July 31, 1535.
1. repentance and forgiveness of sins before, highborn prince, most gracious lord! I am moved to do this writing to Your Cardinal Holiness, not in the hope that I will accomplish something useful with it, but to do enough for my conscience before God and the world, and not to be judged with silence, granted in evil matters 1) 2c. Ludwig Rabe has let me read a letter, in which your C. H. 2) urge him to talk to him about it, 3) that he should talk a lot about the justified 4) Hans Schanzen 2c.
2. but because he is my table companion and house guest, and E. C. H. undoubtedly know that this is not true and that he is being wronged, I cannot think otherwise than that E. C. H. are poking and prodding me through a fence with this, as if they were annoyed by what I and good people hear and say about it. For I can testify with a clear conscience that Ludwig Rabe sits like a virgin over tables, and often speaks more good of his bright cardinal than I can believe; and does not run around the city, but
1) Thus the Wittenbergers and Jenaers; at De Wette bewilligen.
2) i.e. Cardinal Holiness.
3) In the editions: to let talk.
4) justified, i.e. executed. - Schanz actually means Schönitz (cf. De Wette, VI, 694); in the letter to Justus Jonas of February 12, 1538 (De Wette, vol. V, p. 100) Luther writes "Schenitz.
5) This is probably set ambiguously on purpose, because "hellisch" can mean both Hällisch i.e. to Halle and hellish.
The people in his chamber remain very quiet. This whole town was also full of Schanz's accident, probably two days before I and Ludwig learned of it, and we could not believe such a beautiful deed of E. C. H. that Hans Schanz, so highly beloved servant before, should be hanged so suddenly and in such a manner by his dearest master. Neither Ludwig nor I had brought such a thing about, nor had I invented it, and the Cardinal's name was spit upon and condemned without our consent.
If it is now the opinion: that I am poked with it, then I ask quite devoutly, E. C. H. want to leave me my table and housemate unmastered and unheeded 6). For I want to hear and believe what honest people (whom I believe more than all popes and cardinals) talk about entrenchments, also graciously and ungraciously allow me (is the same) to repeat to good friends what I thus hear and believe. For I do not sit here for the sake of E. C. H., that I should strike all those on the mouth and punish lies, who speak good of Hans Schanzen and evil of his Cardinal. I also hope that E. C. H. will not hurry to the gallows with me as almost as with Hans Schanzen. Thus, I will have my thoughts and beliefs, as well as my chatter and listening to good friends of E. C. H. free and unbidden; just as I must suffer what E. C. H. in the same case says against me.
6) d. i. unmolested.
7) Thus the Wittenberg and Jena editions; De Wette lacks "at".
*) This letter is found in the Wittenberg edition (1559), vol. XII, p. 268; in the Jena edition (1568), vol. VI, p. 3251; in the Altenburg edition, vol. VI, p. 488; in the Leipzig edition, vol. XXI, p. 79; in De Wette, vol. 1 V, p. 614; and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 98. We give the text according to De Wette, comparing the Wittenberg and Jena editions. This letter did not remain the last; compare the last note to this writing.
want to be. For I consider, whether I am weak in faith, in everything that one would like to speak against Hans Schanzen for his 1) Cardinal (although I have not yet heard any of them), that I may well get rid of such sins without E. C. H. indulgence.
4 And if H. C. H. were to execute all those who speak evil and shamefully of the infernal Cardinal, not only in this but also in other pieces, not enough ropes would be invented in Germany; without there being many who do not want to be executed as easily as Hans Schanz, also some want to be unhanged by the infernal Cardinal; and if he executes for a long time, and could execute a lot, he would thereby control such clamor little. I would also like to believe (no cardinal executioner shall forbid me this, because thoughts are free of duty) that, where Hans Schanz should have been captured and free outside Halle, or should have suffered justice, he would certainly have remained unchastised, which also the public legend says. Perhaps it will still be sung, especially in those places where the C. H. does not have the power to execute the people.
I also believe that if they had had Ludwig Raben in Halle, as E. C. H. in Leipzig had had him arrested, he would perhaps have been hanged long ago; for he would then have kept silent about Hans Schanzen. But if E. C. H. desires to know how beautiful a clamor they have in German lands, then I may well publicly state, from the beginning, fifteen years ago, especially from the indulgence, and stand against such a terrible holy man of it all right; although it is not advisable for E. C. H. to shake the dirt further, and to excite the unkilled man vox et fama; quod communis Fama famat, non de toto perit.
But if E. C. H. would like to get rid of such evil talk, they would have to forbid it outside Halle, especially in the case of Pabst's ban, since the merchants are beyond belief, and interpret Schanzen's matter quite strangely, some even want to understand it. For the fact that it is forbidden to speak by force in Halle does not harm Hans Schanzen, his
1) Thus the Wittenberg"; in the other editions: his.
Nor does this matter, and makes the Cardinal's cry all the angrier; just as Magister Georgen 2) cried out in blood, since I would have liked to have turned (the time) from the Bishop of Mainz with a public writing, and cried out and still cries out, the longer the more vehemently; and I fear that it will not be quieted until it 3) is heard and smelled, as it concerns women. And as a sign, I am still obliged to revoke such writing, in honor of E. C. H.: God grant me time and strength to do so. Let this be said for my sake.
If Ludwig is seriously meant by the above letter, then C. H. has proved himself well and reported too much himself, as Christ says: Ex verbis tuis judico te, serve nequam. Because E. C. H. know and must know that Ludwig did not do such a thing, and that no reason or cause is shown for it; nevertheless, they deliberately force themselves on the innocent man with such suspicion: so we weak believers must grasp that there must be an evil conscience, which fears, since there is no fear, and invents for itself the crashing and locking, 4) as the prophet says: Fugit impius, nemine persequente, and David: Timuerunt, ubi non erat timor. So also the pagans testify that evil consciences betrayed themselves and saw themselves in their own words, as Cato says: Conscius ipse sibi de se putat omnia dici, that it would have been much more dangerous for Hans Schanzen, where E. C. H. would have contained such a prohibition to Halle, and this scripture For a good conscience must not such worrying, suspicion, and leadings, but can confidently despise all mouths speech, and finally stuff with honor without all violence. But it is God's work if Cain must betray himself with his apology; of this perhaps another time better.
8. this letter I want E. C. H. last 5)
2) Magister Georg Winkler, preacher at Halle, was killed by assassins. Cf. Walch, old edition, vol. XXI, 1042 f. and Walch, St. Louis edition, vol. X, 1960 ff.
3) Jenaer: he.
4) i. e. beams, rafters. Perhaps it should be read: "crashing" in the rafters. Cf. Hab. 3, 11.
5) This letter did not remain the last, but was followed by the one we have included under No. 33 of this appendix, and the letter No. 34 in this appendix.
as the prophet Elijah wrote to King Joram at the end [2 Chron. 21, 12.], and thus wants to be excused against God, because I should hope for no betterment, as little as Elijah from his Joram. And I must take comfort that you angry saints will not execute all those who are hostile to you: although you could execute all those who are hostile to you.
We will not allow any good to come from you, but will leave our Lord God's ring on the door of His church and let some live until the right executioner comes upon you, amen. At Wittenberg. Ultima Julii. 1535.
D. Martin Luther, preacher at Wittenberg.