About the Mainzian Council and the so-called Pack Alliance.
824 Aurifaber's Report of the Mainz Council Battle against the Adherents of the Lutheran Doctrine. Anno 1526.
In the Eisleben Collection, vol. I, p. 273; in the Altenburger, vol. Ill, p. 520 and in the Leipziger, vol. XIX, p. 555. Aurifaber mixes both, the Mainzer Rathschlag and the later, so-called Packsche Bündniß.
In this 1526th year, a secret meeting is said to have been held in Mainz, where it was discussed how the Elector of Saxony, Duke Johannsen, and the Landgrave Philip of Hesse could be attacked by war and how the Lutheran doctrine could be eradicated. But who was in this alliance and unity relatives, is reported later in the short report, what had happened with Doctor Martin Luther and his teaching Anno six and twenty.
When, however, by one of the nobility, called Pack, this practice and proposal 1) was first revealed to the Landgrave of Hesse, who then attributed it to the Elector: then, in the following 1527th year, both the Elector and the Princes entered into a considerable armament, which, however, was again settled peacefully by negotiation.
3. since Doctor Martinus Luther has been in the process of writing a serious, sharp booklet 2) in the'
1) Pack informed the Landgrave of Hesse as late as 1527 that an alliance had been concluded by the Catholic princes at Breslau on May 13, 1527. It was not until March 1528 that the Landgrave made a counter-alliance with the Elector. See St. Louis Edition, Vol. XIX, Ein!, p. I7sf.
2s This goes back to the Mainz Rathschlag. The first "printed sheet" is included in No.826, perhaps even the whole "booklet".
The booklet was printed against this Mainzian alliance, and one sheet of it had already been produced; but due to the abolition of the Elector of Saxony, the booklet was withheld and the single printed sheet was taken away from the printing press, so that it was not published. However, N. Georg Spalatinus has marked a short extract or excerpt from the same printed sheet with his own hand, which was found in his Liberei, and has therefore been printed in this work, so that the Christian reader may learn about the Mainzian Covenant, which is often found in D. Luther's books and writings. Luther's books and writings, could have a brief instruction and teaching.
4 In such matters, some of Martin Luther's concerns, subsequently printed, will also be set forth, from which the laudable Elector of Saxony's godliness will be felt that he did nothing in high secular matters, since he had also consulted Os Domini beforehand.
Luther's account of this in a letter to Spalatin, at the same time reporting that he already had a paper against the Mainz Rathschlag under the press.
See Vol. XV, Appendix, No. 128.
826 Luther's intended rebuttal to the Mainz Rathschlag. March 1526.
This writing, published only recently by Seidemann in Niedners Zeitschrift für die historische Theologie, Jahrgang 1847, p. 663 ff. from a manuscript, is published in older editions under the title: "Titel des Büchleins, so Lutherus wider das Mainzische Bündniß aus-.
The first time, the book was published in the Eisleben Collection, Vol. I, p. 273; then in the Altenburg Collection, Vol. Ill, p. 520; in the Leipzig Collection, Vol. XIX, p. 366. First in the Eisleben Collection, vol. I, p. 274; then in the Altenburger, vol. Ill, p. 520; in the Leipziger, vol. XIX, p. 536 and in Walch. The so-called "Extract" is limited to individual sentences taken out of context and individual expletives, which, however, we believe, are not limited to the first arc, as Aurifaber indicates, but encompass our entire writing, for the last sentence of the extract is also the last sentence of the writing as we communicate it here according to the Erlangen edition, vol. 65, p. 22 to 46. However, this does not seem to be just the first sheet, but almost the complete booklet, which contains the whole Rathschlag together with Luther's preface and epilogue. The latter will have been somewhat lacking in print, since Luther (after March 27, 1526, De Wette, Vol. Ill, p. 99) writes to the Elector: "Where it would please E. C. F. G. to abstain and not to express fully, I would be satisfied with half of it." However, in the same letter, Luther does not speak of the first sheet, but of the "closest printed quatern", which is also still contained in our writing.
Against the right seditious, treacherous and murderous advice of the whole Mainzian clergy Instruction and warning
M. L. 1526.
To my dear lords and friends, to all pious Germans, I wish, M. Luther, much grace and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
Satan has not had enough of the fact that he has caused such great misery in German lands this past year through the peasants' rebellion, and still daily attacks the holy divine Word (which God, out of unspeakable grace, has let shine again for us after the horrible, miserable darkness under the troublesome papacy) both with the sword of worldly supremacy and with the sects of some wild enthusiasts, He blasphemes and defiles them, but intends to attack them with all his power, as he would like to push them to the ground in a moment. For this he needs his servants, namely the idolaters of the whole Mainzian mob and priesthood, who have made a council out of his suggestion, in which they have also undertaken the two knavery, firstly to blaspheme the gospel as a seditious doctrine, and secondly to incite the princes of German lands into one another, and to drown the whole of Germany in blood, only to preserve their belly and blasphemous evil life and unchristian splendor. For this
This treacherous advice gives everyone enough to understand that they are not interested in anything, although no prince would still be lord in German lands, and everything would flow in blood, if they would only lead their tyranny, godless, shameful life. Notice and take note of the fact that in the whole council they do not think with a single letter how to improve their life and being, as if there were nothing but vain holiness with them, or how to get rid of the burden and displeasure that was done against them at Worms, but they call the food bad and insolent, and everything is to do with the belly.
However, for my own part, I would like to watch and be quiet, as such advice, even if it were to take place, since God is for it, cannot harm me, because it would happen without my knowledge and will, and would even go against me; Therefore, my conscience would be innocent before God of all that would result from it, moreover, that he could not do more to me if he did the most to me than to take my life, which is the least harm from God's grace, that can be done to me, indeed the greatest service, because I am such a person, who until now has always been doomed to death and is miraculously preserved in life by God's power alone, in defiance of all the wrath of both the devil and his saints; for here stands my defiance, since the prophet says Ps. 2, that the nations rage in vain, kings revolt, and princes counsel with one another in vain, and all this against God and His anointed, for the Lord laughs at them, and He who dwells in heaven mocks them; at last He speaks to them in anger and terrifies them with His fury. These and similar words are my rock, because I know that they are true, that I do not give much to a little lord, yes, I respect the wrath of all devils, bishops and princes as much as the foot of a dove.
Such, I say, would be enough for my person, and let the devil rage with his own as he would, it must still be dead; then it is a matter of a moment that those who are now lords and bishops would like to be our servants, if it could come to that for them; but while I am in life, God has decreed me,
To be everyone's servant as much as I can, to teach, instruct, warn and admonish what is useful and blessed, so that if I wanted to boast, I would still boast about the apostles and evangelists in German lands, even if the devil and all his bishops and tyrants were sorry; For I know that I have learned the faith and the truth, and still teach by the grace of God, which name the devil shall not destroy nor take from me for ever. I am sure that he will blaspheme, shout and reproach me with his mouths and feathers, however high and lofty he may be, it will not help him. For this reason and for the sake of others, especially to answer for my teachings, I should not and cannot be silent nor stand by, but must expose the devil's butt once again, so that everyone can see how ugly, black and horrible he is, so that he may become even more angry with me. So I will bring to light and expose the counsel of Mainz, which has come to me strangely, and have kept it secretly and in the back of those whom they mean by it, as traitors and murderers are wont to do, without public warning, admonition or complaint, as not only Christian, but also pagan and natural laws teach. I thought the happy episcopal day would add something to the fire, well, let the porridge boil, God will give it, who should prepare it and who must burn the mouth on it.
For the fact that they blaspheme my life so shamefully, and I have to be unchaste, stingy, hopeful, or else, I am glad with all my heart and it is just right that such great masters' mouths, who desecrate God's word, have to feed in my muck; For what is such a man different, who so gladly seeks to shake other people's sin, and does this not at all for the purpose of punishing it and making it better, that is, to sweep it out and cleanse it or cover it up, but only so that it stinks, and [he] may laugh at the stink and be in good spirits, than a foul-mouthed sow's nose, which, if it finds its jelly under a fence, mows in it with all the joy it can get and makes a living with it etc.? Just for such service I need the devil and his servants, when they are most angry and blaspheme my life to the highest and so sweet.
laugh about it, I do not speak more than: Eat, dear pig, it is cooked for you, as the guest is, so is the cake; although I do not want to leave the defiance in them, because I would not like to change my life with the most holy Papist. No one can blame me, praise God, for having violated someone's wife or child, or for having been too close to their honor with words or deeds, so I have also taken from no one what is his, except that I was a monk in error, and fed on alms with the damned spiritual life and masses, so I have also killed no one, nor beaten, nor helped or advised to kill. But this is my sin, that I eat flesh on the fast days of the papacy, and see no evil, but am merry, that is to say, I eat and live in luxury.
But no one can be a pope, he must at least be a murderer, robber, persecutor, because he must agree to do right to him whom the pope and his mob burns, chases away, takes his own and persecutes in all ways, without which they themselves still need all their foundation in the ungodly being unjustly. If one is to know the tree by its fruit, I think it is sufficiently obvious where the true Christians are; we neither kill nor chase away nor persecute anyone who teaches differently than we do, or causes sects, but fight against them with the word of God alone; if they do not want to, we let them go and let them stay in whatever faith they want, but still do the best we can for them, let them live and work and live among us; to whom does Pabst's mob do this? Yes, they fight with the sword alone, like the Turk, and not with God's word, and can defend their faith in no other way than by killing, burning, chasing and persecuting, and yet they want to be called Christians. So then the fruits of their faith are: Murdering, burning, chasing away, persecuting, and everyone must approve of this who wants to be a papal Christian, it is, I think, clear enough that they are the devil's Christians, and, as I have said, that I did not want to interpret 1)
1) interpret - exchange.
with the most holy pope, if he would do miraculous signs; for it is they on whom all innocent blood will come, as Christ says, which has been shed since the time of Habel.
I do not say this to justify myself, even if I were more holy, for Christ shall remain my righteousness, but that I do not want to let the papists everywhere be right in their defiance, neither before God nor before the world, and that, just as our heretical teaching is in one piece better than all their best teaching, so also our life, since it stinks most sinfully, is better than all their holiness, since it is like vain balm. But enough of that for now. Let us hear her praiseworthy advice and tell it word for word, as it has been delivered to me, and then we will go on with it.
If the council of the Mainz priesthood follows the articles by a reverend chapter at Mainz, the twelve Mainz provinces, the cathedral chapter and the common clergy, the ordered and skilled ones, are to be held in contempt, the following measure is proposed by a common assembly.
First of all, since without the grace of the Almighty God nothing good can be obtained, it is the good concern of all of them that through the ordinary offices of the masses or otherwise, as may ever be the occasion of the cathedral chapter, the Almighty should be most humbly invoked and asked to acquire and obtain divine grace, and this complaint 1) desired and useful endowment.
Item, the following, that each cathedral chapter, for measurable, courageous reasons, of which the authorities here in Mainz have received sufficient report, shall work with archbishops or bishops, princes or rulers, with serious diligence, to withdraw from them those whom they find adherent to the Lutheran doctrine and sect, of ecclesiastical or secular status, in their courts or otherwise in offices, and instruct them to abstain from it; If, however, they do not do so, they shall then suspend the same, remove them, and no longer keep them with them; they shall also order the same to be done with their subjects.
1) In the original: "weighted down, coveted".
Item, every cathedral chapter, also other chapters, if some person among them would be dependent on or suspected of this seditious sect, shall turn them away from it and avert them; but if they would not let go of it or would not purgirate themselves of the suspicion, then they shall no longer tolerate or suffer the same with them.
Item, it is considered necessary and almost conducive to the cause that each cathedral chapter apply to its archbishop or bishop with special diligence, and also decree for itself, as far as it is concerned, without any omission, that the rebellious Lutheran preachers everywhere in their bishopric, principality, crescent, territories and churches be expelled, and that they no longer be permitted to preach, even if a secular authority has ordered the same preachers to be expelled from their districts of their crescent or bishopric, contrary to Kais. Maj. mandates, edicts and orders, 2) that the same superiors be described and admonished to no longer tolerate or hold such preachers, but to take them into custody by Kais. Maj.'s order to take them into custody and to keep them.
Item, for the sake of the grievance and repugnance which the common clergy and ecclesiastical state of the Mainz diocese and province have evidently encountered from ecclesiastical and secular authorities, and which they have also been more than deceptively oppressed 3), the Assembly has commonly considered, for the averting of the same, with temporal counsel, that through each cathedral chapter its archbishop or bishop be called upon, admonished, and requested with the utmost diligence, that their Elector and F. G.., as it is their duty and obligation to do so, will show and communicate gracious help, advice and support, and as they consider it should be done accordingly:
Firstly, that Archduke Ferdinandus, as Governor of the Holy Roman Empire, should by no means be circumvented, but should be petitioned with intercessors of reported archbishops and bishops for 4) intercession and promotion to Emperor. Maj., because his F. G. has little consequence or obedience with the secular authorities.
2) advance - advance.
3) "oppressed" is put by us instead of: oppressed. It would also like to be read "oppressed".
4) "um" put by us instead of: and.
Item, that thereafter two embassies would be ordered and chosen in the most beneficial way, which with the advice and help of the archbishops and bishops from the common of the ordinaries and chapters together with the common clergy of the Mainz monastery and provinces would be sent to present, bag and board to a papal holiness the improvement, and especially the Mainz monastery and provinces, and to ask for gracious paternal guidance, counsel and consolation, and because at this time and in the course of the see of Rome jurisdiction, supremacy and authority are unfortunately held in low esteem by the German nation, humbly request that His Holiness write to our most gracious Lord, the Roman Emperor, and paternally admonish him as supreme bailiff and protector of the Roman Church, and enable him to appear with gracious assistance to the common clergy and the German nation, and especially to the province of Mainz, and to decree by serious mandate that the complaints, harassment and oppression inflicted and daily inflicted on the clergy of the German nation by secular and ecclesiastical authorities be completely averted, refrained from and abolished.
That also another embassy be ordered and sent to Kais. Maj. in Hispania be ordered and sent, with sufficient instruction, to attract in the most submissive and movable manner the trouble, affliction and repugnance so common clerics encounter and are daily inflicted by the sovereignty of the temporal and ecclesiastical state, and for this reason to request assistance and counsel and gracious provision in the most submissive manner; and for improvement and temporal counsel the deputies of the committee pay attention that the instruction is to be put in this form, as follows:
Instruction, what the deeds of the cathedral chapters and common clerics of the archdiocese and other monastery churches and bishops of the provinces of Mainz should request from Kais. Maj., our most gracious Lord, what they are to request, solicit, and request most humbly:
First of all, they shall announce to Kais. Maj., our most gracious Lord, our subservient, guilty and entirely willing services in all obedience, with the wish that the Almighty God may grant His Kais. Maj. blissful government,
We hope that you will graciously grant us long-lasting health and the victories and triumphs we desire against your enemies, the enemies of the Holy Roman Empire, and the enemies of the Christian name, with joy and gladness, and with the offering of our humble prayers to God.
After that they shall tell Kais. Majesty and most humbly state that we have no doubt that His Imperial Majesty has knowledge of what one of the Augustinian monks called M. Luther has been doing for some years now. Maj. has knowledge of what one, called M. Luther, of the Augustinian order, has now for some years been stirring up in Christian doctrine and writings against the holy Christian orders and faith, previously condemned and rejected by common concilia, thereby seducing many more pious, also great violent hearts, and making them adherent to his heretical, stirring doctrine, for which reason, at the Imperial Diet held at Worms, His Imperial Majesty issued public mandates and edicts against Martin. Luther, his teachings and followers at the Imperial Diet in Worms. But, these mandates and edicts notwithstanding, the common clergy in the archdiocese of Mainz and its provinces were viciously harassed by the secular authorities out of Lutheran doctrine and teachings with unmistakable difficulties, led to ruin, and were obliged to be completely driven out and exterminated. Therefore, we, the clergy, declare to S. Kais. Maj., as the supreme protector and protector of the Holy Christian Church, the common clergy and the whole of Christendom, to appeal for help and to ask for rejection of the inflicted grievances most humbly and diligently, "most humbly" trusting, S. Kais. Maj, out of innate Christian virtue, which His Maj. from the most noble, most powerful Roman Emperors, from the House of Austria and Burgundy, also Christian Kings of Hispania, Jerusalem and Sicily, from paternal and maternal nature, will graciously move and take to heart such un-Christian behaviour, burdening and oppression, and will so see to it and seriously procure that we common clergy will be relieved of it and, contrary to equity 1) and Christian order, will no longer be burdened or oppressed. So that also Kais. Maj.
1) In our template: "Willfulness".
In order that we may have a clear knowledge and understanding of the harassment and rape, as well as the repulsions, which we of the common clergy encounter daily, H. K. M. the competent persons shall report such harassment and distress 1) from article to article, as follows:
First, that the secular authorities, adhering to the Lutheran doctrine, contain preachers who preach against all Christian order, that priests take wives, and that monks and nuns are eavesdropped from the monasteries; 2) that one should not baptize and say mass according to the Christian order, as before, but in German, 2) that they communicate each person under both forms of the sacrament without prior confession, that one should not grasp, not confess, not pray, nor keep vows and oaths made and taken, not call upon nor honor the Mother of God and other saints, demolish and completely destroy churches, cloisters and monasteries, as well as other many heresies to the people; If this were to happen, it would be extremely dangerous that riots, revolts and the complete destruction and annihilation of the clergy would ensue, as some secular authorities tore down such monasteries, took out the monks and drove them away, giving them Victualia for the rest of their lives, and otherwise appropriating to them all pensions and tributes.
Item, that some secular sovereigns of the ecclesiastics burden and occupy properties, tithe, interest, manure and other fees with secular burdens, unlawful impositions and burdens, which they force and coerce the ecclesiastics to pay and give by their own force.
Item, that at some ends they appropriate and take the tithes and other goods of the clergy for themselves, and do not want to give or let give them to those to whom it is rightfully due.
Item, that some secular authorities forbid the giving of small tithes to their subjects, and also burden the large tithes and other estates with secular burdens and impositions to such an extent that the ecclesiastics are completely deprived of them.
1) In our presentation: Amount nut.
2) "run" set by us; in our template: "buy".
is infallible; all against common law, customary usage and spiritual freedom.
Item, some secular authorities take the tithes of the new or novalien violently to them and in their use, keep the same to the pastors and to whom it is entitled by right, own authority.
Item, some secular authorities take to them and to their power monasteries, convents and all incomes and pensions of the same, some inventory and describe all interest, pensions and fees, also jewels of the sanctuary, chalices and other things, in charge of the monasteries, convents and churches, which they decide to their liking and partly take away, all for the destruction of spiritual life and reduction of worship.
Item, ut supra, deprive and expel the right pastors and parish lords and put others there by their own force, dependent on Lutheran doctrine and sect, since it cannot be known whether they have ever been ordained or ordained to pastoral dignities and office, who set, undertake and accomplish their sermons and other works for nothing 3) else than riots, repulsions and outrages.
Item, the ecclesiastical ordinaries are prevented from keeping the holy broadcast, in which the vices and transgressions are to be punished, as by ancient custom, by some secular authorities, who do not want to allow such a broadcast to be kept in their territories.
Some secular authorities impose personal and civil burdens on all ecclesiastical persons in their territories, such as guarding, keeping watch over the gates, and all other duties, which they also impose by force and require against ecclesiastical freedom and custom.
Some secular rulers have abolished all religious services and offices and want that in a city, even where a large number of people live, no more than one mass should be held during the day, which is nevertheless difficult to maintain over time.
Item, the ecclesiastical jurisdiction and compulsion are completely suppressed and abolished by secular authorities in that they do not want to suffer, tolerate or permit such jurisdiction in their jurisdictions and territories,
3) "to nothing" put by us instead of: so not.
urge the clergy, without distinction, to seek, give and receive justice in all matters before their secular courts or tribunals, since the clergy are slowly being helped to any beneficial right.
Although it is well provided by common imperial law and the order is that to the right 1) sufficiently prescribed possessions, as law is presented and produced, are considered and held for true title, as if letters and seals were indicated over it, nevertheless such prescriptions are considered and held for null and void by some secular authorities, who want to have presented and produced letters and seals all the way, and do not judge on the prescriptions based on imperial law.
Item, some secular authorities forbid that their subjects are not allowed to shred or lay anything in the churches, their construction and otherwise for the preservation of good works, that also the church courts are not held for this purpose.
Because now everything and anything is done for the suppression and extermination of Christian faith and common spiritual status, and the spiritual persons, where they are deprived of temporal nourishment, are completely suppressed, and can also no longer abstain, who nevertheless have obeyed Kais. Maj. and other Roman Emperors, his Maj. ancestors, of high noble memory, have in all respects rendered submissive obedience, and have also been wary of others with mature 2) services and other presentations, as a common clergy of the German nation is once again obliged and willing to do, and then Kais. Maj. if the clergy of the German nation were thus exterminated, not a small part of the obedience would be withdrawn, we, the clergy, in these remote great adversities and distresses, would have no one else but S. Kais. Maj. as our most gracious Lord, supreme bailiff and protector of the church and the Christian faith, to whom we place all our comfort, hope and welfare. Maj., our most gracious Lord, most humbly and diligently request-
1) In our original: "to the right", and immediately following: "right". For understanding, compare in the 15th volume of our edition the 722nd document, the 61st complaint.
2) Maybe: prepare?
that his Kais. Maj. the common clergy of the German nation, and especially here with gracious assistance, graciously wished to abolish and prevent such harassment, oppression, and rapacious oppression, and for this reason he has issued serious mandates, orders, and letters of command against some secular authorities, who were to be denounced by the deputies, especially under high penalties, namely upon forfeiture of all their regalia, privileges, dignities, fiefs and rights, also upon eight and eight with deputation of some executors, In which the same rulers are commanded with great seriousness to put an end to the harassment, oppression, rape and suppression against the clergy and theirs, and to decree immediately that they also deprive the clergy, monasteries, convents and churches of interest, pensions, income, tithes and dues, or otherwise inflict damage, to restore them to their hands and to restore them to their former status and to let them remain there, and also otherwise, as Kais. Ma;. out of high intellect and princely mind, and graciously help and see to it that we remain with our spiritual liberties and food and are henceforth no longer harassed or violated by the secular authorities. For the sake of His Kais. Maj. we, the common clergy, in all submissiveness and obedience, to the best of our ability, also with humble prayer to God and His Maj. with blessed government and long-lasting health, with desired victories and overcoming of their adversaries and enemies, and otherwise to earn in the most submissive manner, to be always eager, willing and undaunted.
