Therefore he has finally asked me to recommend him to you. I ask you to understand that this is being diligently done by me with this letter. For he also belongs to your diocese5 since he had lived close to I am sure that any news I have is already old stuff to you, such as that absolutely monstrous tragedy in England.6 As soon as I am able I shall write concerning your Asmodeus;7 in the meantime may Christ grant you to be victorious through enduring. Greet your most pleasant wife and tell her that I have the highest opinion of her, and that she should endure those motherly (not to say stepmotherly) insults. All things will finally turn out in the best and happiest way; but those who have harmed her will be confounded. Farewell in Christ to you and your whole household. Amen.
[Wittenberg,] August 17, 1536 Luther mentions that he has seen only a German translation of the papal bull by which a general council of the church is summoned, and gives a negative evaluation of the bull for "we are already condemned" in it. Then he refers to three "spooky" incidents, and briefly reports on the war over the succession to the Danish throne. In closing Luther sends greetings from his wife, and encourages Jonas to return soon to On Justus Jonas, see LW 48, 275, n. 3.
Text in Latin (with some words in German): WA, Br 7, 503–504.2
Grace and peace in Christ!
The reason that the bull of Sir Paul, that is, of the cardinals,3 has not been turned over to me is perhaps due to the fact that Master4 Philip,5 in his eagerness, was the first to receive it personally from Bernard,6 and that since then he has not yet shown it to me (as there is between us both mutual reliance and negligence).
For I usually handle his letters in this way too. But yesterday I saw the German bull,7 which has been published here; I also saw and became aware of,8 not those basic virtues9 about which Seneca10 and the other philosophers teach, but the cardinals—I should rather say, the central poles,11 the chiefs,12 indeed the heads of Satan themselves. In every respect they are cardinals, and are justly called so. For in that bull we are already condemned.13 But of other things [let us talk] in person. It is the most just wrath of God over the world.
You have correctly interpreted the spook Eric.14 But I believe that I have written to you also about our spook in Frankfurt in the Margraviate15—or perhaps you have heard about it from somewhere else—that is, about the virgin who plucks margravial coins from the beard of someone who stands around, or from his suit or from anywhere, and then devours them.16 Finally one hears from Halle a new and monstrous story, which you should investigate, namely, that during a shooting match, which had been organized by the [Arch]bishop,17 a young groom disappeared from amidst the tents, carried away by a storm, and leaving behind his bow, arrows, coat, even his shoes.
In addition to this, the following is news: The Duke of Holstein has finally defeated Denmark, Copenhagen has been captured and subdued, and Duke Albrecht of Mecklenburg has been pushed out.
Now there is hope for peace in that area since the Duke of Holstein finally has become king through the cold fact that he18 is the victor. [There is hope for peace, that is,] unless the Emperor intends to harass that area through a new war, which I wouldn't want [to see happen].19
My Lord Katie reverently greets you, together with your whole family. See to it that you return, that you bring news, [and then] that you repair, put in order, open up, redecorate, and put back into good condition everything which needs it.20 Christ be with you. Amen.