The original is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. Kk, p. 135. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 261.
2) Plötzkau, a Benedictine nunnery in Anhalt-Bernburg.
Letters from the year 1536. No. 2274. 2275.
Grace and peace through Christ, our Redeemer and Beatificator, before. Venerable, most reverend and respectable, favorable lord and patron! Because the worthy Kunegundis von Byern, sth. our dear Domina, on Tuesday after Quasimodogeniti [25. April], we have been addressed by the worthy and honorable Johann Talnorden, provost, and Andresen Cölen, co-commanders of our monastery Plötzka (Ploczka), by written order received, and severely admonished to have all the monastery's letters, privileges and justice inventoried; and although we before the same time quite diligently requested from the said provost and co-commandant that they would most beneficially help to decree [that] we again within a month's time, as was done before after the expiration of each domina, also choose another domina, which they promised us to promote and present with diligence. Thereupon we were also willing, according to her desire and received order, to submit letters and privileges and have them inventoried. However, after we found that she was negligent in promoting what the mention concerned, and that we, without head or commander, would hardly have been able to resist in many ways, as E. A. W., as a man of high understanding, easily to measure, has lived up to now, because the youngest wants to be obeyed as soon as 1) that the youngest, according to respectable understanding, should obey the eldest, as it must be in assemblies and in all places where there is no head or commander. Now our poor children (as the desolate in this world) are not of the opinion that we therefore desire to elect a Domina, that some popery should thereby be raised among us again, especially after an order has been issued by the worthy, highly esteemed lords visitators, concerning the church customs, especially after an order has been issued by the worthy, highly esteemed lords visitators concerning the church customs, chants and administration of the true body and blood of Jesus Christ, our only Redeemer and Savior, without any of our poor sinners' works or additions, we have so far, by divine grant, always been obedient and obedient as much as possible, as we hope the ordained pastors will therefore not give us any other testimony. 2) However, after the above-mentioned visitators and electoral commanders there have again promised us that we will leave the papists and accept their order, which is in accordance with the holy word of God, and that we will continue to follow them.
1) In Burkhardt: "alßo".
2) Burkhardt: "become".
we should, as far as external regiment and honorable Christian order would be concerned, be left undisturbed in the traditional old Roman custom, privileges and usage. Accordingly, it is our humble and diligent request to Your Honor, [that you] send us poor, desolate, headless children herewith, together with a sufficient enclosure, to the most illustrious, highborn Prince and Lord, Mr. Johann Friedrichen 2c. 2c., our most gracious Lord, humbly and diligently request that you ch. G. would graciously leave us with the choice we have always had and made, only what is outwardly regimental and honorable and not contrary to the Word of God in all ways, so that we may receive and have among us in our collection one head, as reported above, and so much the better according to the holy Word of God, as much as the Almighty will bestow, and also live in honorable discipline; this the Almighty God will undoubtedly graciously reward. So let us also, for the sake of the C. 4) F. G. unfaithful dignity, with our poor prayer to God Almighty, diligently forbid it. Date Plötzka, under our monastery's seal, on Monday after Laurentien [Aug. 14] Anno 1536, and ask for a gracious written answer from the Elector.
Your Honor obedient
The whole collection of the monastery Plötzka.
No. 2275.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Luther asks that an investigation be made into the removal of the pastor at Hildburghausen.
From the original in the Gotha Library (?) in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 78, no. 138; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 16; in Walch, vol. XXI, 385 and in the Erlanget edition, vol. 55, p. 144.
To the most illustrious, high-born prince and lord, Lord John Frederick, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the H. R. Reich, Landgrave of Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen, my most gracious lord.
Grace and peace in Christ. Most noble, highborn prince, most gracious lord! It
3) "undisturbed" put by us instead of: "ungehort".
4) "C." set by us instead of: "E."
Letters from the year 1536. no. 2275. 2276. 2277.
Here is the parish priest of Hildburghausen M. Johannes Weybringer 1) 2c., recently deposed from the parish with great dishonor and dishonor, as E. C. F. G. may understand from his report, and the superintendent and some others write to me that everything was done and founded out of envy and hatred, as it seems to me myself, and the people of Hildburghausen are also crying out that they may not have a parish priest for long nor suffer 2c. So my humble request is that E. C. F. G. demand a diligent report and testimony from the entire council and citizens, what they think or know about their pastor, or where it should or can be demanded; and what is found to be just, let 2) E. C. F. G. confidently go. For it is true that we preachers are not pious either; but because everyone is hostile to us, St. Paul teaches (perhaps also wittily) that one should not allow everyone's complaint against the preachers. He has been an honest, pious man until now, we all know that here; should he now suddenly have changed? I hope not. So there is no proof, but only some signs of suspicion, which could be widespread and I could encounter them myself. There would be something more behind it. E. C. F. G. wanted to consider that without this, there would be few people available for church service; if these should now also be rejected with injustice and disgrace, it would deter much. But if they are wronged, they shall suffer it much more than all others. E. C. F. G. will know how to graciously observe this. Hiemit GOtt befohlen, Amen. Wednesday after Assumtionis Mariae [16 Aug.] 1536.
E. C. F. G. submissive Martinus Luther, D.
(Wittenberg.) No. 2276. August 17, 1536.