[Wittenberg, beginning of December, 1535]1 Announcing the coming of Robert Barnes to lena, Luther asks Melanchthon to prepare himself to receive an English legation, and to do so in a manner worthy of the ambassadors' dignity and Elector John
Frederick's honor. Then Luther briefly mentions the threats made in Wittenberg by the papal envoy, Pietro Paolo Vergerio, against Henry VIII. In the remaining portions of the letter Luther deals with two topics: (a) Archbishop Albrecht of Mainz has taken away, and supposedly sold for a large sum of money, the crosier of the abbot of the monastery at Zinna and some of the sacred vessels of a church in jüterbog.
In this connection Luther muses on the greed of the cardinals, especially Albrecht. (b) The friends in Jena should not be deterred from returning to Wittenberg by rumors concerning the plague. In closing Luther extends greetings from his wife. In a humorous way he mentions that his wife is thinking of Melanchthon; he warns his friend not to make him jealous since then he would take revenge by thinking of On Philip Melanchthon, see LW 48, 77, n. 3, and above, p. 85.
Text in Latin (with some words, sentences, or phrases in German): WA, Br 7, 330–331.
Mr. Philip Melanchthon, Master [of Arts],2 a faithful disciple of Christ, my dearest brother, who is in Jena Grace and peace in the Lord! Since Doctor Antony3 himself comes, there was nothing for me to write about; from his report you will find out everything that goes on here. You see to it now that you be a companion and debator worthy of the two ambassadors,4 and of the honor of their King5 and our
Sovereign.6 I rejoice that Doctor Antony has been freed from his worries.7 For I, too, started to have very grave thoughts, since the other ambassador8 delayed so long. It is quite easy for someone who knows what kind of traitors, thiefs, robbers, and even devils the most reverend lord cardinals, popes, and their ambassadors are, to have second thoughts. I wish there would be more kings of England who would slay them.9 For with these words the legate, Paolo Vergerio,10 answered me here: "Yea! (I know) the King of England kills cardinals and bishops. But," etc. Then, gesturing with his hand and gnashing his teeth, he threatened that King with sufferings greater than the emperors ever had experienced before;11 [he did this,] to be sure, not with open words but with lips pressed together. In the flesh, even in the heart, they are malicious people! May the Lord grant that you, too, can see this.
Priest Albrecht12 at Halle has taken away the crosier of the abbot at Zinna, and the monstrance in Jüterbog, together with many other chalices; [he did this] out of such great devotion that he even replaced them with letters sealed by him.13 They say that that crosier of the abbot and the monstrance brought a large sum.14 It is truly right that Albrecht became a cardinal since he, in his ingenuity, so successfully competes with all the cardinals, and soon will have outdone them if he is permitted to continue. For in this way they15 have robbed all the churches in Rome and in Italy of altars, masses,16 incomes, and treasury; yet nevertheless they strictly insist on the masses and the worship in the churches. If you believe Cicero, then you think that Verres or Dionysius really are something;17 but now one most reverend cardinal of the holy catholic church not only has a hundred Verres and a thousand Dionysiuses in his heart, but also publicly and without any shame practices their ways in works for everyone to see. How do the sovereigns and lords tolerate this! And thus they vex us through crimes and the rape of churches.18
We expect your return,19 and should a rumor reach you, then endure and overcome it. We hope that, even if there should be any future cases of contagious disease [around here], we will nevertheless have clean air (instead of this Scythian sky).20 Were it the plague, it would need other symptoms. Everywhere on earth people are mortal; they are born and they die. We cannot all remain alive here on earth, otherwise we will not get yonder.
My lord [Katie] greets you reverently; she thinks more frequently of you. Take care not to provoke me to jealousy, since you, too, have a wife for my revenge. Farewell in the Lord; greet Doctor Caspar
Cruciger21 and all our friends, and pray for me!
