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