more in writing; more, however, we are not obligated to do. For when Mr. Bucer cites: "Go into all the world, preach," etc.,55 then we have to reply that we are doing this with our writings; in addition to this, also to abandon our present work is not commanded us.
I, Philip, wrote to the King concerning the prior edict—of course in all humility and respect—and criticized it; the same criticism I wrote to Cromwell and to the man of Canterbury.56 Yet letters have been sent to me from England to the effect that the King has received my letters most ungraciously.57 From this one can easily see that even if I were in England the King would grant me only a short audience, or, as he did with the previous envoys,58 refer me to his arrogant, poorly educated bishops and have me quarrel with them.
How ingeniously the King debates59 about these matters can be seen from two of his arguments.
Regarding good works he argues as follows: Since evil works earn eternal wrath, it must follow that good works earn eternal salvation. And as I hear, he does not intend to have this argument taken away from him. The other one, concerning the marriage of priests, is this: Since the King has power to decree that a man remain at court as long as the King desires, [and] not marry, the King has also the power to decree that priests do not marry. This is the ingenious mind by which the King has ridiculed and condemned us.
Your Electoral Grace will carefully consider whether it is fruitful to enter into debate with persons who help themselves by such arguments.
Arrangements have been made that the book60 which Your Electoral Grace has sent to us be speedily printed. The expostulatio,61 too, will be swiftly produced.
May God protect Your Electoral Grace at all times.
Written at Wittenberg, October 23, 1539 Grace's dedicated servants, MARTIN LUTHER, DOCTOR JUSTUS JONAS, DOCTOR62 JOHN BUGENHAGEN POMER, DOCTOR63
To Elector John Frederick1 [Wittenberg,] October 23, 1539 To the official brief of the Wittenberg theologians regarding further negotiations with Henry VIII (letter
No. 288), Luther adds this personal letter. After reviewing briefly the correspondence on this issue, Luther rejects any further dealings with the King, who was never serious about the gospel, but always bent it to his own advantage. The German evangelicals are better off without this unfaithful, wavering hypocrite, who in effect wants to be worshipped, and who thinks that God cannot get along without him. Therefore
Luther requests his Sovereign to abide by the negative answer given to Christopher Mont.
On Elector John Frederick, see LW 48, 181 f.
Text in German (with some words, phrases, or sentences in Latin): WA, Br 8, 577–578.2
To the Most Serene, Noble Sovereign and Lord, Sir John Frederick, duke in Saxony, archmarshal and elector of the Roman Empire, landgrave in Thuringia, margrave in Meissen, and count of the castle in Magdeburg, my Most Gracious Lord
Grace and peace in Christ, and my poor Pater noster!3 Most Serene, Noble Sovereign, Most Gracious Lord! Martin Bucer has previously also written to me in the same way in which he wrote to my Gracious
Lord, the Landgrave, requesting my assistance in urging that a legation, especially Master Philip, be sent to England.4 For the time being I have answered him suggesting that he abandon such hope, for there is no hope so far as the King is concerned, etc. It is therefore my humble request of Your Electoral Grace that Your Grace allow nothing to move you into abandoning the position you have already taken.5
The King is a dilettante6 and has no serious intentions. This we have certainly found out from the English who have been here,7 although at the time out of Christian love we had to believe that he was serious. But finally, when we had debated ad nauseam8—at great expense to Your Electoral Grace9—