Luther allows M. Johann Förster to go from Wittenberg to Augsburg, recommends him especially, and exhorts the council to help train young people as preachers.
The original is in the Augsburg newly formed city archives, written on half a sheet along its length, with a small oblong seal of red wax, in which the shield with the rose and below: M. L. Printed in "Zwölfter Jahrs-Bericht des historischen Kreis-Vereins für den Regierungsbezirk von Schwaben und Neuburg. For the year 1846. Augsburg 1847". P. 70; in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. 196 and in De Wette-Seidemann, vol. VI, p. 161 f.
To the honorable, prudent gentlemen, mayor and [council] 3) of the imperial city of Augsburg, my favorable dear gentlemen and friends.
Grace and peace in Christ. Honorable, prudent, dear gentlemen! Because Doctor Gereon 4)
3) "Rath"'is missing in the prints.
4) In the Erlanger: Gercon. It will be the well-known Doctor Medicinä Gereon Seiler.
We would have liked to keep him, but so that we would not give rise to any suspicion in such hopeful unity, we have allowed him to see that we would like to do so with all our will that such unity be confirmed. Without this we would not have let him; for he is a learned, pious, faithful man, whom we would have needed from now on. And if it should happen that some preachers might not be pleased with him, then we want him 1) E. F. seriously; for if 2) it would not be convenient for him to stay in Augsburg himself, we have asked him very kindly to come to us again. He wanted to help to educate people especially to the Holy Scriptures, so that we would have pastors and preachers; for, since God is in favor of one or ten people falling away with us in a short time, we would not know how to provide ourselves with people. May the merciful God help our unity to remain constant. Hiemit GOtt befohlen, Amen. August 3, 1535.
Martinus Luther, Dr.
No. 2149.
Elector Johann Friedrich to Luther.
The Elector grants Luther's request for Johann Mantel and Hieronymus Weller.
The original concept is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. Ji, fol. 115 b. 1535. C. 2. 52. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 236.
Our greeting before. Venerable, dear devotee ! After we have given you an answer to your letter concerning Chaplain Ern Johann Mantel and Hieronymo Weller, because we were thinking of going to these country places, that we wanted to inquire about it and graciously let ourselves be heard against you further, we have agreed in view of your preliminary request that the said 3) Chaplain Ern Petern Jüterbock's discharged fief income shall follow him for life. We also send you herewith the prescription which we have had executed for him, the
1) In the prints: "so want him".
2) In the text: "how". Seidemann's conjecture: "where".
3) Burkhardt: "imagined".
You will know how to hand it over to him again. But for Hieronymo Weller's sake, so that he may no longer be deprived of his outside money, we hereby send you the forty florins, which you will also know how to deliver to him. In our gracious opinion, we do not want to hold you back, and we are graciously inclined to you. Date Tuesday after Vincula Petri [Aug. 3] 1535.
No. 2150.
To Johann Friedrich, Elector at
Saxony.
Luther thanks for the new newspaper and wants to pray for the emperor's work that has been started (the Concil Question 2), writes about the plague and the upcoming doctorate of Hieronymus Weller and Magister Joh. Medler.
The original is in the Hungarian National Library, ,,507 fol. Germ.a ". 4) Printed by Burkhardt, p. 237.
Grace and peace in Christ and my poor Paternoster. Most noble, highborn prince, most gracious lord! I send E. C. F. G. the printed new newspaper again and have heard it all gladly and happily, I also want to place my poor Paternoster (on whom I rely in all hardships) among the dear bunch, who are called Christians and are also Christians, with and to the dear Emperor faithfully, God, the Father of all mercy and comfort, may the dear man blessedly finish the work he has begun, Anten. And I thank E. C. F. G. humbly that they have graciously communicated such a happy newspaper to me.
We are here in large driving dying half, without that I wonder, as it nevertheless happens, that I cannot find out, who they are nevertheless, which die with so large heaps. It must be called everything pestilence, what becomes ill, just as if before the^) next year had not been just as large and more ill. It has never been so far wedge miracle, where twenty or
4) Burkhardt notes: "For the fate of the letter, the inscription on the back is remarkable, where it says:
Ego Andreas Segner, p. t. curator redituum Ecclesie S. Georgy memoriam ergo reposui inter alia Ecclesiastica bona, litteras xxxxxxxxxx nostri B. Lutheri, propria manu scriptas, quas dono accepi in Academia Jenensi ex Bibliotheca Ducum Saxoniae, Linea Vinariensi Anno Christi 1625. An interesting piece of liberality in any case!"
5) Instead of "the" might want to read "in".
Letters from the year 1535. no. 2150. 2151. 2152.
more children baptized a week, whether sometimes also one child or two die a week, besides about one old seven man, so that now such must be called a dying.
But whether we would ever become so proud and make Hieronymus Weller and M. Johann Medler, the Margravine's chaplain, doctors, I humbly request that E. C. F. G. either graciously receive our letters or order that we be sent a wild boar from the Lochau. For we have decided to doctor the two before St. Michael arrives, and to send the one in Meissen, this one to the Mark, if [it is] God's will, so that death does not have to throb and defy us so much.
My weathercock") is also gone, not for fear of dying (as I thought), but for the sake of his father (how cheap). We have enough space in the city, praise God, but I hope it will get better. Command me hereby E. C. F. G. Christ be with E. C. F. G. blessed here and there, Amen, The Sancti Donati [August 7] 1535.
E. C. F. G. subservient
Martin Luther, D.
No. 2151.