which also contains complaints against Luther.
Greenwich, the
Henry, by the grace of God King of England and France, and Lord of Hibernia, deprives the most illustrious Prince, Lord Ludwig, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria 2c, Archduke of the Holy Roman Empire and Elector, his most beloved friend, of his blessedness.
That among you in German lands the fire, kindled by Luther and maintained by diabolical cunning for so long, not yet extinguished, rages and rages again so much, is not only on your account, but much more and more sorry to us for the sake of the holy Christian faith, than understood by some Scripture and letter, or else by man's own.
May 20, 1521.
The German nation, which has always been the most firm and strict of all nations, is not remembered before these times. For it is not remembered by any man or history or chronicle before these times that the most contentious and strict German nation, which has always been the most firm and secure preservation, help and fortification of the troubles, concerns and hardships of Christendom, has ever knowingly allowed a seed and cause of heresy to grow or, if one had secretly taken root, that it had not immediately and hourly driven it out and done away with it. For what could have happened to the German nation that was more shameful, dishonest, and inglorious?
*This letter is found in Cyprian's "Nützliche Urkunden zur Reformations-Geschichte", Theil II, p. 230.
For one has grown up and risen from the dead in and among them, who has rejected the divine laws, the constitution and statutes of the holy fathers, and decrees that have become obsolete through so many years, more out of insolence and arrogance of an unjust and wicked mind than out of any respectability and completeness of Christian doctrine, and much else than the customs of the most respectable and the teachings of God, than out of some, even the very least respectability and wholeness of Christian doctrine, and much else, because those of their customs were most respectable and their doctrine was given to them by God, and they have always considered the laws and statutes touched upon to be the very truest and the very firmest, has he taken upon himself to interpret and construe them? And even if he had wanted to do enough for his innate hopefulness, and even if he had been challenged, either by the gloomy hatred of some people, or by his own avarice, it would still have been a little more painful if he had spared the holy Scriptures in the least, and had not introduced heresy, weeds and error in the name and appearance of holiness, and had not taken it upon himself to fill his hopeful and poisoned courage with very great danger to the Christian faith, and had not taught the sheep of the Lord Christ to fall away from the Lord Christ. If now the most wicked man's preconceived lies and cunning and trickery, by inspiration and coincidence of the devil, which in the beginning darkened the minds of some few people with the painted color of divine service and godliness, have finally become so well known and obvious in the whole world, and have thus come to light by divine will, that one must not have much trouble and work to keep his false and perverse faith, he will not be able to keep his faith.
Opinion, opinion and opinion with some reasonable causes further to move and overturn. Considering that he, who recognizes himself guilty and unjust in his conscience, now protects, saves, defends and stops himself with nonsense and heresy alone. Accordingly, we beseech and remind you in the Lord, by the increase of the holy Christian faith, by the salvation and honor of the German nation, by the friendly good opinion, faithfulness, goodwill and inclination which we bear to you by innate and hereditary habit, and finally by the common blessedness of all of us, let it lay bold and swift hands to eradicate and kill this poisoned, hereditary pestilence that is weaving itself around, and to avert and drive away the near and future destruction. Also the disobedient and contumacious of the Lord Christ, Luther, who then gives himself to grace and repentance, together with his heretical books, destroy and burn him to the ground. For in this way you will increase and maintain your honor, praise and Christian name, and show and prove that neither the cunning, danger and deceit of some heretics, nor the hatred or hope of some few, are so powerful, strong and respectable among you that they are able to distort, reverse and destroy all divine and human things and things. Which so holy and so pleasing to God work to accomplish and spend, we offer you our favor, help, fortune, together with our blood and life heartily, talk and promise. And blessed be you. Given in our royal castle and court camp at Greenwich on the twentieth day of May. Anno Domini 1521.