The Prince sends several books and reports the rumor that the Pope has asked the Emperor for protection of the Papal See.
A fair copy is in Dessau. Printed in Theol. Studien und Kritiken, 1835, II, 351 and in Burkhardt, p. 316. Luther's answer is in the next letter.
Our favorable, inclined will before. Venerable, learned, special beloved! According to our promise, we are sending you the booklet Prosperi contra inimicos gratiae Dei, as well as the Canones concilii provincialis coloniensis, together with the same Enchiridio or Catechismo,
Letters from the year 1539. No. 2495 to 2498.
and may not reproach you for the fact that today it was reported to us, as in Magdeburg, that the pope, through his legates, had petitioned the emperor as well as the king for the defension of the Roman see, with a reminder of their duty, so that they might be devoted to it; the emperor heard this with displeasure, and therefore should not stand well with the pope. We do not want to let you, to whom we are especially inclined, know this at the New Year's Fair (jarsmeer), as we have heard, and we want the afflicted Christian Church, as well as our little person in your pater noster, to have it in remembrance. [Given at Roslau, on the day of Circumcisionis Domini [Jan. 1] Anno 1539.
No. 2496.