To Elector John Frederick [Wittenberg,] January 11, 1536 The English ambassadors,1 who had arrived in Electoral Saxony at the end of November, 1535, attended the meeting of the Smalcaldic League which was in session in Smalcald in December of 1535, and which was addressed by Edward Fox. During this meeting the ambassadors had a conference with the Electoral
Saxon chancellor emeritus, Gregory Brück, and presented to him a document of six articles; and the evangelicals, in turn, presented to the English 13 articles. Both documents2 were to be the basis for further negotiations. In his address to one of the league's plenary sessions,3 Fox underscored the necessity of common action on the part of all the evangelicals regarding the pending council, and of unity among all who opposed the pope. The result of this meeting was that theological discussions (in which the matter of the King's marriage was to be of great importance) were to be conducted in Wittenberg. On January I the ambassadors arrived in Wittenberg, where they stayed until April as the Elector's guests.4 In Smalcald the English voiced their desire that Melanchthon be present at these discussions; Melanchthon excused himself, however, by citing the judgment regarding the matter of the King's marriage which he had given in 1531,5 and his obligations to the University which, because of the plague, had been moved to Jena.6
Apter the ambassadors had settled down in Wittenberg they approached Elector John Frederick and urged him to order Melanchthon to come to Wittenberg and attend the discussions. The Elector wrote to Luther for advice,7 and letter No. 267 is Luther's reply.
Luther underscores that he himself would be willing to bear the burden of these discussions without Melanchthon. Yet he encourages the Elector to send for Melanchthon, provided that Melanchthon wishes to attend the discussions. He glues three reasons for his stand: (a) to keep Melanchthon away from the discussions might be misinterpreted by the English as disrespect for them, and this could cause a bad reputation for the Elector; (b) according to a prior arrangement, Melanchthon was to attend the discussions; (c) to keep Melanchthon away from the discussions might do damage to Melanchthon's reputation. Then Luther informs the Elector that regarding the King's divorce he is curious to hear the ambassadors' arguments, but that he will not simply be talked into abandoning his opinion given in 1531.8
In conclusion Luther commends the Elector to God and thanks the Elector for a gift of venison.
As a result of Luther's letter Melanchthon was called to Wittenberg,9 where he arrived sometime apter January 17.10 At the beginning of February he went back to lena,11 and on February 13 he returned permanently to Wittenberg.12 In February Heath made a short trip to Nürnberg.13 Because of these travels, it was not until early March that serious theological discussions finally began,14 the first two months of the year having been spent in occasionally heated discussions about the King's divorce and in academic disputations on certain theological subjects.15 The ambassadors attended these disputations, though they did not participate in them actively or in great detail. Thus the discussions, which Luther had hoped could be finished quickly,16 dragged on, and as early as January 25 Luther voiced his unhappiness about the whole matter.17
On Elector John Frederick, see LW 48, 181 f.
Text in German: WA, Br 7, 342–343.18
To the Most Serene, Noble Sovereign and Lord, Sir John Frederick, duke in Saxony, archmarshal and elector of the Holy Roman Empire, landgrave of Thuringia and margrave at Meissen, my Most Gracious
Grace and peace in Christ Jesus, and my poor Pater noster!19 Most Serene, Noble Sovereign, Most Gracious Lord! I have obediently read20 Your Electoral Grace's letter. First, regarding Master21 Philip,22 whether he is to be ordered by Your Electoral Grace to come [to Wittenberg] in order to assist us in the discussions of the King's matter23 with the English legation: it is my humble judgment in this matter that Master Philip should aisc be present (provided that he himself does not wish to avoid getting entangled in this matter); for prior to the trip to Austria24 Your Electoral Grace had written to Doctor Antony25 that he should call us theologians together as soon as the other legation26 arrived, either here or (should the other ambassador27 be afraid of the plague)28 at Torgau.29
Your Electoral Grace informs me that at Smalcald the ambassadors received favorably Master Philip's opinion;30 yet I do not know how this happened, and whether the ambassadors are content [with this opinion. Therefore] I refer this issue back to Your Electoral Grace for consideration. For I would not like to see them cause us a bad reputation, as if they had been despised, since even without this, the