call Carlstadt to the University of Copenhagen.] . . . Most gracious King and Lord, I can write your Majesty little or no news of the Diet. But the talk is all of Dr. Luther, whom they are threatening and from whom they demand nothing but that he shall recant, and that he will not do. . . .
461. PHILIP OF HESSFS SAFE-CONDUCT FOR LUTHER'S
RETURN. Enders, iii. 127. Worms, April 26, 1521.
Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, born 1504, became Landgrave 1508, de- dared of age 1517, died 1567. He met Luther at Worms and wished him God-speed. About 1523 he became a Lutheran and from that time till his death was the leading champion of the Evangelic Church. His state papers are being edited by F. Kiick: Politisches Arckw des Landgraf Philip, i904fiF. His correspondence with Bucer was edited by M. Lenz in three volumes i88ofiF. An interesting and highly lauda- tory characterization of him is given by the Englishman, Roger Ascham, who saw him in later life. Ascham's Works (1671), p. 370.
We, Philip, by God's grace Landgrave of Hesse, Count of Catzenelnbogen, Dieth, Ziegenheim, Nidda, etc., give all men to know by these presents : That as Dr. Martin Luther is now leaving* this Diet at Worms, we give to him and to all who are with him, our free safe-conduct through all our terri- tories and lands and to all our subjects. So with this letter we give him safe-conduct to all places over which we rule, in acknowledgment of which we sealed this letter with our privy seal.
462. JOHN FEIGE TO LUTHER.
Smith : Life and Letters of Martin Luther, 473.
(Worms, April?, 1521.)
John Feige (1482-March 20, 1543) studied at Erfurt about 1503, later taking the doctorate of laws. He entered the service of Philip of Hesse, whose leading minister he soon became, and whom he repre- sented at Augsburg in 15 18, and on many later occasions. Life in Allgemeine deutsche Biographie. Luther apparently sent him his Postilla, just out, for which Feige thanks him in this fragment.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of us. Amen. I received your note, most learned Martin, but truly I did not receive the homilies on the holy evangelists which you say
^Luther left Worms April 26, arriving at Frankfort on the Main on April 47. From here he wrote Cranach a letter translated in Smith, p. X19.
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