ago your Grace promised me one which I never got.* For although Pfeffinger spoke me fair, yet either because of busi- ness or because, as people say of him, he is slow to spend money, he put off getting it. So I was obliged to get myself another, which has lasted to the present and thus saved your Grace's promise. In this need I humbly pray your Grace if the Psalter* deserves a black cowl, to let the Apostle* earn a white one, and pray do not let Pfeffinger neglect it Your Grace's humble, obedient chaplain.
Dr. Martin, Augustinian at Wittenberg.
147. LUTHER TO DUKE GEORGE OF SAXONY.
Enders, ii. 52. De Wette-Seidemann, vi. 16. German.
Wittenberg, May 16, 1519.
My poor humble prayers for your Grace. Gracious, high- bom Prince and Lord ! I humbly pray your Grace for God's sake not to take it ill that I write to your Grace again. Your Grace's last letter compels me to write, for it greatly troubles and horrifies me. For I fear that I have done something to displease your Grace, and to deserve your displeasure. This was unintentional and I greatly regret it.
For your Grace granted permission to Dr. Eck to debate with Carlstadt on the simple request, or agreement, of the latter, but you will not grant the same permission to me on Dr. Eck's public letter in which he openly challenges me to debate, and this in a printed paper, which clearly proves that he forces me to debate with him at Leipsic as I previously wrote your Grace. And as, according to your Grace's first letter, I wrote Dr. Eck to request your permission I do not know what more to do, and can only think that I am in dis- grace. Now, my gracious Lord, I know that the world stood before me and will stand after me, whether I debate or not I have not forced it on Dr. Eck, but he on me. Wherefore I pray your Grace for God's sake to signify to me what I ought to do. For I am perfectly willing to give it up. For I can-
iLuther wrote to the elector on this subject in Norember, 1517. Letter tr&n»> lated in Smith, op. cit., p. 34.
- The Operationes in Psalmos, dedicated to the elector, March 27, 15x9. Weimar,
TOl. T.
- The Commentary on Galatians,
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