Luther writes about the state of affairs in Schmalkalden and about his health.
Manuscript at Gotha in Cod. chart. 4 From the collection of Caspar Sagittarius at Jena in Schütze, Vol. III, p. 37 and in De Wette, Vol. V, p. 49.
4) Instead of: "cherili (?)" we have assumed pueriles.
5) Chalcida is an allusion to the church assembly in the city of Chalcedon, with which the newer city of Schmalkalden is compared. Addition by Aurifaber: Erit Chalcedon Schmalkaldiae et tertium Chalcedonense Concilium. (De Wette.)
6) The last words can also be given like this: "a duke and count on the way". Perhaps the ambiguity is intended.
Grace and peace in Christ! I wanted to write to you, my dear Jonas, while there is still leisure, because afterwards we will be forced to act here and to let ourselves be acted upon, and there is no hope that we will leave here before Lätare [March 11], so that a large crowd of affairs and people will flow together from all sides. Many think that even at the Concil at Mantua not so many learned men will come together, although 1) there will perhaps come many more mules, asses and horses, which as riders also carry very large asses and horses, as it is written (according to the citation of Peter Balbinus) [Ps. 32, 9]: "Be not as horses and mouths that have no understanding." Yesterday the Landgrave and the Duke of Würtemberg entered with great pomp; today the princes are in secret consultation; meanwhile we have leisure and write to you. I can neither know nor guess what will be done. Yesterday Spalatin preached, today I preached before the princes in the parish church, which is so large and high that the voice of both of us would have been like that of a shrew. The place and the air are healthy, and we are quite at ease. You alone are missing, who also want to watch and wish to fall into the eyes among so many excellent men. Yesterday I suffered from the stone, but it passed painlessly through dark (nigram) urine, so that it itself did not know that it was a stone (namely so it is crushed to an actual liquid), and also I did not notice the secret guest before the excretion; therefore I would rather that it be and remain in such a way a secret (clanculum) than a stone (calculus). Now, if your calculus would also become a clanculus, that would be something that we would like to grant you and that you would be happy about. The Roman legate has traveled from Weimar to Halle to see the Cardinal, perhaps unwilling that he has not been granted an interview with the prince, for he has not yet been seen here.
1) In the text: quod si; De bet suggests nisi; we have accepted etsi.
liche Hoffahrt rumbles. I have nothing further to write. Greetings to Mr. Joh. Agricola "with his Grickel", whose box it is, as we assume, that we found here in the wagon, since it was unloaded, filled with powders and small cloths. Let this be known to us, so that we do not take away foreign goods from here with us. I also believe that you have messengers to us through the captain, if his grace and humility would have it. Greetings to yours and yours all. Friday after Agatha [9 Feb.] 1537.
M. Luther.
And you at the same time with D. Cruciger pray and see to it that we are prayed for.
No. 2342.