Exhibit 399

Luther's letter to Archbishop Albert of Mainz

Exhibit 399 · Letter

Luther's letter to Archbishop Albert of Mainz

Papal indulgences for the building of St. Peter's are circulating under your most distinguished name

Luther tells Albert that indulgences for St. Peter's circulate under his name, reports what the people believe about them, quotes the Instruction to the Commissaries issued under Albert's name, and asks him to withdraw that instruction. English translation in Works of Martin Luther (Holman, 1915), vol. 1, pp. 39-42 (Wikisource transcription).

Source: Martin Luther
Date: 31 October 1517
Quoted from: Letter to Albrecht, para. 2 (Holman ed., vol. 1)
Grade: Primary record
Document: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Works_of_Martin_Luther,_with_introductions_and_notes/Volume_1/Disputation_on_Indulgences
Accessed: 2026-11-09
Cited by: Findings citing this exhibit

Cited by

Finding REL-1.7: Primary record Martin Luther wrote to Albert on 31 October 1517 that indulgences for St. Peter's were circulating under Albert's name. He reported that the Instruction to the Commissaries issued under that name said contrition was not necessary for those who bought souls out of purgatory or bought confessionalia, and asked Albert to withdraw it.