148
LUTHER AND THE REFORMATION
Then he laid it quickly down again, and the trooper drew it to himself. And my companion said, 'I would give a finger from my hand to understand that language.' He answered, ' You will soon comprehend it if you are diligent; I also desire to understand it better, and practise myself daily in it.' Meanwhile the day declined, and it became quite dark, when the host came to the table. When he understood our fervent desire and longing to see Martin Luther, he said, ' Good friends, if you had been here two days ago you would have had your wish, for he sat here at table, and in that place.'" After some more conversation the host called Kessler apart, and informed him that he believed the stranger to be Martin Luther, and Kessler managed to whisper the news to his companion, but neither could believe that Luther could be dressed in such a way, and concluded that the host must have meant' IDrich von Hutten. When the meal came in they wished to be excused from partaking, but the stranger invited them to seat themselves as he meant to pay their score. Then two merchants came in, and having removed their cloaks and spurs, sat down at the table, and one of them produced an unbound book, which proved to be a copy of Luther's Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians. The merchant asked Luther whether he had seen it, and he replied that it would be sent to him. " During the meal Martin said many pious and friendly words, so that the merchants and we were dumb before him, and heeded his discourse far more than our food. Among other things, he complained with a sigh how the princes and nobles were gathered at the Diet of Ntirnberg on account of God's Word, many difficult matters, and the oppression