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