To Nicolas von Amsdorf letter 24 - Martin Luther

TO NICOLAS AMSDORF

Luther writes about a peculiar kind of fox, and concerning the conduct of the authorities of Nurnberg. June 3, 1545.

Grace and peace in the Lord, honoured father in Christ! I have communicated your opinion of this prodigy among foxes to those conversant with the hunt, and they, to begin with, said it could not be true. But when they saw your letter, they were greatly astonished, and all agreed in saying that the fox is sly enough not to harm the spot where he has his lair, and adduced as a proof of this that when they make their nest (nisteln ) in the moat round the town, they do no injury. I do not know what all this portends, except it be that a mighty change, for which we long and pray, is imminent. Amen. I am not concerning myself about the Reichstag and councils. I believe in nothing, I hope for nothing, and think of nothing. All is vanity of vanities. The Nurnberg people have taken a certain nobleman prisoner in order to procure the release of their Baumgartner. If God do not step into the breach, this seems to be

a spark sent to kindle a great fire in the future, for the punishment of the German lands. But God will remove us before then. There is no justice and no government in the land, which is, in very deed, only the dregs and end of the kingdom. Your nephew George has showed me the painting of the Pope. But Meister Lukas is a coarse artist. He might have spared the female sex for the sake of God’s creatures and our mothers. Otherwise he might have painted the Pope more worthily, that is, representing him

in a more diabolic form. But you can judge better in the Lord. Farewell in Christ. MARTIN LUTHER . P.S.

— The Emperor has ordered the Augsburg people again to restore the Cardinal and the principal bishops, along with the clergy and the Papal ceremonies. But they will defend themselves by force of arms if necessary. The priests do not desire peace, nor do they even wish to enjoy their own in peace. (Walch, 5:21.)