An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

In February the famine was so great in the City, that divers perished with hunger. One of the kings wives, being stricken with pity towards the people, spake by chance unto the other women, and said, that she thought it was not the will of God, that the people should so dye for lack of sustenance, The king, which had good provision in the house, not only, to serve his necessity, but also to waste superfluously, knowing of this, he brought her into the market place, with all the residue of his wives, and there commanded her to kneel down upon her knees, and then he cut of her head from her shoulders: and yet not so content, after her death he defamed her with whoredom. This being done, his other wives began to sing, and to give praises to the heavenly father. Then danced they, and the king led the dance, & he exhorted the people also (which had no other victuals left, save only bread, and salt, that they should dance, and be of good cheer. Now when the day of Ester was come, and that there appeared no sign of deliverance, the king, which had made them so many goodly, and large promises, that he might find some means to excuse him self with all, he feigned him self to be sick, six days togethers▪ which days being ended, ⟨p. 438⟩he came forth unto the market place, and said unto the people that he had ridden upon a blind ass, and that the father had put upon him the sins of all the multitude,¹ so that they were all made clean, and purged from their sins, and that this was the deliverance promised by him, with the which they ought to be content. Among other things that Luther caused to be printed, in that time speaking of those that were besieged in Monstere he said thus: Oh what shall I say, or how shall I bewail this unhappy people: the thing it self doth declare, that they be possessed with many devils, but we ought to give praise to the merciful goodness of God for although, that Germany hath deserved for the contemning of the Gospel, hatred of Gods Name, and shedding of innocent blood, to be grievously punished by the hand of God, yet notwithstanding he hath bridled the force and violence of Satan hither to, not suffering him to rage at his pleasure: but hath mercifully warned us: and by this foolish tragedy of Mom stir called us to amendment of life.

In Februarie the famine was so great in ye Citie, that diuers perished with hunger. One of the kinges wiues, being striken with pitie towardes the people, spake by chance vnto the other womē, and said, that she thoght it was not the wil of God, that the people should so dye for lacke of sustenance, The king, which had good prouision in the house, not onely, to serue his necessitie, but also to waste superfluously, knowing of this, he broght her into the market place, with all the residue of his wiues, and there commanded her to knele downe vpon her knees, and then he cutt of her head from her shoulders: and yet not so content, after her death he defamed her with whoredome. This being done, his other wiues beganne to sing, and to giue praises to the heauenly father. Then dansed they, and the king led the dance, & he exhorted the people also (which had no other victualles left, saue onely bread, and salt, that they should dance, and be of good chere. Now when the day of Ester was come, and that there appered no signe of deliuerance, the king, which had made them so many goodly, and large promises, that he might finde some meanes to excuse him selfe with all, he feined him selfe to be sicke, sixe daies togethers which dayes being ended,