To the elector John Frederick letter 9 - Martin Luther

TO THE ELECTOR JOHN FREDERICK

Luther complains of his German Bible being pirated in Leipsic. July 8, 1539.

Grace and peace in Christ, and my poor paternoster, Most Serene Highborn Prince, most gracious Lord! That wicked rascal Wolrab at Leipsic (a most unscrupulous man, who ruined a splendid business as

well as himself and family), who has hitherto been foremost in printing all the calumnies against us, has taken it into his head to plunder our German Bible, thereby taking the bread out of the mouths of our printers. Your Electoral Grace knows how hard it is that the rascal should be allowed to use our labor for his own advantage, especially after having profited by the publication of all manner of writings against us. I would therefore humbly request that your Grace would prevent Wolrab committing this great evil, and reaping such great advantages at the expense of your Electoral Highness’s own subjects. And what particularly annoys me is that the blasphemer and pirate should have the chance of so misusing my hard labor, and perhaps turning it into ridicule at the same time.

For what he merits at God’s hands and ours I shall leave God to requite for his scandalous publications against us. For it would be no hardship, seeing the Leipsic printers have so long enriched themselves through these, should they for a time be prevented from doing so further, and bringing our printers to ruin. For it is easy to see that the markets being all held in Leipsic, they can sell thousands of copies easier there than our folks can sell one hundred. Your Electoral Grace will be able to devise a princely way out of this dilemma. I commit you to the dear God.

Your Electoral Grace’s obedient MARTIN LUTHER (De Wette.)