Major reports on the beginning of the Regensburg colloquium, namely on the article of justification, on Bucer's diligence and skill, on the colloquists of the opposing party, and on the probable fruitlessness of the conversation.
The original is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. H, fol. 653, no. 203. Printed in Corp. Ref. vol. VI, 38.
To the highly famous and highly learned men, Mr. Martin Luther, Mr. Johann Bugenhagen, Mr. Caspar Cruciger, Mr. Philipp Melanchthon, Doctors of Theology, his exceedingly revered fathers and teachers.
Hail in Christ Jesus! What has been going on here in the past few days, venerable gentlemen and teachers of high esteem, I believe, Your Honor has sufficiently recognized from our letters. Several days were spent with the well-known preparatory insignificant matters, such as the admission of notaries, their number, their reliability, the safekeeping of acts, and that they should not be spread, and many other such things more. After that they came to the matter itself. Then the Spaniard Malvenda, the collocutor sent in the name of the emperor, began to dictate to the notaries from a letter the act, the brief epitome of which I send here. The next day Bucer answered in our name, and this day was spent with the refutation of his [Malvenda's] preface and the discussion of that with which he had tormented us and our princes, and after that the protestation 1) written by me, which we sent to you the other day, was read out. Although nothing harsh was said in it against the emperor or anyone else, the opponents nevertheless began to cry out that it was not a protestation but an accusation (criminationem). And Malvenda said: Since the emperor is mentioned here, and I am an imperial official (Caesareanus), I will not suffer them to continue before I have answered each piece. Moved by the emperor's prestige, the
1) This protestation is printed in full in Seckendorf, Hist. Luth., 630b sq. and in Corp. Ref., vol. VI, 39-43, immediately after this letter. In an objection of February 12, the Wittenberg theologians mention it.
Presidents to resign; but after the protest had been more carefully considered, we were again called, and the Presidents requested that we proceed.
Then, among other things, two in particular were carefully discussed. Firstly, since we saw that the opponents were intent on leading us away to Sorbonian sophisms by leaving out the way prescribed by the Emperor for dealing with the fourth article of the Augsburg Confession, justification, we indicated that we did not want to deal with them about this article in any other way than according to the Augsburg Confession, as commanded by the Emperor. Then it is diligently proved to them from the acts of the colloquium, which was held here before, that this article of justification was agreed upon and accepted, also according to the testimony of the opponents themselves and of the emperor. Then, according to the order, every single thing that belongs to the doctrine has been treated with the greatest fidelity and care, as you will read the epitome of this action that the Lord Brenz sent, because he also wanted to earn some thanks. Bucer is very suitable for these actions, and although the rest of us carefully observe all his sayings, writings, and actions, he has truly handled this matter with the greatest fidelity so far, as the acts show. And to all of you he always makes honorable mention as his fathers and teachers, does nothing without first consulting us, he hears our advice and obeys it. For we consult with each other almost daily, and there is nothing more pleasant for me here than the coming together and confidential contact with the best and most learned men, who, as I see, love you all with all their hearts.
The adversaries, as the seed of the serpent, find quite unlike a man, the utmost yeast of the sophists; the two monks are exceedingly insolent men. Malvenda, after the manner of his people, is a very hopeful man, puffed up by the emperor's prestige; he tries to disturb everything, and even the presidents, who are otherwise quite fair to us, are nevertheless compelled to fear him, and both have made it clear to us that they hate this Spaniard; we, however, despise his defiance and his hopefulness, and several times we have frustrated his foolish attempts. It is pleasant for Cochläus to hang at the back of the collocutors.
Letters from the year 1546. No. 3310. 3311. 3312.
What the beginners' colloquiums are, and what reconciliation with the adversaries can be hoped for, Your Honor will understand and recognize more fully from the letter to the most noble Prince. Therefore, you will have to advise and inform us whether it is possible to continue with the opponents in the remaining articles of our Confession as prescribed by the Emperor, since I do not see that there is any hope that they will give in on anything. For this your counsel we all ask and desire. Fare well, most esteemed fathers and teachers, whom Christ may long preserve to His Church. Regensburg, February 10, 1546.
Your Honor faithful 1) Georg Major.
No. 3311.