Item, it has been deliberated by common assembly and deemed good that the skillful embassies name the following 3) Electors and Princes as executors and ask them to give this matter before Kais. Maj., 4) namely the three Electors on the Rhine, Cologne, Trier and Palatinate, also Margrave Joachim of Brandenburg, Electors, also Archduke Ferdinan-
3) In our template: "post-named".
4) Thus placed by us instead of: "and ask these things before Kais. Maj. to admit".
dus, Duke Wilhelm and Ludwig of Bavaria, Duke Jörgen of Saxony and the Dukes of Eleve.
Because also this rebellious, heretical doctrine originates and begins mostly from the four mendicant orders exuberant 1) freedom, so that they are gifted by the See of Rome, called mare magnum, in which they are exiled and deprived of all ordinary jurisdiction, because of which they are completely subject to no one, They are free to live, and to preach, perform and act everything according to their will and good pleasure, caused and grown up, as it is obvious and undeniable, even in the future time, when it would remain so and would not degenerate with timely advice, there is still greater harm to fear: The skilful Emperor Maj. Maj. most earnestly request and ask that His Majesty most earnestly and diligently request and exhort Papal Holiness to pass and revoke such privileges of the four mendicant orders, called magnum mare, and to completely abolish them, to make the said four orders subject to diocesaria and ordinaries.
Item, in addition to the given instruction, the skillful shall also work with Kais. Maj. with great diligence that the complaint of a venerable cathedral chapter at Hildesheim by Kais. Maj. will be graciously heeded, and they will be relieved of the burden imposed by Kais. Maj.'s fatigue be shown and communicated, namely that Kais. Maj. has appointed and deputized two commissioners or interrogators to hear the matters between the bishop and the monastery of Hildesheim on the one hand and his opponents on the other hand, and also to help them to the right with the suspension of the eight and eight, issued against the bishop and the monastery of Hildesheim, all according to the content of the information, by a venerable cathedral chapter of Hildesheim.
Item: For the sake of the prebend recently incorporated by papal sanctity into the University of Ingolstadt in the cathedral chapter of Augsburg; because the rebellious heretical teachings and sects, which in many cases come from the universities, have been planted and practiced there.
1) "exuberant" put by us instead of: "more effusive".
If the incorporation is to be revoked, the authorities shall report to the Emperor. Maj. and request most humbly that His Maj. through their Oratores make and act upon an appeal to Papal Holiness to revoke and approve such incorporation, and not to further burden the Emperor's Cathedral Chapter 2) of Augsburg with it, and also to further act upon the information of a venerable Cathedral Chapter of Augsburg.
Item, it is decided by common collection that to this sending and other emergency needs a common stop of the archbishopric Mainz and provinces is to be put.
As both the monasteries of Bamberg and Basel, although they are partly exempt and do not belong to the Province of Mainz, have previously been dependent on the Province for common ecclesiastical complaints and have contributed, it is considered good that both of the above-mentioned cathedral monasteries be described and requested by message to hear from them what they want to do in this regard.
It is also considered necessary that the Instruction to Kais. Maj. in Latin and that the two, one in Latin and one in German, be sealed with the insignia of three bishops.
Item, common assembly have also decided and decreed unanimously in view of the fact that some cathedral churches of this province of Mainz are far away from Mainz, that every skilful person shall bring this action and advice to his cathedral chapter, the answer and what they will obtain from their bishops and princes, together with the money which they would be obliged to give, between here and the new year's day to a venerable cathedral chapter at Mainz without delay or hindrance, namely Mainz three hundred florins, Würzburg one and a half hundred florins, Constance one and a half hundred florins, Eystett one hundred florins, Worms one hundred florins, Halberstadt one hundred florins, Verden one hundred florins, Augsburg one hundred florins, Hildesheim one hundred florins, Chur 4) fifty florins, Summarum 1500 and 7 florins.
2) It will be read either: "the emperor's" or: "the imperial cathedral chapter".
3) In the original: "butt nut".
4) In the manuscript: "Caur.
Well, that is a wise piece of advice. If the bishop of Strasbourg had been there, who would have thought that the devil could make such wise people? But methinks one thing has been forgotten, which is noticeable, and if I had been in the council, it would also have had to be included; but it does no harm if I still report it afterwards, and it is just that, because the spiritual state is so utterly despised everywhere because of its shameful life and seductive doctrine, that even the children in the street make a carnival play out of it, and everyone now understands that they are a useless people, who only feed their belly and serve no one, and that they are an unmistakable burden and burden to country and people, so that the saying Psalm 105 [Ps. 107, 40.] goes mightily over them: "God pours contempt on princes," would have been considered good, or still almost good, but that two embassies were erected, one to Kais. Maj. complaining how the common piety is so miserably despised in all hearts and is taken for nothing but idols, so that even the princes and lords who are on their side do not think anything of him, if they do not have a good greave on their cabbage [to make it fat], for God's sake they let [them] have everything that the soldiers use to pray. Therefore, Kais. Maj. graciously helped that all the world would not have to think less of them than of St. Peter 2) and St. Paul, regardless of the fact that they are public desperate boys and murderers, and the apostles were holy people.
The other one would have to be sent to God in heaven and let him say that he wanted to revoke his word in the above-mentioned psalm, and not pour contempt but honor upon them. To such a message would be good St. Christoffel and the great Carolus, especially if St. Christoffel came with a great, great sack full of masses and rosaries, and Carolus with his great sword, perhaps God would be afraid of such giants and would turn back his word and not let it go so brutally over the poor clergy. These two messages would be more necessary and all costs and efforts would have to be spent on them.
1) Set by us instead of: "Kol...."
2) "Peter" is missing from the manuscript.
turn. For what good would it be, if piety had all the good in the world, if they were despised by everyone and kept like dung on the gaff? One should rather be a bully than a great rich priest, who would have to be everyone's idol and proverb.
This would have been my advice, but they would have thought that I was mocking them and would have burned me as a Lutheran and thrown me into hell, because it is not good to joke with such clever gentlemen. But what shall I do? I would not look at the clergy all in one heap with all their angry patrons, that I should write a word for their sake, for I despise them ever so highly, as highly as they are hostile to me. But because I see that Satan, through them, as through his larvae, so shamefully lies, blasphemes and is angry, and also likes to cause great misery, I will again mock him and expose him with his lies behind and in front, so that everyone may beware, and see what kind of boys my ungracious masters are in the skin.
First of all, it is not to be concealed from me, 3) that they call my teaching heretical and seditious. For Christ also would not keep silent, since the Jews give John 8 his teaching to the devil, but excuses it. So I also say here that my masters lie, and there is also no honest man who can accuse me of this, that I have preached heretically and seditiously. Nor can anyone teach me that I am justified in defying God, if it be emperor, king, pope, prince or bishop, it is a lie when they say it. This is known not only in German lands, but also in foreign kingdoms, that I was freely condemned at the Diet of Worms, even though I appeared there and offered myself for interrogation and justice, but there was priestly power and no justice. You have, dear lords, done a piece with me that is written in Adamant and will never be erased, nor will you be silent until you all become dust that the wind scatters. Imperial escort you left me not quite, and sat there like the larvae and
3) Erlanger: "concealed".
4) In our template: "still say".
Idols around the youngest man, Emperor Charles, who did not understand such things, had to do what you liked, and condemned me without any right, as your consciences are my witnesses, unheard, unrecognized. So many idols did not have so much sense that they could have answered or let hear, (let alone 1) report or overcome a single poor beggar, whom they had in their hands. Pooh to the eternal shame of all priests and pontiffs!
It is well known that not all the estates of the empire agreed to my doctrine of condemnation, but the best heads, especially of the secular estates, did not sign; You larvae, however, butted heads with some lords, like a mob, and drove the emperor to such a sacrilegious judgment that the laudable Duke Friederich of Saxony, Elector, of blessed memory, said in one place that he had never seen a more childish thing in his life than in such dealings at Worms, and could now well realize how one acts in the churches, namely that the clergy ruled. For this reason, although he kept silent, he no longer thought much of the churches. There were also many other great lords who were sorry for such trade, and yet they could not oppose it, as I have heard myself, so that I may say with joy: I am not condemned at Worms by the Reich's verdict as a heretic; for it was not a common unanimous verdict. It was not a common, unanimous sentence passed and signed by all the estates, as was proper, because the estates did not agree on which of them was most important in the whole empire, but there was a council of princes and bishops, who needed the emperor for their courage. Therefore, the same commandment was not strong, because the consciences were caught when they knew that it was unjust and a pure priest's act, so also that it was almost alleviated and tempered by another commandment at Nuremberg, because the consciences could not stand it. This is also proven by fruit and experience; for soon after this false judgment of the clergy, my doctrine really began,
1) Erlanger: "silent".
2) Maybe: vain?
and came on, and was brighter than it had ever been, until even monasteries and masses were overthrown, and the heresy became such a despised thing, as before the eyes, that one may grasp how God has made my cause righteous, which is condemned by the devil and his idols. This is what I want to say about the lies that they call my doctrine heretical, because they cannot prove that it is condemned by the judgment of human authority (I will keep silent about the divine judgment) as by the unanimous judgment of the kingdom. But that some princes of the Romans and bishops of the Reds have condemned me, I wipe my shoes.
But the fact that they blaspheme my doctrine in a rebellious way is also their pure courageous will to adorn themselves and to receive discredit against me, because they do not know how to raise anything else, because they will never be able to prove it, so they know it differently themselves. And indeed, if it were only up to me, I would keep quiet about it, and rejoice in their wanton lies, and be satisfied with their own conscience, which knows otherwise. For the gospel must have the name in the world that it is called rebellious and blasphemed, although everyone knows that it is not so, so that they may flux and confidently sin in the Holy Spirit and be hardened, so that they may not repent and be completely corrupted. So Christ himself had to be accused of sedition and brought before Pilate, even though Pilate knew and found in the interrogation that it was not true; but it did not help, he had to die as a seditionist and be counted among the murderers, so that a seditious title was also written over him. They wanted to make it so certain and firm among the people that he was seditious. But what did it help the Jews? Elijah the prophet also had to be called rebellious, because he preached against King Ahab. St. Paul and his followers were also called rebellious, as Lucas writes in actis. Since our Head Jesus Christ with his prophets and apostles himself had to tolerate rebellion, we should not be afraid that we are also rebelliously reproached, but be glad that we suffer the same from our Satan that Christ suffered with his apostles, because not only ours, but also ours and our apostles are rebellious.
even the enemy's own conscience knows well that
we are innocent.
But for the sake of others and to harden the mad idols the more, I will answer for such blasphemy. For the more the vipers hear the truth, the more blind they become. And indeed, a few pieces should also calm a blinded and obdurate heart sufficiently, so that they must confess, see and grasp that here in Wittenberg and where I preach, there has been no rebellion, and still, by God's grace, it is as quiet as in no place in the world. Where I now teach, there should be the most turmoil and unrest, and it should begin there, since my teachings are most powerful on a daily basis, and I myself am present. But that does not help, such public truth and proof is too strong against their lies and makes them ashamed, therefore it must not apply, their lies should and must be right. Now now, what they will help such blasphemy, shall come to day in time, as it is written to the Jews. So three years ago I wrote the booklet on worldly authority, long before the uprising came, in which I established and confirmed worldly authority and obedience from Scripture in such a way that [it] alone is strong enough testimony for me against such blasphemy. For I respect that no teacher before me has ever written so powerfully about worldly authority that even my enemies must thank me for it. And if some of the authorities had not been strengthened by this when the riots were raging, they would have been despondent and would have continued to concede to the peasants. There are many more books and writings, also with names against the rebellion. Thus, the book to the German nobility is still available, in which I admonish the nobility, and that through prayer to God, for the reformation of the German country. With all this, the mouth of the blasphemers 1) is shut enough and I am amply excused.
And who stood stronger against the peasants with writings and preaching than I? I have been among them and passed through them with my life and limb. They never let me tell them that they had it from me. So also in Frankenhaufen and Mühl-
1) In the manuscript: "blasphemy".
Hausen, that the coiner did not have anything to do with me. Yes, he was more violent and bitter toward me than toward any other person. What the devil was doing through him was also most of all directed at my 2) head. But I put a block in front of him by God's grace, even before worldly authority came. And if it should be a boast, I still do not know who would have beaten the peasants first and more. Now those take the glory who have done the least; and those who have done the best must now have the reward that they have rebellious doctrine. But it is right. Go, go, you are on the right track, so one must run if one wants to break the neck.
So it is also publicly true that the coiner, although he began in Alstädt in our prince's land, God drove him away so that he had to leave, and came into Duke Jörgen's land to Mühlhausen and caused such misery in his principality. Where were there angry princes and lords who defended him? So it is true that the rebellion did not arise in our principality nor in Hesse, but came from Franconia over 4) the forest and from Mühlhausen and the line here on Duke Jörgen's soil, and thus also threw down and set fire to our prince's land as the border. Yes, that is why the rebellion has come to us, since the gospel has been rejected to the highest degree. I must tell the truth, and if 5) Count Albrecht of Mansfeld, who at that time was the first to put on the armor, had not done so, 6) it would have been Duke
2) In our template: "my".
3) This is the passage that Luther remembers in the above-mentioned letter to the Elector: "I had resolved not to remember Duke George any further, because his thought is in the closest printed copies of the "Rathschlag". Duke Georg had known how to obtain a copy of the "Rathschlag", and this prompted a lengthy correspondence between him and the Elector.
4) Manuscript: "ober".
5) It is highly probable that instead of "hätt", which the Erlanger offers here, "thät" (thet or thett) will be found in the original; this means: "if Count Albrecht were not there". We have refrained from a change, because the reading we assume is incomprehensible today not only to laymen, but also to highly learned people. Compare St. Louis edition, vol. V, 668, K 34, note and idiae, Col. 1191, 8 28. Of course, with the reading "thäte" the made addition would be omitted.
6) "nicht gethan" is missing in the original. (Erlang. Ausg.)
In eight days, Jörge had as little power up to Bohemia as none of the other lords who were overwhelmed; so horribly dwindling ran the tiresome fire. But then it gained a push and resistance, because the praiseworthy count intervened; now, in time, one should also give him his reward and thanks, as the wolf gave to the crane, and as the world is wont to reward all honest, pious people who do the best by it, according to the saying: He who helps the thief from the gallows, the thief gladly brought him up. He must also become rebellious and teach rebellious doctrine, regardless of the fact that he has done the first and best against rebellion and punishes its blasphemous mouth with undeniable work. 2)
But if we want to hear the truth, I would like to say who is the cause of this uproar and lamentation. The first is that God was angry with the 3) priests at Worms, since they also condemned me 4) outrageously, against natural law, and blasphemed and desecrated God's word, after which they chased away and persecuted the evangelical preachers. Because they did not want to suffer God's word and right preachers, God did as was just and right and sent rebellious preachers, who under the appearance of the gospel, like the false apostles, caused such misery, to bring punishment on the clergy and clergymen, even though many innocent people had to pay 5) because they were neighbors of the wicked and kept silent about such clergy outrages and did not support the truth. For the peasants' rebellion was only a beginning of punishment and God's wrath, and a warning that they should desist from their bluster and blasphemy and let God's word go; if not, He would seek them out with a sharp rod. I am not saying that they should believe me, but only that they should become more hardened 6) and not believe until they know. For God is just and cannot do wrong.
1) Manuscript: "ledige"; analogous is: wegern instead of: weigern.
2) So put by us instead of: "incredulous" and "punish".
3) In our template: "des".
4) Original: not.
5) Here we have deleted a superfluous "beside". 6) In our original: "vorstecken" instead of: verstocken.
And as he was able to bring punishment on the peasants in a flash, so he can still come behind them unawares, so that they will perish before they realize it, as it says in Job.
In addition to this, the evil that the life of the priests was evil, diabolical, tyrannical, was unmistakable to all the world, so that even the secular nobility of Worms acted before the emperor himself; there was no thought of improving or abating anything, but was constantly pressed, beaten, scraped, so that no one was safe from his wife, child, property, body, and the secular lords were not much more pious. Because they themselves would not desist from their shameful, abominable, tyrannical nature, and in addition would not allow others to hear the gospel and teach them to live well, but oppressed both body and soul of their subjects with all injustice, iniquity and violence, they pressed and forced the rebellion out by force, and went, as Solomon says Proverb. 31 [30, 33]: "He who blows the nose too hard forces blood out. For then the mob became unwilling, and could not endure the bullies' courage.
But that such pieces had been the cause of the riot, no one can deny, because the peasants listed them publicly in their note, so everyone knows that it is true how innumerable the tyranny of the priests and their followers has been. Now the kittens adorn themselves finely, would like to hide such pieces, do not intend to let go even today, now blame the Gospel for what they have caused by their intolerable nature. God must bear it and be wrong, so that their evil may remain right. Well, he will put it away in time and excuse himself in such a way that neither the priests nor the priest's servants will remain. This shall be my prophecy.
And look at their fine prudence, 7) they have led it out! They have forbidden my teaching because they were afraid of rebellion, and would like to remain firmly seated and keep the mob in check. That was the pretty advice
7) Thus set by us, instead of, "And yet they of their no prudence."
blow. Have they not met with it? Yes, just as Solomon says, "What the wicked fears will come upon him," just as the Jews also met with it, because 1) they followed the wise counsel of Caiaphas; lest the Romans come and take away their land and people, they had to kill Christ. It is the same.
(So much for the handwriting.)
827 Luther's concerns about what the Elector of Saxony should do about the Catholic bishops. 1526 or later.
This concern is found in the Eisleben edition, vol. I, p. 276; in the Altenburger, vol. Ill, p. 520; in the Leipziger, vol. XIX, p. 556; in De Wette, vol. Ill, p. 315 and in the Erlanger, vol. 53, p. 449. The Eisleben edition places it above the Mainzer Rathschlag (1526), De Wette and the Erlanger above the Packsche Bündniß (1528). We find in the same neither for the one nor the other a clue.
(1) Whether it should not be good that my most gracious lord should take such an action against the bishops who are encroaching on his electoral grace's lands, and should petition them in writing and have them denounced, since they have done nothing in the evangelical cause up to now, and have failed to provide his electoral grace's lands and subjects with God's word. The court would then be forced to prevent riots, discord, and all kinds of trouble (arising from unequal doctrine), even to the best of their ability, as in the greatest need.
2 But that they might still see to their abundance that his electoral grace sought nothing but only that in his electoral grace lands the same gospel was held for the salvation of the poor souls. But that they might still see for abundance that his electoral grace sought nothing but that in his electoral grace's lands, for the salvation of the poor souls, the gospel and the same doctrine might be held, and lived peacefully, in harmony: then his electoral grace would still be inclined or desirous that they themselves, the bishops, might cultivate their office, 1 Timothy 1:1, and promote and help such gospel in his electoral grace's lands. 1, and in the lands of his princely grace promote and help to teach such gospel and to keep peace, as they owe before God and the world, because they want to be bishops and shepherds.
3. however, where they did not want that they would then have to mean that it could be his churfürst-
1) "there" put by us instead of: the.
The bishops, as a secular prince, suffer as little in his electoral lands discord and unequal teaching contrary to the Gospel, as little as they themselves can suffer in their dioceses etc.., and urge them, the bishops, to see to it that C.F.G. himself is not found guilty before God of such neglect by the bishops of his electoral subjects.
4. such, I think, should not be useless for more glimpses before the world and for more consolation of the conscience: so that one could boast that all ways are tried to please the bishops, as much as God's word suffers etc.
828 King Ferdinand of Hungary and Bohemia, Archduke of Austria 2c, Mandate against the Lutherans etc. Ofen, 20 Aug. 1527.
This mandate first appeared individually in 1527, and was subsequently included in the Eisleben edition, vol. I, p. 394; in the Altenburg edition, vol. Ill, p. 757; and in the Leipzig edition, vol. XIX, p. 594.
1. we Ferdinandus, by the grace of God, of Hungary and Bohemia etc. King, Infante in Hispania, Archduke in Austria, Duke in Burgundy, Styria, Carinthia, Craine, and Würtenberg^) etc., Count of Tyrol etc.: To the venerable, our dear devotees, noble, honorable, clergy, and our dear faithful, N., all and every one of our prelates, counts, barons, knights, land marshals, land governors, administrators, bailiffs, governors, mayors, judges, councilors, municipalities, and otherwise in general to all our and our principality and lands subjects, we offer our grace and all our goods.
2) We have no doubt that you all still know and remember how the most noble, most powerful prince and lord, Lord Carolus, elected Roman emperor, our dear brother and gracious lord (as is due to his imperial majesty as the Christian head and protector of our Christian faith), has been and will continue to be in the footsteps of his majesty's ancestors, the Roman Christian emperor. Majesty, as the Christian head and protector of our Christian faith, following and remaining in the footsteps of his Majesty's ancestors, Roman Christian Emperor), to all Christian believing souls dangerousness, there-.
