the Wittenberg (1550), tow. I, col. 227; in the Jena (1579), tow. I, toi. 202 d; in the Erlanger, opp. vor. urK., tom. II, p. 426 and in Löscher's Ref.-Acta, vol. II, p. 503. German m the Wittenberger (1569), vol. IX, p. 57; in the Jenaer (1564), vol. I, p. 135; in the Altenburger, vol. I, p. 147 and in the Leipziger, vol. XVII, p. 215.
To the most illustrious Prince and Lord, Lord Frederick, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen, our most gracious Lord, grace and peace from our Lord Jesus Christ, with their humble submission.
1 Most Serene Prince and Most Gracious Lord! The worthy man, Brother Martinus Luther, Master of Liberal Arts and Holy Scripture, a noble and highly renowned member of our University, has informed us that the most reverend Lord Thomas Cajetanus, of the Holy Roman Church with the title of St. Sixti PriestCardinal, Papal Holiness Legate, has written to E. C. F. G. advising him either to send the same Doctorem Martinum to Rome, or to expel him from their lands, on account of certain
684 "V. a. II, 426-428, Sect. 2, Von d. Churfürsten Zaghaftigkeit. No. 263, W. XV, 827-829. 685
Positions or propositions, which he has disputed, and now recently presented to papal holiness, with attached instruction, as that he has offered himself for a public disputation, or secret answer, written down. He also requests that his errors be reported to him in writing with attached causes and sayings of the Holy Scriptures and Holy Fathers, by which he may be enlightened to see and recognize his errors.
(2) But he has not obtained any, but has been badly pressed to revise and revoke his doctrine and writings. He was not proven to be a faithful pastor or shepherd before, who is obliged to give an account to everyone who demands the reason for the hope that is in us, not only to those who want to be taught and instructed, 1 Petr. 3, 15, but it is also commanded to punish, reprimand, admonish etc. those who do not want to be instructed, 2 Tim. 4, 2.
For this reason, the said D. Martinus has asked us, and obtained from us, to request him against E. C. F. G. that E. C. F. G. write to the Reverend Legate or Papal Holiness himself. write to the reverend legate or papal holiness himself, and graciously ask for him that he be informed in writing of the articles and points of his errors, and that next to them either original authority or sayings of the Holy Scriptures be included, from which he could recognize that he had erred and then recanted, but not before he was urged to condemn or recant the same sayings as wrongfully introduced, unless he had first been instructed with clearer sayings that he should and must recant them.
(4) For it is an ancient custom and usage of the holy Christian church, even pointing to the examples of the holy fathers, that those who have taught unrighteously are to be held to recant and condemn their error with sufficient causes shown and testimonies of Scripture, not with mere human commandments or force, as they have hitherto (as he complains) dealt with it.
Therefore, Most Serene Elector, although we may not have refused this pious man his very reasonable request, and give credence to his adverts, we are nevertheless pleased beyond measure that E. C. F. G. means the Holy Church and the Pope with all fidelity, and holds them in high esteem. This is what we say from the heart, and we do not want to speak or be of a different mind in the future. Yes, we also say further, as much as the said Doctor Martinus would be found to have erred in some article, so we will
be the first to speak out. For we esteem nothing higher and greater 1) than the knowledge and judgment of the Holy Roman Church.
Accordingly, most gracious Lord, we ask in all subservience this alone now at this time, that E. C. F. G., so some comfort and upholder of this our university, which now by God's grace and E. C. F. G. is the only university of ours. C. F. G.'s gracious diligence, do not want to have any complaint about it, Papal Holiness, after humble submissive request: In their letter (as we know that they can do best without our remembrance) they do not forget to indicate Doctoris Martini's humble request, who deals with it and is worried that the purity of truth is opened and comes to light; but ask that the light may be shown to him by those who say that he walks in darkness.
He does not deny that he walks in darkness (because the Scripture says that all men are liars), Ps. 116, 11. Rom. 3, 4. But he desires that this very cheap grace and benefit, which befits all Christian men in the best way and is very well regarded, may be granted to him, that the light may be kindled for him, and that after displaying the testimonies of truth he may be led out of darkness and not cast into further darkness. Not because he, Doctor Martinus, doubts that the most holy pope Leo X will not do so, but because he is afraid of his enemies' treachery and presumptuousness, and that his detractors might, in the name of the holy church, refrain from that which the holy church, if it knew it, would most diligently abolish and avert.
May the Lord Jesus keep us and his whole church blessed and healthy for a long time, amen. Date Wittenberg, on the third and twentieth day 2) of November, Anno 1518.
E. C. F. G.
understated
Rector, Magistri and Doctores of the University of Wittenberg.
1) In the old German editions: "nichts höhers noch grössers"; in Latin: nilül sutihuius.
