Luther sends the theses for the upcoming doctoral examination in Wittenberg. About the state of health in Wittenberg and the rejection by the Elector.
Manuscript at Gotha in Cod. chart. 185. 4. From Manlii Farrago epp. Philipp, p. 458, in De Wette, vol. IV, p. 626.
Grace and peace! Behold, we are sending the theses for the disputations, best Philip, which you will kindly distribute to the candidates of theology at our request, and at the same time invite everyone in our name to the disputation on the aforementioned day and place. For I do not believe that it is necessary to post them at the doors there, if it does not seem advisable to you, since you are strangers, not at the place of the university. But when you come, you will find them posted on the doors in the usual way and form; then we will also invite you solemnly to the banquet, although (as you know) we wish to know how many of you will come. But the festivity (aula == promovirung) will take place on the day [of the exaltation] of the holy cross. We expect you with joy. For now another conjunction [of the stars] has passed harmlessly, and in three days there has not been even one natural death. Today there was one, but it had nothing to do with the plague.
I have heard nothing from the court about the meeting you are indicating. Perhaps they deliberately conceal such great secrets from us, and I like to know nothing about such great secrets, D. Brück arrived today, to whom I will go tomorrow if I can. For yesterday and today I have suffered from a constant diarrhea, and am weakened in body by the fact that sleep flees me, and I desire no food, and we suffer from a lack of drink. I hope that I will be better tomorrow. In the last two days I have had fifteen bowel movements.
Letters from the year 1535. No. 2162. 2163.
had. Write me whether you have swallowed that letter of the prince, by which I have been very worried for your sake (as I wrote), and how it is with your health. I (as you have read) have begun to hold those your envoys suspicious. You know that my faithless and lost disciple, 1) and he has many who fellowship with him and are not unlike him. May the Lord guide and sustain you, Amen. Sunday after Bartholomew [Aug. 29] 1535.
No. 2163.