Answer to No. 2904: Luther expresses his joy at the prospect of a settlement of the dispute over spices, and assures us that he has no ill will toward the landgrave, but that he is only annoyed by the book of Huldrich Neobulus.
The original is in the government archives at Cassel. Printed in C. von Rommel's Geschichte von Hessen, Dritten Theils zweite Abtheilung (Vierter Band), Cafsel 1830. note 157, p. 242, and in De Wette-Seidemann, vol. VI, p. 312.
Grace and peace in Christ our Lord! Sublime, highborn prince, gracious lord! I am very glad to hear that E. F. G. has gained hope for a settlement of this troublesome, dangerous discord. May God grant further and final mercy, as we earnestly pray and now calmly hope. However, I would not have imagined that H. Moritz should act so ungratefully and unkindly against the Elector, when all the world knows that he would not have been born, much less become such a prince, if H. Frederick had not done so. Well, he is struggling for God's wrath. It will come to him before he thinks, if he does not atone for such a wicked deed for the sake of a muck, which he could have accomplished with one word. God protect the people who are to march against the Turk, so that H. Moritz does not have to be in the field, otherwise not only the Turk, but also thunder and lightning shall strike us, where such an unpunished bloodhound, who has committed father-murder, brother-murder, brother-in-law-murder, even father- and son-murder so stubbornly. [But] 1) I will speak against him with a Lord, who shall be man enough for him, and shall sit secure from his works at the right hand of God.
The other things that E. F. G. write to me about, I know [they] well, how faithfully I have always meant E. F. G., and also carried over it hard enough to spare E. F. G.. But the wicked book of Huldrich Neobuli would have spoiled it so badly that it could have written such [lazy] 2) jokes, which are not only unworthy of the cause, 3) but
1) Inserted by us in the gap located here.
2) "lazy" or even "lame" is to be inserted in the gap.
3) "alone unmeritorious" put by us instead of: "always meritorious", which will be read.
I also remembered that someone had made E. F. G. into a scold and a mockery. F. G. to insult and ridicule. I know of no reluctance. For I must have and lift E. F. G. in my prayers, because at present there are such heavy regiments that it is necessary to pray for the overlords. They are in such a bad way, and in great trouble, where they are supposed to administer justice. Hiemit dem lieben GOtte befohlen, Amen. Monday in Easter [April 10] 1542.
E. F. G.
Martinus Luther.
No. 2 907.