This writing was published in Wittenberg by Hans Luft in a single edition. In the collections: in the Wittenberg edition (1559), vol. XII, p. 338d; in the Jena edition (1562), vol. VIII, p. 206; in the Altenburg edition, vol. VIII, p. 415; in the Leipzig edition, vol. XXI, p. 453; by Walch, vol. XXI, 252* and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 32, p. 425.
Papa, quid aegroto sua fata precare Luthero, Nil melius, vivat, seu moriatur, habes.
Is tua, dum vivit, pestis te adfligit et urit: Mors tua tunc certe, cum morietur, erit.
Dura lues pestis, sed mors est durior illa: Elige nunc utrum, perfide Papa, velis.
What do you wish, Pope, Luther dead? He lives, he dies, if not your need. His life is a mortal pestilence to you, his death eats you up completely. Mortal pestilence is hard, death much more so. Choose, faithless prince, what thy desire.)
Copia de una Utera delo imbasciatore dei Re Christianissimo de uno stupendo miraculo visto in la infelicissima morte de Martino Luthero.
Stupendo et giamai non odito miraculo, che Dio benedetto ha mostrato alia infelicissima morte di Martin Luthero, dannato in anima et in corpo, si come per un capitulo de le let-
1) We do not know whether the indication there: "made by the father himself" also refers to this German translation.
2) This German translation is found in Walch, but is missing in the old editions.
tere dei ambasciatore dei Re Christianissimo chia ramente si comprende: a gloria et honor di Giesu Christo a emendation degli mali: et a confirmatione degli boni.
Copia dei detto capitolo.
Martin Luthero essendo infermo, domando el santissimo Sacramento dei corpo di nostro signor Giesu Christo. II quale preso chebbe, subito fo morto: et nella siia infirmita ve- dendo chera grave et-tutta via saccostava a la morte: havea pregato che'l corpo suo fosse sopra duna altaro riposto: et ivi come Dio fosse adorato. Ma la divina bonta, et pro- videnza volendo ad un tanto grande errore ponere fine, et silentio perpetuo: non denego mostrar tanti miraculi quanti erano necessarii acchioche il populo si ritrahese da tanto grande errore, ruina et perditione, che ditto Luthero in questa eta ha fatto. Onde do po che'l suo corpo fo nel sepolchro et tumulo riposto: subito fo udito un horrendo romore, et tumulto anzi una infernal ruina et tem- pesta, per la qual cosa tutti coloro cherano ivi presenti vennero in grandissimo tremore, admiratione & paura, & alzando gli occhi al cielo veddero chiaramente quella Sacratissima hostia del nostro signore Giesu Christo, la qual un huomo tanto indegno cosi indegna- mente haveva havuto audacia pigliare, dico che veddero tutti colore cherano ivi presenti, manifestamente quella Santissima hostia flar in aere susposa. Onde con grandissima devotione, et reverentia preseno quella santissima hostia, et con grande honore, et devotione fra le cose sacre honorificamente la riposeno. Qual cosa fatta piu non sudi per quel giorno tanto gran romor, et infernal tem- pesta, ma la sequente notte in quel medesimo luocho, ove il corpo di Martino era fatto riposto, sudi universalmente da tutti assai maggior tempesta della prima. Per la qual cocosa tutto el populo fo levato, et venne in grandissimo stupor et admiratione. Onde fatto giorno, andomo ad aperire quel tumulo et sepolchro, ove era stato riposto quel corpo cosi emplo di Martino, il qual sepolchro aperto chiaramente si vedeva che ivi non era ne corpo, ne carne, ne ossa, ne meno vestimento alcuno, ma pieno di tanta sulforea puzza, che tutti circumstanti amorbava, per il che molti sonno ritomati a meglior vita, et alia fede santa catholica, ad honore laude et gloria di Giesu Christo et fermezza, et stabilimento della sua santa chiesia colonna et stabilimento della verita.
Erl. 32, 428-430.
Nachlese, No. XVII. XVIII. XIX.
W. XLl, 254*-261*.
[This is.]
Copei of a letter of the most Christian king's envoy, of a frightening miraculous sign, which happened 1) in the shameful death of Martin Luther.
Terrible and unheard-of miraculous sign, which the God of God has shown in the shameful death of Martin Luther, condemned with sea and body; as one can clearly understand in a chapter of the letter of the most Christian king's envoy, to the honor and praise of Jesus Christ, and to the improvement and comfort of the pious.
Copei of the chapter.
1st Martin Luther, when he was ill, desired the holy sacrament of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ; which when he had received, he died immediately. And in his sickness, when he saw that it was very violent and that it was completely inclined to death, he asked that his body be placed on an altar and worshiped as a god. But the divine goodness and prudence, when it wanted to put an end to such a great error and an eternal silence, did not refuse to open such miraculous signs, which were very necessary, so that the people would desist from such great error, destruction and ruin, which the above-mentioned Luther has caused in this world. Therefore, as soon as his body was laid in the grave, a terrifying rumbling and tumult was heard, as the devils and hell were seated in one another, by which all those who were present came into a great fright, horror and fear; and when they lifted their eyes to heaven, they clearly saw the most holy Hostia of our Lord Jesus Christ, which such an unworthy man was so unworthily allowed to receive. I also say that all those who were present seem to have seen the Most Holy Host hanging in the air. Therefore, with great devotion and reverence, they have honestly done the Most Holy Hostia with great honor and devotion to the saints.
Since this happened, no such commotion and infernal rumbling was heard that day. But the following night, in the same place where Martin Luther's body was buried, everyone heard a greater commotion than the first. Therefore, the people got up and were in great fear and horror. Therefore, when daylight came, they went out.
1) So the editions. It should probably be read: "seen" (visto).
When the tomb was opened, it was clearly seen that there was neither body, nor flesh, nor bone, nor some clothes; but it was full of such a foul stench that it sickened all who stood around. By this much their lives were improved to the holy Christian faith, to the glory, praise and honor of Jesus Christ, and the fortification and confirmation of his holy Christian church, which is a pillar of the truth.
And I Martinus Lutherus O. confess and testify with this writing that I received such angry poems from my death on the 21st of March and almost gladly and happily read them, except for the blasphemy, since such lies are attributed to the high divine majesty. Otherwise it hurts me gently on the right kneecap and on the left heel that the devil and his scales, pope and papists, are so cordially hostile to me. God convert them from the devil.
But if it is decided that my prayer for sin to death is in vain, then God grant that they make their measure full, and nothing else but write such little books for their comfort and joy. Let them always go, they go right, sic voluerunt; meanwhile I will see how they want to be saved, or how they may repent and revoke all their lies and blasphemies, so that they fill the world.