Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/560

 notice with the word "Bundschuh."^ These men are too rash; they wish to help Luther, but they really hurt him. Indeed, there are some who think that our enemies put up this notice to excite odium against Luther, which seems to me very likely. Rouse the minds of your fellow-citizens, for I have much hope in the cities on account of your especial love of liberty. We have Sickingen on our side, now not only an adherent, but an ardent disciple who has absorbed all that Luther has said and who hears his works read at meals.' I have heard him swear that he will not be wanting to the cause of truth no matter at what peril to himself. You may know that this saying is an oracle, for he will be true to his word. You may boast of him to your Nurembergers, saying: "There is no greater soul in Germany." I wish that he had never done anything for me, instead of the great deal that he has done, so that no one would think my opinion of him prejudiced. Indeed, this is the only reason why I do not more loudly praise his heroic virtues and lofty mind. May God sustain the spirit he has excited in him. Thus prays Luther, and thus I pray after him. But I return to him. Borne up by divine inspiration he rejects all human cotmsel and relies solely on God. He despises death as no man ever did. May Christ preserve his evangelist at least until some true piety has sprung up in the minds of men. My friends write me that an atrocious edict has fol- lowed his departure. I greatly fear a large party of Germans will protest against it, for faction is rife. I write briefly about many things. Let me hear from you soon. Farewell.

471. LUTHER TO COUNT ALBERT OF MANSFELD.

Enders, iii. 144. De Wette, i. 601. German.

Eisenach, May 3, 1521.

This letter is dated "die sanctae Cnicis," i. e.. May 3, as in De Wette, not May 9, as, probably by a misprint, in Enders. Luther traveled from Fricdbcrg to Griinberg on April 29 ; to Alsfeld April 30 ; to Hers- feld, where he was entertained by the Benedictine abbot and where he preached on May i ; to Berka and Eisenach May 2 ; after preaching at Eisenach on the morning of May 3 he went to Mohra to visit his uncle,

^Supra, p. 540.

'Luther dedicated to Sickingen on June i, 1521, his work on confeuion.

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