Luther does not speak out against the premonitions attached to the toppling of a statue. From the Concilium and from the legation to the Turks.
The original is in Cod. Seidel at Dresden. Printed by Schütze, vol. III, p. 222 and by De Wette, vol. V, p. 750. German by Walch, vol. XXI, 1551.
To the in Christ venerable father and lord, Mr. Nicolaus, the right and faithful bishop of the church at Naumburg, his superior in the Lord 2c.
Grace and peace in the Lord! Nothing moves me, venerable Father in Christ, that what you write has happened. Do not worry about dreams, he says; the Scripture teaches the same, unless someone is a prophet, as is said in Numbers 12:6. But this sexton is not a prophet. Then the statue of the prince that is erected in Torgau is made of wood. I have seen it in the Hanse of Lucas before it was painted. And it is no wonder that it has already fallen down; it is astonishing that it has stood so long. Everyone said that it would fall soon, even without wind, by itself, so weakly was it fastened. Enough of that.
From Trent it is written that 23 bishops and 3 cardinals are present, and that they spend the time in idleness, not knowing what to do or what they will do. The bishop of Mainz, rather the jack above all the jacks, has sent envoys there, a sub-bishop (suffraganeum) with a Franciscan. I do not know whether he wants to mock them or us with this ridiculous legation, that he as such a great man sends to such great people, and yet such people. But the Concilium will be worthy of such great monstrosities. Let it go ill with them, as the wrath of God drives them.
Hear something else, if you do not know it: the pope, the emperor, the Frenchman and Ferdinand have sent a very splendid legation, laden with precious gifts, to the Turk to obtain peace. And what is most beautiful, so that they may catch the eyes of the
Not wanting to offend the Turks, they changed their patriotic dresses, each of them his own, and dressed themselves in long robes after the manner of the Turks. It is said that they left Venice on June 21. These are the ones who have been shouting out the Turks as the enemy of the Christian name and extorting the money under this title and stirring up their territory against the Turks. And the Roman Satan has exhausted the world of money against him by the indulgences, the annatas and innumerable arts of robbery. O about the Christians, rather about the infernal idols of the devil. I hope that these are exceedingly happy signs that the end of all things is near. Therefore, while they worship the Turk, let us cry out to the true God, who will hear us and also humble the Turk with them by the appearance of his future, amen. July 17, 1545.
Yours sincerely, Martin Luther, D.
No. 3243.