Response to No, 2099.
The original is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. C, p. 578. Printed in De Wette, Vol. I V, p. 579 and in the Erlangen Edition, Vol. 55, p. 80.
To the eightable, highly esteemed Mr. Gregorio Brück, the right doctor and electoral chancellor of Saxony, my favorable master and dear godfather.
G. and Fried. Respectable, highly respected, dear Lord and Godfather. I have written to my gn. I have written to my Lord what H. C. F. G. may let go and read. It is true that I would like to be with S. George and the bishop, and this letter from Duke Hans would be wonderful for me. And for God's sake, that it may well be kept, whether I or mine should ever need it. I wanted to scratch the donkey's ears. But I must let everything happen now. Noster hyparchon est, sicut est contra Archonta. 1)
But whether my lord seriously wants to know how this matter stands. Sir seriously wants to know how this matter stands, you may report my conscience to S. C. F. G. in this case. That is:
Certainly, I have preached publicly against the bishop and asked that the same sermon go out to the market. Whether I have named St. George, I truly do not know; for since the Grimmish Day, I have put him out of my mind and have not accepted anything from him. But it must be that after the sermon before the Duchess of Brunswick 2) over the table at the Margravine's, I spoke much of the bishop of such words, that he was of the devil, and I wanted to pray against him, perhaps against H. George as well. But if I have not said anything about St. George, I still say it now, and now I want to do and say it more than before. Let me see if I can defend it with my neck. But in a moment
1) This sentence is illegible in the original (De Wette). - Should the opinion be: Our prince is subservient to Duke George, as one is to a head?
2) Through his sister Elisabeth, the wife of Duke Erich of Brunswick, Margrave Joachim the Younger of Brandenburg heard about it and reported it to Duke Johann in Dresden.
There are probably many additions in the copy that are not known to me, and a prince should not write such things about himself, which I can deny with a clear conscience. But, dear one, let them come for God's sake. Mart. Luther, D.
No. 2102