Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/119

 114 LUTHER'S CORRESPONDENCE AND Let 8ia

8ia. GUY BILD TO LUTHER. Zeitschrift des historischen Vereins fur Schwaben und Neuburg. 1893. Vol. XX, p. 219. Augsburg, September 21, 1518.

Bild was born at Hochstadt 1481, studied at Ingolstadt, came to Augsburg 1500, where he took a position as parish clerk at St Ulrich. In 1503 in consequence of a severe illness he became a monk at that convent He died in the last half of 1529. A sketch of his life and some of his letters, op. cit. supra, I73ff. In 1518 Bernard Adelmann gave Bild some of Luther's works. At the Diet of Augsburg in the same year, he had an interview with Spalatin on the subject of Luther. When the Wittenberger came to Augsburg in October, however, Bild did not go to see him.

Reverend Father in Christ [I wish you] Jesus the protector of the just.* A few days ago I received the theses inscribed with your name, and have now been able to acquire a fuller knowledge of the author. For it happened that that noble man, George Spalatin, who is not only imbued with the rudiments of all sciences, but is decked with a garland of all the virtues, and is a dear and faithful friend of yours, having some busi- ness with me on behalf of his elector,* told me during the conversation, at my request, what he could of your worth, person and piety. As he knew my favorable opinion of your Reverence, he talked freely about you; indeed, you were the alpha and omega of his discourse. Also the Reverend Father Prior of the Convent of Ramsau,* once your disciple as he said, fairly made me dance with joy,* by instructing me more fully about your exemplary life (I speak without base adulation) and thus he so inflamed my mind that I am no less bound to your Reverence than was Jonathan to his faithful David. Our common friend George Spalatin will more clearly reveal to you what I think of your Reverence's doctrines, learning, instruction and defence. Wherefore, reverend Father, I humbly beg and deserve pardon of you for wishing to approach your Reverence with my inelegantly written letter. For I was assured of your mercy not only by words, but because I

'Instead of the usual greeting: "Salutem/' meaning: "(I wish you) health.**

This was to order twelve sundials from Bild, who was an expert in making them.

'Martin Glaser, on whom, cf, infra, no. 154. He had been introduced to Bild by Spalatin in a letter dated September a.

^"Accumulavit gaudiis tripudia"; one may suspect a corrupt text.

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