2) In the old edition: "Wittenberg".
that those who have not been led astray from the right path to salvation by some seductive heretical sects and doctrines, which began at that time and which some have attempted to spread, and who, under a pretense of good instruction, have been directed to eternal damnation by mixing poison, will be mercifully heeded, and such seductive doctrine will be prevented and stopped from taking root more deeply:
3. The 1) Origin and beginning, of which the first flowed most and highest, Martin Luther, out of imperial clemency before his imperial majesty, other princes, princes and estates of the holy empire, to Worms to the imperial diet, in the escort and most gracious good security (although his imperial majesty, over previous amicable and gracious admonition, by papal sanctity to the same Martin Luther, was not guilty of this) to the responsibility graciously; there, after recounting some of his "most false and seductive" articles in imperial majesty's [name], 2) and subsequently by a prince and other honorable learned persons, graciously and brotherly instructed, to refrain from such his unrighteous behavior, to consider himself, and to revoke his outgoing unchristian books and writings, which would certainly follow him, from laudable examples of the holy fathers, for the preservation of his soul, honor and body,
4 All of this, however, was disregarded and unnoticed by him, and he let himself be heard about it with unseemly words. Therefore, the Imperial Majesty, together with all princes, rulers, and estates of the Holy Roman Empire, as mentioned above, have, with timely counsel and good forethought, considered separating Martin Luther from the community of Christian believers, rejecting him, confiscating him, and putting him under guard, because of his booklets and unchristian teachings; Also to forbid his and his followers' and successors' books, along with other unseemly paintings and letters, to be printed, sold, bought, read, and kept, in case of severe penalties,
5) How all this and more is shown and explained at length and with more expression in the same edicts of His Imperial Majesty. We hereby draw to this and wish to have the same edicts renewed again, which we are also commanded to keep by our subsidiary mandates; to this end, the following,
1) In the old edition: "Dem".
2) Added by us.
Together with other princes and several embassies at Regensburg, to comply with the same edicts and to live in all other of our lands, and therefore to issue orders, comparing and resolving the contents of our mandates and the union incorporated therein; as has been done by us, and such mandates have been published several times.
(6) According to the same, we have provided ourselves completely to all and every one of you, as our obedient and obligated subjects, and have placed yourselves in no doubt that you will thus, as is well befitting and granted to you, show yourselves obediently and in accordance with such Imperial Majesty's mandates. Maj. also in accordance with our mandates. We are told, and it is almost a fact, that in some and many places the seductive, foreign doctrines that have been touched before have not only not been stopped, but have grown in constant increase and uptake.
7. And especially new, frightening, outrageous doctrines, which are not to be revealed nor reported to us because of the impudent blasphemy, and which we have heard with quite a heavy mind, are arising, among which the regeneration of baptism and abuse of the reverend sacrament of the tender Corpus Christi:And, what is even worse, by some who follow Carolostadio, Zwinglio, and Oecolampadio, and their followers, they even reject, deny, and speak of it in a vicious and contemptuous manner, that neither the holy body of Christ nor his blood is in the sacrament of the altar under the form of bread and wine.
8. But since it is now evident and in the light of day that baptism from the time of the apostles in the fellowship of the holy Christian church, as still practiced by all Christendom, is not contrary to but in harmony with the Gospel, and since two hundred years ago rebaptism was condemned not only by the holy fathers, who proved their faith with their honorable good Christian lives and bloodshed, but also by the imperial authorities (as their Scriptures indicate) as heretical, the Church of God is not to be condemned, who have proved their faith with their honorable, good, Christian life and bloodshed, but also by the imperial laws (as their scripture indicates) for heretical condemnation, but on the other hand of the children's baptism, as coming to us from distant parents and forefathers, for Christian allowed and approved. Thus also the holy sacrament of the altar, worthy of Christ, true God and man, our Redeemer, at His last supper, instituted for us to partake of in remembrance of His suffering and for the forgiveness of our sins, is finally given, and His body and blood are confessed. This also the four Gospels, together with St. Paul, express in many places clearly and undoubtedly, and our parents, when Christianity stood long.
with all devotion, have used, believed, given and received. Also, out of contempt for it, many long and short years ago, considerable signs have followed and happened.
9. Where you as believers in Christ despise, scorn, abuse or do not keep such things, you must consider that such things, together with the highest blasphemy, would certainly be enough to endanger your souls, honor and body, even in all your lives, that you (as unfortunately appears in many places) would fall into much more and severe error, deception and blasphemy against our holy faith, and, as to be feared, would finally live without all knowledge of God, our Savior, like the cattle on earth, and would complete your time. Because, as mentioned above, such articles were considered heretical and condemned many hundreds of years ago, and were prevented and forbidden not only by ecclesiastical, but also by imperial laws, at grave and highest penalties of honor, body, life and property.
(10) Namely, that you may receive remembrance and knowledge of them in part, as is reported. Whoever freely and persistently holds and believes against the twelve articles of our holy Christian faith, 1) also against the seven sacraments of the common, holy Christian church, is thereby duly recognized as a heretic. That he may be punished in body and life according to the occasion and magnitude of his sacrilege, hardening, blasphemy and heresy; item, who in the above 2) opinion is found to be a heretic, as is due, and is recognized that his goods are forfeited and confiscated according to the order and difference of rights; item, that every heretic, as recognized above, is put to death; item, that he loses all freedoms given to Christians; item, that he is dishonorable and therefore not fit for any honest office, nor may he be used; item, that no one is obligated to hold or execute bonds or other bonds; item, that he does not have the power to buy, sell, or engage in any trade or commerce; item, that he does not have to testify, 3) or make business and last will and testament, nor to make other 4) testaments and last will and testament, which may be of use to him.
1) That is, the apostolic creed. Compare Table Talks, Cap. 54, 8 13. St. Louis Edition, Vol. XXII, 1358.
2) In the old edition: "transcribed".
3) According to 8 16 this is to be understood as "bearing witness".
4) In the old edition: "other".
The same is true of the right of a Christian father to disinherit his son, who is a heretic, of all paternal property, and of a son to disinherit his father in the same case.
(11) Since such penalties and punishments have been imposed on the chief heretics alone, and other new and unchristian articles are being written and used against our holy faith and holy Christian order, and since the authorities do not doubt, misunderstand, or question the punishments imposed in such cases, we have graciously considered attaching and determining the punishments due to some of the transgressions. We earnestly admonish and wish to punish with fire, without any mercy, those who, with impious speeches, sermons, and writings, question or despise the divinity or humanity of Christ, or the birth, passion, resurrection, ascension, and other such articles of the same. Those who despise, disgrace or revile the eternal, pure, chosen Queen Virgin Mary, so that they say, hold, write or preach that she was a woman, as another woman is now on earth, that she was a mortal sinner, that she did not remain an eternal virgin after birth, that she did not give birth to God, that she did not come to heaven, shall be punished for these and such heresies and errors in body, life or property, according to the occasion and the magnitude of the offense.
(12) Those who despise, reject, and speak shamefully of the Mother of God, Mary, apostles, evangelists, martyrs, and other dear saints of God, as well as their merit, intercession, and proven miraculous signs, shall be punished with imprisonment, banishment from the country, and other punishments, according to the occasion of the crime. If anyone changes the form or order of baptism, mass, or holy chrismation, other than that which has been practiced in the Christian church from time immemorial, he shall be punished by imprisonment, banishment from the country, or other punishment, according to the form of the change. Item, who, according to heretical opinion, commit the Lord's supper (as they call it) in such a way that they give and take bread and wine to each other, they shall be punished as heretics in body, life and goods, also the houses, in which such is committed, shall be confiscated, or, according to our pleasure, torn down for eternal remembrance.
13) The places where the baptismal fonts, sacramental houses and altars have been demolished shall be restored to their original state, with the loss of all freedom.
The time limit shall be set up. All those who have not been ordained priests according to the order of the Christian Church, and who nevertheless consider themselves to have the power to consecrate the reverend Sacrament, as has unfortunately happened in many places in a wanton and premeditated manner: if they overcome this, they shall be punished with fire, sword, or water, according to the judgment of the judges. Anyone who despises priestly confession and does not do so at least once a year according to the order of the church, or who goes to the sacrament without priestly confession, shall be punished with imprisonment, banishment from the place of his residence, or other penalties on the property. Any monk or priest who has thrown away his habit or priestly habit, or who has let it become overgrown, or who has taken wives, and who is not found to be a priest, shall be imprisoned for one month with water and bread, after which the priests shall be deprived of their benefices (whether or not they have them); the monks who have entered the country where they have fallen out of their orders shall be sent back to their authorities for further punishment according to their orders and rules. But those who had fallen out of the country, in addition the priests mentioned above, according to the recent Regensburg order, would be expelled from the country forever. The same shall be done with their wives. Unless they fall into other heresies, they shall receive the punishment like other heretics, according to the occasion of their crime.
Item 14: Any husband who has taken or will take more than one wife, and any wife who has taken more than one husband, shall be punished according to the custom and usage of the land. Nor shall anyone who, contrary to the order of the Christian church, dwells with one another in forbidden degrees of friendship, kinship, or affinity, be punished, but shall be expelled from the country. If anyone destroys, burns, or otherwise changes the image of our Lord Jesus Christ on the altar, or the like of our Lady and other saints, he shall be punished according to his misdeed in body or goods. Those who during the forty days of the holy fast, on Fridays or Saturdays, or other forbidden fast days, eat meat unlawfully to the annoyance of their neighbors, shall be punished in prison with water and bread for as many days as they have done so.
(15) He who preaches and holds that no Christian should or must go and fight against the Turks or other unbelievers shall be punished by law.
and otherwise be punished. Anyone who holds and defends that nothing good should happen to the poor souls, nor bring them merit or benefit, should be chased out of the country and driven away. And when in various times great outrages and terrible bloodshed arose from the fact that Christian liberty was spread among the common people with false doctrine, as if all things were common and no authority should be, which doctrine is then in many places again imagined in the corners of the poor unintelligent: therefore we set and will whoever holds or teaches such, and is convicted of it, that he shall be judged with the sword, as such the imperial rights otherwise express and are able to do.
16 We also want to remind you of the penalties and punishments imposed by secular law on those who contain, house, defend, protect and protect such heretics. Namely and first of all, that they are under ban, where they despise amicable admonition, do not accept it, and after such admonition remain for more than a year, ipso facto, and are in footsteps, infamous and deprived of all honors, are not admitted to honest public offices, nor to council, are not admitted to any testimony, may not make any transaction nor last will, which is decided for them, nor be capable of any other inheritance. No one is obliged to give them an answer in court about whatever matter, but only the right is open against them, that such a person is neither an advocate nor an orator, and does no assistance before the court; item, not to be a notary public, and the same instruments shall not apply.
17. According to such recognized and still much higher penalties and punishments, which are contained in written, 1) especially in ecclesiastical laws, and which we have now and then refrained from reporting, and only the imperial ones to comply with, we might well have proceeded against those who knowingly violated this and made themselves liable to punishment, and also as a praiseworthy Christian prince and king not only ought to do, but also ought not to change, 2) we have nevertheless not given the poor unintelligent and simple, ignorant Christian people, who alone are seduced by some evil, un-Christian persons, and are thus falsely and fraudulently instructed under the appearance of the Gospel, the right to be punished by the Emperor.
1) In the old edition: "Penalties, nor those written in" etc.
2) So put by us instead of: "not only not well befitting, but also not due to others" etc.
We have graciously taken pity and compassion on them, the gracious confidence that our open prohibition reminds them to stand by and avoid such erroneous, seductive articles.
18. Therefore, out of innate weariness and mercy, we graciously consider to once again send out the most gracious warning to all of you, that such seductive teachings and heretical sects, which mostly happen in the corners and secret schools and assemblies of some wicked, wanton, reckless persons, do not satisfy us; and who are not satisfied with the great, miserable bloodshed that results from it every year, but still new mutinies and practices, for the awakening of all disobedience and sedition, from which nothing good ever comes, but all evil, as fire, murder, robbery, and extortion, The authorities are not obliged to tolerate it, nor to let it go on without punishment, but to have the necessary understanding, and are obligated to do so.
(19) Accordingly, we wish to remind all of you, and each of you in particular, of the above-mentioned Imperial Majesty, our dear brothers and most gracious Lord, Edict. Majesty, our dear brothers and most gracious Lord, Edict, also reminded you of our mandate, and thereupon graciously admonished you to live, comply with and execute the same in all its contents and understandings, and especially the rebaptism (after the holy baptism has been unitedly instituted by God Almighty, and thus, as it stands before, has been kept for many hundred years from the time of the holy apostles), also of blasphemy, contempt and abuse of the reverend Sacrament of the Altar, other than that accepted and used by the holy Christian Church; In addition, the contemptible speeches, which are made because of it, and other heretical articles, which result from it, and are spread at this time, and some of which have been reported above, have to be prevented, but have not left unindicated in the most gracious opinion, for admonition and warning.
20 For whoever among you, of high or low rank, does not obey our gracious warning, but surrenders to the seductive sects and doctrines mentioned above, or awakens other unheard-of, damned ones anew, or keeps, defends, and protects the awakened ones, thus showing himself repugnant to our holy faith, as that of Christian church fellowship has been in use up to now, also to these mandates of ours, and would not turn away or turn back from it, against him or her we will by ourselves and ours according to our wills, give up the faith of ours.
The court shall hold the court in accordance with the written, especially imperial and secular rights, also the imperial edict and our declared predecessors,
21. but against the disobedient, our subjects, who witness and permit such, to proceed with punishment according to the following measure. Thus, if such a person is one of our officers, councillors, servants, custodians or bailiffs, and such a person is transferred, he shall be deprived of his service, office, custodianship, or any other provision he may have from us from that time on. If it were another of our countrymen or subjects who had to administer the court or the authorities, we would reserve our punishment against him, and at any time determine and require him to commit the same crime and infraction in our chamber. If they were mayors or judges in cities or markets, deprive them of their offices and henceforth not allow them to come and be suitable for this purpose. If, however, the cities or town councils in which the mayors and judges are present, and do not admonish and hold them to the execution of our mandates, deprive these cities of all their privileges and revoke them, and otherwise commonly harbor and detain heresies against all authorities subject to us (if they do not repent of them in due time after this gracious admonition), we reserve the right to punish them.
22. In order that such errors and heresies may be prevented from causing the most irritation and cause, and that men may be all the more careful to guard against them and to take precautions against them, we herewith earnestly desire and command that no one in the hereditary and other lands of ours shall print, write, sell, buy, read, or keep books, writings, paintings, or other unseemly interpretations of Lutheran, Zwinglian, Oecolampadian, or any other of their followers and successors; and who, no one excluded, have in their power the same books, writings, paintings, or the like meanings, as they may be called, that they deliver and hand over all of them from the date of these mandates to the authorities and court to which he is dedicated, seated and belonging, within two months of the next coming. But whoever does not do so, and we are reminded of this, we will also proceed and act against him with due punishment.
23. and for the sake of a good and thorough investigation and experience of such interested traders, we have granted, as we do herewith: Whoever has
1) Whoever uses the above-mentioned or other Lutheran, heretical and seductive articles, and does not want to be reprimanded, so that he would fall under our punishment and would be recognized for this reason, notifies the authorities that we want to follow and give the third part of such punishments, which or as much as has happened to the property, to the person who reported it. We hereby give notice to all our governors, governments, land marshals, governors, administrators, caretakers, bailiffs, mayors, judges, and all others who have jurisdiction, court and authority, and sincerely wish that all and any of them who, in one or more of the reported unchristian, heretical articles, have acted contrary to the outgoing imperial edict and this our mandate, be punished. Edict and this our mandate, as mentioned above, and be referred to them as is due, and brought to them, that you then act and proceed against them from that time on, and without any further notice, according to the penalties and punishments explained above.
24. And in good knowledge, investigate everywhere in your courts and territories with all diligence, make inquiries about them, order the same also through others, where someone would enter such as is indicated, have him or her taken into custody from the beginning, order the same to be done with others, keep them well, and act with them according to our opinion as described above, and in other ways live and comply with these mandates of ours, only if some grave article, but not reported, should occur to you, then report it to us or to our governors and government of our lands, where such a thing has happened, so that we, or they for our sake, may further order and command the punishment of it.
25 We also want you to be ten years, the next after this opening of our mandate, with all parish lords in our lands and decree that they read out the yearly twelve, namely at the high time feasts, Easter and Christmas, each of his parish crowd on the pulpit, and proclaim it publicly. To this all of you and everyone in particular do our part. Given in our city of Ofen on the twentieth day of August in the fifteen hundred and seven and twentieth year of our reign.
Ad Mandatum Domini Regis proprium.
1) "Who someone" put by us instead of: "Would someone".
829 The formula of the alleged alliance communicated by Otto von Pack to Landgrave Philip of Hesse, dated Breslau, May 15, 1527.
In Spalatin's Annals, p. 102. Also in Hortleder, "von den Ursachen des deutschen Krieges," vol. I, Ub. II, eap. I, p. 579. On Pack's Handel, see St. Louis edition, vol. XIX, Einleituug, p. 17 ff. There, in the note, "IndUats is to be read twice" instead of Invocavit. The date given is correct, by the way.
By the Grace of God, we Ferdinand, King of Bohemia, Roman Imperial Majesty in the Holy Empire Governor, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy and Würtemberg, Count of Tyrol etc.
And we Albrecht, of the Holy Roman Church of the title Sancti Petri ad Vincula Priest-Cardinal, Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg, Archchancellor of the Holy Roman Empire, in Germania Churfürst and Primas, Administrator of the Abbey of Halberstadt.
And we Joachim, Arch Chamberlain and Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, both Margraves of Brandenburg, Szczecin, Pomerania, Dukes of the Cassubians and Wends, Burgraves of Nuremberg and Princes of Rügen.
And we Matthew, of the Holy Roman Church Tituli Sancti Angeli Priest-Cardinal, Archbishop of Salzburg, Papal Holiness and of the See of Rome Legatus natus, etc., are the only ones who have been given this title.
We Wigand, Bishop of Bamberg, and we Conrad, Bishop of Würzburg, and Duke of Franconia.
And by the same graces we George, Duke of Saxony, and Landgrave in Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen.
We, Wilhelm and Ludwig, brothers, Dukes of Upper and Lower Bavaria, Palatine Counts of the Rhine, hereby publicly confess and declare on our behalf by virtue of this letter:
1. Since, in these weak, disgusting runs, which the Almighty God imposes on the human race on account of sin and iniquity, much blasphemy and dishonor, as well as annoyance of neighbor, has arisen, so that God not only in His sacraments, which He instituted on earth for the correction and strengthening of our weak consciences, but also in his own omnipotence and divinity, to the extent that churches and cloisters have been spoliated and destroyed, persons given to God have been expelled from his service, cast out to dishonest authorities, their rent and interest have been violently taken, and they have been deprived of them, and, most dreadful of all, the office of the holy mass has been taken away.
is not only repudiated, but also considered idolatrous and sinful: We, as Christian king, electors, archbishops, bishops, and princes, want to be considered as sinful because of the vows and pledges we have made to God our Creator, to whom we, as the creature to its Creator, are to submit ourselves by all means, and to place ourselves under His holy feet; Likewise, on account of the oath and duty which we have taken, in part, to Papal Holiness and all Roman Imperial Majesty, our most gracious Lord, to which we, as our authorities, should and must render submissive obedience, nothing else is due, except to counter such blasphemy as described above, as much as we, as men, are able to do by means of divine assistance, to avert it, and to amend it; Likewise, the good, blessed church ordinances and ceremonies, which the holy church, being a bride of Christ, invented and ordered for our betterment and blessedness, and which have now for a time been cast out and suppressed, are to be renewed again and restored to their former status, so that the will of God (who undoubtedly wants to preserve his bride) may be lived, and the mandate of the Emperor's Majesty, our most gracious Lord, may be protected and administered. In order that we may or may be able to do this the more effectively and the more nobly (but not otherwise than by the help of God), we the above-named, King, Electors, Archbishops, Bishops and Princes, have agreed, united, sworn and promised to give birth in the manner and measure that follows.
For the first, it is considered that after the death of the Highborn Prince, Lord Louis, formerly King of Hungary and Bohemia, our friendly dear brother-in-law, lord, friend and gracious lord, the Kingdom of Hungary belongs to no one cheaper than to us, Ferdinand, King of Bohemia, Archduke of Austria etc., on account of our friendly dear husband, by God, nature, and all rights, is considered good, and it is also agreed and promised, that the next-described Electors, Archbishops, Bishops and Princes shall and will do us a goodly assistance, with men or money, contents of the articles, which have therefore been made, granted, pledged, sealed and accepted; so that we may conquer the above-mentioned kingdom all the better and more effectively, and force the alleged Count Johannsen of Rutzfchin, who maliciously betrayed our ancestor, King Ludwigen, and aroused the Turks against him and the Christian blood, out of it with power, and calmly sit down in it, and when we have [such]
If, after the will of God has come to an end, our power and reception is thus increased by the Kingdom of Hungary, we shall then be well advised to seek out the heretics and blasphemers in their abstinence among the princes, lords and communes where they are housed, etched and harbored.
3. and then, upon the serious order which the Imperial Majesty, our most gracious brother and gracious lord, will send us from Hispania, we will command the Elector of Saxony to hand over to us Martin Luther, the arch-heretic, together with all heretical preachers, priests, runaway monks, nuns, and other clergy who have changed their habit, religion, and spiritual nature. In addition, he is to reestablish the office of the holy mass, all ceremonies, vigils and masses of the soul, as they may be called and have been brought from time immemorial, as well as churches, monasteries and cloisters. And if he should be in want thereof, and would not render obedience to Imperial Majesty in this, then we Ferdinand, King of Bohemia, Archduke of Austria 2c, we Albrecht, Cardinal, Archbishop, Elector 2c, the said Electors of Saxony with our highest and strongest power, according to the following articles, in his Saxon, Meissen and Thuringian lands; and we Wigand, and Conrad, Bishops, the said Electors in his Frankish lands, also with the strongest and highest power, to seize his castles, cities, towns, to drive him out of them, and never again to let him or his children come into them, now and forever. And when we have finished this, after those of Magdeburg have become renegades and disloyal to the Holy Roman Church, to the Imperial Majesty and to the Magdeburg Monastery, we also want to overtake them, to bring them to obedience to the Church and to submission.
4) And so that we, George, Duke of Saxony etc., do not note to act against the heredity (therein papal holiness and imperial majesty with clear words excepted), or against the Elector of Saxony, although we are caused to do so by the said Elector, of which we would also have good reason and right. However, since the lands of Moravia, Silesia and Lusatia confer the Six Cities, 1) together with many princes and others, therein, which without any means are attached to the Crown of Bohemia, on the part of the
1) The six cities in Upper Lusatia are Bautzen, Zittau, Camenz, Löbau, Görlitz and Lauban. They were so named because in 1346 they had made a covenant against the robber barons of that area.
