Of the English legation which was to come to Jena; something from the papal legate and from the archbishop of Mainz.
Handwritten at Wolfenbüttel in Cod. Helmst. From the Börner collection in Leipzig in Schütze, Vol. III, p. 25 and in De Wette, Vol. IV, p. 655.
To M. Philipp Melanchthon, the faithful disciple of Christ, his exceedingly dear brother, who lives in Jena.
Grace and peace in the Lord! Since Doctor Antonios is coming himself, I had nothing to write; from his oral speech you will learn everything that is going on here. You will now see to it that you prove yourself to the two envoys as a worthy comrade and disputator for the honor of their king and our prince. I am glad that Doctor Antonius is freed from his worries 1). For I, too, had begun to think very badly, since the other envoy delayed so. For it is easy to be moved in the mind of one who knows what traitors, thieves, robbers and even devils the most venerable lords Cardinals, the popes and their envoys are. Would that
1) He had been worried about the arrival of the other envoys.
God, that they had several kings of England, which they killed! For with these words the legate Paul Vergerius answered me here: Hem! "I know", 2) the King of England kills the Cardinals and Bishops, but 2c. Then with a movement of his hand he grudgingly threatened that king greater things than the emperors have ever suffered before, not with open words, but by biting his lips. "There are evildoers in the skin, yea, in the heart." May the Lord grant that you also believe this. "The priest Albrecht in Halle took away the abbot's staff in Zinna and the monstrances in Jüterbock, along with many other chalices, out of great devotion, so that he also put down letters sealed by him in their place. It is said that that shepherd's staff (pedum) of an abbot and the monstrance amount to a great sum. In truth, he is worthy to have become a cardinal, since he competes happily with all cardinals by his gifts, and will surpass them in short, if he is allowed. For in Rome and in Italy they have stripped all the churches of altars, masses, revenues and jewels, and yet they still strictly demand the masses and the services (cultus) of the churches. You think that Verres or Dionysius is something significant, if you believe Cicero; but now a reverend cardinal of the holy Catholic Church not only has a hundred Verres, a thousand Dionysius in his heart, but practices them publicly and brazenly in open works. "How do such princes and lords suffer" who so plague us with the crime of raping the churches! We expect you to return, and if a rumor should come to you, endure it and overcome it. We hope, even if there should be some pestilence, still (instead of this scythian heaven) to have a pure air. "It would have to turn out differently" if it were a plague; everywhere people are mortal, are born and die. "We don't all have to stay alive here on earth, otherwise we won't get there." My lord [Käthe] greets you reverently and remembers you often, and you see to it that you do not make me zealous.
2) In Latin, brackets are used instead of speech marks.
Letters from the year 1535. No. 2195 to 2198.
I am looking for you, since you also have one on whom I can take revenge. Fare well in the Lord, and greet the Lord Caspar Cruciger and all our people, and pray for me. Anno 1536 1) [1535]. Yours, Martin Luther.
No. 2196.