Same contents as No. 2169.
Handwritten in London, Public office, with the inscription: Ad D. Pontanum cancellarium Martini L. litere (not a very good copy). Printed by Kolde in Zeitschrift für Kirchengeschichte, XIV, 605 and in Erl. Briesw., vol. X, p. 227.
Grace and peace in Christ. Respectable, esteemed, dear Lord and Godfather! Here comes Doctor Antonius Anglicus, 2) Legatus
a suo rege, and requests, as you miss, interrogation from my most gracious lord, which may be gracious, but secret or close, as I do not care, if E. A. proves conducive to it, then my most gracious lord will not complain, especially because his C. F. G. knows the man well beforehand and comes in a much different form than the French embassy etc. F. G. knows the man well beforehand and comes in a much different guise than the French Embassy etc.
Now, [since] the king also has the courage to accept the Gospel and to enter into our alliance with the princes and to let our Apologia 3) go in his kingdom, it seems to me that if His Majesty would be taken honestly, it should mislead the papists both with Concilio and everything else. For since all this, unsought by us, is self-sufficient, God may well intend something better and greater than we understand. And where he wants to greet us graciously, we must see to it that we do not let him pass by without thanks, Fronte capillata, post est occasio calva. 4) Qui negligit occasionem (says Bonaventura), hunc rursus negliget occasio [He who misses the opportunity, the opportunity will miss again].
For the sake of the royal marriage, there is already the suspensio that the other legate is to deal with us theologians in the future, which cannot be denied him. That is none of the princes' business. And I would like to hear for myself what reason they have for wanting to be so sure of the matter.
1) This time determination results from comparison with the previous letter, No. 2169.
2) D. Robert Barnes.
3) The Augsburg Confession of Faith.
4) One must seize the opportunity by the scoop, behind it is bare. Cato, distich. 2, 26.
Addendum to the letters from 1531 to 1536.
I would almost like to see Magister Philippum travel or be sent to England himself, for he promised earlier, and then he has acted so far with the king that he is so far away. And if he should ever be hindered, his happiness would be too much of a burden for him, and in the end such adherence would bear displeasure and perhaps an eel's tail. 1) Could it not happen now, that [it] might happen after my lord's return? Lord's return. He has done and worked much, as we all know. Should one then again leave nothing to him, or carry him a little, that would be too severe, and his merit rewarded with sadness. After all, all jurists and Medici are free, and move to foreign masters if they want to. I write this so that the good man is not overburdened with evil thoughts.
E. A. will probably do the best in this. Hiemit GOtt befehlt, Amen.
No. 2169b.