Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/447

 of the sacrament. Holy martyrs, like our Leonard Kayser,* die with fear and humility and great gentleness of mind toward their enemies ; but in their case disgust and indignation at their enemies seems to make them only the more stubborn, and in this state they die.

Thank you for the seeds you sent me. I commend myself and my trials to your prayers. It seems to me that Diirer and Volpracht,* both excellent men, have been taken away lest they should see the furious evils that are impending. Wars are threatening everywhere. Christ have mercy on us.

Bugenhagen is going to Brunswick to-day, to serve Christ there for awhile in His Gospel. Martin Luther.

798. LUTHER TO WENZEL LINK AT NUREMBERG.

Enders, vi, 289. (WrrrENBERc), June 14, 1528.

This letter caused a new outbreak of literary hostilities between Luther and Duke George. Link was indiscreet enough to show it and allow copies of it to be made. One of these came into the hands of the Duke. Vide Smith, 225; Kostlin-Kawerau, ii, Ii4f.

Grace and peace. You know more of the news than I can write you. You see what a commotion this confederacy of wicked princes* has caused. They deny it, to be sure, but I consider Duke George's worthless excuse as almost equivalent to a confession. Let them deny and excuse and pretend as they please, I know what I know, and that con- federacy is no mere nothing or chimera, but a monstrous mon- ster. All the world knows, too, that by thought and deed, by edict and by the most obstinate efforts they have publicly tried to do the same thing before, and are still trying it. They wish to wipe out the Gospel, and that no one can deny. But why should I write all this to you? for beyond a doubt you know all this. It is only that you may know that we, too, do not trust those wicked men, though we offer and grant them peace, and hope they will accept it. May God, confound

^Executed at Schardinff, in the diocese of Passau, August x6, iS2f. During his imprisonment (May, 1527) Lather wrote him a letter (Enders, vi, 53).

'Wolfgang Volpracht* formerly Augustinian Prior at Nuremberg, who was one of the first to advocate the abolition of the mass at Nuremberg, 1524. Eadcn^ iii, 407.

• Vide supra, no. 793.

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