About scholarship matters.
From a manuscript of Sagittarius in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 80, no. 143; in Walch, vol. XXI, 388; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 26 f. and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 149.
To the honorable, prudent, mayor and council of Salfeld, my favorable, good lords and friends.
Grace and peace in Christ. Honorable, prudent, favorable lords and friends! In the absence of M. Philipp, I had to break and read your writing, and now I do not want to hide from you that recently before, the preacher's friend, Schösser at Torgau, asked me in writing that I would ask him against you to leave the scholarship for another year; but with the appendix, where he wants to stay with theology, then I should take him before me and ask what will happen. Since he now answers me that he wanted to stay with jurisprudence, my intercession remained with you, as I then answered his friend, the Schösser. Because I do not want,
1) The letter is dated "Sunday after St. Marcus. Burkhardt considers Marcos to be a reading error and conjicirt Michaelis, therefore comes to Oct. 1. But "Marcus" is to be taken here with Seidemann as "Marcus nach St. Francisci" (Lauterbach, Vorrede, p.XIV. Cf. St. Louiser Ausg., Vol. XV, 2413).
And it is not for me, as a theologian, to help the theologians turn their scholarship to the lawyers; but if they can obtain it without my intercession, I let it go. Thus I have consecrated the preacher from me. But because he is nevertheless (as I hear) skilled in jurisprudence, for which M. Philipps is also said to have advised him: so you, the council, could well dare to pay him so much for a year, as he is not only your city child, but will also be well needed, especially because the times will dwindle so much that skilled people will be needed. Therefore, I will also have asked for such things for him quite kindly.
No. 2296.
9 October 1536.