Luther desires the return of Jonas. Of Melanchthon's journey to France; of the alleged plague in Wittenberg 2c. In the postscript by a poor man recommended to him.
Handwritten in Wolfenbüttel in Cod. Helmst. 107 and in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 222. Printed in Schütze, vol. II, p. 345 and in De Wette, vol. IV, p. 620.
Grace and peace in Christ! I wish you happiness in those joys of yours, although I also wish you all the glories you mention, my dear Jonas, if they could be granted to you in this place (the rumor of our pestilence is quite null and void, or rather nullity itself), but it was decided in heaven that Satan separated us according to the body; who knows by what monstrosity. M. Philip has been summoned by the King of France, and he would also like to travel according to my advice. Only he could not obtain this from the prince; he left here again for Jena rather unwillingly; what will happen, I do not know. We will have the doctor's banquet on the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross [Sept. 14], the disputation on the Saturday before
her [Sept. 11]. At my request, the most noble prince has promised us a stag or a hind (if the arrow should go so astray) and the best wine from the castle. Pommer is on his way to us, therefore you will be there at the same time, and the Jena school will be there, if otherwise the one can be called a Jena school, which is the Wittenberg school. There is a strange loneliness here in the city, but we are, thank God, healthy and live quite comfortably, except that there is absolutely no beer in the city. Blessed is my body that still has a little in the cellar. Certainly, the citizens suffer from the lack of drink. What would have happened if the school had remained here? All that all new beer is brewed, is still drunk almost hot before the glowing coals themselves, so that 1) all who can, are forced by force to brew. My Lord Käthe greets you respectfully with yours and all yours. My Johannes Luther would have answered your younger Justus, but because he recognized the older Jonas in the letter, he could not write through the older Luther in such a great matter; however, he will write according to his age soon. Farewell again. August 19, Anno 1535. yours Martin Luther, D.
I would like to serve Bernhard, but because I cannot do it from mine, since I am obliged by God to feed so many household members, since I also owe so much [, I cannot]. 2) Eschhausen does not want to be at home, or rather she never wants to pay. I wonder what it is that this strong man with a strong wife is so oppressed by excessive poverty, who cannot be helped with one or two alms, and that alms are offered to such strong people over and over again is finally not possible. Advise me how I can benefit him, for I would gladly do it for the good man, especially since he is a guest in the church of the Gentiles and a housemate in the Jewish church. Again, be well.
1) Here we have left out the word "sitiati (?)". - Perhaps: siti acti, driven by thirst?
2) Added by us.
Letters from the year 1535. No. 2155 to 2158.
No. 2155.