If the people of Bohemia have fallen away from the obedience of the Christian Church, sunk into the Martinic arch heresy, thereby depriving the clergy of all their rent and interest, and also depriving them of the holy masses, monasteries, and ceremonies, then we want to overtake them with our supreme power and, as much as possible, bring them to the obedience of the Christian Church, and to the submission of the Royal Serenity of Bohemia 1).
5 And what we Ferdinand, King of Bohemia, Archduke of Austria etc., we Albrecht, Cardinal, Archbishop etc., and we Joachim, both Margraves of Brandenburg and Electors etc.., in the lands of Saxony, Meissen and Thuringia, we want to gain towns, castles, villages and villages, uses and income, which are in the jurisdiction of the Elector of Saxony, all of which we want to hand over to our friendly dear prince, uncle, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Duke Georgen of Saxony, together with all regalia, dignities and dignities, 2) which Joachim, Margrave of Brandenburg, Elector, has entrusted to us in our principalities and which are in fief from the Crown of Bohemia, and which shall remain to us and our heirs, for our cost and presentation. However, the city of Magdeburg, after having belonged to the Magdeburg Monastery without any means, shall be returned to the same with all courts, rights, usufructuaries, and righteousnesses, reserving only to the Imperial Majesty and the Holy Roman Empire its righteousness in fief, tax, and consequence. What we George, Duke of Saxony, conquer and gain in the principalities, castles, towns, villages, annuities, interests and usufruct in Moravia, Silesia and in Lusatia, in the jurisdiction of the Crown of Hungary or Bohemia, we want to hand over and deliver to our kind and gracious Lord, Royal Serene Majesty of Bohemia, everything and anything, nothing excluded.
What we Wigand and Conrad, bishops of Bamberg and Würzburg etc., will gain in the land of Franconia in castles, towns and villages and all benefits, the Elector of Saxony responsible, that we shall keep. However, if our friend, Duke George of Saxony, wants to impose and pay the costs against us or ours, and on the other hand wants to take the won castles and towns in Franconia, this shall be reserved for his love, and we shall be indebted,
1) Here we have deleted "to".
2) Storkow and Beeskow, two dominions located respectively 7 and 10 miles southeast of Berlin.
his Liebd to the case and to concede.
If, according to the will of God, the above-mentioned Elector of Saxony is punished for his disobedience, then the Landgrave of Hesse, having allowed himself to be seduced by manifold faithful admonitions, and having presumed the same heresy, and having offended papal holiness, first of all imperial majesty, with many abusive words, shall also be requested and admonished in the same way to desist from his error. If, however, he persists in his presumption and again does not want to compare himself with the obedience of the Christian church, he shall be punished to the same extent as has been indicated above by the Elector. However, his spouse, our friendly dear wife, mother, daughter and friend, to her beloved personal property and legacy without harm, and with the appendix, as often as he, the Landgrave, will turn from his error and again submit to the obedience of the Christian church, that then, in view of his youth, and that he is inflamed by others, his land and people should be delivered to him again, without payment, so that our undertaking should not be considered as if we had begun it more for the sake of temporal goods or honor than for the salvation of souls.
If, however, the said Landgrave persists in his intention and does not wish to return, and if he were to depart in death for his disobedience, then his principality, land and people, shall be due to Duke George of Saxony and shall be handed over; however, his love shall reimburse the two bishops, Bamberg and Würzburg, for the costs they have incurred for this reason.
(9) And the appointed King, the Electors, the Archbishops, the Bishops and the Princes shall all attack at the same time on one day, as it shall be notified to each of them three months beforehand by us Ferdinand King of Bohemia, and one shall not withdraw without the knowledge and consent of the other.
(10) And shall spare with such a train only men, outside of the appointed princes and rulers and their assistants, so that nothing but what is honest and Christian alone may be felt in us.
(11) Furthermore, it is considered good and advisable that the other princes, counts and lords, who have not been brought into this treaty, be requested by negotiation, and as much as possible persuaded and collected, that they give us help and tax for this honest Christian undertaking, or else stand still at the least and give the Elector of Saxony or
Landgraves of Hesse neither help nor support; and the appointed bishops of Franconia shall be able to help the Margrave there, at the written request of both Electors of Mainz and Brandenburg, as well as Count Wilhelm of Henneberg, or they shall persuade him to stand still.
In the same way, Duke George of Saxony shall act with both Dukes of Brunswick and Duke Henry of Mecklenburg, but all in secret, unnoticed, so that this trade, before it matures, does not become loud. The Elector of Mainz shall also deliver his brave message to the Archbishop and Elector of Cologne, act with his love on the instruction given, and diligently persevere, in the confidence that, since this our beginning and undertaking has first of all begun in praise of God, and for the benefit of the spiritual state, his love, as the Christian Prelate and Elector, will show itself willingly. For this reason, his love should also make an effort with the Dutch Counts, the Count of Nassau and others, and what his love obtains in response, it should show to us Ferdinand, King of Bohemia, Archduke of Austria, in the most beneficial way.
However, so that this action of ours will not be regarded by many, who are not aware of our mind and opinion, as seditious or contrary to the imperial peace. So that this action of ours may not be regarded by many who are not aware of our mind and opinion as rebellious or contrary to the imperial peace, we will soon in the beginning, when we are all about to go into the field, send out and publicly post a common notice throughout the Roman Empire, together with a copy of the imperial mandate, so that everyone may learn the reason for our beginning, and that we may obtain so much more favor and applause from the spiritual and Christian, pious, faithful hearts that God still maintains in the gathering of His holy Church, and victory and triumph from God, our Redeemer, against His enemies in His name.
14. We, the above-named King, Princes, Archbishops, Bishops and Princes, have taken a physical oath, as far as they are personally present, to keep the above-named points, here and in the Letter of Articles, steadily, firmly and unbrokenly; Those, however, who are not personally present, the same authorized and skilful embassy have sworn an oath into the souls of their masters, namely and thus, on their expressed order, which they have presented and delivered to us:
15 We Ferdinandus, King of Bohemia, Roman Imperial Governor, Archbishop of the Holy Roman Empire. Majesty in the Holy Empire Governor, Archbishop of Bohemia
Duke of Austria etc. We Joachim, Margrave of Brandenburg, Elector etc. We George, Duke of Saxony etc., have sworn a bodily oath and have affixed our seal to this letter. And the rest of us, our most gracious and gracious lords of Mainz, Salzburg, Bamberg, Wuerzburg and Bavaria, sent and decreed councillors, have, upon our mandate and command, which we have from our most gracious and gracious lords, hereby delivered to the Royal Serenity of Bohemia, the Elector of Brandenburg and Duke George of Saxony, our most gracious and gracious lords, to the souls of our lords and rulers, that their electoral and princely graces shall and will keep all the above articles, together with that which is written in the letter of articles, steadfastly, firmly and unbreakably, sworn a physical oath, and have placed this letter in eight forms of one volume, and have delivered one to each part, signed with our own handwriting and hand sign.
Done to the glory of God at Breslau, Wednesday after Jubilate [May 15], in the fifteenth, and thereafter in the seventh and twentieth year.
Article 830, granted, bequeathed, pledged and promised by the above-mentioned Royal Serenity of Bohemia, Electors, Archbishops, Bishops and Princes.
This document immediately follows the previous number at the locations indicated therein.
On the train against Hungary.
The Archbishop of Mainz, Elector etc., wants to give ten thousand florins to Royal Serenity for the welfare of the train.
The Elector of Brandenburg, Margrave Joachim, wants to send two hundred horses for three months.
The Archbishop of Salzburg eight thousand florins.
The bishop of Würzburg and Bamberg want to give eight thousand florins each.
Duke George of Saxony one hundred horses, for six months.
The dukes of Bavaria want to give to their royal sovereignty one thousand servants, six months, or so much money, namely four guilders per man per month.
On the move against the Elector and Prince.
Royal Serenity of Bohemia wants to move in its own person, and have eight thousand men on foot and fifteen hundred on horseback.
The two Electors of Mainz and Brandenburg want to have six thousand men on foot and one thousand horses; the Elector of Brandenburg wants to go in his own person.
The bishop of Wuerzburg wants to go in his own person, as a duke of Franconia, and have together with the bishop of Bamberg four hundred on foot and eight hundred on horseback.
The Archbishop of Salzburg and the Dukes of Bavaria want to send four thousand servants to the Bishop of Wuerzburg, or if they cannot have them, as many Swiss.
Duke George of Saxony wants to take so many people that he is strong enough for his enemies.
And every prince shall arm himself with artillery for the field and the storm, to the best of his ability, setting no measure therein.
It is considered good, also spoken, vowed and promised that the above-mentioned covenant princes shall draw other princes, counts and lords, namely the Margrave of Franconia, Count Wilhelm of Henneberg, the Abbot of Fulda, also other bishops to their course, or to sit quietly, especially the Dutch counts, who have a large covenant, and are opposed to the landgrave without that, on account of the von Nassau.
Item, that the imperial cities be spared all the same (outside Magdeburg) with writings, words and deeds, and in no way offend them or their inhabitants, until such time as the appointed two princes are punished, so that they do not cause the same to be applauded. But when the princes receive their punishment, the imperial cities may well be made obedient without some military action, with laying down of the streets, taking possession of the estates, and that imperial majesty decerns reprisals against them, and with other many ways, which are not yet necessary to discuss.
831: Letter from Landgrave Philip of Hesse to his father-in-law, Duke George of Saxony, sending him a copy of the alleged alliance. May 17, 1528.
Duke George had this letter sent out in quarto together with his reply to it in Dresden in 1528. Both letters are reprinted from this original edition in Hortleder, "Von den Ursachen des deutschen Krieges", vol. II, aax" 2, p. 583 f.
Highborn prince, kind, dear grandfather and father. I do not want to hide your beloved, as I am obliged to do: your beloved has good knowledge, how your beloved is to the thicker one.
times 1) and would have liked to know what my planned armor was; since I then have to give your beloved an answer, as your beloved will still have it with him without doubt.
2 But so that I may now actually tell your beloved what has caused me such armor and distinction, it is in this form:
I have come into certain experience to the extent that I have not only heard it from hearsay, but also want to believe on bad copies that Ferdinand, King 2c, and likewise several princes have joined together; which is the most unfortunate thing that God knows that I would like to have a limb taken from my body for this, that your beloved is also in such a covenant that I would never have hoped that your beloved would have allowed himself to be used for such a counsel against me. But I nevertheless find that your beloved still has a kinder heart towards me than towards others in such an alliance. Therefore I must reckon it to your beloved that your beloved is of the opinion that we others should be such evil heretics that your beloved would like to see them turned away. Now God knows that I am sorry that your beloved perhaps does not want to enlighten God to His knowledge; but your beloved can easily understand, because I must stand in danger and cheek by jowl, that I should deny God's word and adhere to the devil's service, or must let myself be chased away from the land and the people. If I now sit quietly and contribute 2) until those who have such noble intentions against me overtake me, then I have slept through the mornings. And therefore my final mind is that I do not want to look at either body or goods, and in the name of God I want to bring others who intend such things against me and others, with God's help, to refrain from such unchristian, unjust actions, with the assurance that I will no longer look at such things.
4 And so that your beloved may see that I actually know the matter, I am sending your beloved a copy of such a covenant. But since your beloved did me good in my childhood days, likewise I also helped your beloved against the rebellious peasants, likewise I have your beloved's daughter, and your beloved's son my biological sister: so I consider that I should be heartily sorry that your beloved and I should grow in ill-will towards each other. Also the Elector is so related to your beloved.
1) "zu dem dickermal" - often, frequently. With Walch: "to the Dickermal".
2) "beiten" - to wait. In the old edition: "beut". But "beuten" means: to exchange.
is that I truly know that he would also like to be on friendly terms with your beloved, if it would always be so. So now is my friendly, official, and for God's sake request to your beloved, that he write to me by this messenger that your beloved renounce the alliance, as your beloved may well do with honor, and not act or act in unfriendship against the Elector and me, and also not help such others against us: I hereby decree to your beloved that the Elector, or I, your beloved, or yours, shall do no harm or injustice, not even a chicken, as they say, shall squawk, and if your beloved wishes to do so, if your beloved ascribes this to me, as has been said, place my life and property with them. What does it help your beloved, if your beloved drives us away, although it could still be lacking, if God wills it, because your beloved chases away their own flesh and blood and good friends. So your beloved can well mean that as little as your beloved deviates from their faith, so much less will we deviate from ours; for this your beloved will not give account for us, and we for them. And finally, I ask your beloved to give me a friendly and correct answer here, your beloved, and for the benefit of all of us, also of the country and the people, in the most beneficial way by this messenger. I want to deserve this; so be your beloved God Almighty. Date Homburg, Sunday Vocem Jucunditatis [May 17] etc.
Philip, Landgrave of Hesse.
To the Highborn Prince, Lord George, Duke of Saxony, Landgrave of Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen, our dearest uncle and cousin,
at his own hands.
832 Duke George's immediate answer to this, in which he denies the concluded alliance and asks to report the author of such falsehood. May 21, 1528.
The location of this letter is indicated at the previous number.
1. highborn prince, kind dear uncle and son: Today I received a letter from your love, in which your love announces, that the alliance against my cousin, the elector to
1) "someone it" (namely Leides) put by us instead of: "someone's".
Saxony, and thereafter against you, in which I was also involved; that your love was faithfully sorry, and would rather that you lost a member of your body, than to learn such from me, with request in the kindest and most official way for God's sake, that I give your love an answer, in which I renounce not to be in the alliance, against my cousin and not to do you etc., I have read further contents, and add your love hereupon know: Although I am simple-minded and clumsy, your beloved shall nevertheless note me of pride, if something true were to happen from me in the matter, I would not deny it before your beloved, or before anyone else, since I would certainly have more fear of it than of you. But since this fictitious copy, which your beloved sent me, contains so much falsehood, it can never be produced or displayed with the original: I am not a little astonished that your beloved believes it and complains to me about it; rather, I pity your beloved, as my blood relative and son, that your beloved allows himself to be seduced by such unfounded, untruthful lies and to be moved into rebellion, from which your beloved, wife and child, country and people may suffer ruin and harm; I say and write that whoever has told your beloved such things, whoever has seen such an original, on which my hand sign or seal is, or whoever has read or heard the same original, that he is a desperate, dishonorable, perjured villain, therefore I will stand silent before everyone. I also want to ask your beloved kindly, and, as your beloved, for God's sake, your beloved want to approach your things with better care than has been done, and do not want to be rushed on the journey, since another is chasing ahead; and your beloved also want to inform me of the lying man, that I have to beware of him, and manly of him: For if it did not happen from your beloved, I would be caused to think that your beloved was inventing it himself, and would thus take cause to start your unkind will against me, poor old man.
I will also not refrain from writing to those who are supposed to be in copies of the covenants made in Breslau, send them to them, have no doubt, they will excuse themselves and me according to necessity; for I know well that there were not many of them, nor did they have their message. Because I do not know of any alliance, nor can it ever be brought to my attention that I have any knowledge of it; for that which is stated in such a copy of the other half is a public untruth, but what I do not know is not true.
I have even lied to you. Therefore, if your beloved has given away a member of your body, I promise you that your beloved will be sorry that it has been done in vain and for nothing. Nor may I step away from that which is not in itself, and renounce it. I will, if God wills, keep myself against your love and manhood in such a way that I know how to answer for it with honor to God, my authority, and all the world.
I have not wished to keep this as an answer to your beloved, whom I am inclined to serve. Given in haste at Dresden on the day of the Ascension of Christ ^21 May^, Anno Domini in the fifteen hundred and in the eight and twentieth.
I will also not fail to report this to my cousin, from which his beloved will have excused me. Date ut supra.
George, Duke of Saxony etc.
To the Highborn Prince, our dear son and Oheimen, Mr. Philippsen, Landgrave of Hesse, Count of Katzenelnbogen, of Dietz, Ziegenhain and Nidda etc.,
at your own hands.
833: The Landgrave's manifest, before he received the answer from Duke George and before the Elector agreed to it, publicized for his excuse, because of the armor taken. May 22, 1528.
From the original edition cited in von der Hardt, ^uto^r. iMtk., Theil II, p. 147, reprinted in Hortleder, "Von den Ursachen des deutschen Krieges," Vol. I, lib. II, eax. 2, p. 577.
By the Grace of God, we Philips, Landgrave of Hesse, Count of Katzenelnbogen, of Dietz, of Ziegenhain and of Nidda. To all and everyone, high, middle and lower estates, so this our responsibility and tender occurs, we offer against each fee, our servitude, and all Christian friendly good will. And hereby add manly to know:
I. After our and also our lords' and friends' application and armament, not a little displeasure is spread by our detractors and repugnants, on the following articles, to the most annoying and quite detrimental way.
2. for the time being, as if we should be of the intention to encamp before Frankfurt, and subject to become Roman king.
1) "Application" here will mean: Recruiting people for military service.
Item 3: That we should have displeased and disobeyed the King of France. Maj., our most gracious lord, to displeasure and disobedience in the service of the King of France.
Item 4: That we should be willing and intend to stir up the common man and reinstate the Highborn Prince, Lord Ulrich, Duke of Würtenberg, our dear cousins.
5. to reject such fictitious, grave misfortune, our high necessity will require to do the thing of our cheap application and armor on day.
(6) And hereupon offer to know manfully, that because of such untruthful statement it happens to us quite unpleasantly, and we are lied to shamefully in the same. For we have never been of the will or mind, know ourselves to report that such or such a thing will not happen to us. And we are also of the clear conscience that we have always been loyal to His Imperial Majesty, our allies. Majesty, our most gracious Lord, to all due obedience. Likewise, we have also shown all fairness to the Confederation of Swabia, as an obedient prince related to the Confederation, as we intend, by God's bestowal, to observe all irrevocability and thus to keep it against God, Imperial Majesty, the Confederation of Swabia. Maj., the Confederation of Swabia, all impartial Imperial Estates and manly honorable minds.
7 And in order that we may be rid of such suspicions, it is in the form of the Highborn Prince, Lord Johansen, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen, our kindly dear uncle, brother-in-law, and father-in-law, and for the sake of our nobility:
8 Although the common estates of the Empire unanimously decided at the last Imperial Diet held at Speier that we should keep peace among ourselves by virtue of the Imperial Peace, no one should overreach the other. The Imperial Council at Speier has unanimously resolved that we will keep the peace among ourselves, in virtue of the Imperial Peace, and that none of us will overreach the other, and that it is the duty of any authority to act in matters concerning the Imperial Edict of Worms. Worms Edict, until a common Christian concilium, as they hoped to answer to God and the Imperial Majesty. Majesty.
9) That also for the prevention of outrage in the empire a stately embassy should be dispatched to the imperial majesty in Hispania to report to her majesty of the touched Speier action and farewell, which dispatch, by slight cause, was prevented, no doubt from the fact that some bishops, monks, a long time ago, now by advice, then by this and other manifold deliberation and assembly, were eager,
Until finally God Almighty decrees a heavy fall upon them, that they have moved some great princes into alliance with their practices, against the living, gracious Word of God and His followers, that they have entered into alliance with them, sworn together, and have sworn by oath, as can be seen pathetically in the print. 1)
(10) Now that all things should and must be done and accomplished by God our Creator according to His divine will, all to His praise and glory, in that we always want to stand in humble supplication to His fear, we have undoubtedly also come by God's sending into the experience of such covenants, which are not only against God, nature, Christian love, but also against the holy Roman Empire's peace, against the covenant of Swabia, common order, against all Nuremberg, Augsburg and Speier agreements of the Empire. We have, to our knowledge, not given anyone cause to do so, and would do so unwillingly.
11. Because God Almighty has appointed us to govern our lands and people with Christian faith and the right truth of His divine word, in which alone we have our salvation, and not to be dissuaded from it unrecognized, but to protect ours in doing so, and to defend them as much as possible, and God gives assistance, and to defend them from pernicious harm; 2) and we are then in danger with ours, if our enemies see their advantage, that they must await our grandparents, the Elector of Saxony, and invade us with the strongest and greatest power, and thus the capture and expulsion of land and people, every day:
12. We therefore believe that every pious person who has sense and an impartial and honest mind, considering that in natural and established rights, and therefore in the imperial peace, necessity and resistance are not forbidden, will easily be able to judge and not disapprove, against such a swift alliance and undertakings to make our emergency and counter-defense in time, so that we may withstand the unchristian, unlawful violence, which we shall encounter in an unheard-of matter, and protect ours in equity and justice. And in this
1) From this it is clear that this manifesto is actually only the preface to the text of the covenant printed by the landgrave, No. 829.
2) The thread of connection will be this: Because God has set us before our lands as regents.
We do not seek anything else (that we are called to testify to God), but His, the Lord's, honor, praise and glory, so that His word may remain unpressed, and we and our subjects may remain peaceful.
13. According to all this, we want to have asked manly, of what rank and dignity each is, by God's and the truth's will, with great diligence, if it should be granted to us that we should, for other reasons than those mentioned, stand in armor and for a stubborn restraint of force, so that our people might be secured in peace and be protected from sorrow and suffering, to excuse us from doing so; For we have no desire nor will to arouse rebellion, and would much rather live with our people in peace and Christian unity, and await the outcome of our actions and proceedings in a public hearing, as befits our obedience. But if peace may not befall us in response to our request and entreaty, we will turn the matter over to God and our resistance, and in a cheerful suit we will command ourselves and our fellow warriors to His omnipotence in victory. We also want to ask manfully, that this our letter has been made in no other form, than out of this urgent high necessity, that such misfortune will be granted to us, to reject the same with it. Given under our secret expressed above, on Friday after Vocem Jucunditatis [May 22] Anno 1528.
