#1845-To Spalatin

To the entirely upright man, Herr M.G. Spalatin, the valiant and faithful servant of Christ, his very dear brother.
Grace and peace in Christ! Regarding that wonderful powder that is salvific against the plague, my dear Georg, one knows nothing here, nor have we heard anything about it.Christ, the true physician, protect and support you, Amen. Yet I hope that this plague everywhere will be slow and mild.
The confession of Joh. Fresland has not been delivered to us by anyone and we have never seen it. The LOrd will repay the Zwickauer kloetzes what they deserve for their great ingratitude and rage against a very good man. However, it is their practice to vex the Holy Spirit which will yet lead to their destruction. I would gladly write my defense-document but because of other projects am continually kept from doing it and because of obligated duties I am so firmly held that I cannot devote even a seventh part (of my time) to it although I am very much longing to do so; so it goes one day after another and the matter is pushed aside. I devote two hours each to correcting the Prophets (translation of OT). But why I am writing this as you know it very well?
It is certain that the Roman Pope is estranged from the Emperor and it must also be assumed that the French are negative toward him because he has commanded throughout the entire kingdom of France that the properties and matters of the Genser (Genevensium) are to be plundered ( I know not on account of what small insult) out of hate (as it is believed) toward the Emperor. The same is offended with the English
because of the indications that he seeks to have the Queen expelled through divorce since you know that the mother is sister of the Emperor. So it goes in this very evil
world and such are efforts of the children of men. May God graciously regard the Emperor and bring to shame all his enemies including the Pope,Amen. The comet makes me think it portends evil for the Emperor as well as for Ferdinand because first it trail went to the north and afterward to the south indicating by both directions each of the brothers.
God grant that your Rib happily bears fruit and brings into the world a little beautiful and holy Abel (Abelchen) in whom you both may rejoice,Amen. Greet and comfort M.Brisger in the LOrd. Wittenberg on the 10th of October 1531.Your M.L.