Intercession for M. John Dachau.
The original is at the Wartburg; only the signature is in Luther's hand. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 213.
To the honorable and wise, mayor and council of Torgau, my (my) favorable lords and good friends.
Grace and peace in Christ. Honorable, wise, dear gentlemen and good friends! M. Johannes Dachau, your city child, has asked me to do this writing to you, and indicated that you would be inclined to extend his stipend, which he has had up to now, if he would send me a letter. Since, in my opinion, it is not badly conceived, and has no other obstacle, except that it is ordered to extend "one" for a certain number of years, I think that in such a case it would be possible to extend it to him for a while, in order to improve and complete his studies, especially since it is not unacceptable to you and you are inclined to do so. For this reason, I ask you to grant him my intercession, his hope and your 4) comfort.
2) Michael Stiefel.
3) In Burkhardt, as we think, wrongly interpung: "yhm, dass sein" etc.
4) In Burkhardt: "ein", as we assume, read from: "eur".
Letters from the year 1533. no. 1974 to 1978.
after, let enjoy. Herewith commanded to the dear God. I have had to do with someone else's hand
write, my head half, you want to turn for the best. Date Wittenberg, on
May 6, 1533.
D. Martinus Luther.
No. 1975.
Elector Johann Friedrich to Luther.
The Elector expresses the hope that Luther will not try to induce Duke George's subjects, whom he had won over, to revolt, and calls on Luther to answer for this accusation by Duke George. Luther complied with this request in June or July by writing: "Verantwortung der aufgelegten Aufruhr von Herzog Georgen, sammt einem Trostbrief an die Christen, von ihm aus Leipzig unschuldig verjagt," St. Louis edition, vol. XIX, 1826 and vol. X, 1932.
The original concept is in the Gesammtarchiv zu Weimar, Reg. N, p. 74. 6. Num. 20. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 213.
By the Grace of God John Frederick. Our greeting before, venerable, reverend, dear devotee! We have received a letter from our prayer, Duke Jörgen of Saxony, in which his love indicates at the beginning that his love should let happen that you comfort those whom you have brought to your hand and souls, 1) as you could, that it should happen without (to) his love and their harm and turmoil, as such a letter of his love, of which we send you a copy here, also what we have given to his love in response to it, says further. If you should now have the opinion that your letter would cause some uproar among our betters or others, that would be in no way tolerable for us, you could also easily consider that we would not refrain from taking due punishment against you for it. But we want to make sure that such is not your mind, therefore you will know how to carry out and answer for the same charge and assessment, according to your need, against the aforementioned our cousin and otherwise masculinely, also that your innocence is noted, by your letter, so that, if such responsibility does not rest on your part, we would also have to consider it as if you were guilty of the things. We will not let you go unreported. Date Weimar, Monday after Cantate [May 12] Anno Dom. 1533.
1) Burkhardt: "comforted".
No. 1976.