(Regest.)
The rumor had spread among the Jews of Strasbourg that the Elector of Saxony, as a result of a crime committed by Jews, had expelled the Jews from his territory and forbidden them to travel through it under heavy penalty. Referring to the tolerance practiced against the Jews in Strasbourg, Capito recommends a Jew who is respected in Alsace, Joseph, whose request for the withdrawal of this harsh prohibition Luther should support with the Elector.
From the Thes. Baum. reprinted in Kolde, Analecta, p. 304.
No. 2358.
To Conrad Cordatus, pastor at Niemeck.
About Cordatus' call to Eisleben and his melancholy.
Handwritten by Aurifaber in his unprinted collection. Printed by Schütze, vol. III, p. 227 and by De Wette, vol. V, p. 65. German by Walch, vol. XXI, 1455.
Grace and peace in Christ! Your appointment to my hometown Eisleben would please me very much, my dear Cordatus, because there you would be an effective opponent against the Wicel, whom you hate with vain holy and just hatred; only you should go there first to take a look at everything; then you could leave the Niemeck corner, if it pleased you, without regret. What God has decreed would happen, and I would like to see it. There, perhaps, a more wholesome air would blow for you than the swamp air here, since the air is purified day and night by so many fires.
I thank God that your health has returned. But, I ask you to curb your suspicion, which imagines I don't know how many illnesses. You know the saying: Imagination makes it come true (Imaginatio facit casum). That is why you have to make an effort to start the thoughts, not to take them up. For I too must do this. For our adversary, the devil, goes about us, not only to devour the soul, but also to make our body weary by the thoughts of the soul, whether he might kill it, knowing that the health of the body is great.
No. 2359.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Intercession for a prisoner.
The original is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. N, pag. 108. Printed in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 82, No. 146; in Walch, vol. XXI, 398; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 66 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 180.
To the most illustrious, high-born Prince and Lord, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen, my most gracious Lord.
G. u. Fried etc. and my poor Father Nöster etc. Most Serene, Highborn Prince, Most Gracious Lord! The good people of Wolf Schalreuter's imprisoned friendship ask that I write to E. C.F.G. on his behalf for mercy; as they also did to M. G. H. Duke Johann's Ernsten, whether eternal imprisonment was imposed on him, in order that such a journey as they report in their writing might be changed. But forgive me, E. C. F. G. will consider such causes graciously, and will act accordingly; for where there would be such a true need, as they write, it has its opinion. But because I, often witty with evil things, have become stupid to ask, I still do not want to deny my service to poor people, where it is possible. C. F. G. gracious concern, [and E. C. F. G. GOtte,] 1) of whose grace and spirit E. C. F. G. blessedly rule and keep, Amen. Tuesday after Trinity [May 29] 1537.
1) Added by us. De Wette notes, "Here Luther left something out in the distraction."
No. 2360.