834. D. Martin Luther's, Melanchthon's, and Bugenhagen's concerns about Pack's alliance. Between May 6 and 12, 1528.
On March 9, 1528, a defensive alliance was concluded in Weimar between the Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave against the Catholic princes. Luther had expressed reservations about this on March 28, 1528 (Walch, St. Louiser Ausg, Vol. X, 548, with the too general heading: "von der Gegenwehr" and the wrong year 1539; in the Erlangen double, once Vol. 54, p. 1 with your date "May? 1528" and Vol. 55, p. 264 "without date 1539"; likewise with De Wette, Vol. Ill, p. 319 and Vol. V, p. 247. The correct date is given and motivated in the Erlangen correspondence, Vol. VI, p. 231). The Landgrave of Hesse had objected to this in a letter dated April II, 1528 (Kolde, Analecta, p. 100 and Erl. Briefw., vol. VI, p. 238). Now another objection arose, for the sake of which the Elector summoned the Wittenberg theologians to Torgau, where they stayed from mid-April to April 21. After that, the Elector and his theologians left for Weimar to conduct negotiations with the Landgrave. On May 5, the
388 Eri. 53,447-449. sec. 1. Mainzer Rathschl. u. Packsches Bündn. No. 834 f. W. XVI, 462-464. 389
The theologians had probably returned to Wittenberg on May 6, and this raised concerns for the Elector. Since in it the sending of envoys to the "murder princes" is demanded, and the Elector's request for the envoy to Würzburg is dated May 14, our concern must have been written before this date (Erl. Briefw., Vol. VI, 259). A copy of our letter is in the Weimar Archives, ReA. H, toi. 29. Printed in the Eisleben edition, vol. I, p. 270C; in the Altenburger, vol. Ill, p. 522; in the Leipziger, vol. XIX, p. 559 and by Walch; in all these editions erroneously attributed to the year 1526. In De Wette, vol. Ill, p. 314 and in the Erlanger, vol. 53, p. 447. Already Seckendorf, Üi8t. CMC, Cd. II, p. 51 u, has recognized that this concern belongs to Pack's alliance. In Walch, this document has the heading: "D. M. Luther's, D. Pomerani's and Melanchthon's Concerns on the Landgrave's Replica, on the Mainzian Alliance."
First of all, we are almost pleased that the attack from this side will continue, for this makes our certainties all the more secure, since we have not yet begun to shed blood, and the world is all the more pleased that we have waited for the attack, and have suffered all sorts of sin] patience, and have sought ways to keep the peace.
2) On the other hand, that a message be sent to His Imperial Majesty in the most conducive manner. Maj. who carry out such treacherous plots, behind his Imperial Majesty's knowledge and will, against his Imperial Majesty's subjects etc., and ask to omit a commandment and to order such murderous princes to stand still?)
Thirdly, however, let the same murder princes request and ask to refrain from such action, because it is against God and law and imperial majesty; as such should be done in the most powerful way with reason and causes. But that it be left to the outside world to reimburse the costs, lest one think that one is seeking war or strife. God will repay us a hundredfold what we have offered for his sake, if we are obliged to do it without that; so that our conscience and happiness will be all the better, since we seek nothing but peace.
4) Fourthly, to do our part, to arm ourselves, to encourage and visit other princes and cities, as God has commanded us, who has done everything without our help.
1) De Wette and the Erlanger: "forbid".
power and counsel, and yet by our fist, tongue and heart, will think, speak and create, as by instruments of His divine wisdom and power.
First, it is not advisable to let the armor come together. For such people are not to be kept; they are falling and spreading.
6th On the other hand, whether one would like to act through other princes or imperial estates with them, so that they would remain silent; and is hope, according to which the people would be, should the answer be given.
7. thirdly, that such a matter be dealt with at the Imperial Diet, and that it be complained of and reported to the other estates what would follow from it.
8. to the fourth, responsio infinita: Our Lord God commanded, as one should do, so they
steis1
nothing / test inter responsiones
835. the excuses of the Churumaints that the specified alliance was a purely fictitious matter. Dated May 27, 1528.
From Hortleder, "Von den Ursachen des deutschen Krieges," Cd. II, Cup. 3, p. 585, where this document is printed from the single edition.
I. We, Albrecht von GOttes Gnaden, of the Holy Roman Church with the title Sancti Petri ad Vincula Cardinal, of the Holy See of Mainz and of the Chapter of Magdeburg Archbishop, Prince, of the Holy Roman Empire through Germania Archchancellor and Primate, Administrator of Halberstadt, Margrave of Brandenburg, of Stettin, Pomerania, Duke of the Cassuben and Wenden, Burgrave of Nuremberg, and Prince of Rügen: We offer our friendly service, greetings, grace and all the best to everyone, regardless of his dignity, rank or nature, and we ask and desire that everyone read, hear and hear this following apology and responsibility, which we, out of our great necessity and no other opinion, hereby testify to, have the utmost cause to do, and to deliver it without any doubts.
(2) And thus: Although there has been a public rumor about the land for a long time, and we have
We have been kindly and faithfully warned by various high and low people, how the highborn prince, Mr. Philipp, landgrave of Hesse, is to overrun us and our archbishopric in brave, serious armor and business, etc., but which we at all times, considering many high and constant causes, give no credence to, and especially to those: Firstly, that for the sake of all error and infirmity, pending between the two of us, we stand in amicable action before the most venerable in God Father, Lord Reicharten, Archbishop of Trier, Elector, our dear friend. Secondly, that we are bound and obligated to each other in the union of the laudable alliance of Swabia, which gives a special form and measure, so that one would have a say and demand to the other, how he should seek the same. Thirdly, that Landgrave Philip has granted us a brave and respectable fiefdom. And fourthly, with regard to the common, public, proclaimed land peace, also the unanimous agreement made at Speier, which we have agreed to, established, sealed, and committed ourselves to keep. Thus, we cannot or may not consider or remember for what causes or reasons the aforementioned our uncle, Landgrave Philip, could or may have overreached us or our archbishopric and monastery.
3. About this, and in order that we should never feel anything lacking, which would serve for peace and unity, prevention of rebellion in the holy realm, and for the prevention of Christian bloodshed, we have, in response to the common rumor and manifold credible warnings that have ever reached us with greater difficulty, sent our ambassadors to our dear grandfather, Landgrave Philippsen, with credence and instructions, we have sent our ambassadors to our dear grandfather, Landgrave Philippsen, with credence and instruction, and have kindly requested and asked him to inform us that we should provide him with such his armor and common rumor and excellent warning etc. Our envoys, however, did not receive a more vocal answer about their vehement persistence, whereupon security of the attack could have been felt, much less is some cause of discord indicated.
4th And so we were in doubt for and for, and did not know what we should provide for our grandfather, the landgrave, until Saturday, the third and twentieth day of the month of May, of the present year, we were informed by the well-born, worthy, strict, firm, highly learned and honorable, Roman, imperial majesty, office administrators and councillors of the
Imperial Regiment, now at Speier, a writing and besides a copy of a supposed alliance, so the noble, highborn prince, Mr. Ferdinand, King of Hungary and Bohemia etc., imperial majesty governor in the holy empire etc., our dear lord and uncle, together with several princes and princes, ecclesiastical and secular, should have entered into and undertaken to overrun and overwhelm, to drive out and to expel the highborn princes, Mr. Hansen, Duke of Saxony, Elector etc., and Mr. Philippsen, Landgrave of Hesse, obgemeldt etc. In addition, we have received a public notice, under the above-mentioned Landgrave Philippsen's name and title, in print, in which it is stated in no uncertain terms that the above-mentioned supposed alliance is to be the cause of their, the two Electors and Princes', trade, armament and plans.
5. Since we are also named and specified in the copy of the alleged alliance, and the imperial regiment indicates in the above-mentioned letter attached to us that the above-mentioned alleged alliance is the cause of the armament and trade in which both princes, Saxony and Hesse, stand: Our high necessity requires "that it may be publicly and clearly understood that such an accusation of the alleged alliance is wholly innocent of us, and that the two princes and sovereigns have no reason or justification to make our excuses.
6 And thereupon say, in true faith and belief, by our electoral honors and dignities, that to hear such a covenant is strange and weird to us, and we bear no knowledge of it. Nor have we ever spoken or acted with anyone, high or low, about it, nor have we given anyone any order about it, orally or in writing, nor have we had or arranged for anyone to come to the place where the above-mentioned supposed covenant was to be established, nor have we therefore ever been spoken to or requested by anyone, before or after. To which it is not found that this alleged covenant was sealed with our seal, or that the one who, as the copy indicates, should have been ordered by us to do so, was designated or named for this purpose. About this, no one in life may truthfully say that anyone of us has ever had any command for this reason. And of this for our several true excuses we refer to our friend, the Archbishop of Cologne, Elector etc., that of Nassau and the Dutch Counts with whom
As the copy of the alleged alliance shows, we should act to help or stop them, that for this reason nothing has come to them from us, neither in writing, orally or in any other way; so that we know ourselves completely free and certain of the same accusation of the alleged alliance drawn up, from which they derive the causes of their war. Therefore we can and may say with constant truth, and publicly declare, that such accusation of the alliance is imputed to us. For we have never taken or thought such a thing in our mind and spirit, let alone in fact.
7. And if we had ever been confident, even entirely confident, that such a supposed alliance, or something like it, would have reached the two Electors and Princes, Saxony and Hesse, against us: Considering the friendship, kinship, covenant and feudal relationship in which they stand and stand by us, they should not immediately and easily give credence to this, have taken it into their serious minds, have behaved and acted in such a way behind them, have put on their armor and have let us know with a ready and armed hand: but have asked us beforehand for a friendly opinion, as they would have liked, and inquired about the true reason, or at least, when we sent the landgrave through our councillors, as reported above, and met him with a straight answer of peace, and the same our councillors, for the sake of all claims and demands, which he, the landgrave, thinks he has on us, have turned to the Roman Imperial Majesty, our most gracious Lord etc., royal dignity of Hungary and Bohemia etc. , her majesty's governor, regiment, chamber court, all princes, princes and estates of the empire, the laudable alliance of Swabia and the burgomaster or builder of the castle of Friedburg; they should have given us notice and report of such cause of their intended move, or have accepted the superfluous legal bid at the least. Thereupon we wanted to meet them with a princely, friendly and amicable answer (where they otherwise loved peace and were not inclined to arouse any uproar in the realm for the purpose of maintaining the peace of the land), so that such armament and trade on our part should have been completely unnecessary for them. Therefore, in the letter sent out by Landgrave Philippsen in print, we are unjustly (as can only be judged by men) so highly urged, and it is reported as a cause of their armament, that peace may not be granted to them upon their request and entreaty.
8. When, however, our friendly request and offer of rights, also unification and relationship, and everything as mentioned above, did not take place or help, and the Landgrave sent himself the longer the more in armor on horseback and on foot, the common rumor spread the more diligently, and we received something, First of all, we have been warned by high, middle and lower estates of a swift move to the friendliest, most faithful and serious, that we also received a strong suspicion and belief that such a trade on foot of three thousand strong, was first placed on our land, the Ringgaw 1), and there re-mustered:
In the end, we are highly induced and urged to send and place ourselves in counter-armament for our, our foundation's and subjects' stay and protection, shield and defense, not at little cost and burden to our and our poor subjects. Not to overreach, insult or damage anyone, against the common law, the imperial peace and the taken leave of Speier, but, as mentioned above, to keep him from unreasonable force. For we, as a prince of the Holy Roman Empire, intend to abide by the land peace, imperial decrees and farewells established by the Emperor, our most gracious lord, as well as by the covenants, obediently, in accordance with and in all fairness, as we have lived and followed them in all due obedience, as may not otherwise be imposed upon us in truth, in all matters, points and articles, to the best of our ability.
10. It has also never been our mind, will and opinion, and not yet, to suppress or prevent the divine word, and what may serve for the honor and praise of God the Almighty, also for the promotion of the love of neighbor in some way, as we have also never been contrary to it, as we may in all innocence wish to do, but our highest mind and thoughts, as a Christian prince, are always directed and inclined towards planting, increasing and promoting the same, as far as our reason and ability extend. Where it also comes about that order and reformation of the Christian religion is undertaken, of which we have never been lacking, nor should we be, we want to show ourselves in such a way, prove and hold that our just mind, will and good opinion shall be felt and found in the works. No less are our inclination, diligence and desire, peace
1) Rheingau?
and unity in the Holy Empire as much as possible, and to promote the common good and welfare of the entire German nation, as we owe it as a member of the Empire, and have done in all our actions and changes up to now, and hopefully have not been noted otherwise by men. We also want to act and do this faithfully, as far as our property extends.
11 After all this, we ask, remind and request everyone, as stated above, most kindly, graciously and graciously, to attribute this letter of ours first of all to our great need, and to no other form or opinion, and to give complete credence to our needy excuse, as it is in truth. That we have also sent ourselves alone to defend ourselves and to stay in armor, not in the mood to overreach anyone, but to keep the imperial peace and the imperial treaty at Speier. And with this, we wish to reiterate all claims and demands that the above-mentioned two [princes] think they have on us or our] 1) subjects, concerning the above-mentioned supposed alliance, which is innocently made to us, or whatever it may be, on Roman. Imperial Majesty, our most gracious Lord, Royal Dignity of Hungary and Bohemia, Her Majesty's Governor in the Holy Empire, and the Imperial Regiment, Court of Appeal, also all impartial princes, ecclesiastical and secular princes, prelates, counts, knights, in addition the laudable Union of Swabia, the free and imperial cities, and otherwise all impartial respectability, due justice and all equity;
And therefore we have asked and admonished everyone, whatever his dignity and standing, finally and most kindly, not to be moved by anyone to take any action or attack against us, our monasteries and subjects, to some advice or help, beyond our truthful apology and superfluous offer of rights. We want to take comfort and care of each one of them according to all respectability and fairness, and in turn we want to earn, settle, blame and be unforgiven to recognize this kindly, amicably and graciously. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our seal in this letter, which is given at St. Martin's Castle in our city of Mainz, the seventh and twentieth day of May, anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo vicesimo octavo.
1) Added by us.
836: Prince Joachim's responsibility against Hesse and Saxony for the alleged alliance. May 25, 1528.
In Spalatin's Annals, p. 120 and Hortleder, l. c. S. 588.
a) Our most gracious lord, the Elector of Brandenburg, writing to the Count of
Hesse went out.
1. our friendly services, and what we are able to do dear and good, always before that highborn prince, dear grandfather! The Highborn Prince, Mr. George, Duke of Saxony, Landgrave in Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen, our friendly dear uncle, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, has informed us today by message from his love, that your love has sent to his love a copy of a supposed alliance, which has been signed by the Royal Serene Highness of Hungary and Bohemia, also by our friendly dear lord and brother, the Cardinal, Archbishop and Elector of Mainz etc.., his beloved, us and other princes, ecclesiastical and secular, recorded in the notel of the same covenant, against our uncle, brother-in-law and brother, the Elector of Saxony and your beloved, at Breslau, to be erected, securitized, sealed and sworn, written: for this reason your beloved have put on armor, sent to defend themselves, and do not want to wait for the cheek strike, with further contents, we have received in instruction.
Now it is not without, various legends have reached us because of your love's armor, and namely that your love is supposed to be meant to touch our friendly dear lord and brother, the Cardinal; but we have not been able to find out what causes your love to do so, and now note from this that it should also apply to the rest of us. If, however, your beloved has no other motive for rebellion than the alleged fabricated alliance, it would have been proper for your beloved, before they burdened themselves with such expenses, to ask us and the other electors and princes about it and to hear our answer, so your beloved shall certainly have it for what has happened to it; it shall also not have been denied for our part, but shall have been reported without fear. Likewise, the other princes and rulers, whom you reported, would have known how to keep to the fee; but if such a fictitious, unstable copy, which your beloved sent to her grandfather and father, has so much falsehood in it, it can never be produced [or] reported with any truthful original:
3. Thus we bear no small complaint and dismay that your beloved, unhearing the rest of us, gives credence to the inconstant request, and so accuses us with inconstancy, to denigrate us against males; yet we bear pity that your beloved thus lets itself be seduced to sedition with inconstant, untrue lies, from which your beloved, her lands and people, may arise ruin and harm; and may not refrain from answering for such unfounded impositions in this way: That he who has told your beloved of such a fictitious covenant, has seen the original, has found our names, handwriting and seals therein, or has read the same, or has understood the copies, is a desperate, dishonorable, perjured villain, and may never make this true with truth; and ask your beloved to know who the lying man is, who has invented such things and told you, so that we may know to beware of such a lying villain; for if it should not happen, we would be caused to think that your beloved had invented it himself, and would seek cause for unkind will against us. 1) If this cannot be otherwise, although we are not inclined to rebellion, but would rather have peace, we must therefore take it for granted, and find counsel with our lords and friends to send against it; provide us, the other princes and princes, as reported in the fabricated alliance, if such reaches their love, they will know well how to keep to the truth with a due answer. For the majority of them have not been to Breslau, nor to our knowledge have had their message there; we may also not remember that your love, nor even the Elector of Saxony in disgrace (2) has been thought of by royal majesty, nor by the rest of us, much less that an alliance has been set up against you. Therefore, it is well due to your love, according to our friendly, documented, sealed and sworn pledge and alliance, to inform us in time and of such unfounded, untrue statements of their concerns and intentions, and to inquire about the truth. Accordingly, our friendly request is that your beloved inform us by this messenger that our friendly dear brother, the Cardinal, Archbishop and Elector of Mainz, and we, to your beloved, are in agreement.
1) As can be seen here, there is such a great similarity between this letter to the Landgrave and that of Duke George (No. 832) that it must be assumed that Joachim received a copy of it before he wrote this letter.
2) In Spalatin: "not" instead of: "ever".
For this reason, we should finally provide ourselves with the opportunity and need to keep up our efforts. For if we should be overtaken by your love with action unawares and through sworn alliance and agreement, we would almost be run over. And our necessity, together with our lords and friends, requires us to use our resistance against this, although we are kindly inclined to serve your love in other ways, as long as we can be assured of this again from your love. We request a reliable answer to this. Date Cologne on the Spree, 3) on Monday after Exaudi [May 25] Anno etc. 28.
To the Landgrave of Hesse.
b. Des Churfürsten zu Brandenburg Schrift, an [den] Churfürsten zu Sachsen ausgangen.
1. our friendly services and what we can do dear and good always before. Highborn Prince, dear uncle, brother-in-law and brother! The Highborn Prince, Mr. George, Duke of Saxony, Landgrave in Thuringia, and Margrave of Meissen, our friendly dear uncle and brother-in-law, has informed us today by his dear message that the Highborn Prince, our dear uncle, the Landgrave of Hesse, to his dear one, with the transmission of a copy of a supposed alliance, so from Royal Serenity to Hungary and Bohemia, also to our friendly dear Lord and brother, the Cardinal, Archbishop and Elector of Mainz etc., his love, us and other princes, ecclesiastical and secular, in the notel of the same covenant, against your and his loved ones shall be set up, sealed and sworn, written, therefore his love put on armor and sent to counterattack. And although various tales of his love's armor have come to us, namely that his love is meant to attack our friendly dear lord and brother, we have not been able to find out what causes his love to do so, and now note from this that it should also apply to the rest of us. But if his love has no other motive for the rebellion than the alleged, fabricated alliance, then it would have been well for his love, before it loaded itself with such armor and indignation, to send it to us and the other princes and princes, and to hear our answer. His love should certainly have it for that, if it happens, it should not be denied to him by us.
3) Both here and in the following" letter, Spalatin says "Sprew" and Walch "Spreu".
The other princes and sovereigns should also have been aware of the fee. For it can never be shown with credible appearance that at Breslau or elsewhere such a fictitious alliance has ever been proposed or spoken of in any way, much less approved, established and executed. For it is entirely an untrue and fictitious statement, and neither the original nor a permanent copy of the fictitious alliance, which we should have approved, may be shown. Therefore, his beloved has refrained from unsteady instruction, by false, fabricated letters, to induce us, unheard, to such armament, as indicated to us, but has, according to our attested, sealed and sworn agreement and covenant, so that we [are] close to each other, reported this, and has not so notorious us along with others, perhaps in the opinion to disparage us against males by this, which, however, his beloved has neither reason nor cause for fairness.
(2) Accordingly, we want to take care that your love does not give any place or credence to such unfounded claims, which will never be found to have any reason or truth, and that we reject them from our elders, the landgraves, in the same way as we take care of your love according to our kinship. For we are kindly inclined to serve your love. Date Cologne on the Spree, on Monday after Exaudi [May 25] Anno etc. 28.
To the Elector of Saxony.
Also, kind dear uncle, brother-in-law and brother, we send to E. L. herewith closed for copying, that we, according to our necessity, have written this matter to our uncle, the landgrave, from which E. L. may find out truth, reason and occasion of the matters. Date ut sup.
837. apology of the bishop of Würzburg. May 28, 1528.
This document was published under the title: "Entschuldigung Hrn. Conraden, Bischof zu Würzburg und Herzog zu Francken, aus die vermeinte und erdichte Verbündnis, welcher Copey lulich ausgegangen ist". Quarto. Reprinted in Hortleder, 1.0. p. 590.
1. to all and any, ecclesiastical and secular, of the Holy Roman Empire, princes, prelates, counts, freemen, knights, servants, officials, guardians, governors, mayors, burgesses, and all other persons of the Holy Roman Empire.
We offer Conrad von GOttes Gnaden, Bishop of Würzburg, and Duke of Franconia, our friendly service, friendship, friendly and favorable greeting beforehand.
2. venerable in God fathers, highborn, reverend, and highborn princes; venerable, wellborn, dignified, noble, strict, highly learned, seste, honorable and wise, special dear lords, friends, and dear special ones! Your loved ones and you are undoubtedly well aware and unaware of the fact that for some time there has been a noticeable trade of soldiers and footmen among some estates in the Holy Roman Empire, and especially the highborn princes, our special dear lords and friends, Mr. John, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshal of the Holy Roman Empire. Roman Empire's Archmarshall, Elector, Landgrave in Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen, and Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, Count of Katzenelnbogen, of Ziegenhain, Dietz and Nidda, have taken up great and public arms.
