the league renewed the idea of further theological discussions for the purpose of establishing unity, as well as a basis for common action regarding the council.4 Henry, too, rejected the council, and did so in his famous Protest, a document which supposedly "shocked even Cromwell."5 Henry sent a copy of this document to Elector John Frederick of Saxony in order to promote the renewal of alliance negotiations,6 and in February of 1538 he sent Christopher Mont to the members of the Smalcaldic League. Mont's mission was to get a legation of councilors and theologians of first rank—Melanchthon was to be among them—to come to England for further negotiations.7 Mont discharged his mission during and apter the March/April meeting of the Smalcaldic League in Brunswick.8 As was to be expected, Elector John
Frederick refused to let Melanchthon go. As a result the Electoral Saxon Vice-Chancellor Francis Burchart, the Hessian Councilor George von Boineburg, and the superintendent of Gotha, Frederick
Myconius, were sent to England. The purpose of this mission was to lay the doctrinal groundwork for a legation to be dispatched later on.9 Upon his return from the league's meeting, Myconius visited Luther in Wittenberg,10 and when on May 13 Myconius and Burchart left Wittenberg for England,11 Luther sent along with them the following letter, addressed to Edward Fox, one of the members of the English legation which had been in Wittenberg in 1536.
Luther first reflects upon the kindness shown to him by Fox during the latter's stay in Wittenberg.
Then Luther mentions that for a long time he has received no news from Fox, that this fact worries him because it could be a sign that the cause of the gospel is not faring well in England (a possibility supported by rumors), and that he hopes to receive good news from the league's envoys upon their return.
The envoys, in turn, will give Fox all the news pertaining to the church and commonweal in Germany.
Luther closes with greetings from his wife.
On Edward Fox, see p. 114, n. 4.
Text in Latin: WA, Br 8, 219–220.12
To the father who is to be revered in Christ, Sir Edward, bishop of Hereford in England, my superior13 to be cherished in the Lord
Grace and peace in Christ, our Lord! Since these men, our friends and the envoys14 of the sovereigns, are getting15 ready for the journey to your most serene King,16 I cannot, Reverend Sir, omit writing a letter to you since [otherwise] I really fear being charged with being an ungrateful and forgetful man. Since17 in addition to the most warm friendliness you showed in conversing with us here, you have also shown me an overflowing measure of kindness and helped me with your counsel [in the battle] against my enemy, the stone, I am unable to forget you. We speak of you people often and at great length, especially18 since, in view of the changing conditions in your kingdom, either you are unable to write letters to us with which we might satisfy our wish [for news concerning you], or those letters which you did dispatch have perhaps been intercepted. So19 we are hanging in the air, and indeed are afraid that this persistent silence20 might perhaps be a sign of some harsh blow struck against the progress of the gospel. In addition there are some who think that your King, finally ensnared by the Roman intrigues,21 would like to get back into the pope's good grace. In this affair we pray and, [torn] between hope and fear, wish that Satan would be crushed under your feet.22 At this point we are not certain how the cause of the gospel fares among you people. But we hope that through these envoys, when they return, we shall hear happy news and truly
"good news" about your English church. On the other hand, what the situation is concerning both the church and the commonweal in our Germany, you will be able to find out in detail from our friends.
May the Lord Jesus Christ multiply in you people—and at the same time also in us—his grace and gifts23 to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
My Katie reverently greets Your Lordship. In Christ farewell to Your Lordship, to whom I commend myself.24
Your Lordship's dedicated [Wittenberg,] September 15, 1538 - 58 After a long silence (which was the result of Luther's work load, his aging, his spiritual struggles, and his conviction that Propst was not in need of his letters of counsel and guidance), Luther writes this letter to Propst. Luther first tells Propst that two well-educated but poor brethren have come from lower Germany to Wittenberg, and that one of them will be sent to Propst in Bremen. Then he communicates news: He, an old man, is becoming youthful again because of the many theological controversies in which he is constantly involved; in this connection he sends theses against the Antinomians. Further, Charles V,
Francis I, and the Venetians are undertaking joint naval operations against the Turks, and thus a good beginning has been made in the war against this great enemy of Christendom; the council, transferred from Mantua to Vicentia, has breathed its last; the Pope promotes the interests of his sons by means of murder. Luther also extends greetings from his wife and his daughter Margaret (Propst's godchild), asks for Propst's prayers in his behalf, wishes God's blessing upon Propst, and asks Propst to extend his and his wife's greetings to Propst's wife.
On James Propst, see LW 48, 233, n. 34.
Text in Latin: WA, Br 8, 291–292.1
To the excellent man, Mr. James Propst, a theologian and a faithful and sincere servant of Christ in the area of Bremen, my dearest brother
Grace and peace in Christ! I write to you rather rarely, my James, and I do not answer your letters2 as you would perhaps wish.3 But I hope you make the best of this, since you know of my various burdens of business, work, age, and spiritual struggles.4 Finally I think you do not need my letters, since in other ways you have been so richly endowed by God as to be able to guide and console both yourself and all others in this very evil age [in which people are] possessed by such great ungratefulness and contempt for the Word of salvation. But enough about these matters.
Let me go on.5 Two excellent and learned brethren6 [have come to us]7 from lower Germany. Of course, we, who are poor enough ourselves, are flooded with poor people who come from all over.8 Yet we decided to feed them both, according to our ability. Since they are unable to be useful here on account of the language,9 however, it seems wise to Mr. Philip10 to send one of them to you people; Philip thinks there is a chance that a place of ministering might Perhaps be free among you, so that they are not forced to be idle;11 also, you people are wealthy, and the flood of your wealth can easily flow over into the lowliness of their poverty.12 Should the ungratefulness of man have become so powerful among you people that you are unable to sustain him until he may be provided with [a place of] ministering, then send him back to us, and we shall share with him what we have.
News: I—an exhausted old man, tired out from so many labors13—constantly become younger from day to day; that is, new sects always rise up against me,14 and renewed youth is necessary to fight them.
You will find out about the Antinomians from these theses.15 Were there no other proof that we are the ones who have been called and elected to the Kingdom of God and have the true Word of God, this one fact would suffice: we are attacked by so many sects which constantly disagree with one another— sometimes they even originate within our own ranks—not to speak of the papists, and my personal wars with Satan, and the contempt for the Word in our midst. But we are not better than the apostles and prophets, or even our Lord himself.
We have certain news that the Emperor, the Frenchman, and the Venetians have joined their fleets against the Turks, and that at sea a good beginning has been made against such a great enemy.16 May God bless and give success to the prayers of the Christian people.
The council which has been transferred to Vicentia has without much ado breathed its last.17 And the Pope in Rome18 leads the life of ease; by right and by wrong he strives to make his [sons] richer and more important, bravely killing or poisoning19 those whose property his sons eagerly covet. Rome is so incomparably bad that God is in no position to consider it worthy of an opportunity for reform: "God's wrath has come upon it at last."20
My lord Katie greets you, and so does your little godchild, my daughter, little Margaret,21 for whom you will please provide a decent suitor after my death. I write nothing about myself except to ask you to pray in my behalf that the Lord may free me from the blows and the thorns22 of the angel of Satan, and that according to His will He may grant me a good hour when I am to be delivered from this misery.23 The Lord be with you, and please greet your lord24 for me and my Katie.