To Justus Jonas letter 18 - Martin Luther

TO JUSTUS JONAS

Luther was very ill. The Prince sent for the Erfurt physician, George Sturtz. February 14, 1537.

Grace and peace in Christ! Yesterday I wrote you, Valentine’s Eve, and today I again write on St. Valentine’s Day itself. St. Valentine has turned the invalid into a convalescent. But not the St. Valentine, the god of frail humanity, but the one sole Valentine, who heals all who trust in Him. Hence I hope by His grace at length to be made whole. We are already here eight days doing nothing. All are sick of the place and of this idleness, and long to depart. The Princes and towns are occupied with entirely different matters from what we imagined, and do not ask us to join. May the Lord Jesus bless their deliberations. Dr. Benedict and Dr. Bleikardt have become the Pope’s enemies. Ah, how mercilessly they torture him through his own decrees! More by word of mouth. The Emperor’s

ambassador arrived last night. Today we shall perhaps hear Dr. Held. We are beggars here. We eat the bread of the Landgrave and the Herzog of Wurtemburg (for these have the best bakers), and we drink wine with the Nurnbergers. We receive meat and fish from Court. But you know from experience that the firm, heavy bread is a seed for stone. Perhaps I shall learn this also, for the bread both at Court and in town is the same. They have also excellent trout, but they boil them in the same water with other fish, and serve them up in the soup! Oh, what food! Therefore I beg the cooks to deliver them alive, and I then have them prepared by the Nurnberg cooks. Certainly it is the express command of the Princes that we should be supplied with everything, and that all should be delicately cooked, but it is consumed and spoiled by tradesmen and servants, as is the way at Court. I have nothing else to write about. Farewell, and pray for us.

MARTIN LUTHER . (Schutze.)