Towards the end of December 1528.
Grace and peace in Christ. I have received your letter, my dear Wenceslaus, in which you report what Duke George tried to do to you. Shortly before, he demanded the same from me and after that also from our Duke, but he was unable to achieve anything; finally, after his great foolishness and vituperative rage, he sent out a violent diatribe against me. It is said that eight thousand copies of it have been printed, which he will send everywhere under his seal. Thus Luther will finally be suppressed, but the most glorious Duke George will take the prize; he will let it go out for the fair. But I have secretly received a copy and have written an answer, which will go out at the same time [with his responsibility], without him having taken care of it. Perhaps
the completely wretched Thor burst with rage and die. I would like that thief, the Miricionus, 1) to have received my own hand from you, so little am I afraid of this Satan, although I am surprised about Scheurl, not that he has handed it over to him, but that he deals so confidentially with our worst enemies. You will see this news next mass, and at the same time hear what he intends to do against our prince.
1) Nirieionus - ass Mirisch, Luther mockingly put instead of Miricianus. Meant is Thomas von der Heiden, George's secretary. Different from this is lVl. Joachim von der Heiden (Miricianus), known for his attacks on Luther and his wife. The von der Heiden called themselves, from Marios, which- one mistakenly took for designation of the heather (cf. Seidemann, Erläuterungen, p. 148), Myricianus, or a My-.
riaa, or N^rieius, or Mirisch. Joachim called himself Phrisomysensis, so coming from Friesland.
*) Latin in Aurifaber II, 380 and in De Wette, III, 337. According to the latter we have translated.
**This letter is found in Latin in Aurifaber, Vol. II, 389d and in De Wette, Vol. Ill, 409. We have translated it according to the latter.
I ask you to pray with your congregation against this raging murderer and bloodthirsty robber, who is obviously not only possessed by a devil and produces nothing but murder and threats, that Christ will either keep him, as Paul did, or remove him from the way. For why
Shall this harmful and restless tool of Satan mistreat heaven and earth?
There's nothing new here but constant gale-force winds. What these mean, I do not know. Fare well in the Lord. 1528.
Martin Luther.