2) In all German editions the date uniio Laleind. Okeklukr. is wrongly resolved by November 22. So also in De Wette, Vol. I, p. 188 in the introduction to our letter.
C. How Luther made arrangements to leave so as not to cause the Elector any displeasure on his account.
Luther's repeated request to the court through Spalatin, whether the Elector could not effect a commission in Germany on his behalf with the Pope, so that his cause would be settled before fair judges, because he nevertheless did not want to leave the dear university, which was very dear to him.
See Appendix, No. 18, § 3.
Luther's declaration to Spalatin that he was quite ready to leave Wittenberg, along with notification that he wanted to leave behind a letter of farewell. Dated Nov. 25, 1518.
See Appendix, No. 22,? 2.
Luther's thoughts, which he freely revealed to Spalatin, that he did not require the protection of secular princes and prelates.
See Appendix, No. 27, U 1-3.
Another such frank declaration by Luther.
See Appendix, No. 28.
268 Another quite exceptional testimony that Luther did not want the Word of God to be protected by men and princes, and that is why he first intended to dedicate his book of good works to Duke John, in order to avoid all appearance as if he had sought the grace and help of princes in his cause.
See Appendix, No. 29, § 2.
D. How the Host finally instructed Luther to stay in Wittenberg.
269 Bavaru's report on how Luther had made serious arrangements for his departure, and also held a banquet with some good friends.
during which first a repeated order arrived from the court to leave, but immediately afterwards a counter-order that he should stay.
This document is the continuation of No. 231, in Cyprian 1. e. p. 385.
Translated from Latin.
Luther was forced to obey his prince, therefore he arranged a meal with his brothers to take leave of them, but did not know where he should go. During the meal, letters arrived from Spalatin in which he reported that the prince was surprised that he had not yet left, and that he should therefore speed up his journey. He was immensely saddened by this news and thought that he had been abandoned by everyone. But he regained his courage and burst into the words: Father and mother are leaving me, but the Lord is taking me away. Soon after this, other letters arrived while he was still sitting over the table, in which Spalatin indicated that if he had not yet left, he should stay; Miltitz had spoken with the prince and declared that the matter could be settled by a discussion or disputation. 1) As soon as the prince heard this soothing statement, he kept the doctor, who remained in Wittenberg until this day, August 12 of the 1536th year.
Luther's letter to Spalatin, in which he reports that he would have already left Wittenberg if his letter had not been received shortly before, and assures him that he is ready to leave even now, if his staying should make the Elector displeased.
Dat. 2 December 1518.
This letter, the original of which is in the Anhaltische Gesammtarchiv, is printed in Aurifaber, Vol. I, p. 105; in Löscher's Ref.-Acta, Vol. II, p. 638; in De Wette, Vol. I, p. 189 and in Erlanger Briefwechsel, Vol. I, p. 308. Only in the latter edition is the postscript found after the original; likewise in Burkhardt, p. 15. We have added it here.
. Newly translated from the Latin.
1) What is said here with regard to Miltitz is not connected with the letter reported in the next number, because this is dated December 2, while Miltitz arrived in Gera only on December 25 and probably in Altenburg on December 27. Therefore, the Elector will not have come to the decision not to let Lutber go only because of Miltitz's declaration. Compare Seidemann "Miltitz", p. 7, Erlanger Briefwechsel, Vol. I, p. 309, Note 1,
688 Erl.Briefw. 1,308 s. Section 2: On the Timidity of the Elector. No. 270ff. W. XV, 831-833. 689
To the very good man, the highly learned Magister Georg Spalatin, his dearest [friend] in Christ.
Jesus.
Hail! If your letter had not come yesterday, I would have already arranged my departure, dear Spalatin, but even now I am ready for both. The concern of our people about me is extraordinary, and greater than I myself can suffer. Some have insisted and strongly urged that I should hand myself over to our prince for capture, and that he should take me and keep me somewhere, and write to the lord legate that I should be captured and kept in a safe place to answer for myself. Whether this advice is good, I leave to your discernment; I am in the hands of God and my friends.
It is certain that one believes that the prince holds it with me just like the university, which was recently talked about by one of whom I know that he certainly does not tell me lies. At the court of the bishop of Brandenburg, people were talking about me: on what confidence and on whose adherence I would trust. Here one said: Erasmus, Fabricius 1) and other very learned men are his confidence. No, said the bishop, these would be nothing against the pope; the University of Wittenberg and the Duke of Saxony, they are more valid. Thus I see quite clearly that one believes that the prince holds it with me, which displeases me very much. Of course, I would like the university to fear the same in the highest way. But this suspicion against the prince will compel me to leave, if it is necessary to leave; but the prince can counter this in his writings, saying that he is a layman and cannot judge in such great matters; now all the less, since he sees that the university, which is recognized as good by the church, does not stand against me. 2) But these are secondary matters. If I stay here, I will lack a lot of freedom in speaking and writing; if I leave, I will
1) Wolfgang Fabricius Capito. At that time, however, he was not yet a councilor and court preacher of the archbishop at Mainz, as De Wette, Vol. I, p. 189, Note, states, but still in Basel. Capito left for Mainz only on April 28, 1520 (Erl. Briefw. I, 309).
