bavarikon4UMartin Luther to Lazarus Spengler; Coburg, 1 October 1530 (Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg, A.III,383,(1),12)
On 1 October 1530, Martin Luther (1483–1546) reported from the Veste Coburg (Coburg Fortress) to the Nuremberg Council Secretary Lazarus Spengler (1479–1534) that Duke Ernest of Brunswick-Luneburg (1497–1546, duke 1521–1546) had informed him orally and in writing of the agreement reached at the Augsburg Diet.
Emperor Charles V (Roman-German king 1519–1556, emperor since 1530) had opened the diet on 20 June 1530; the main themes were the defence against the Turks and the restoration of church unity. On 25 June, the Protestant imperial estates delivered the “Confessio Augustana” (Augsburg Confession), mainly drafted by Philip Melanchthon (1497–1560). In response, the Catholic side composed the “Confutatio Confessionis Augustanae”. The subsequent conciliatory discussions in committees were unable to reach an agreement.
The emperor then decided that a Church Council should decide the issues of faith. In addition, the first draft of a resolution reached at the diet and dated to 22 September, to which Luther refers in this letter, stated that the “Confessio Augustana” was disproved by the “Confutatio”. The Protestants were granted a period of reflection until April 1531 for their submission.
In the letter to Spengler shown here, Luther compares the resolution to the mad rage of the Gentiles against God (Psalm 2): “And how could it manifest itself otherwise, where one rages against the public wisdom of God, than that they have to abuse and mock God, as the 2. ps[alm] sings?”
On 1 October 1530, Elector John of Saxony (1468–1532, elector 1525–1532) and the Wittenberg theologians arrived in Coburg. Three days later, Luther undertook with them the journey home to Wittenberg.