Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/336

 lately printed here against Luther in reply to many of his works. Will endeavor by all means to obtain them.

��TOO. LUTHER TO HENRY VHI, KING OF ENGLAND. Enders, v. 229. Whtenbebg, September i, 1525.

The most recent account of the relations of Luther and Henry VIII is given in the English Historical Review, 1910, 656£F. Cf. also Smith, i^zS^ 457S^ and H. Grisar: Luther (1911)1 ii> 374^-

In addition to the notices given by Enders on the editions of this letter, I may note the following: i. The letter, with Henry's answer, beginning, Quas tu lit eras, Luther e, exists in MS. in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Oimbridge, England, No. I7S (See Appendix.) 2. An Eng- lish translation of this letter and Henry's answer was made at once (1526) and published under the title: A copy of the letters wherein the most redoubted Henry VUI made answer unto a letter of Martin Luther,. . . and also a copy of Luther's letter. Noticed and in part reprinted by Ames and Herbert: Typographical AntiqMes (i^5), i, 297. In the English translation of Henry's answer (not in the Latin original) the King says he received this letter of Luther on March 20^ 1526.

Grace and peace in Qirist, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. Indeed, most serene and illustrious King, I ought greatly to fear to address your Majesty in a letter, as I am fully aware that your Majesty is deeply offended at my pamphlet,^ which I published foolishly and precipitately, not of my own motion, but at the hest of certain men who are not your Majesty's friends. But, daily seeing your royal clemency, I take hope and courage; I will not believe that a mortal can cherish im- mortal hatred. I have learned on credible authority that the book* published over your Majesty's name was not written by your Majesty, but by crafty men who abused your name, especially by that monster detested of Crod and man, that pest of your kingdom, the Cardinal of York.* They did not see the danger of humiliating their King. . ..

^Contra Henricum regem AngKae, 152a. Wcimar, x,* pp. lysff.

translation by Father L. 0*Donovan, 1908.
 * The Assertion of the Seven Sacraments, Reprinted with introdactioii and

of York. Henry took it so in his answer. In his former pamphlet, Luther ex- pressed the opinion that Edward Lee (who was Archbishop of York, 1531-44) was the real author of the work, but it is not possible that he was thinking of him now. The fact is that the spirit of the book was Henry's, but he receiTed very
 * The allusion is to Thomas Wolsey, who at this time was Cardinal Archbishop

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