Accordingly I now send you this opinion of mine, given according to the power that God has granted me, so that you and others who would like to go to war in such a way as not to lose God's favor and eternal life, may know how to arm and how to guide yourselves. God's grace be with you. Amen.
745. GEORGE DUKE OF SAXONY TO HENRY VIIL Letters and Papers of Henry VIII, iv, no. 3697.
Dresden, December 27, 1526.^
Received on St. Thomas's Day, 21 December, his letters, dated 31 October, at Greenwich, with his answer* to letters from Luther, which were sent from Cologne by Herman Rinck.' Thanks him for his approval of his plans. Intends to do what he can to preserve religion against the Lutheran heresy. Is glad the King has not listened to his endeavors to draw him into his sect. Many of them will change their opinion when they see that he cannot be persuaded, and so zealously opposes them. Sent the King's answer* to Luther at Wittenberg on the 23rd December, with letters from him- self. He merely answered that he had nothing to write back.* Hopes this impious doctrine will be removed or restrained.
746. LUTHER TO WENZEL LINK, Enders, v, 416.
(Wittenberg, end of December, 1526, or beginning of January,i5^.)
Grace and peace in the Lord. You preach to me, my dear Wenzel, that Christ is set for the fall and rising again** thus one sermon comes after another. The King of England,' to whom, at the persuasion of the King of Denmark," I wrote a suppliant and humble letter, in high hope and with a simple and candid heart, has answered me so hostilely that he would
- ■ Not 1 527 as in Letters and Papers.
- Supra, no. 727-
- Hermann Rinck, at one time burgomaster of Cologne.
- Duke George to Luther, dated December 21, Enders, v, 413.
' Either Luther's letter has been lost or his answer was given orally.
- Luke ii, 34.
'Henry VIII. Luther's letter was dated September i, 1525 isuprc, no. 700). Henry's answer {supra, no. 737) did not reach Luther until December, 1526. It was forwarded by Duke George, Ltittrs and Papers, iv, nos. 2371 and 3261, and supra, no. 745.
•Christian II.
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