In the same matter as No. 2246.
1) Here we seem to be missing a non in the text.
2) To Nuremberg, it seems (Bretschneider).
Handwritten in the Weimar Archives, Reg. N. 369. 168. Printed in De Wette, vol. V, p. 30 and in the Erlangen edition, vol.55, p. 152 f.-We have used Burkhardt's improvements.
Grace and peace in Christ. Sublime, highborn prince, gracious lord! E. F. G. have graciously granted me that I must write so clearly. I have now often asked for Matthes' map painter, and after much diligence I have finally investigated everything, also finally read E. F. G.'s letter to my Lord, the Elector, which S. C. F. G. sent me, and I find in all places, as much as I can understand, that the poor man is being wronged; he has been wronged, whoever he is, God forgive him; I do not want to leave such a thing on my conscience. E. F. G. also want to be in favor of [it] not remaining on E. F. G.'s conscience. F. G.'s conscience. For there are seven children who have been cast out with their father and mother (the eighth has died, however), and must be disreputable and unfit for this in the eyes of everyone, and even become beggars, although nothing has yet been proven against him, nor has he been interrogated, nor is he the man who would have done such a thing, of which I wrote the first.
But that E. F. G. finally in the letter to my gracious lord urges that he has departed from the vow and promise: E. F. G. should graciously consider that one has faithfully indicated to him in secret 3) (if they meant it maliciously, then they are all the worse villains) how the executioner, demanded by Dresden, should have been after him. Yes, my lord, except for the stick, it is better to act! So there are the three witnesses, through whom perhaps (don't know) such a complaint reached E. F. G., as I hereby send to E. F. G., from which E. F. G. may notice that this Matthes is being wronged. Therefore, my humble request is: because E. F. G. now hear the holy Gospel by the grace of God, they should help to muffle such cries against E. F. G. in honor of the same holy words of God, and yet let the man be interrogated, whether outside or within E. F. G.'s dominion. For such crying is not praiseworthy to E. F. G., and will not help E. F. G. that he has stepped out of his fishing practice, because there has been metus in constantem virum cadens (?). This is my last request in this matter. Where I have not
3) De Wette: "the other day in secret".
long, I must nevertheless, out of necessity 1) of my conscience, give him a public written testimony that he is innocent of such things, and help him to save his honor, so that he can remain, which I would rather pass over to E. F. G.'s service.
Martinus Luther.
No. 2307.