Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/463

 811. LUTHER TO DUKE GEORGE OF SAXONY.

DeWette, iii, 399. German. Wittenberg, October 31, 1528.

Luther's letter of June 14 to Wenzel Link (supra, no. 798) was shown to a number of the latter's friends in Nuremberg, among others to Christopher Scheurl, through whose indiscretion or worse (der Ver- rather soil D Scheurll gewest sein, Briick to Luther, December 4, Enders, vii, 32) a copy of it came into the hands of Duke George. October 28 the Duke wrote Luther a curt letter, asking an immediate Yes or No to the question whether he had actually written such a letter. Luther's answer is here given. It was forwarded, along with a copy of the letter to Link, to the Elector, the Duke demanding that Luther be punished. Failing to secure this object, the Duke published (Decem- ber 19) an invective against Luther, to which the latter replied in kind (Von gestohlenen Brief en^ etc Weimar, xxx," 25fF). On the whole controversy xnde Cohrs in Weimar, xxx,' iff.

Grace and peace in Christ. I have received your Grace's letter, in which your Grace asks me to say whether I recall any such letter as that of which a copy is enclosed, as though, like the least of your Grace's subjects, or like a man who is in prison, I had to sit here awaiting your Grace's pleastu'e. This is my brief answer. Your Grace well knows the great patience I have shown with the Introduction to Emser's New Testament * and with the answer I received to my very humble letter." I shall be patient again in this matter out of considera- tion for your Grace's great and severe ailments. I only ask very hiunbly that your Grace will not tempt me with copies of letters. From those who prepared and sent him these copies your Grace will be able to ascertain, without Luther's help, who wrote them. For these men are closer to your Grace and under greater obligations to him than I am. I shall this time say nothing more severe about these good people, for I should feel it a Christian duty to be sorry for your Grace and to pray for your Grace in his affliction, if your Grace could allow it« God have your Grace in His keeping. Amen.

Your Grace's obedient servant, Martin Luther.

812. LUTHER TO AMSDORF AT MAGDEBURG. Enders, vii, 15. WrrxENBERG, November i, 1528.

Grace and peace in the Lord Jesus Christ. I marvel at your


 * C/. supra, pL 437f «• »•


 * Of December 21, 1525; the Duke's answer, December 28. Supra not. 710, ftu

�� �