3. Although there has been much and various talk about these trades and armaments, and the common clamor and the landlubbers have rung out loudly in more than one place, it has been reported that our lords and friends from Saxony and Hesse are planning to overrun and rape us and our monastery: Nevertheless, considering that we did not know how to send anything unpleasant with their loved ones, we did not give them any cause for displeasure and unfriendship, and then we came to a friendly agreement with our friend from Hesse, and his love is our and our monastery's obligated vassal; and especially because in the name of and on account of the Roman Emperor, we are not able to do anything against them. kais. Majesty, our most gracious Lord, a common public mandate has gone out, and with excellent pleadings it has been commanded that every imperial state refrain completely from any violent action and attack against the imperial peace. They should not want to give any credence to it, but rather, if they thought they had some demands and sayings to us, our monastery or ours, that they would do so, by virtue of the Holy Roman Empire's order and the imperial peace, which is guaranteed by their own laws, in the name of the Holy Roman Empire. They have sought this against us through their love and other princes and estates at the most recent Imperial Diet held at Worms, and have granted, promised and accepted it, so that we should have no lack of justice and all equity.
4. But when we received that the above-mentioned lords and friends of Saxony and Hesse strengthened themselves for and for, we also received one warning over the other, how such of their dear intentions would certainly go against us and our foundation; And our friend from Hesse, as we received the credible report, let himself be heard openly, as he should have good reason and justification for his intention, and as soon as he had horse and foot in considerable numbers, and a good cannon, he encamped in and on the borders, very soon at our foundation, for the strongest. Therefore we, on such approach, have humbly and humbly requested help and rescue by our subjects, with the indication that they have been credibly reported and seriously warned by their brothers-in-law and friends, if they were seated among the above-mentioned our lords and friends of Saxony and Hesse, that a military campaign should pass over us and our subjects. So that we do not leave our subjects with help, we have, out of necessity, not in the opinion of overrunning, raping or damaging anyone, but, if we or our subjects wanted to be overrun, raped or damaged by someone, we had to take on some warriors to protect and shield us from such violence, and to send and arm ourselves for resistance; As we are also required to do by the captains and councilors of the laudable League of Swabia, on account of the proper handling of the Holy Roman Empire's land peace and full powers. We have been admonished and requested to do so by the captains and councillors of the noble League of Swabia on account of the proper handling of the Holy Roman Empire's land peace and the implementation of the aforementioned agreement.
(5) It has come to pass that we have been asked by our Lord and friend of Saxony, Elector 2c, his dear, and also our Lord and friend, the Landgrave of Hesse 2c, Councillors, for the sake of some incidental matters, on account of both their dear ones, to advertise with us, to conduct them, whereupon we have had their councillors conducted here to our city of Wuerzburg with written and live escort as a friendly favor to their dear ones. And when they, the councilors, arrived, they appeared before us, our cathedral chaplains, knighthood and some of our countryside, at our request, and in a free public interrogation they made their advertisement, according to an instruction, which instruction they handed over to us in writings and had it read out. And reads from word to word thus:
Instruction, what our, by God's Grace Johann, Duke of Saxony and Elector etc., and Philippsen, Landgraves of Hesse, Councillors and dear faithful, Hans von Minckwitz, Knight etc., and Contz Gotzman, Werner von Waldenstein and Jörg Nuß
bicker, the younger, to the most reverend in God and special dear friend, Conrad, Bishop of Wuerzburg and Duke of Franconia.
First, to report our kind service to his love, as usual, and then to speak the following opinion:
1st Gracious Prince and Lord! Our most gracious and gracious Lords have commanded us to inform E. F. G. that although their Electoral and Princely Grace and glory know that and Princely Grace know that their Electoral and Princely Grace has no one. Although their electoral and princely graces know with special honor that their electoral and princely graces have not been subject to anyone, and previously to F. G., to ordinary law or other equity, and that they have never shown any other than friendly, neighborly and good will to F. G., as their friend and neighbor, their electoral and princely graces are nevertheless in credible certainty. Their Electoral and Princely Graces have come into credible and certain experience, to the effect that all sorts of things have happened and occurred for some time, from which their C. F. and F. G. have received such strong suspicions that Their Electoral and Princely Graces are justifiably and unquestionably aware of this. They also hope to make it appear necessary to do so at his and the appropriate time.
(2) Namely, that the Holy Roman Empire has entered into an alliance and obligation with some of its C.F. and F.G. through their authorized councils, and among others against the proclaimed imperial peace and especially against the treaty that was unanimously decided at the Imperial Diet at Speier. They are of the opinion that the Holy Roman Emperor and the Holy Roman Emperor, together with others of their kinsmen, have committed themselves to a covenant on matters concerning the holy divine word and gospel, which their electoral and princely graces have conferred upon them by the granting of the Holy Roman Emperor and the Holy Roman Emperor. Grace by bestowal of the graces of Almighty God in their C. F. and F. G. lands and principalities, in praise of God and out of his divine obedience (which their C. F. and F. G., like every Christian, owe and are owed obedience to all others) have had preached for some time, and ceremonies held in accordance with the same, in such a way that their C. F. and F. G., by virtue of the Speierian farewell touched upon, are obliged to trust God and Imperial Majesty and their male counterparts. Maj. and male trust, to attack and overrun their C. F. and F. G. and their country and people with war and feud, and to deprive C. F. and F. G. of their rights. F. and F. G. from the land and people miserably, wretchedly, unaccused, innocently, and without any previous proper interrogation, and in such a way that such unkind and powerful authorities hardly experience more, wanted to help to chase away: all
according to the further contents of the same covenant, which we have been ordered to send to E. F. G. Copei.
3) And although it would not have been unreasonable for her electoral and princely graces [that she] would have done so, and on such pledged and bonded enmity. and Princely Graces, [that they] thereupon and upon such vowed and joined enmity, for the protection, protection and salvation of their Electoral and Princely Graces and their country and people. and their country and people's best and advantage, they would have stopped the same action by force, also to reach E. F. G. Landschaft and to complain to E. F. G. about the same: nevertheless, and irrespective of how unkindly they acted against their Electorate and Princely Grace in this matter, they have acted in the same way. and Princely Grace, their Electoral and Princely Grace have, firstly, acted unkindly against their Electoral and Princely Grace. and Princely Grace have first of all acted in a manner befitting in the sight of God for the prevention of rising and other troublesome complaints, and subsequently Roman Imperial Majesty, their All-Gracious Majesty, the Holy Roman Emperor, the Holy Roman Emperor, the Holy Roman Emperor. Majesty, their most gracious Lord, and for the third (although this has been considered little or not at all by their C. F. and F. Gn.) the neighborhood, and especially so that it may be noted how much more their Elector and Princely Grace are in favor of peace than of discord. and Princely Grace are more inclined to peace than to discord, and E. F. G. nor anyone honorable. F. G. does not desire anyone's honor, goods, land or people, and for this reason intends to have us, as the skilful and for this purpose with full power dispatched councillors, deal with E. F. G. by way of peace.
(4) For if we note that the F. G. will refrain from many of the covenants and undertakings touched upon and will be inclined to do to their C. F. and F. G. such assurance and assecuration, together with their chapter and estates of their countryside, as the F. G. will in equity, according to the form and occasion of this transaction, be inclined to do, and we have further and special orders for the sake of such articles of peace and assecuration that the F. G. will refrain from such and such undertakings on account of this or other matters, but will not be subject to any further action against their C. F. and F. G. and the heirs of the same. F. G. refrain from such and suchlike actions for the sake of this or any other matter, but rather, against their C.F. and F. Gn. and their heirs, as well as against your Grace's land and people, to be content with equal rights for themselves, their chapter, and also their descendants, and to renounce and renounce the much touched connection; in addition, their Electoral and Princely Graces are to be relieved of the damage caused by this. and Princely Graces the damage to which their Electoral and Princely Graces are entitled. We have the order, also the power and authority from our C. F. and F. G., with E. F. G., that such peace and assurance be finally executed and established with us without delay,
5. to act on this and in this way to let us be heard further, so that for the sake of their C. F. and F. G., there should be no lack of that which is useful for the prevention of harm and other troublesome complaints and for lasting peace and rights in the realm, also that in all of this their C. F. and F. G. [love for peace] 1) should be felt.
6 And their C. F. and F. G. have not wished to leave this undisclosed to E. F. G. for the best and for peace, nor to notice the same in any other way than that it requires great necessity on the part of their C. F. and F. G.; which their C. F. and F. Graces are kindly inclined to deserve in this case.
To such we reply and let action take care as follows:
1. the most reverend prince and lord, lord Conrad, bishop of Wuerzburg and duke of Franconia, my most gracious lord, has commanded me to send you, the strict, honorable and firm, most noble, highborn princes and lords, lord Johansen, duke of Saxony etc., and Mr. Philipsen, Landgrave of Hesse, my most gracious and gracious lords, ordered councilors and embassies, on applications and advertisements, which they have received by virtue of the churfürstl. and Princely Credence and Instruction, and to my keeping, that, although my most gracious and gracious Lords of Saxony [and] of Hesse, behave towards my most gracious Lord of Wuerzburg etc. with all kindness and good neighborly will, and provide again, also law and all things against S. 2) F. Gn., and have never been: they have nevertheless come into credible experience, and have also received good reason to believe that the said my gracious Lord of Wuerzburg, of the Holy Roman Empire, has not violated the land peace established by the Holy Roman Empire. The church and the church of the Holy Roman Empire, and the recently made and unanimously approved treaty at Speier, have entered into an alliance in the opinion that they, along with several others, have joined together with their F. G. in order that their C. F. and F. G. may preach the Holy Gospel more loudly. They want to expel them from their country without being accused or prosecuted, and to expel them in such a wretched form as has ever been heard, all according to the copy of the agreement that was handed over. And although their C. F. and F. G. immediately without any further
1) Added by us.
2) Walch: "E." instead of: "S."
The C.F. and the F.G., considering what great bloodshed, death and evil would result from this, have ordered you and your embassy to request permanent peace from my gracious Lord of Würzburg, considering what great bloodshed, death, destruction and harm would result from this, have ordered you, their embassy, and will not refrain from requesting my gracious Lord of Wuerzburg for permanent peace, with notice where my gracious Lord of Wuerzburg again renounces and refuses the alliance made against them, and of this sufficient assurance and assurance, together with their F. G. cathedral chapters, also estates of the countryside, for their princely lords. G., all their descendants and foundation, that they will not take any action against my most gracious and gracious Lord of Saxony and Hesse and their heirs in perpetuity, and that they will also relinquish and pay the expired war costs, their C. F. and F. G. want to accept the peace later, and give this as an answer in accordance with the advertising and instructions that have been given, which I do not want to have diminished or increased:
2. his F. G. cannot and do not know anything else to hear from the aforementioned advertisement and instruction, except that my most gracious and gracious Lord of Saxony and Hesse has been reported by my gracious Lord of Würzburg etc. If this were not the case, my gracious Lord of Wuerzburg does not doubt that such advertising and instructions have been omitted by their C. F. and F. G.; for His Princely Grace, without glory, is the only one who has been informed of this. Gnaden know that during their reign, as befits a laudable, honorable, ecclesiastical prince of the Holy Roman Empire, and that they have kept the established peace of the country, order, and agreements, as diligently as possible, and that their F. G. Nor have his sovereigns placed in any mountain that it is their right and due, as a spiritual prince of the Holy Roman Empire, to keep peace before others, and that if there should ever be strife and discord, they should use diligence to turn it to peaceful ways. For this reason, His Grace has always and in all cases, when matters have arisen between my most gracious and gracious lords and you, allowed them to act by friendly letters and messages, as you, the envoys, have knowledge of, and can prove with writings, and have sought nothing more than peace, and still want peace.
have nothing dearer than peace, have also never been willing to overdraw their C. F. and F. Gn. or to weigh them down in other unfair ways.
(3) The aforementioned my gracious Lord of Würzburg has neither received nor heard of the alleged covenant, the copy of which has been handed over, until this day, when it was handed over by you, the envoys; and is therefore not unaware of it, first of all also and because it is stated therein in a common way that his F. Gn. at Breslau by one of the same councillors, who, however, is not named, shall have accepted and sworn to the same agreement; which, without doubt, has been done and brought about in a malicious manner, but for the benefit of my most gracious lord of Wuerzburg, who would like to cause discord between my most gracious lords of Saxony and Hesse and my most gracious lord of Wuerzburg, as well as other members of the Holy Roman Empire; for my gracious lord of Wuerzburg cannot remember that they have ever seen one of his F. Gn. Gn. Councillors to Breslau, and even less to the time, as the supposed copy reads, as one has to inquire about it with those of Breslau. My most gracious lord of Würzburg also says, with his princely dignities and true words, that his Grace not only did not accept or make an alliance according to the alleged copy, but never took such in mind nor thought to do so; and that is even more, such was not even sought from his Grace. Gn. has not been sought at all. And so that my most gracious and gracious Lords of Saxony and Hesse may have sufficient faith in this, His Grace hereby undertakes and binds Himself: where it is shown, and as is justly enough proven, that His Grace has made or accepted such a covenant, they will suffer punishment for it, to life and limb and to property, as is recognized, and for this reason have justly offered to Their Grace. and F. Gn., have justly offered to the Roman Imperial Majesty, our most gracious Lord, the Majesty's Governor and Regiment in the Holy Roman Empire, also to the Chamber Court and before the Estates of the noble Union of Swabia, also before the most reverend, most illustrious, high-born Princes, Mr. Reicharten, Archbishop of Trier, and Mr. Ludwigen, Count Palatine of the Rhine, both Electors, my most gracious lords, as well as other impartial princes of the Holy Roman Empire, such as and, in addition, before all the counts, lords and knights of the Holy Roman Empire.
in Saxony, Hesse, Trier, the Palatinate, Swabia and Franconia.
4. besides, my gracious lord of Wuerzburg does not want you to behave that the royal dignity of Hungary and Bohemia, as they want to move into the country of Hungary, let his sovereign lords by their noble embassy, the noble, strict, and firm lords Albrechten of Wolfstein and lord Dilmann of Breme, knight etc., for a rifle service and help on credence and instruction, which his Grace, however, for obvious reasons, may not grant and refused, nor did their royal dignities provide any help, neither with money nor otherwise, but only lent two rifle masters, on their royal dignities' entertainment, for their campaign in Hungary. In this context, it must again be assumed that the alleged copy, which reports eight thousand guilders, has or may have no reason.
5 And because of all this, my gracious Lord of Würzburg will provide that my most gracious and gracious Lords of Saxony and Hesse will keep to the proposed holy imperial peace and unanimously approved imperial farewell at Speier; as then his F. Gn. to do, and to promote the word of God, not only willingly, but also to be guilty, and have so far done possible diligence, by virtue of the aforementioned farewell, and thus his F. Gn. Their subjects uncovered and undamaged, and also their supposed attitude of peace assurance and assurance, since his Grace has not broken the same peace, and even less overcome any breach, but has kept and still intends to do so in accordance with the peace of the land and the alliance agreement, such as for the sake of the desired war costs, refrain from such presumptuous demands, since his Grace has not given any reason for this. Gn. have no cause for this, and are not at all to blame for it, nor have my most gracious and gracious Lord of Saxony and Hesse been willing to spend the same on account of his F. Gn. For their C. F. and F. Gn., if they had let such things reach his F. Gn. with a bad letter, might well have received this truthful answer, and that his F. Gn. would be inclined to keep nothing but peace, and to show their C. and F. Gn. friendly service; this my gracious Lord of Würzburg will gladly and willingly earn for their C. and F. Gn.
6th And since my most gracious and gracious lords of Saxony and Hesse report more than once that their C. and F. Gn. seek nothing more than peace: for this my gracious lord of Würzburg is
with diligence, but knows of no better measure than the Holy Roman Empire's established land peace to speak or act. But if my most gracious and gracious lords of Saxony and Hesse know of a better one, and indicate it to His Grace, they will hear it, consider it, and allow themselves to be heard in all fairness and equity.
The envoys took this into consideration until future Wednesdays, and so on the same day presented it to us again in public interrogation, as follows:
Reverend in God, gracious Prince and Lord! We have heard the content of the answer which Your Grace gave yesterday to our instruction and advertisement on behalf of the most noble, highborn Princes and Lords, our most gracious and gracious Lords of Saxony and Hesse. Gn. again, as Your Grace heard yesterday from the aforementioned advertisement and instruction of ours, that our most gracious and gracious Lords, among other things, have instructed us to act primarily for peace and good will with Your Grace. Therefore, once again, our humble request that E.F.Gn. will engage in the action of the articles that we have indicated and ordered to be discovered, as far as they concern peace and assurance; however, where E.F.Gn. wanted to insist on the given answer is not without, we have orders to further indicate to our most gracious and gracious lords.
2 Since we are concerned that this will do little for peace and unity, we have decided, in order to prevent all kinds of harm and mischief that might result from this, to report such an answer given to our most gracious and gracious lords verbally and to report it, and then to hand it over in writing. The opinion and opportunity of their C. and F. Grace shall then be made known in writing. Furthermore, as far as peace is concerned, we cannot report or act on anything, with the humble request that Your Grace will excuse us for our person in this matter.
Then we let it be said that we had heard the present argument, which was even to the effect that they, the envoys, were ready to seek peace and security, which peace we, no less than they, were inclined to seek and keep. But because the words of peace and security were somewhat broad, we asked for a brief consideration; and after that we had
The court will continue to allow this opinion to be expressed by considering and repeating the requests made by the envoys:
The most reverend Prince and Lord, my gracious Lord of Wuerzburg, commands me to speak this opinion: it was heard yesterday in the answer given by his F. Gn. that his F. Gn. sought and still seeks and desires nothing more than to keep the peace, that also S. F. Gn. has never been willing, and still is not willing, to do or act anything unpleasant against my most gracious and gracious Lords of Saxony and Hesse, but rather to remain with the Imperial Peace and the most recent Speier Peace. Thus, the mind and opinion of his F. Grace would still be in favor of everything that would promote peace and unity, as well as friendly service and neighborliness to both my most gracious and gracious Lords of Saxony and Hesse. However, since the article concerning peace and security is in need of purification, and H.F.G. is reluctant to refuse peace, it should be understood, as heard yesterday, that H.F.G. should undertake to give assurance, and thus understood and judged as if H.F.G. had violated the peace and not acted as befits a prince of the Holy Roman Empire, and thus had imposed something on H.F.G.. F. Gnie. something that they are innocent of, because they have always behaved princely and well, and not otherwise than according to the imperial peace. My most gracious and gracious Lords of Saxony and Hesse will not think, think, or do anything against his F. Grace, because she has always been princely and well, and not in any other way than according to the imperial peace. neither want nor intend nor desire to commit themselves to a thing of which they are innocent, and thus impose upon themselves that which they have not done; but where the peace is meant to be made and established, his Grace let themselves be heard yesterday in the answer that they know of no better peace than the land peace established by the Emperor; but where they otherwise want a peace and agreement which is first of all of Papal Holiness, of Imperial Highness, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Holy Roman Empire. Holiness, Imperial Majesty Majesty, the land peace and order of the empire, the laudable union of Swabia, and other princes with whom His Grace is in friendly agreement, His Grace will gladly hear about it, and will be pleased to hear about it. will be pleased to hear of it, and to show and hold themselves in such a way to my most gracious and gracious Lords of Saxony and Hesse for friendly, official experience that it should be felt that his F. Grace seek, desire, have and hold peace, and in all that which is equal, right and proper, that they are in peace.
and justly, do not want to get anything. And after they, the envoys, have indicated that they will bring his F. Grace's answer to my most gracious and gracious Lords of Saxony and Hesse. And after they, the envoys, have indicated that they will bring an answer to my most gracious and gracious lords of Saxony and Hesse, and that their minds will be on letting their f. gn. know in writings, his f. gn. express their highest gratitude to them, the envoys, and want to recognize this in their gracious will; and they hope that my most gracious and gracious lords of Saxony and Hesse will offer their f. gn. more than sufficient assistance and let them know of the open mind that they have. They will understand the open mind that leads to peace, and will be satisfied with this answer, and will not take any unpleasant action against their F. Grace or their kinsmen, but will keep and show themselves in accordance with the order of the realm and the peace of the land, and especially my gracious Lord Landgrave Philip of Hesse etc. will keep and show himself in accordance with the covenant agreement. This is what his F. Gn. want to kindly earn and owe against their C. and F. Gn.
Accordingly, the Saxon and Hessian envoys etc.They wish, as they have previously offered, to faithfully and diligently present to our lords and friends of Saxony and Hesse the oral and written answer they have given, and they have no doubt that their love will be shown and acted upon, as is due and well suited to them, and will also be irrevocable; They therefore want to have taken their leave and thanked all graciousness with a humble request to escort them again with a living escort to the places where they were accepted into the escort, and to offer that they may act for the benefit of their persons in these matters between our lords and friends of Saxony and Hesse and us, which they wanted to do most humbly and not let anything happen to them.
Hereupon we let say to them: We accepted their good-willed offer as a gracious favor, to recognize them, the envoys, to the highest asking and requesting to apply our given answer and innocence to the best and most faithful, if we were of the opinion that our lords and friends of Saxony and Hesse would be satiated with it, and would not be moved in evil or further development against us and our foundation or ours, but would behave all friendly and neighborly will towards us. We want to do the same and not be felt otherwise. For the sake of the seduction, we consider it unnecessary to give thanks, since we are inclined to do so for ourselves, and would like to have them escorted back to us by our foundation, land, and people.
and territory in places where we have to guide, because where something repugnant would be due to them, we would be heartily sorry.
And from this, in view of the fairness, rightfulness and our excessive request, which we, as heard here above, have made in addition to the display of our obvious innocence, we want to make sure that our lords and friends from Salmon and Hesse do not overreach us or ours, nor do they burden us in any other way, nor damage them, but shall keep the peace of the Holy Roman Empire and the treaty made between the German and the Hessian Empire, as well as the alliance agreement, which is most dear to us, and we, in turn, are quite willing and inclined to be friendly to their loved ones and to settle the matter.
But if this does not happen, and we are overrun, attacked and damaged by their loved ones, and against all this, our most friendly and favorable request is made to your love, and to all of you in particular, that your love and you will not give them and yours any help, assistance, advice or encouragement against us and our foundation. Whether your love and you also have some of your own with them, order them away and home, also handle, protect and shield us, as a prince of the Holy Roman Empire, and our monastery's subjects and relatives in the established peace, imperial orders and imperial treaties. And whether the matters have reached your love and you in a different form than is truly indicated herein, or would still reach you, we do not give credence to them, nor do we settle them, but have completely and utterly excused ourselves, as we are innocent in the right truth of the matters involved. This we, together with equity, are willing and inclined to do in order to deserve, instruct and recognize your love and the rest of you altogether, and each one in particular, according to each one's dignity, standing and character, kindly, favorably and graciously. Given under our secret preprinted at the end of the writing, on Thursday after Exaudi [May 28] Anno etc. in the 28th year.
