kindly gave me two hundred gulden in gold and twenty ells of damask for a coat. This I receive with pleasure, especially as I am needy at this time. For his Imperial Majesty of ex- cellent memory, who departed this life prematurely, had given me a pension of one hundred gulden^ which my masters will not pay me now. So I must want in my old days and lose the reward of my work done for his Imperial Majesty. For my eyesight and freedom of hand is going, and I cannot work much longer. This I cannot conceal from you, my trusted and kind friend.
If my gracious lord wishes to have something handsome made out of the stag's antlers I can make a pair of candle- sticks out of them. . . . Recommend me to my gracious lord, the elector. Your devoted,
Albert Durer.
��LUTHER TO ALBERT, ARCHBISHOP AND ELECTOR
OF MAYENCE.
Enders, ii 307. Wittenberg, February 4, 1520.
I commend myself in the Lord with all subjection and rev- erence. Most reverend Father in Christ and most illustrious Prince, I, a man of the lowest condition, would never dare to address your Grandeur, even in a letter, to which more is allowed than modesty permits saying orally, were I not com- pelled to do so for a great cause, namely, the profession of Christian faith and truth, and our common care for the sal- vation of all in Christ. If I brought danger on these I would be most impious to keep still. Moreover I have been credibly informed that men who perchance praise and defend me elsewhere, in your presence, most reverend Father in Christ, excite hatred and envy against me. . . .
If the things with which I am accused are right and true, will the grace of my Lord allow me to utter a complaint? Why do they not teach me better? Why do they not show me my error? Why do they condemn me in the presence of
- A prcf io iM letter speaks of two hnndred fulden. Probably the hundred fulden had
been granted before, and this was raised to two hundred at the Diet of Augs- borfy IS^^ l**rt the increase was not received by Durer owing to Maximilian's death in January, isi9*
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