“This ‘Life of Luther’ is bound to become standard ... a model of
every literary, critical, and scholarly virtue.”--_The Month._
“Like its two predecessors, Volume III excels in the minute analysis
not merely of Luther’s actions, but also of his writings; indeed,
this feature is the outstanding merit of the author’s patient
labours.”--_The Irish Times._
“This third volume of Father Grisar’s monumental ‘Life’ is full of
interest for the theologian. And not less for the psychologist; for
here more than ever the author allows himself to probe into the
mind and motives and understanding of Luther, so as to get at the
significance of his development.”--_The Tablet._
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXI. PRINCELY MARRIAGES _pages_ 3-79
1. LUTHER AND HENRY VIII OF ENGLAND. BIGAMY INSTEAD OF DIVORCE.
The case of Henry VIII; Robert Barnes is despatched to
Wittenberg; Luther proposes bigamy as a safer expedient
than divorce (1531); Melanchthon’s advice: _Tutissimum
est regi_ to take a second spouse. The conduct of
Pope Clement VII. The Protestant Princes of Germany
endeavour to secure the good-will of the King of
England; final collapse of the negotiations; Luther’s
later allusions to Henry VIII _pages_ 3-13
2. THE BIGAMY OF PHILIP OF HESSE.
The question put by Philip to Luther in 1526; Philip
well informed as to Luther’s views. Bucer deputed by
the Landgrave to secure the sanction of Wittenberg for
his projected bigamy; Bucer’s mission crowned with
success; Philip weds Margaret von der Sale; Luther’s
kindly offices rewarded by a cask of wine; the bigamy
becomes known at the Court of Dresden; the Landgrave is
incensed by Bucer’s proposal that he should deny having
committed bigamy. Luther endeavours to retire behind
the plea that his permission was a “dispensation,”
a piece of advice given “in confession,” and,
accordingly, not to be alleged in public. Some
interesting letters of Luther to his sovereign and
to Hesse; his private utterances on the subject
recorded in the Table-Talk. “_Si queam mutare!_” The
Eisenach Conference; Luther counsels the Landgrave to
tell a good, lusty lie; the Landgrave’s annoyance.
Melanchthon’s worries; an expurgated letter of his
on Landgrave Philip. Duke Henry of Brunswick enters
the field against Luther and the Landgrave; Luther’s
stinging reply: “Wider Hans Worst.” Johann Lening’s
“Dialogue”; how it was regarded by Luther, Menius and
the Swiss theologians. The Hessian bigamy is hushed
up. The Bigamy judged by Protestant opinion; Luther’s
consent to some extent extorted under pressure _pages_ 13-79
CHAPTER XXII. LUTHER AND LYING _pages_ 80-178
1. A BATTERY OF ASSERTIONS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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