that I myself could not find the loan of ten gulden for a poor citizen the other day. The poor, who would willingly give, have nothing; the rich either refuse or give so reluctantly that they lose the credit of the gift with God and take up my time begging from them. Nothing is too much for the world and its way. Of my annual salary I have only ten or fifteen gulden left, besides which not a penny has been given me by my brothers or by the city. But I ask them for nothing, to emulate the boast of Paul, despoiling other churches to serve my Corinthians free. . . .
Farewell and pray for me.
Martin Luther.
584. NICHOLAS AMSDORF TO SPALATIN (AT ALTENBURG).*
Kolde, Analecta, 442. (WmENBERG), April 11, 1523.
The Latin original of this letter has not been found. What is here given is an excerpt, translated by Spalatin for the Elector, and super- scribed, — ^"Amsdorf writes as follows.** It is dated "Saturday in Easter was April 5, and the 4th {vigUia Resurrectionis) was the date on which the nuns escaped.
Not nine, but twelve nuns have left the convent. Nine of them have come to us. They are fair, fine, all of noble birth, and none of them is fifty years old. The best-bom among them, the sister of my gracious lord and uncle, Dr. Staupitz, I have destined to be your wife, my dear brother, so that you may boast of such a brother-in-law as I of such an uncle ; but if you wish to have a younger one, you shall have your choice of the fairest of them.
If you want to give anything to the poor, give it to them, for th^ are poor, wretched and deserted by their kinsfolk. I pity the poor things; they have neither shoes nor clothes. I b^ of you, my dear brother, to see if you cannot get some- thing for them from the people of the court, so that they may be provided with food and clothing. Please do all you can, for in their great poverty and anxiety they are very patient. Indeed I am astonished that in such great tribulation and poverty they are so patient and happy. If you could do some-
^ Where he had gone for Link's wedding. Cf, tuprct, no. 58a.
�� �
