Luther finds it ridiculous that Miltitz summons him to Coblenz to appear before Cajetan without being authorized to do so from Rome or by the Archbishop of Trier. He wants to write for the third time to Duke George, who has twice given him an evasive answer about the Leipzig disputation.
Handwritten, this letter is in the Oo6. den. a, L. 53. Printed in Aurifaber, vol. I, p. 174; in Löscher's Ref.Acta, vol. Ill, p. 977; in De Wette, vol. I, p. 270 and in Erlanger Briefwechsel, vol. II, p. 45.
To his Georg Spalatin, Christ's priest, his friend and learned patron.
JEsus.
1 Hail! The ridiculous man, Carl Miltitz, confesses that the order from Rome has not yet come, and summons me; but he summons me himself, not the archbishop; then, to appear before the Cardinal: whether the people are nonsensical? I will write to him; meanwhile advise me, I ask.
2. the duke George has answered me twice, 2) and does not let me yet to the dis-
1) Bartholomäus Bernhardi of Feldkirch.
2) In these two replies, dated March 4 and May 7, 1519, the Duke's consent was made conditional on Eck's request for reimbursement of the disputation (Seidemann, "Leipziger Disputation," p. 129).
I have informed him that Eck forces me to answer him by private letters as well as by public disputation notes. Then, why does he demand of me so much that Eck should write for me, since he has not hesitated to show favor to Eck and has demanded nothing in regard to Carlstadt? What kind of an absurdity is this? I send his two letters; now I write to him for the third time. Please, give advice, what seems good to you. - I will take care of our Schart 3) if I can serve him.
3 By the way, as for my describing the priestly way of life, why do you ask me to do this, since you have the apostle who speaks so abundantly about this matter in the letters to Titus and Timothy?
I thank you for the gift, and I give you God's reward. Fare well in the Lord. We all consider Carl's letter to be of such a nature that, according to everyone's judgment, I would become a laughingstock if I went on the journey for its sake. On Monday after Jubilate [May 16] 1519, Brother Martin Luther, Augustinian.