bitter foe of the Gospel, but he has declined; then he asked a certain parish priest from Tubingen. We shall hear what will come of it.
John Sichard * writes me that at Freibui^ in the Breisgau it is forbidden to mention my name on the street; also that the City Council has prohibited the preaching of the Gospel, say- ing, "Our customs do not agree with the Gospel." What portents! Dr. John Riihel* has told me to send you this gold piece and remind you of your promise to get him that little penny, for my friends at Mansfeld got the other one from me. I do not want another for fear it too may be taken from me. I do not deserve to have anything.
Martin Luther.
573. LUTHER TO HANS VON DER PLANITZ. De Wette, ii, 305. German. (Wfttenberg), February 4, 1533.'
Grace and peace in Christ, honored Sir and friend. I was glad to get your Grace's letter in regard to John Gulden * to- gether with your kindly advice about my harsh letter," and thank your Grace for this undeserved favor and kindness.
I wish your Grace to know that I hope my letter will not hurt anybody, and if Duke George should attack my gracious Lord without accusation and without proof of guilt, I am con- fident that my Lord Christ will prevent it. If, on the other hand, he shall be accused, he can easily prove that his Grace has always been opposed to my harsh writing, has often
bers, ncmr Freiberg. He was wdl known as a teacher, and his Marfforito phUoso^ phica (1503) is the first philosophical encyclopedia. ADB., cf, Janssen, History of th€ Gtrm^ PgopU (Eng. trans.), i, i2zf.
'John Sichardt (1499-1552), studied at Erfurt and Ingolstadt, taught in schools at Munich and Freiburg (1521-25), professor at Basle (1525-30) >nd T^ingen (I53S-5S)- In his later years he was probably the highest authority in Germany on Roman Law.
■C/. Vol. I, 136, n. 3.
»Dc Wctte and Erlangcn (liii, 161) date the letter "February 5." Luther's date is "Wednesday after the Purification," which, in 1523, was the 4th.
- Gulden was a Catholic priest who married in 1524. Luther*s certificate of
marriaget De Wette-Seidemann, ri, p. 501. Knders, t, 96. He later became pastor in Weida, but on getting his maid with child was removed to UUstedt, 1529. An attempted rape forced him to leare this place, and we last hear of him in prison in 1535. Luther wrote to comfort him in that year. Enders, x, i57f., 280. Clemen: Bgitrdgg, iii, 1903* 55^*
- The letter to Duke C^rge, supra no. 565. Planitz had seen it at Nuremberg,
where he was the Elector's representatiye.
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