2) See Document No. 263 of Nov. 22, 1518.
I will pour out everything and offer my life to Christ. Farewell. Wittenberg, Dec. 2, 1518, Brother Martin Luther.
The Prepositus 3) at Kemberg has died, and his nephew has requested that I work on his behalf with the most noble prince so that he would be recommended to the university for appointment. For he is a good man. Furthermore, the surviving sister of the Prepositus has contributed much to the welfare 4) of this provostry. Because I do not like to bother the prince, let me, I beg of you, be relieved of this intercession, 5) so that I can answer that I have interceded, because you are also able to do more than I am. Farewell.
271 Luther's explanation in a letter to Spalatin as to how far the talk among the people was true, that in public preaching he had already
I said goodbye to the people.
See Appendix, No. 26.
Fragment of a letter from Wolfgang Fabricius Capito to Luther of 18 Feb. 1519, in which he reports to him that there are many powerful friends in Switzerland and on the Rhine who are favorable to him and who had already made arrangements for his safe residence and support when they heard that he was in danger; however, after he had seen a copy of a letter from the Elector of Saxony to Cardinal Cajetan, he realized that he no longer needed outside help.
This writing is found in the extract from a manuscript, datirt Lusileue. XII. Xuk Äurtii in Scultetus uuuul 6VNUA6I. rouov., p. 45, as in von der Hardt, kist. Uten rek. 1717, Theil V, p. 30. also in Tentzel, Hist. Bericht, vol. I, p. 219 "very erroneous). Complete in Arnold's Kirchen- und Ketzer-Historien, vol. I, 1037 k and in Erlanger Briefwechsel, vol. I, p. 424. According to the latter, we have retranslated and supplemented the excerpt in Walch.
Newly translated from the Latin.
3) According to Lingke, Reisegeschichte Luthers, p. 57, the provost was called Ziegelheim von Spremberg. His nephew, however, did not become his successor, but Bartholomäus Bernhardi (Erl. Briefw. I, 310).
4) Burkhardt: prseksotum. Erlanger Briefwechsel: protootum.
5) Burkhardt: levar. Erlanger Briefwechsel: Isvarl.
Switzerland and the Rhineland all the way to the world's oceans have righteous friends for Luther, and very powerful ones at that, who are not entirely aloof from good studies. Since the Cardinal of Sion, 1) the Count of Geroldseck, 2) a certain learned and extraordinarily righteous bishop, 3) and not a few others of ours had recently heard that you were in danger, they promised not only sustenance, but also safe places where you could either be hidden or stay openly. Since the rumor said that you were in great distress and had to struggle with the greatest misery, there were people who sought to raise a very rich aid through me, and they would have raised it in any case. But this evening we received the golden message: Luther lives and will always live. Then we saw a copy of the letter of the most illustrious duke and true-
1) Matthäus Schinner (Erl. Briefw.).
2) Diebolt (Theobalt) von Geroldseck, a native of Swabia, administrator of the Einsiedeln monastery, a member of Zwingli's closest circle of friends; he later left the monastery and, like Zwingli, fell in the battle of Kappel (Erl. Briefw.).
3) The Bishop of Basel, Christoph von Uttenheim (Erl. Briefw.).
We can see from this that you do not need our little help at all. But if we are able to do something through our good will, we will assist you everywhere. 5) We have printed your Memoirs together, as you will recognize from Frobenius' gift, soon after the Frankfurt Fair. And at the same time, in a month and a half, we have spread them through Italy, France, Spain and England with good luck, for we are thereby advising the common cause, which, we believe, will be helped most if the truth is made known as widely as possible. For by nature the sweetness of truth attracts even the unwilling to love it. Forgive me for having reminded you the other day 6) of Erasmus' suggestion, that is, for having carried owls to Athens.
4) This is Document No. 241, the reply of the Elector to Cajetan of 8 Dec. 1518. The old edition of Walch has in the caption to our document: "an den Cardinal zu Sitten".
5) The following is missing in the old edition of Walch. - With the "Denkwürdigkeiten" (morümenta) are meant especially the ^eta VriZustanu. Compare the 425th document.
6) September 4, 1518, Erl. Briefw. Vol. I, No. 92.