(Regest.)
He explains his inclination to be instructed. He would have liked to have written down his opinion in several articles to Luther, which Luther had demanded of him, but because a whole series of points came into question, the time was too short for him. A personal instruction of Luther was the most suitable. Now, putting all the blame on Jakob Schenk, whom he had asked urgently, but in vain, for instruction, he asks Luther to give him further instruction.
From the Weimar archive in Seidemann, "Dr. Jacob Schenk," p. 164. A regest in Kolde, Analecta, p. 318.
1) It seems to us that instead of res ipsa should be read: res ipsas; after that we have translated.
2) Seidemann dates: "the 2nd or 3rd of January", but the 3rd of January is to be put, because Luther writes in the next letter of the 4th of January: "yesterday I sent to him in my name the two Caplan", namely, as we see from our letter, M. Georg Rörer and M. Sebastian Fröschel.
No. 2408.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Luther reports about M. Georg Karg, who was imprisoned at Wittenberg by order of the Elector.
The original is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. N, fol. 100. 37. 5. Printed in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 83, no. 149; in Walch, vol. XXI, 410 s.; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 94 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 195.
To the most illustrious, highborn Prince and Lord, Johann Friedrich, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshal and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave in Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen. The most noble Prince and Lord, Johann Friedrich, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen, my most gracious Lord.
G. and F. in Christ. Most Serene, Highborn Prince, Most Gracious Lord! According to E. C. F. G.'s order, I quickly held out the notes to Mag. George Karg in the Sacristy 3) in the morning, in the presence of D. Jonas, D. Kreuziger, M. Philipps, and talked to him sharply: whereupon he first wanted to apologize, as if he had not written such a thing, but quickly referred to it, said that he had always wanted to be instructed, and we ordered him to briefly send us his opinion in writing, whereupon he wanted to stay, which he granted. Just in such speeches comes the Schösser, 4) and E. C. F. G.'s order, he takes his hand to the castle to be knitted; however, we would have liked to see him knitted in his inn, which the castle had done on our responsibility; but the bailiff soon after had him brought to the castle, which we now like better, also on our part.
When it now turned out that Mag. George Karg did not write anything, I sent the two chaplains to him yesterday in my name, so that they demanded from him the promised writing, and although the bailiff at first refused them, and would not let anyone come to him without E. C. F. G.'s order, he nevertheless considered it, let them come back, and they did.
3) See Tischreden, Cap. 4, § 77, St. Louis edition, vol. XXII, 211; ibid. col. 1035: "The Elector has had that Magister Karg imprisoned without my advice."
4) St. Louiser Ausg., Vol. XXII, 211 the word "Quästor" should not have been explained by "Richter" but by "Schösser".
They brought me this inserted document, which he subsequently sent to me.
Today I went to him myself with D. Jonas, and talked to him at his request, and found that the priest, of whom he reports in his writings, has been one of the right principal boys, and that great injustice has been done to him. That they have let him come to Freiberg, that disturbs me greatly; for he has moved the poor young man to dispute such articles, which I have never read before, nor heard; but we hope, because he let himself be finely instructed today, and confesses that he was led astray in such doubts, 1) he should convert himself rightly. For he is an inexperienced young man, and may have first been offended by our persons, and then held the doctrine in all the more contemptible esteem, as they have all done up to now, who have caused trouble under our doctrine, and first despised our persons. But so that we do not make a joke out of the devil's accusation and strange request, I do not wish nor ask that C.F.G. release him until we may thoroughly and certainly show C.F.G. what he wants to do or not do; for strange thoughts occur to me, even about people who are perhaps, and whether God wills it, innocent. E. C. F. G. will know how to keep themselves princely. The devil is serious about us, and sends his servants among us (as the priest of Freiberg was one), and sneaks in, not greeting us. Hiemit GOtt befehlt, Amen. Friday after Circumcis. [Jan. 4, 1538.
E. C. F. G. subservient
Mart. Lutherus.
No. 2409.
Prince John Frederick to Luther and the other theologians.
(Regest.)
Order to send in their expert opinion on the imprisoned pastor Johann Heyne, who had asked to be released from prison. - He seems to be a medical practitioner from
1) In the editions: "im solchen zweymal". In the original probably "zweiuel" [doubt] will be found. Walch offers: "in".
At least he confessed in prison that he had given coriander and cubeb to people who could not sleep. People came to him from Leipzig and Halle. Incidentally, the practice of medicine by clergymen is not at all uncommon in the Reformation era (Burkhardt).
From the Weimar Archives, Reg. p. 148, FFF, n. 4, printed by Burkhardt, p. 299.
No. 2410.