On the matter of the pastor at Brettin. Compare No. 2390.
Manuscript in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 239. From the Schmid collection at Helmstädt in Schütze, vol. III, p. 52 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 88.
To the highly placed man, Mr. Franz Burkhard (Burgardo), Vice Chancellor of Saxony, his brother in the Lord and extremely dear godfather.
Grace and peace in Christ! I write to the Preceptor, Mr. Wolfgang Reißenbusch, best Vice-Chancellor, as I hope it pleases the most noble Prince and you. You throw the letters back to him or see to it that they are returned to him, but with the exception of the sum of 80 florins, which, as I have written, are to be given to the pastor at Prettin. I have always thought that the Preceptor is a good man, but I think that it is right and just that this poor priest, who has been affected by so much misfortune, should be comforted with this money. Other things verbally, because I intend to visit you Torgauers after the feast, certainly not for the sake of this matter, but also not in my own affairs; they are only partly mine. Fare well in the Lord and pray for me. On the fourth Sunday of Advent [23 Dec.] 1537. Yours, Martin Luther, D.
No. 2405.