Caritas Pirckheimer, ˜Eynœ missyve oder Sendbrieff, so die Ebtische von Nürnberg an den hochberümptenn Bock Emser geschrieben hatt, Erfurt 1523 (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, H.mon. 733 r)

This letter by Caritas Pirckheimer (1467–1532) to the theologian Hieronymus Emser (1478–1527) a determined adversary of Martin Luther (1483–1546) was written in June 1522 and is evidence of the charged atmosphere of the early Reformation. Emser served at the court of the Saxon duke and opponent of reformation George the Bearded (1471–1539, duke 1500–1539).

In the letter, Pirckheimer thanks him for the texts that Emser had sent her so she might read them. At the same time, she praises Emser for his negative attitude towards Luther and takes a critical and anxious look at the first reformatory movements in Nuremberg.

Anonymous supporters of the Reformation intercepted the letter, they added sneering remarks on its margins and even had it printed in 1523. Most likely, they wanted to damage the reputation of Nuremberg’s Clarisse Convent and of its abbess. In fact, Hieronymus Emser apologised for it. However, he was not able to alleviate the anger of the Nuremberg humanist and brother of the abbess, Willibald Pirckheimer (1470–1530). Pirckheimer feared for the good reputation of his family.

To the digitised copy