To Chancellor Bruck letter 3 - Martin Luther

TO CHANCELLOR BRUCK

Luther wishes the Prince to remedy a crying scandal. January 3, 1540.

Grace and peace! I hoped, dear sir, to have had you with us at the feast, so instead must send you a petition, begging you to plead with my gracious lord that he would forbid the nobility acting as they do towards those for whom they stand bail in his lands. It is a disgrace that such oppression and robbery should be permitted in the public inns under princely protection, where the nobles behave so abominably, devouring all that comes in their way. It is said that four nobles, through riotous living in the inns, have squeezed 300 gulden out of Martin List for a debt of 30 florins. How much better would

it have been had each given a few florins and set poor Martin free! What devil has given such power to the nobility to plunder thus? If the Princes do not punish this, God will surely punish them, along with us. I think of publishing a pamphlet on the matter, and addressing it to the Princes. But my writing is of little use if you do not diligently prevent this from your exalted position. In how many ways can the devil injure us? If the Turk do not swallow us up, or the pestilence sweep us away, or the Emperor consume us, then we devour and ruin one another through greed and usury. God have mercy on us, and if not, then may the day of judgment dawn. Amen. I commit you to God. Amen.

MARTIN LUTHER . (De Wette.)