#1583-Andreas Osiander (of Nuernberg) to Martin Luther (at Coburg)

To the worthy man, servant of Christ, D.Martin Luther, his brother in Christ. Grace and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. Since there is the opportunity brought by this messenger, and since I am certain that he will come to you, dearest brother in Christ, I could not refrain from writing something to you, although I have nothing that is worthy of your ears and also fear that I might sin against the common good, since I know that you are never not busy. The Emperor has finally come to Augsburg; we have yet nothing new except that ours did not want to participate in the ostentation of the Corpus Christi Day, nor to give up the open preaching; I say "ours" of all those who previously had received the Word and held it fast. Nevertheless, there was a very vehement battle over the sermons, which culminated in all preachers being silent, except who those who promised, according to his order, to preach simply, but yet ours have maintained the right to preach in their own inns. However, you probably know better about this. One says that the Markgraf Georg, our neighbor, had spoken with great candor before the Emperor, saying that he would rather lose his gray head than either to deny the Word of God or be robbed of it. The Emperor replied: "not skin the the head, not skin the head!" since he understands neither the German or Latin properly, which is to our great disadvantage, as well as to his, which he also admits. He might well dispense with some other language or even kingdom if he could rightly understand German. We have no idea what might happen and have no sure advice except that we pray to God that He assist our case and the confidence that this will happpen. I am required to write a defense-document or counsel-writing how ours should be supported in their opinion, since I am thinking of traveling there (to Augsburg) (Osiander arrived in Augsburg on June 28). What will happen I do not know; surely, I can't add anything worthy to the Confession (Apologiam) of Philip which I have seen and consider to be very good. I have looked through and leafed through the Acts of the Councils and came upon a non-genuine article in a Apostolic-letter (Sendschrift = Apostolicae?) of Clement in which the community is not only advised to have wives but commanded to do so. This is the fifth and last letter and not only do the Papists verify it but also have published it. This article pleases me very much because through this basis of proof, it is established that nothing exists under the name of Clement, although I would be very happy with it as it appears to be useful in ridiculing, shaming and deriding the Papists . Your last letter, although very brief, pleased me very much and it will be of future use and benefit. For the rest, the matter is very diffficult, so we want to pray to the Lord that He will defend His Church and I know that you do this; only may you also pray for us that we do not forsake the Lord since He will not forsake us. Be it right well with you in Christ Jesus our Lord. Given at Nuernberg on 21 June Anno 1530. Your Andreas Osiander.

[Notes: Reference is to the Pseudoisidorean fifth letter of Clement I published in Paris 1523 . The Augsburg Confession was originally known as the Apology.]