On his journey to Schmalkalden, Luther writes about the convention to be held there.
Handwritten in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 234. Printed in Schütze, vol. III, p. 35 and (comparing Cod. HeImst. 85 at Wolfenbüttel) in De Wette, vol. V, p. 47.
2) Compare letters No. 2973 and 2974.
Letters from the year 1537. No. 2339. 2340. 2341.
Grace and peace in the Lord! Although I believe, my best Jonas, that this will come to you somewhat slowly, I still wanted to indicate that we hope that you will be healthy again from the stone at this hour, and that our prayers will be heard. The rumor repeatedly comes to us that the most holy legate, namely the one from Aix 1) is on his way from Nuremberg to our prince. This is written to the Prince from Coburg, who has replied that if he should come, they should instruct him to go to Schmalkalden. There he will be expected if his arrival is true. If, I say, his arrival is true, then he is undoubtedly not coming out of fear of the Turk, but on the advice and through the mediation of the Turk, to seek help 2c. For what else are the Lutherans but sheep for slaughter; not other than when these raging murderers may need their help? But we shall see. The chancellor of the emperor, Doctor Matthias Held, will also be there, and perhaps this meeting will be larger than one has believed on both sides. God grant that it will be a proper concilium.
There is a canon from Zeitz here, but a renegade from his order, since he has taken a wife; he swears and assures as much as he can that there will be more learned men at this meeting than even (if it should take place) at the Concil at Mantua. I write this to comfort you. For the desire for you 2) is extraordinary. Farewell and visit my family, and also Pomeranian Rome with its little whorls. We are healthy and cheerful, yes, we are being kept splendidly by the prince, since we have been entertained in his castles at Grimma and Altenburg, and provided for in the best way. For we hoped that we would only be guests of old Pylades and Theseus 3). Therefore, in our own way (as you know), we played our joke on him in verse. I send here mine, M. Phi
1) Aquensem, that is, Peter Vorstius, bishop of Aix.
2) Instead of tuum we have assumed tut.
3) This refers to Spalatin; but why he calls him Theseus is not clear to me (De Wette).
lippus his too, of course as a Homer. But my childish 4) verses are these:
Ut tua sunt Christo gratissima facta, Georgi, Sic sit grata cohors haec peregrina tibi.
Tendimus ad celebrem pro nostro Chalcida coetu.
Magna Dei cogit causa per istud iter.
Tu quoque tantarum pars magna, vir optime, rerum,
Nobiscum venies duxque comesque viae.
[How your deeds, George, are most pleasing to the Lord.
So please also these strangers. After the famous Schmalkald 5) we go to our assembly.
God's cause is great, it compels the journey there.
Werther Mann, you are also strongly involved in the matter,
You will come with us, a head and companion at the same time. 6)]
No. 2340.