them and keep silence. It will be a wonder if you do not fall into danger of denying Christ. Therefore it is our earnest hope and prayer that you may be given back to us and be released from the prison of that tyrant; we hope that you are of the same mind. There is no way in which I, who have known you before, can reconcile these two contradictory things, namely, that you are the same man that you were, if you have made up your mind to stay there; or if you arc the same man, you do not try to leave. But we will think the best of you and hope the best for you, and hold to the latter alternative with good hope, though it is somewhat dashed by your long silence.
For this reason, then, I have ventured to send you this letter in behalf of Brother Achatius,* once a prisoner in your monas- tery, but now, as I hope, Christ's f reedman. If you are still what you were, I venture not only to ask pardon for him, be- cause he fled without permission (this I hope you will give him freely), but to beseech you in his behalf that out of the great wealth of the monastery you will give him some means of entering a better way of life, for the man is poor and in want. He asked me to do this, and though I was doubtful and uncertain about it, I took hope and was inclined to do it, because I still presume the best of you. But if you have be- come another man toward us, which may Christ forbid 1 (I speak freely to you), I will not waste many words but only invoke God's mercy on you and on us all.
You see, then. Reverend Father, how doubtfully I write, because by your silence you have left us so long uncertain about your state of mind, though you can be quite certain about what we think and feel, and I am sure that you do not really despise us, though we may displease you every way. I shall not cease to hope and pray that you may be as much against your Cardinal and the papacy as I am; nay, as you yourself once were. May the Lord hear my prayer, and take you and us to Himself. Amen.
Your son, Martin Luther.
iNot identified. Cf, Endert, !t, 232, tu SS Kolde, AugusHn^reonarggaHon, 349» n. I.
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