to do your Christian and other duty by us, and in these un- christian matters we will not hesitate, as a Qiristian prince, to stake our life and our goods for you and our obedient sub- jects. Know this to be our earnest wish.
526. SITTICH VON BERLEPSCH* TO DUKE GEORGE OF
SAXONY. Gess, i, 282. German. Salza, February 25, 1522.
. . . On the Sunday after St. Valentine's Day I went to Cassel, as your Grace commanded, with Peter von Schoenberg, to his Grace the Landgrave. ... I found many Martinians at his Grace's court, but his Grace steadfastly maintains that these heretical doings please him not at all, and says he will remain in the faith in which he was born and raised until his papal Holiness, his Imperial Majesty, the Christian kings, the tem- poral and spiritual electors and princes and the estates of Christendom establish another or a better. I was pleased to hear this from his Grace. . . .
527. LUTHER TO THE ELECTOR FREDERIC OF SAXONY.
DcWctte, ii, 136. German. (Wartburg, end of February, 1522.)
The Elector was seriously embarrassed by the disturbances in Witten- berg. On the one hand he desired to allow the work of the Reforma- tion to proceed; on the other hand he wished to preserve the appear- ance of neutrality. When the radical party in Wittenberg resorted to violence for the introduction of reforms, there seemed only two courses open to him. He must either repress the disorders or subject him- self to the charge of favoring them. It was in this time of perplexity and indecision that the following letter reached him.
Grace and joy from God this Father on the acquisition of a new relic I * I put this greeting, gracious Lord, in place of my assurances of respect. These many years your Grace has been acquiring relics in every land; but God has now heard your Grace's request and has sent your Grace, without cost or trouble, a whole cross, with nails, spears and scourges. I say again, grace and joy from God on the acquisition of the new
- The ducal oiBdal at Salza, in which capacity he serred from 1509 to 1532.
i, j6, n. I.
- The Elector was one of the most enthusiastic collectors of relics in Ger-
17. C/. VoL I, p. 46, n. 3.
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