838. the Archbishop of Salzburg's brief apology to the imperial regiment at
Speier. June 3, 1528.
In Hortleder I. c. S. 596.
Issued by our most gracious Lord of Salzburg rc. to the Imperial Regiment at Speier.
Dear, noble, honorable, highly educated, and especially beloved ones! We have your friendship and your letter, which date stands on the 25th day
Maji, together with the enclosed copy of a supposed, fictitious union, which is supposed to be contrary to the Highborn Princes, our dear lords and friends, the Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave of Hesse etc.., with about much narration, what has been done so far by you in the matters with the reported Elector and Landgrave, also what is against it your two dearest indications and requests, with the unattached request that we take action on our part for the most beneficial of the things and have appointment, so that further mischief and outrage will be prevented, further contents understood. And thereupon we give your friendship and your love in good opinion, and with the truth to recognize that we have no knowledge at all of such a fictitious union. We have never been to Breslau, neither at the time when such a union is to be established, nor ever come otherwise, nor have we had any of our embassies there, nor have we ever thought of such an action and undertaking, nor have we taken it into our minds; which will never be otherwise invented with any truth. No one so ignorant of our and our convent's occasion, and especially of the great ruin into which we have been led by the two past uprisings, entirely through no fault of our own, can appreciate how utterly unrighteous and untruthful we are being drawn into the untruthful alliance mentioned, along with the fact that we desire nothing better than peace and unity in the holy kingdom and in all Christendom. Therefore, your friendship and you must understand that it is not necessary for us to take any action or make any request, but our request and plea is to your friendship and to you, that you will excuse us and talk to you and to men about such things and imaginary covenants. To this end, we provide that you, in the place of the Emperor's Majesty, will, in the form of these highly important matters and the swift and dangerous runs, take such measures as will put an end to such dangerous armaments, applications and exercises, as well as to the imperial peace and the peace of the Holy Roman Empire, We would like to thank you for your friendship, your support, and your support, and we would like to thank you for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support, and for your support; we do not want to behave your friendship and you on the same letter friendly and gracious opinion. Date in our city of Salzburg, on the Wednesday after the Holy Day of Pentecost [June 3] Anno Domini 1528.
839 King Ferdinand's apology for the alliance. June 1, 1528.
This document appeared under a similar title as the 837th document. After that, Hortleder I. e. p. 596.
1. we Ferdinand of God's grace, to Hungary and Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia etc. King, Infante in Hispania, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Styria, Carinthia, Crain and Würtemberg rc., Count of Tyrol rc., Roman Imperial Majesty, Governor of the Holy Roman Empire etc. etc., to all and any Princes, Princes, ecclesiastical and secular, Prelates, Counts, Freemen, Lords, Knights, Servants, Captains, Vassals, 1) Bailiffs, Stewards, Administrators, Schultheiss, Mayors, Judges, Councillors, Citizens and Municipalities, and otherwise to all others of the Holy Roman Empire, also of our Kingdoms. We wish to express our special love, friendship, affectionate will, grace and all good things to the subjects and faithful of our kingdom, principality and country, in whatever dignity, status or being they may be, to whom this letter is addressed. High and venerable, high-born princes, well-born, strict, noble, honorable, honorable, learned, renowned dear friends, uncle, cousin, brother-in-law, special love and faithful!
(2) Although we learned a good while ago that the highborn princes, our dear uncle and friend, Lord John, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Duke of Saxony, Landgrave in Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen, and Lord Philip, Landgrave of Hefsen, etc., had engaged in some application and armament of a war party, and that there had been an outcry in the country, as if such armament had been made on some estates of the Holy Roman Empire. Therefore, as the imperial governor, we have diligently taken notice of the matter, and have had amicable negotiations conducted in many ways by notable persons of high princely and other rank, in order to learn what nobility the above-mentioned two sovereigns and princes would be, so that such an application would be put to rest and peace: We could not have been reminded of the right reason for such armament sooner, because until the last days the mentioned Elector of Saxony had his embassy with us in our Kingdom of Bohemia, the same has brought us, among other things, a copy of an alleged, fictitious, untrue alliance or agreement, as it is to be called, which in the beginning was directed to us, and in the following order to the high and venerable princes of Saxony,
1) In the old edition": "Bißthumen".
High-born Princes, our dear Oheime, Cousins and Friends, Mr. Albrechten, Cardinals, Archbishops and Electors of Mainz; Mr. Joachim, Arch Chamberlain and Elector of the Holy Empire, both Margraves of Brandenburg rc.; Mr. Matthäus, 2) Cardinals and Archbishops" of Salzburg rc.; Herr Weiganden, at Bamberg, and Herr Conraden, at Würzberg; Bishops"; Herr Georgen, Dukes of Saxony, Landgraves in Thuringia, and Margraves at Meissen; Mr. Wilhelmen and Mr. Ludewigen, brothers, Palgraves of the Rhine, Dukes of Upper and Lower Bavaria, and which last year against the said Electors of Saxony and Landgraves of Hesse, and their two Electorates, Principalities and Lands shall be established, sealed, pledged, and sworn; that after the reading of the same imagined union we receive not only astonishment, but also the highest complaint.
3 And thereupon we have sent our answer in writing to the Elector with a true denial and contradiction of such fictitious facts, and have requested that his dear uncle, the Landgrave, be informed of them, since his love also understands them, and that they be dismissed from their nobility with their armor. But before such our responsibility reaches the said Landgrave, we have received from the Imperial Government in the Holy Roman Empire a copy of such a document. The same is true for a copy of the alleged alliance, which the said Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave sent to the same government;
4. and subsequently, from another place, a copy of a letter of invitation, which is to be issued to all states under the above-mentioned Landgrave's imprinted secret, is received, which, among other things, refers to the above-mentioned alleged, fabricated, untruthful alliance, and which the above-mentioned Elector of Saxony and Landgrave intend to make use of, to excuse their dear armament and application of the people of war. And because we, along with other aforementioned princes and princes, are accused of the same fictitious union or alliance in the most unjust and untruthful way, and because of the intended landgrave's letter, which is based on the above-mentioned untruthful agreement, as if we and the princes and chieftains, as reported above, were to be in the act of opposing and suppressing the living, gracious Word of God and the Holy Roman Empire. Roman Empire's established land peace, also the unification of the Union of Swabia,
2) In the old edition: "Mattheusen" == Matthaussen.
all Nuremberg, Augsburg and Speier agreements made in the empire, and all fairness, to chase away and expel their love of the same churality and principality, as well as land and people; as the letter of the often-counted fictitious, untrue covenant, and now the landgrave's letter, indicates by length:
(5) Thus we are urged and induced to take our responsibility against such a proclamation in the following manner, until it can be further and with more execution by the other sovereigns and princes, besides us all, according to all our necessity. And therefore report to your beloved, and to you the others, also manly, with right reason and truth, that we know ourselves to be quite free against God and the world of such fictitious, untruthful alliance, and to be accused of and to declare it untruthful; For it shall never be shown by anyone, whoever he may be, with truth that we have thought to establish such a union, or such a supposed one, let alone that we have sworn, pledged and sealed it with the princes and sovereigns; and can understand nothing else with us, but that such a pretended notel or copy of the untruthful union is a fictitious thing, and brought on the way by him or by those, which not only between our, and the other Electors and Princes, obgemeldt, and the said Duke John of Saxony and the Landgrave etc. The result is not only discord and enmity, but also rebellion, insurrection and disobedience in the Holy Roman Empire for their own benefit. They are therefore desirous of nothing better than this; Therefore, we would like nothing better than to have the person or persons who have thus subjected themselves to this heated, insubstantial practice, which is untruthful, presented and denounced to us, so that we may thus take action against him or them who are guilty of the matter, If we were to be presented with a counter-answer against the same or those who are guilty of the matter, then we would hold and show ourselves to be manly with honor and praise, and the opposite to be untrue, and that he has done and made this of himself, to his advantage and benefit, and to a disruption of all honorable conduct and being in the holy kingdom. He should recognize that he has done and made this out of himself to his advantage and benefit and to the disruption of all honorable conduct and being in the holy kingdom. For your loved ones and you must well consider that if the supposed, imagined alliance should be true, as it is not, we would not have endeavored so much to refuse the armor and application, as has happened, in many ways, but rather, due to the cause of [the] said Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave's armor, we, along with the other unreasonably accused electors and princes, would also have been involved in armor and counter-armor.
We have, however, for our part, not undertaken any defense, but what has happened in our principality of Würtemberg through our government there from the fact that it has come to light that Ulrich, who calls himself Duke of Würtemberg, should have had the audacity to invade our principality with his relatives: Let your beloved and you, the others, and only us recognize this in a sincere, honorable mind, and that, if God wills, we will walk in the right way according to the praise of God, and do our things in the light and not in secret, or do them in this way and commit ourselves to it, that (as the supposed imaginary agreement and the mentioned Landgrave's letter should be understood) should be to the subversion of the true word of God, and against the imperial peace, the agreement of the Union of Swabia, and all the agreements made by the Empire. For we may well talk and discuss this without glory, nor shall it ever be brought upon us that we have ever been present to this, as has been foretold; so we also intend to keep ourselves Christian and unprovable in such things as befits a just king, and as our ancestors, Roman emperors, kings, and archdukes of Austria, have commendably brought upon us.
6. And therefore it is our friendly and gracious request, request and desire to your love and you, where the said fictitious covenant, likewise [the] mentioned landgrave's letter would be printed, or would otherwise occur in other ways to your love and you, or would still be indicated, you will not give credence to it, but will regard and consider such alleged alliance as a fabricated, untrue matter (as it is), as it will be brought to light in time by our and the other sovereigns and princes named with us more clearly and unambiguously. Therefore, according to our answer, given to the said Elector, his beloved, the Landgrave of Hesse, nor their relatives, need not be in any danger or worry because of such fictitious alliance, for our sake and ours, if we are powerful; For we, not only as imperial governor, but also for ourselves, as a Christian king and an obeyer of the said imperial majesty, do not wish to endanger the aforementioned imperial peace, nor peace, justice and unity in the Holy Roman Empire. May you always be willing, eager and inclined to handle, plant and preserve the said imperial peace, justice and peace in the Holy Roman Empire, only for comfort and good, to help our property. May your loved ones and you be completely satisfied and provided for us.
Your love and you show us in such that they do not give credence to the aforementioned fictitious covenant, together with the equity, especially friendly and pleasant pleasure, which we want to recognize in such and more about the same your love and you, the others, in friendship and gracious will. Given on St. Wenceslas Hill, in our royal city of Prague, the first day of the month of June, after the birth of Christ fifteen hundred and in the eighth and twentieth, of our kingdoms in the other year.
849. the dukes in Bavaria, Wilhelm and Ludwig, public writing, which they have let go out for their apology. June 5, 1528.
In Hortleder I. c. S. 398.
To all and every prince, prince, ecclesiastical and secular, and to all other relatives and subjects of the Holy Roman Empire, in whatever dignities, status and nature they may be, we, William and Ludwig, Palgraves of the Rhine, Dukes of Upper and Lower Bavaria, brothers, by the grace of God, offer our friendly service, and what we are able to do in honor, love and good, friendship, friendly and favorable greetings beforehand.
(2) We have been informed in the past days by the most noble, most great prince and lord, Mr. Carl 2c, Roman emperor, our most gracious dear lord and cousin, imperial and his majesty and of the Holy Roman Empire. Reichs Regiment, now at Speier, also from other places, and lastly by the Highborn Prince, our Oheim, Herr Philipsen, Landgrave of Hesse etc., Copies of a print, of which, in his dear missive, to us, report happened of a fictitious, supposed alliance, so by the noble prince, our friendly dear lord and cousin, Mr. Ferdinand, King of Hungary and Bohemia, Infante in Hispania, Archduke of Austria etc., Imperial. Majesty Governor in the Empire, and other Electors and Princes, as they are indicated by name therein, should be issued by us at Breslau, on Wednesday after the Sunday Jubilate [May 15] of the past seven and twentieth years, against the Highborn Prince, our dear cousin, Mr. Johannsen, Duke of Saxony, Elector etc., and the said Landgrave of Hesse.
3. besides, it has also been reported that now thought, Elector and Prince of Saxony and Hesse,
The German government has put such a supposed alliance into print and sent it to many states of the Holy Roman Empire. They have thus excused their dear armor, craft, and dress, as if such a thing were to be done for a counter-defense. And although we fully respect that the royal dignity of Hungary and Bohemia, our friendly dear lord and cousin, as well as other attracted princes and princes, have sufficiently indicated, and the truth from the work will seemingly reveal itself from day to day, that the presumed alliance not only has not been decided or established, but also has never been made by the named, their royal dignity, princes, princes and princesses. We have also sent our reply to the Imperial Regiment, and likewise to our uncle, the Landgrave, and are partly excused in such a way of his dear letter of the proposed alliance and appendix; for which reason some further apology or responsibility on our part would be unnecessary; as your love and friendship must also be understood from our writings and replies, such as those that follow. And initially from our answer, attributed to the imperial regiment, as follows:
By the Grace of God, Wilhelm and Ludwig, brothers, Palgraves of the Rhine, Dukes of Upper and Lower Bavaria etc.
Our favorable greetings beforehand, most gracious, noble and learned, especially dear! We have read your letter, together with the copy of a covenant, which should have been established by our friendly dear lord and cousin, Mr. Ferdinand, King of Hungary and Bohemia, and several other princes, princes and us at Breslau, and cannot wonder enough, nor consider on what opinion we should understand such a pretence on our part; For we have had no knowledge of such an alliance up to this time, nor have we received our messages and advice from the royal authorities in Breslau on this or other matters. Therefore, you may understand that it is unnecessary for us to ask for the abrogation and enactment of these covenants and for peace, since we, as Christian princes, would like nothing better than to see unity in the holy Christian faith, peace and acceptance of the German nation, and to help to achieve this. Our gracious request and plea to you is also that you not give any credence to such charges of ours, and that you also give us no credence with yourselves and others in these matters.
We apologize to you for the enclosure and the covenant you have made and wish to discuss it. It is a special favor to us to acknowledge our favorable and gracious will towards you. Date Munich, 28 May Anno etc. in the 28th year.
To the well-born, noble and highly learned, our special beloved, imperial governor, official administrator, and other decreed councilors of the imperial regiment in the holy empire, now at Speier.
Thus reads our uncle, the landgrave's, missive, which he has given us in this, as follows:
Our friendly service, and what we are able to do dear and good, always before, highborn princes, friendly dear homes! We have come to credible experience that a covenant is to be established between the Highborn Prince, Mr. Johannsen, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen, our friendly dear uncle, brother-in-law and godfather, and us, that we send an imprint to your beloved; and after we have also been credibly reported that your beloved shall have written down such alliance in time 1). Wherefore, when we, according to the report we have received, have fully provided for it, we should have had no ill will towards your beloved, and should have waited for your beloved to touch our grandfather, brother-in-law and godfather, and us, but rather for service and friendship. We ask, after all this, your dearest kind, correct, described, conducive reply, at this our messenger. Date in our camp at Herrenbreitingen, on the Thursday after Exaudi [May 28] Anno Christi 1528.
Schedula.
We also do not want to hold back your love, that we ever and always have provided ourselves with all friendship and friendly good will to them, comfort us also still, and are completely confident, your love will not let themselves be moved in such unfair things against us to ill-will; the same answer asking. Date ut in litteris.
Philips Landgrave of Hesse etc. ss. z. t. [= subscripsit].
To the Highborn Princes, Mr. Wilhelmen and Mr. Ludwigen, brothers, dukes of Upper and Lower Bavaria, counts palatine of the Rhine, our friendly dear grandparents.
1) "Written out," that is, as we can see from the answer, cancelled the alliance.
Our Duke Wilhelm's reply to this, which we gave to the Landgrave of Hesse in response to his letter.
Highborn prince, dear uncle! We have received your dear letter, addressed to us in their camp at Herrenbreitingen, on Thursday after Exaudi, yesterday outside of the print of the supposed suggested covenant, of which there is a report in your dear missive, in the absence of the Highborn Prince, our dear brother, Duke Ludwig; and nevertheless a few days ago we received from the imperial regiment at Speier a copy of a covenant, which the noble Prince, our dear Lord and cousin, Lord Ferdinand, King of Hungary and Bohemia, together with several other princes, princes and us, established at Breslau a year ago against the Elector of Saxony etc. and your love should have been established; to which we, according to the enclosed copy, have given them an answer, marked A. and leave it at that 2); and give your love this answer to their request: that your love reports this alliance with untruth, and that it is fabricated by a dishonorable man, who is inclined to sedition, war and shedding Christian blood, and to lead your love and other princes to ruin; For we have no knowledge of such fictitious, untruthful alliance, nor have we been accused of it by others, to the effect that at the same or other times we have not had our counsels and embassies at Breslau for the sake of this untruthful alliance, or for the sake of other alliances or things, with royal dignity; otherwise no one, whoever he may be, will be able to say or pretend of us with truth. Your love shall also recognize us of the princely mind, where your love requests us of that or otherwise, as acted by us, we do not want to have the truth kept, also do not desire to keep all our doings secret, but may well suffer the light. But we would have provided ourselves to your love completely, the same should not give credence to the untruthful report against us, but reminded us beforehand, and learned our answer and the truth; likewise, not so in the print, as we may think, spread out everywhere, drawn in and named beside others, but still ascribe your love to us, that the same reports credibly that we are no longer related to the drawn alliance. And although we respect the royal dignity and other princes and rulers, they are aware of this supplement, of their opportunity, and of the fact that we are no longer related to the alliance.
2) In the old edition: "touch".
If we do not want to save your love from its letter, your love will undoubtedly find the reason for the truth from this answer of ours in the same and masculine. Date in our city Munich, the third day of June, Anno 1528.
By the Grace of God, William, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Upper and Lower Bapern etc.
To the Highborn Prince, our dear Oheim, Mr. Philipsen, Landgrave of Hesse and Count of Katzenelnbogen etc.
Nevertheless, since we have carried out all our doings with the help of the Almighty, as befits honest, pious, Christian princes, and inherited from our honest forefathers, during the time of our lives, and intend to continue in this, that we have also been included in the sent out pressure without any constant causes, besides royal dignity, our friendly dear lord and cousin and other princes and princes: so our princely honors require high and unavoidable necessity, our innocence not only against the imperial regiment, Electors of Saxony and Landgraves of Hesse, but rather and solely so that with all other honor-loving states, with which we might have grown into suspicion with an untrue poem, our reported responsibilities would not come to hand, We must show our innocence, and with constant, firm reason and truth, so that our detractors may decide their untruthful mouths, and the pious may see and feel into what dangerous times we have fallen, and that the father of all lies would ever like to incite disgust, outrage, destruction, bloodshed, and, most burdensome, eternal damnable judgment of many Christian souls. And, after all, we may not conceal from your love, friendship, and all the rest of you, that we have so far shown and kept ourselves so neighborly with all our neighboring kings, princes, communes, and others (without reporting glory) in the time of our government, that we shall be blameless of our hopes of such intentions, and of other unjust complaints from all of them; we are also still of that mind, and not only against our neighbors, but against male ones. From this is to be deduced what favor, will, or disposition we bear for ourselves to the covenant drawn up, where the same should be established. And therefore, whoever, be he of high or low rank, shall be in our
To our cousin and uncle, the Elector of Saxony and Landgrave of Hesse, by your love, friendship, and all of you others, we have heard in a different form than now, and especially that we have had some favor or knowledge of, adhered to, or agreed to the covenant indicated above, or who have decreed one through our councils, or who have had one at the same time or at other times at the royal dignity in Breslau, or who have been suggested such a covenant by someone, falsely reported and issued by us: The same has acted, speaks and says as a dishonorable, mendacious man; we also know ourselves so free before God and man that all this should never be said, proven or laid open by us with the least indication and truth. That also the suggested alliance, on our part, is an inhuman, let us say unchristian, dishonorable, lying poem. We also hope, in all respectability, that the above-mentioned cousins and uncle, the Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave of Hesse, as honest princes of the Holy Roman Empire, will know how to denounce the author and promoter of the often-mentioned untruthful covenant, and the royal dignity of Hungary and Bohemia, as well as the other princes, princes and us, in addition to all and every honorable people, who are annoyed by this denunciation, more than to have the same dishonest, lying man before their eyes; From this, then, constant peace will ensue, and such unheard-of wickedness in the German nation will be put to rest, and the right, true reason will be reported, and the distrust that arises from it among all potentates, even the common man, will be rejected unquestioningly and with the truth. We have also, and especially about our grandfather, the landgrave, letter, in which his love reports that the same credibly reported that we should have written out such alliance in time, not provided that we should, through his love, and even less the Elector of Saxony, as we are related to close blood kinship, our unsolicited and unaccountable, in the outgoing print and writings, and then this excuse is the fair truth: Accordingly, to your love, friendship, and you, all others to whom this print and reply of ours comes to be read, our friendly request, amicable request, and gracious request is that you give full credence to such our truthful apology, and to our repugnants and the lying poet, or others who accuse us of the lying alliance.
And even if this responsibility of ours is sharpened with somewhat heated words by someone, we still ask him to consider our princely tradition, and that we want to be infamous and brought into disrepute with males, and for this reason may not have to circumvent our need for honor, just as everyone is obliged to save his honor in the same case. For the sake of your love and friendship, and for the sake of each one of you, whatever his status and nature, we kindly owe and recognize this. Date in our city of Munich, under our preprinted Secret, on the fifth day of June, Domini fifteen hundred and in the eighth and twentieth.
