in order to coax us to an agreement (as I rather assume), then the pope, the one who [only] makes promises,11 really will ridicule us who fell into the trap. For to believe the promises of the pope is the same as to believe the father of lies12 (whose real son the pope is). Yet I do wish that the pope would be forced to abide by the ways of the church at the time of the Council of Nicaea. Good God, where would this leave your Coadjutor—your torturer—your13 Cardinal?14 Let us pray earnestly while they play and make a mockery of God and all his creation. For it will be that they cease to play; then they will really weep in hell.15
Now you have what I was able to write, for I wanted to write something.
Farewell, and pray for me!
MARTIN LUTHER, DOCTOR To King Christian of Denmark [Wittenberg,] April 14, 1545 On a date unknown to us King Christian III of Denmark pledged to send annually a certain amount of butter and herring to Luther, Melanchthon, and Bugenhagen.1 Since it proved difficult to keep this promise,2 on January 6, 1545,3 the King changed this pledge into an annual stipend of fifty Taler4 for each of the three Wittenberg theologians.5 In letter No. 305 Luther first of all thanks the King for this stipend.
Then he briefly mentions that the Diet of Worms is getting off to a slow start, that the council "behaves like a crab," that Emperor Charles suffers from arthritis, and that he himself has no news about the Turks.
In closing Luther recommends Tobern Anden, who has been one of his boarders.
On Christian III, see p. 147, n. 18.
Text in German: WA, Br 11, 70.6
Grace and peace in the Lord, and my humble Pater noster!7
Mighty, Most Illustrious, Noble, Most Gracious Sir [and] King! I most humbly thank Your Royal Majesty for such a gracious pledge which I do not deserve. May our dear Lord God abundantly grant his Holy
Spirit to Your Royal Majesty to govern blessedly, and to fulfill his divine, good will. Amen.
The diet is getting under way slowly,8 the council behaves like a crab,9 His Imperial Majesty is in the Netherlands and is supposedly suffering severely from arthritis, and the sophists10 boldly rage against God.
We do not know what the Turk is doing.11 May God the Almighty help [us] so that all turns out well— which certainly will not happen unless the Last Day comes soon. Amen.12
Master Tomvernus,13 who for some time has been my companion at my table and my boarder, is now returning home to Your Royal Majesty. I humbly recommend him to Your Royal Majesty. He is a godly and learned man, and I am confident that God intends to accomplish much good through him; for this I pray with all my heart.
With this I commend Your Royal Majesty to the dear God. Amen.
Your Royal Majesty's dedicated MARTIN LUTHER, DOCTOR To Duke Albrecht of Prussia [Wittenberg,] May 2, 1545 Luther gives as reasons for writing this letter the request for a recommendation made by Christopher
Albert von Kunheim, and his own knowledge that Duke Albrecht would patiently accept his letter. Luther disposes of the request in one short sentence at the end of the letter. In the remaining portions of the letter
Luther communicates news: Nothing certain is known about the movement of the Turks; no one in the Empire is prepared for the possibility of a Turkish attack; the Emperor persecutes the gospel in the Netherlands; the Archbishop of Cologne remains steadfast in his support of the cause of the gospel, and