No other figure in history has been portrayed in literature as extensively as Luther. Even in the 16th century, the literary image of Luther was significantly shaped. The first volume of Series I of the Luther Library 2017 introduces the concept of the entire project and presents the essential memorial writings that emerged immediately after Luther's death. It begins with Luther's testament. This is followed by eyewitness accounts of Luther's death, sermons for the deceased (including those by Johannes Bugenhagen and Melanchthon), tributes to Luther at the universities of Wittenberg and Marburg by Melanchthon and Johannes Draconites, Melanchthon's biography of Luther, a selection of mourning poems, and the critical response of the Catholic Church to the Protestant reformer by Cochlaeus. The volume concludes with the private G.