From a copy in Cod. Lips. printed in Corp. ref. vol. III, 1129.
To the highly famous and valuable men, Doctor Martin L., D. Justus Jonas, D. Johann Bugenhagen, Pomeranus, the leaders of the church at Wittenberg, his extremely dear patrons.
Hail! Never have we been ambushed in a more artful way than by the pretext of this meeting, in which, as the adversaries posed, it was supposed to be about harmony, about the healing of the churches. But, in fact, it has been avoided that we should be condemned by the previous verdict of this meeting, since the concilium appointed by the Roman Pontiff has had no progress. The most hostile vipers to this cause have been brought, as the list shows, which I have enclosed, and instead of the [Bishop] of Trier, the Mainzer will preside over the Convent. Thus the one will have three votes. And about Granvella I hear that he is coming here, not to alleviate the discord, but because it is hoped that some will fall away. But the negotiations have not yet begun, because they are still waiting for Granvella. 2) If our great ones (heroibus) were as generous as the good nature of the matter demands, we could easily remedy these difficulties. For after we have arrived here, the eight has been proclaimed against those at Goslar because of a certain monastery. Since this is done by the adversaries at the time of the truce, what are ours doing in the meantime? We hear that from the city of Rome come the bishop of Feltre, the brother of Campegius, 3) who has with him the magister of the palace, a theologian.
1) See St. Louis edition, vol. XVII, 400 - There Col. 401, line 5 v. o. read: "Danesius" instead of: "Damasius".
2) He arrived on November 22. (Bretschneider.)
3) Thomas Campegius.
and another, a certain Peter Danesius, 4) who interpreted Demosthenes in Paris, an eloquent man; for I have seen his writings. When these have come, the protestation 5) about the prestige of the pope will have to be opposed to them. I fear, however, that just at this first meeting there will be a separation of ours, although among the preachers who are here, by God's grace, there is unanimity in doctrine. The other messengers of ours also still agree with each other. These are the ones sent from Nuremberg, D. Wenceslaus and Osiander. For the fact that Osiander doubted, as I wrote from Leipzig, 6) was due to the fact that the council had not yet received the letter from our prince. For you know that the letter from the emperor to our prince was brought to our prince shortly before our departure. Many tales are told of the King of France, of the Turks, and of other kings, but I do not consider them worth telling, and you know how great the disloyalty of these is. Granvella recently had Vesontio, a preacher of the Protestants, killed. Namely, he came from there to establish the godly doctrine. For we have decided to mention this as an entrance. Pray for the Church of the Son of God. I will write as often as we have messengers. Be well. Worms, November 4, Anno 1540. 7) Phil. Mel.
No. 2723.
Cruciger to Luther, Jonas, and Bugenhagen.
Cruciger reports his arrival in Worms, speaks about the hostile intentions of the opponents, with whom the negotiations will only begin with Granvella's arrival; reports on the announcement of the verdict of the Eight on Goslar, the organization of the Presidium of the Assembly, Eck's activity, Melanchthon's well-being, and greetings to various.
From a Leipzig manuscript, epist. 54 a, edited by Luntzius in Ephemerid. Lipsiens. anno 1809. Intelligenzblatt No. 37, and in Corp. Ref. vol. III, 1131.
4) Pierre Danes.
5) See St. Louis edition, vol. XVII, 391, no. 1307; it was written by Melanchthon on Oct. 22 at Gotha.
6) No. 2717.
7) In Melanchthon's letter to Veit Dietrich of the same date, St. Louis edition, vol. XVII, 403, line 4 v. u. read: "an epigram, which is written at Eisenach early in bed".
Letters from the year 1540. No. 2723. 2724.
What actions will be taken, we will write to you after that. In the meantime, we entrust ourselves and this whole matter to your prayers. By God's grace, Philip has been in good health and good and cheerful spirits both on the journey and here until now. I entrust my house and family to you. In my name, greet all of ours, the most reverend Lord (M[agnificum] D[ominum]).
No. 2724.