To Wenzel letter 17 - Martin Luther

TO WENZEL LINK AT NURNBERG About Bibles being delayed, etc. July 25, 1542.

Health and blessing in the Lord! You are annoyed, dear Doctor, about the Bibles being so long of reaching you, but I told you how overwhelmed our bookbinders are with work. Thus it is that many cannot receive their copies in less than six months. I gave three to bind, and it was with the utmost difficulty I got one of them out of their hands a month ago; the others I do not expect to see before Michaelmas. Great people all send theirs here to be bound, and naturally they precede us. One must not be offended with these people, but consider the advantages they reap from the press of business. However, you shall soon receive your two copies. Concerning your Genesis I can promise nothing, for the publishers object to large works, because they know from experience that if they do not sell it is a great loss to them. If a preface from me can be of any service to you, why plead for it, as you know I am always ready. You would have been wiser to give your work to Socerius or someone in Central Germany, as I wrote you, for these do nothing at all, so I am indignant seeing good paper, beautiful lettering, and hard work bestowed on such contaminating writings. Bucer and such-like, who ought not to write, do so constantly. You understand.

I commend you to God. MARTIN LUTHER . (Schutze.)