About the letter of the pope to the emperor and the alleged reformation project of the emperor.
Handwritten in Aurifaber, Vol. III, p. 444. Printed in Schütze, Vol. I, p. 334; in Litt. Wochenbl. II, 313; in Strobel-Ranner, p. 345 and comparing Cod. Goth. 185. 4. in De Wette, vol. V, p. 720.
Grace and peace in the Lord and a very happy year, Amen! Your son, Justus Jonas, reminded me, who is not Magister noster, 1) but rather our Magister, that I should write to you, my dear Jonas. For he said that you wish it, and it would be pleasant for you. Therefore I write, and I have nothing to write seriously, since you always precede in writing news, unless perhaps you do not know this: A letter from the pope is being circulated, which the Venetian friars have sent to Veit Dietrich, who is quite hopeful and fierce, to Emperor Carl the Fifth, in which he takes him to task with much and great, all-Italian hope, why he dares to permit and promise religious discussions, although his office is not to teach, but rather to hear and learn from the mother of the churches and the teacher of the faith. (These are words that are sufficiently known to you as an apostate jurist). Many doubt whether this thing is serious or the play of a pasquilla, but it does not seem to me to be nothing at all.
1) See St. Louis edition, vol. XVII, 2252, s. v. Magister noster.
be. In addition, the speech was raised that Carl wanted to propose a reformation at the upcoming Imperial Diet, following the example of the church that was at the time of the Nicene Council. O, about the excellent reformation! If this is true, then the cause of the pope has come all the way to the rope, 1) or if it is a trap that they want to lure us to consent by this hope (which I rather believe), then the pope will mock us quite nicely as captives. For believing the promises of the Pope is the same as believing the father of lies (whose real son he is); but I would like the Pope to be forced to follow the example of the Nicene Council. Dear God, where would then remain your coadjntor, your executioner (carnifex), your 2) cardinal? But let us pray earnestly while they play their game and mock God and all His creatures. It will happen, when they stop playing, that they will then seriously mourn in hell. 3) There you have what I could have written, not to write nothing. Farewell and pray for me. January 26, 1545. Martin Luther, D.
No. 3188.