Grace and peace in the LOrd! I see, my dear Jonas, from your answer that it is not the right time to attempt to deal with Doctor Basilius so that I may accomplish the most since I thought that while you were deliberating the Prince might come to have more leisure. However, since this hope has not been realized I will at another time and to be sure,in a short time, do what I can.
A certain Herr Peter from Prague who is studying the sciences here has written to me that the Turk will surely come and that in the last harvest in the kingdom of Hungary took away countless bushels of grain to feed his army. That signifies that we Germans must valiantly resist till we go down to the ground. However, if it is our destiny to completely go down to the ground it is easier to perish with the godless than to live with them since while they live they are determined not let us live with them and if we die with them we will lack nothing and they will utterly perish. Be it right well with you and pray to the LOrd for me; in Him be it right well for you and live. On the Monday after Gregory [13 March] 1531. Your Martin Luther.
NOTES: This is certainly the physician Basilius.
There was only one student from Prague at Wittenberg at this time- Johann Tracko who matriculated there in 1531. Surely someone has a better translation of "zu Grunde gehen" than " go down to the ground". My helper is on vacation.
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