About the journey to Amsdorf, which has been thwarted so far. Congratulations that the tyrannical Creuz (see No. 2985, 3008 and 3036) has been deposed. News.
The original is in Cod. Seidel. at Dresden. From the von Ludwig collection at Halle, in Schütze, Vol. I, p. 301 and in De Wette, Vol. V, p. 633. German in Walch, Vol. XXI, 1521.
To the man venerable in Christ, Mr. Nicolaus, the right and exceedingly faithful bishop of the church at Naumburg, his [friend] highly honored in the Lord.
Grace and peace in the Lord! That you write, my bishop venerable in the Lord, that it pleased you that I did not leave for you in this hard winter, was very pleasant to me. And indeed, this winter seems to me to be the longest of all that I have experienced in my life. What God may be thinking of, I do not know. Whether perhaps nature and the unusual course of all creatures prophesy to us that the day of redemption is at the door? But I will hurry to you as soon as I can spare the time, God willing. For I can easily create leisure for myself, at least with such health. For I wish to see and speak to you myself before I fall asleep.
I rejoice that you are freed from the tyrant Creuz 1) (Creytio), and wish that he who succeeded him be better. I also see that the avarice of the nobility is immeasurable, who assume that the princes bed
1) Walch: "von dem Tyrannencreuz".
They themselves, however, are princes. 2) But in all classes of men there is indomitable avarice, so that I firmly persuade myself that this is one of the signs of the last day, as if the world were racing in its old age and last death struggle and would soon perish, as it tends to happen with some dying people. But about that at another time.
I believe that you know all the news about how the pope has made an alliance with the Turk and the French and the Venetians, and will wage war against the emperor. The Frenchman has given a seaport to Barbarossa, the commander of the Turkish fleet, who is building a Mahometan temple there. O over the most Christian king! o over the most holy father! o over the most catholic Venetians! Where are now the innumerable funds that have been collected against the Turk from the pallia, annals, letters of confession, indulgences, etc.? Of course, they serve for the Turk against the Christians. You see, therefore, that the world hastens its end, and, as philosophy says, the natural movement is slower in the beginning, very swift in the end. But this I write perhaps in vain, since you may have learned this from others. It is written to Speier that our prince was most graciously exempted by the emperor, in that Frederick of the Palatinate was sent to meet him with the great men of the imperial court, and he was escorted with splendid splendor and entered the city. God grant an even happier end, amen. Other things at another time, when I will have learned more, or I can tell it to you myself verbally. They say that the Turk has died, and that his sons will fight for the dominion. Would to God that this were true, for this too would be among the other signs that the world would soon come to an end. Fare well in the Lord, who may strengthen you and give you that this captivity of the flesh of yours may appear to you as the most delightful paradise, because in this episcopal office you serve His pleasing will, amen. March 8, 1544.
Venerable Sir,
Your devoted Martin Luther.
2) Instead of: Principis will read Principes.
Letters from the year 1544. No. 3100 to 3103^
No. 3100.