To George Bruck, Chancellor of Saxony - Martin Luther

TO GEORGE BRUCK, CHANCELLOR OF SAXONY

A marriage case. Luther complains of the unruly Carlstadt. January 30, 1524.

Grace and peace! Most excellent Herr Chancellor. M. Wolfgang has told me of the sad separation case. The man accuses his wife of wicked desertion, declaring he can prove he is blameless. But he has not done so as yet, so one must act according to Matthew 18, as the man has hitherto been too modest to prove his wife’s guilt in her presence, or bring forward the testimony of the whole town that she left her husband without cause. For it is not right to condemn her unheard, or without having convicted

her of guilt. It seems AEgidius of Erfurt only heard part of the matter, and then gave his opinion, which is even more contrary to the gospel than to law. In the next place, best of men, pray submit the following to your Prince at my request. Carlstadt has set up a printing-press at Jena in order to print what he pleases, desiring to indulge his weakness for teaching where he is not wanted, and

maintaining a persistent silence where he has a call to act. Although this cannot do much injury to our ministerium, still it is apt to bring dishonour upon our Prince and University, as both have promised that nothing should be published without censorship by proper parties. Seeing the Prince and we have kept the bargain, Carlstadt and his adherents cannot be allowed in the Prince’s land to emancipate themselves from all authority. Would the Prince, therefore, order him to send any work to any censor

he pleases, or suppress his undertaking, so that we may not come into bad odor through breaking our promise? Farewell in the Lord, and give my respects to the Prince.

MARTIN LUTHER .