These things do not agree together, as is shown by reason and by daily experience. The order is
therefore of no use either to God or the world."^787
In the summer of the same year be sent, at the wish of Albrecht, the pioneer of Protestant
preachers, to Prussia, in the person of his friend Dr. Johannes Briesmann (14881549), a theologian
of learning, piety, and executive ability, who arrived in Königsberg, Sept. 27, 1523, and labored
there as preacher in the Dome, and successor of Bishop Georg von Polenz, till his death, with the
exception of four years which he spent as evangelist in Riga (1527–1531).^788 He afterwards sent
two other gifted evangelists, known for their evangelical hymns, namely, Paul Speratus (d. 1551),
and John Poliander (Graumann, d. 1541), who made themselves very useful. A third one, Amandus,
created disturbance by his radicalism, which resembled that of Carlstadt, and caused his removal
from Königsberg.
With the help of these theologians and evangelists, Duke Albrecht and Bishop Georg von
Polenz brought about a radical change in Prussia, and prepared the way for its great future destiny.
The religious reformation preceded the political change.
Albrecht, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, last grandmaster of the Teutonic Knights,
and first Duke of Prussia, was born at Ansbach, May 16, 1490; destined for the clerical profession;
received into the order of the Knights, and elected its grand-master in 1511. He made his entry into
Königsberg, Nov. 22, 1512. His effort to make Prussia independent and to refuse obedience to the
king of Poland, involved him in a disastrous war till 1521, when an armistice for four years was
concluded. He attended, as one of the princes of the empire, the Diet of Nürnberg, 1522 and 1523,
and sought protection against Poland, but in vain. He diligently heard, during that time, the sermons
of Andreas Osiander, and was converted to the doctrines of the Reformation. He called him his
"spiritual father in Christ, through whom God first rescued him from the darkness of popery, and
led him to the true divine knowledge." On a journey to Berlin he had a private conference with
Luther and Melanchthon, and asked their advice (September, 1523). "Trust in God," said Luther
with the consent of Melanchthon, "rather than the empire; shake off the senseless rules of your
order, and make an end to that hermaphrodite monster which is neither religious nor secular; abolish
the unchaste chastity of monkery; take to thyself a wife, and found a legitimate secular sovereignty."
At the same time be recommended to him Paul Speratus as his assistant, who afterwards became
bishop of Pomesania. The prince smiled, but said nothing.^789 He wavered between obedience to
the pope and to his conscience, and his open and secret instructions to the bishop of Samland were
contradictory. His brother, Margrave Georg of Brandenburg, had previously given him the same
advice as Luther, and he ultimately followed it.
In the mean time the evangelical doctrines had already spread in Prussia, and facilitated the
proposed political change by undermining the monastic constitution of the order.
Two bishops of Prussia, differing from their brethren in Germany, favored the movement,
George von Polenz of Samland, and Erhard von Queiss of Pomesania. The former took the lead.
Luther was agreeably surprised, and expressed his joy that one, at least, of the bishops dared to
(^787) An die Herren deutsches Ordens, dass sie falsche Keuschheit meiden und zur rechten ehelichen Keuschheit greifen, Ermahnung.
Wittenberg, den 28 März, 1523. In the Erl. ed. XXIX. l6-33. Walch, XIX. 2157 sqq.
(^788) He published several sermons. Extracts in Seckendorf, I. 272. See the article "Briesmann" by Dr. Erdmann in Herzog2, II. 629-631,
with literature.
(^789) Letter to John Briesmann, July 4, 1524, in De Wette, II. 526 sq.