Response to previous number.
Printed by Lindner, p. 34, No. 23 and by De Wette- Seidemann, Vol. VI, p. 174.
To the most illustrious and illustrious true Prince and Lord, Lord George, Prince of Anhalt, Count of Ascanien, Lord of Bernburg, Provost of the Church at Magdeburg, his most gracious Lord.
Grace and peace in Christ! I have never doubted in the least the loyalty of E. F. G., noble Prince, therefore it was not necessary for E. F. G. to apologize so carefully, but I must always hold that extremely bad man suspicious because of many things that I know for sure, not from Schönitz, but from Rome and the Roman world. And I fear only this for our Germany, that you princes may begin to sigh too late and to mourn over your security; for it is the secret of wickedness that we do not want to become wise before we have experienced the damage. If it is possible, I beg that E. F. G. will not trust this monster. "But if it shall not be, let (it) go as it may." We have here no lasting city (civitatem), only that I also wish peace and well-being to this Egypt and Babylon (in which we are prisoners). "But E. F. G. will graciously grant it to me": I cannot believe, nor even entertain the suspicion, that this man is acting or saying anything in earnest. For this reason, I very much wish that E. F. G. were free from this monster, "God knows that. E. F. G. look forward",
1) Thus, instead of "aufschlecht," Burkhardt reads.
as God will give. Therefore, for the sake of the petitions of all of us, I gladly, but with fear, place myself at E. F. G.'s service, but "God make it better than we think, amen. For the devil always makes it worse than we think. Herewith amen. Mondays after St. Bartholomew" (28 Aug.) 1536.
E. F. G. williger
Martinus Luther, D.
No. 2282.