Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/81

 friars and nuns, it would be no marvel were God to punish all Christendom. He said plainly that they [the Austin friars] intended to depart this week, and should any of them return, he requested the council and the superior of the town [of Wittenberg] to expel them. To the friars who remain they were to give a thousand florins; the university was to take their dormitory, and found a college. On the following Thurs- day I went into the monastery to the prior, who complained to me of his distress, and said that on that same day one-half of the friars, in number 25, had departed, as many more re- maining; and he had not the courage to give them any com- mands, but remained among them like a lamb.

On the day of All Saints t he vicar announced publicly from the pulpit, that the sacrament is of two kinds, namely, bread and wine, and that such as wished to take it for their salva- tion and remission of sins would receive it under both forms, because Christ gave it. Many persons went, therefore, and communicated under both species. He said henceforth he pur- posed celebrating one mass, together with a sermon, and that he would administer the communion in this form.

The masses for the souls of the dead and other ceremonies are abolished.

At this very moment a man-at-arms on horseback has well nigh killed a Franciscan friar with an iron mace, and rode over him. The Franciscans are likewise preparing for de- parture, some having already gone away this week. One of them came to my house in a doublet and slashed hose with a codpiece in the Swiss fashion.

��517. LUTHER TO SPALATIN.

Enders, 111, 252. WrrrENBERC (between December 4 and 9), 1521.

The disturbances in Wittenberg during Luther's absence at the Wart- burg (c/. Smith, p. I34f.) caused him great concern. In order to as- sure himself of the actual conditions there, he undertook a secret jour- ney to Wittenberg during the first week in December, and was for several days the guest of Amsdorf (c/. Koestlin-Kawerau, i, 510). It was during this visit that the following letter was written.

Greeting. I have sent you, along with my letters, the books

�� �