841. Duke George of Saxony's responsibility for the above-mentioned alliance. December 19, 1528.
This document was first published under the title: "IVElcher gestalt wir Georg von gots gnaden Hertzog zu Sachssen Landtgraff in Duringen vnd Marggraff zu Meysfen von Martins Luther, des getichten Bündtnüs halben inn schriefften vnerfindlich angegeben, Vnd darauff vnnßere antwort." 10 quarto. At the end: "Gedruckt zu Dreßden durch Wolffgang Stöckel." After that in the Eisleben edition, vol. I, 423; in the Altenburg, vol. IV, p. 457 and in the Leipzig, vol. XIX, p. 669. Duke George had Luther's letter to Wenceslaus Link printed both in Latin and (translated by himself) in German in his edition according to his copy. It is found in Latin in Aurifaber, vol. II, p. 385 d; in De Wette, vol. Ill, p. 340; in Erlanger Briefwechsel, vol. VI, p. 290 and in Seidemann's "Erläuterungen," p. 131. German in the above-mentioned collective editions; in Hortleder, "Von den Ursachen des deutschen Kriegs," vol. I, p. 602 and in Seidemann's "Erläuterungen," p. 132. - The Bries of Duke George to Luther is found in the collective editions: in the Wittenberg (1569), vol. IX, p. 292; in the Jena (1566), vol. IV, p. 532; in the Altenburg, vol. IV, p. 458; in Erlanger Briefwechsel, vol. VII, p. II; in Keil, "Luthers merkwürdige Lebensumstände," vol. II, p. 20; and in Seidemann's "Erläuterungen," p. 133. Latin in Aurifaber, vol. II, p. 391l>. - The original of Luther's reply to Duke George is in the Dresden Hauptstaatsarchiv. After that, printed in Seidemann's "Lutherbriefe", p. 35. Then in the aforementioned Gesammtausgahen, in the Erlanger, vol. 54, p. 48 and vol. 31, p. 3; in De Wette, vol. Ill, p. 397 and in Seidemann's "Erläuterungen", p. 133. Latin in Aurifaber, vol. II,
In what way we, George, by the grace of God Duke of Saxony, Landgrave of Thuringia, and Margrave of Meissen, have been accused by Martin Luther of being a
The first is a poetic covenant in writings unintelligible, and our response.
(1) Although we have herebefore, when we at the beginning of the written alliance, which against the high-born princes, our friendly dear cousins, uncle and sons, Mr. Johannsen, Duke of Saxony, Elector etc., and Mr. Philippen, Landgrave of Hesse 2c, shall be set up, accused, have the answer heard and put in print, also answer against the presented of the same alliance announcer, Otten Pack, and have our innocence brought to light, so that no honest man with some credible appearance will have or know to attribute to us even with the very least that we ever advised or acted of the intention, of which the fabricated alliance does report; Let alone that we should have something written about it in a note, or otherwise have some science about it; for which reason we should also not be unreasonably relieved of all suspicion, accusation and slander, even further responsibility.
2. However, because Martin Luther may not have tolerated such a thing from his conceived envy,' nor recognize the truth of our public innocence, but such a poetic alliance, and on it especially us, now and then attracts in his writings and forms in the people, and we note that this man, and we note that this man, without all distinction and attention to his actions, is given faith and coincidence by many, so our necessity demands that we neither pass over this tacitly nor leave it unanswered, but merely indicate with what consistency and reason Luther held himself in such his pretence.
3. Initially, we are reminded of the words that he uses in the preface of the booklet, based on the mandate of the venerable in God, our special dear friend Mr. Johannsen, Bishop of Meissen, namely: 1) "Our Lutheran princes do not have to come to such honor, indeed, everyone must be hostile to them, and for this purpose seek treacherous plots and alliances against them, of which they must be ashamed themselves afterwards; as also happened to the plot at Mainz" etc.
(4) With these words, everyone will know that he has made a covenant, and that he would like to make people believe it, but in a hidden way. And in general, so that if he is called to account on the basis of these words, he may say that he has this
1) St. Louis edition, vol. XIX, 1349, § 11.
This is the reason why we cannot assume that such a word will be used soon.
5 A few days ago, however, we received a Latin letter that Luther wrote to Wenceslaum Linken against Nuremberg, not only about this covenant, but also about our apology that had gone out, attacking it and us somewhat violently, and it reads as follows:
[D. Martin Luther's writing to Wenceslaus Link.] 1)
Grace and peace. You know more of the new newspaper than I can write. The alliance of the godless princes, which they deny, you see what motive it made, but 2) Duke George's very coldest excuse, which I interpret almost as a confession. Well, they deny it, excuse it, or make it up, so I know that the covenant is not nothing, or a chimera, although it is a miracle, and sufficiently miraculous, as the whole world knows, that they have publicly tried, done, and still do such things with the mind, with the deed, with the commandment, 3) with stubborn diligence, up to this point: for they want to have destroyed the gospel, no one can deny that.
than Moab, is more audacious than he is able, and does not court according to his strength, as he has done in every way. Let us pray against these death-defying men, and so far let them be forgiven. If, however, they will again be subjected to something, we will pray to God and then admonish the rulers that they may be destroyed without mercy; for the insatiable bloodsuckers do not want to have rest, but they find that Germany is moistened with blood.
We are now working in the prophets to make them
1) According to Seidemann's "Erläuterungen," 1. c.
2) In Latin: sed - but.
3) In Seidemann: "gebeth". If otherwise this reading is correct, "gebeth" stands for areas. Latin: käieto.
Germanize. Oh God, what a great and annoying work it is to force the Hebrew scribes to speak German; how they resist and do not want to leave their Hebrew way at all, and follow the coarse German. As if the nightingale hurried to meet the cuckoo singing in unison, it should leave its lovely melody and sing after the cuckoo. See you in good health, and pray to God for us. Sunday after Barnabas [June 14] 1528. Martin Luther.
To the very best and God-fearing man, Wenceslao Linken, a servant of Christ in the Gospel at Nuremberg, his brother.
(6) Although it is easy to sense from the poem and other circumstances that such writing originated from him, we have not failed to find out thoroughly from him whether he intended to insist on such writing or to give it another interpretation and excuse, and what caused him to do so, to inform us, and to have him write for this reason, as follows:
[Writing of Duke George of Saxony to D. Martin Luther.] 4)
By the Grace of God George, Duke of Saxony etc.
A copy of a letter sent by you to Wenceslao Linken against Nuremberg not long ago occurred to us yesterday before date 5), as you have to determine in the present. Although we would like to give credence to this, our need requires us to know this from you as well, and therefore request that you inform us clearly in writing to our messenger whether you have sent such a letter to the above-mentioned Linken according to this one. Given at Dresden, Wednesday Simon and Jude [Oct. 28] An. etc. 28.
Martin's Luther at Wittenberg.
4) According to Seidemann's "Erläuterungen," 1. c.
5) that is the 27th of October. Strange is therefore the remark, which, as Seidemann, "Lutherbriefe", p, 34, states, Thomas von der Heiden is supposed to have put on the back of the copy of the previous letter, that the same was made "hewt Samptags nach Martins (14. November)". Here is either a typing error of von der Heiden or a reading error of Seidemann. We assume that "Saturday after Severini", that is October 24, is to be read. The Erlanger Briefwechsel, Vol. VI, p. 289, has printed the above remark from Seidemann without expressing any concern about it.
(7) And we would have provided, since we desired to know nothing but the truth about him, that he should at least have allowed himself to be heard with a correct answer, yes or no. But we have received a broad answer, according to the following:
[D. Martin Luther's reply to Duke George of Saxony.] 1)
Grace and peace in Christ. I have received E. F. G.'s writing, in which E. F. G. requests from me a note or copy of half an answer, whether I am aware of such writing; and such, as if I, like the least obligated or prisoner, had to sit here waiting. To this is my short answer: Since E. F. G. is well aware of my great patience, which I have borne up to now over the preface to the New Testament of Emser, and the answer to my heartfelt humble writing; so I will also have patience this time over this piece, which E. F. G. considers a great and severe challenge. And I humbly ask E. F. G. to leave me untried with such notes or copies. E. F. G. will undoubtedly find out from those who have received and handed such notes, even without Luther's help, what such writing is, which E. F. G., more than I, is related to or affiliated with. I do not want to have written anything harder this time against such pious people. For I would be Christianly inclined to have mercy and to plead for E. F. G.'s affliction, if E. F. G. could suffer it. Hiemit GOtt befohlen, Amen. At Wittenberg, Saturday of the last of October 1528.
E. F. G.
willing Martinus Luther.
To the illustrious, highborn prince and lord, Lord George, Duke of Saxony, Landgrave in Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen, my gracious lord.
8 From this we could not clearly determine that he wanted to confess to such writing or deny it; thus we were caused to find out about it further and at the council in Nuremberg, where we then found,
1) According to Seidemann's "Lutherbriefe," p. 34.
that Wenceslaus Linke has been confessed, and still is, that such a Latin writing, as indicated, come to him from Martin Luther.
(9) But how it is fitting and proper for an honorable man, and first of all for one who claims to be evangelical, to flee the truth in response to such a writing, in which he attacks us with invective more favorably than others, and not to confess clearly to that which he may easily be convicted of, is for men to judge, and whether to say yes or no to the teaching of Christ, which interprets us, will be determined.
10. From this it should be felt sufficiently what good one has to provide for such a one, especially because he did not leave it at that, but about that, that he had no doubt, how we have shown our innocence against the presented announcer of this poetic alliance, he has otherwise brought to the common man the previously indicated words, in the booklet of both forms, so that one should ever have it and believe that at least such a covenant was made, and thus something true about it and in front of the hand.
But we are, praise God, certain of this, and that such a writing is a public lie, that Martin Luther with all his followers will not know or be able to show the slightest semblance of it, from which it could be taken with certainty, or be considered and made credible, that we have ever talked and acted about, or even thought about, the things of which such a poetic covenant is said.
12 But nevertheless this evangelical man is so bold and impudent, and may spread such an exuberant lie, not only as if he had it from hearsay, but about that, that all those, who attracted such poem half, answered with no, for a solid truth, and write namely so from us:
"Duke Georgen's very coldest apology I interpret almost as a confession."
13 How cold our apology would have been, that is what the letter says, nor would we yet know how to make a more vehement and heated denial to such an accusation. If it had been so cold and similar to a confession, as Luther presents it, it would not have brought out the announcer of such a poem. Therefore, it has even more warmth than Luther's, Pack's, and all the others' accusations and attributions. Which have nothing more than the most bare, coldest, and most lying words, and no one even knows who to indicate the time as such.
gedichte Bündniß soll zu Breslau verfaßt sein, mit Wahrheit sagen könnte, oder auch je gesagt hätte, daß sie von solchem Vornehmen etwas gehört, oder auch die Note! gesehen. However, we have all those who were in Wroclaw at the same time, among whom none of us will say such a thing with certainty, and that he wants to be known, and will blame us.
14 Pack initially, in order to give shape to his lie, referred to the Highborn Prince, Henry the Younger, Duke of Brunswick and Luneburg, etc., our friendly dear Lord, that his love should have seen a copy of this covenant with us. However, on the day when he presented himself as the announcer of this covenant, he not only did not admit it, but also when his previous fame and calling were held up to him, he silently passed over it and did not know how to insist on it. However, we have requested and asked that Duke Henry of Brunswick be questioned about it; if his love, or anyone else, can credibly say with truth that something, and even the least part of it, was seen with or around us with our knowledge before the copy of such a poem was sent, then we will say that Luther did not do us an injustice by calling our excuse the coldest.
15 Without this, however, it is necessary for our honor to say that Luther is the coldest liar that we can think of, and that he cannot give his lie any warmth or form, and without any cause or necessity must always mix it in. And since he boasts of a spirit, as it is also attributed to him by his followers, it is truly not he who teaches him to recognize and state lies for lies and truth for truth, but precisely the contradiction. And for this reason he had to regard our truthful apology as a lie, and say: he interprets it and interprets it as a confession of the covenant.
16 From this, everyone can see how many such false interpretations he has taught and imagined in the Holy Scriptures, previously from the poor simple-minded man. After he has also now let himself be heard that he wants to write Eccles. Hist. about the miraculous works that happened in his Gospel, he may well put this lie of his into it; for it is well lost for one, and almost well adorns the others.
(17) And if he had the spirit of truth with him, he would give him no doubt from many apparent indications, which can also be obtained from natural indications.
The author of the book, who is a member of the "German Catholic Church," has been a member of the "German Catholic Church," the "German Catholic Church," the "German Catholic Church," the "German Catholic Church," the "German Catholic Church," the "German Catholic Church," and the "German Catholic Church. It may well be, however, that because they burned Luther, that grace did not unreasonably deprive him of this knowledge.
18 And although such a falsehood can be noted in many ways, it appears in particular, first of all, from the title of the Royal Serenity of Hungary and Bohemia, which time also wrote itself King of Hungary, and yet in this poem it alone is given the title "of Bohemia. 1)
19) On the other hand, Royal Serene Highnesses of their ancestors, Kings of Hungary and Bohemia, are not used to mention them with the title common to princes, but to call them Serene Highnesses, and King Ludewig, more blessed, their brother; all of which is omitted here, not only in Royal Serene Highnesses, but also in the names of the other princes and princes, and nevertheless High King Ludwig is called "gracious lord", 2) quite contrary to the usage of the chanceries.
Thirdly, in the words: "our most gracious dear brother and gracious lord", 3) the right chancery order is not kept, but according to the status of the persons mentioning the Imperial Majesty, the chancery would have made it thus: our dear lord brother, gracious and most gracious lord.
Fourth, the princes of Saxony tend to place the Thuringian land before the Meissen land; this is not always respected, but is sometimes inverted. 4)
22) The fifth, for the sake of exaggeration, is more imposed on us, 5) than otherwise two or three; in which one should ever have felt the poem.
23) Sixthly, the Royal Serene Highness of Hungary and Bohemia does not presume to write or name "her prince" 6) to us, as we have indicated in this poem; in doing so, the error is to be noted in particular.
24) For the seventh, it is public on the day, that Storkau and Besko are not principalities, but two dominions, 7) and our cousin, the Elector of Saxony, have not been for twenty years; but are nevertheless so constituted, as other falsehoods more.
1) No. 829, § 1 and? 2 etc.
2) No. 829, s 2.
3) No. 829, s 3.
4) No. 829, U 3 and 5.
5) Jn No. 830.
6) No. 829, s 5.
7) No. 829, 8 5.
25 To the eighth, we shall "deal with both Dukes of Brunswick"; 1) and yet it is on the day that Duke Erich of Brunswick is equal in time to us at Breslau; 2) therefore, if something had been before hand, his love would also have been drawn to it.
26 From all of which, and especially because none of the skilled men were named, and yet stated, as if they had been present, they had only apparently felt, and as it were grasped, that this alliance is nothing other than a completely false poem.
27 Nevertheless, Luther, by inspiration of his spirit, may write of himself that it was sought against his princes, and that he must now be ashamed of it, and that they deny it, excuse it, or deny it, so that he knows that the crime is not vain nothingness nor a chimera.
(28) Whoever boasts that he knows something, especially if he claims to know it knowingly, must show an external cause of which he has such knowledge, other than that he has seen or heard it himself, or at least that he has heard it from two unsuspected persons who have seen or heard it.
Now it may well be that Luther saw such a poem, or made it heard, perhaps also made it part of himself, or gave advice on it; and thus it could well be believed that he knew it knowingly. And not to refrain from it, because he showed consistent, credible causes in his stated science, which should have moved everyone to such a testimony, and that he had to write it from himself. Or, for the sake of such an accusation, he would make a public contradiction, and spread the truth as wide as his lies, and confess that he knowingly lied to us about this fictitious alliance, and that he knowingly knew that it was a vain nothing, fictitious chimera, and one of the greatest lies ever told or heard.
(30) And since this is not done by him, we do not know how to make it warmer for him than we did in our apology. And we must say and write of him that the apostate monk leans on us as a desperate, honorless, perjured wicked man; as such our apology, which was considered the coldest of all by him, is male, who gave us such an apology.
1) No. 829, § 12.
2) Here, in the Altenburg edition, Vol. IV, p. 160, according to which Walch gave the text, are the words: "nicht gegenwärtig gewesen", which, as Seidemann, "Erläuterungen", p. 132, note, says, are to be deleted.
The law of the covenant is not to be enacted, assigned, or blamed without a word, and it is not to be found (whether God wills it) who carries it out or makes it credible (that anything has ever been done on our part).
And because Luther himself subsequently states it to be a sufficiently strange miracle, it would ever have been proper, and greatly deserved, for him to find out about it thoroughly, because he thus, and above all our denials, gave a false, unknowable testimony to such a public lie with his knowing science. Which he also dares to affirm with a completely unfounded reason, saying that the world knows that we and others, stated in the poetic covenant, have done and still do such things publicly with mind, deed, commandment and all diligence.
32. But if by the word talia, or such things, it is understood that this covenant is said, as he uses it, it is no less a lie than the covenant itself; and there is no one in the whole world who would say and prove with certainty that we have shown ourselves to be the least bit unfriendly to our cousins, the Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave of Hesse, in our will and spirit, as the covenant attributes to us, or that we have even given some cause for this, that one would have suspected such a thing to us. However, the fact that we have otherwise not wanted to let the Lutheran sect collapse in our countries, but have been most vehemently in favor of it, cannot at all follow from this that which the sealed alliance indicates. And Luther himself should be ashamed of such a childish introduction.
(33) As we have also shown him sufficient causes before, on account of which we have not yet been able to regard and hold his seductive teaching as the true gospel, or that it is according to the same; to which he now gives us much more cause, through his above-mentioned public lie, to persist and remain completely in our former opinion. For we have not yet learned from Scripture that Christ, our Savior, used such a public and deliberate liar as his apostle, and through him had the gospel preached and spread throughout the world.
34/ Therefore, where Luther refers to the gospel of Christ in the following words of his writing, it is just as true and believable that he admits to us that we would like to see it destroyed, than that he blames us for the fictitious covenant. He has previously charged us with such outrages and fictitious falsehoods, that we have been deprived of the gospel.
and otherwise insulted us with a variety of abusive words, and would have thought that he should one day be satisfied with his lust and desire to insult us in such a shameful way; but there will be no end to it.
For the fact that he mixed into his writing some Greek words, which (as we have reported) are almost shameful, has the appearance of touching us with them, and wanting God to disgrace us, as the most foolish of fools, because of our boldness and pride, in which he compares us to Moab; which is the usual meaning of his gospel. From the gospel of Christ, and that the apostles used such, it is not yet indicated to us. And Luther would easily have commanded God Almighty something better than this, for it is ever said: God does not desecrate anyone.
(36) We have never claimed to have any special wisdom, but God willing, Luther should not bring us into foolishness, that he should persuade us to believe lies for truth, or that we should let lies remain unaccountable to us, even if he pledged us more than his conscience.
37 Because this, as man's best treasure, is found to be false in him, and because of hope, envy and zeal he cannot recognize lies alone, but as soon as it serves his purpose, he proclaims it to be true, and commits his science to it: so it does not matter much to us that he almost boasts of his prayer and insists on it. If it had been according to his will, his cursing, scolding and praying would have had much more power and apparent effect.
In his writing, he also calls the others and us death throes and insatiable bloodsuckers, who would like to see bloodshed in German lands. But for our part, praise God, if we pass over his other manifold, bloodthirsty writings, there is not so much indication of this as is found in his own writing, where he says: that he would admonish the princes that we should be driven out without all mercy.
39 In which words we cannot feel the peaceful gospel of Christ, but rather that he desires our blood and destruction.
40 And although he, praise God, is too weak to do so, he does not rely on his prayer, as he otherwise insists, but on some princes whom he thinks he can bring to it. Now whoever has these princes?
He knows best what he thinks he is capable of. We hope that they will ever get to know him, and that they will see his lies for what they are. He will not frighten us with this, nor will he put us in some fear that we should abandon our plans and make ourselves dependent on his sect.
(41) For we are undoubtedly confident of all and every ruler that they will not allow such a lying man to provoke or seduce them into unseemly behavior. We do not want (if God wills) to give cause for this on our part, but know how to behave toward males in such a way that it should be unobjectionable to us at all times and answerable with the truth. And therefore, to all men, and to each one according to his position, we make our friendly request, our gracious intention, and our kind request that they not give Martin Luther any credence or faith in what he has written about us because of the poetic covenant, but that we lack all suspicion because of it,
42) Luther is also to be respected and held in high esteem for someone who, without any reason or consistent cause, gave such a lying testimony to such a public poem and wrote it about himself, using 1) his knowledgeable science. For the sake of each and every one of us, we want to deserve this willingly and kindly, to compare and recognize it in grace and all good.
We have had our secret expressed in writing, and give it at Dresden, Saturday after Luciä [49 Dec.] Anno Domini etc. 28.
842: Otto von Pack's letter to Martin Luther about the fictitious alliance.
Dat. Cassel, 23 Jan. 1529.
x. 548.
Translated from Latin.
To the venerable father, Mr. Martin Luther, the drommeter (bueeiriutori) of the divine Word, his most sacred friend.
Hail, my dear Martin, in Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.
1) In the old edition: "vorfändung".
The other day I read Duke George's tragedy, or rather diatribe, and then your answer, which pleased me and all honest people particularly. For how far does not Satan go? He not only blinds people with his seeing eyes, but also makes them mad and crazy with good sense. That is how he uses to deceive his own. But in a short time you shall know the bright and right truth, and at the same time my innocence. Ever since the light of evangelical truth began to shine on me, it has never occurred to me to deceive even one person, let alone to cause such a great disturbance in all of Christendom. God is my witness that I have wanted to appease the anger of the wicked, but not to provoke it even more; the intended agitating
I want to discover evil actions, but not to sow new ones; I want to warn the pious lovingly and make them cautious, but not to incite them to war or rebellion. I leave it to the divine will that the matter has turned out differently than I thought; but it is quite enough for me and my conscience that I have preserved so many righteous and godly people through my disgrace and through the exceedingly great loss of all my property (for I have nothing more than an unharmed conscience). Other things you will learn from this messenger, who is an honest and God's word loving man. Fare well and be well with me. Farewell in Christ with your whole house. Given at Cassel, 23 Jan. Anno 1529.
Otto von Pack, Doctor.