Because of a trip to be made to Wörlitz or Coswig. News full home.
From Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 249, in Schütze, vol. III, p. 67 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 109.
Grace and peace in Christ! The noble princes of Anhalt have also written to me, my best Jonas, about the day that should be appointed for me either in Coswig or in Wörlitz. I have not yet answered them for lack of a messenger, and now that this messenger has suddenly arrived, I have not wanted nor been able to answer so briefly. In the meantime, you will tell as a lively and powerful Pericles that I am busy with sermons on Saturdays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, especially because you and Pommer are absent. Agricola, to say nothing of the letters and the side business which pursue me and constantly overwhelm me; therefore, if it is absolutely necessary to steal the time which I am to devote to the very good princes, it will be most convenient if the Thursday after Cantate [May 23] were determined for me, so that after the sermon on Wednesday I will board the carriage and appear in the evening of the same day either at Wörlitz or at Coswig. For the place is not in question for me, but the time, namely that I stay there on Thursday and return home on Friday, for the sake of the following Saturday. For according to Vocem Jucunditatis the time is not available, since I have to keep holidays throughout the week, 2) except Friday. If it is also necessary to write to the Prince, I will write tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.
Your Halls is as you left it, but ill good hope, although the little Sophie has begun to suffer a little all some fever heat (calorculo). But there is no danger there. For these days in this city is frequent and many times a feverish heat and now with me two maids have a strong
1) Added by us.
2) For in this week, in addition to the other sermons, there was the one on Ascension Day.
Letters from the year 1538. No. 2431. 2432. 2433.
Fever. My little Martin and Paul can hardly resist. Farewell in Christ, best Jonas, and pray for me. My Lord Käthe greets you respectfully, and commends me to the princes. About Mr. Weller and the emperor and the Turk more extensively, when I will have written to the princes at the same time, if it concerns. On the day Jubilate [12 May] Anno 1538.
Your Martin Luther.
No. 2432.
To Edward Fox, Bishop of Herefordshire.
On the occasion of the journey of the chancellor Burkhard and the superintendent Myconius as envoys of the Elector to England, Luther renewed his friendship with the bishop, who was with the English legation in Wittenberg in 1536.
The original is in the library at Wolfenbüttel; from there in De Wette, vol. V, p. 110. From the Börner collection at Leipzig in Schütze, vol. III, p. 70.
To the venerable Father in Christ, Mr. Edward, Bishop of Hereford (Erfordiensi) in England, his superior to be revered in your Lord.
Grace and peace in Christ our Lord! When these men, our friends and the envoys of the princes, set out on their journey to your most noble king, I, venerable Lord, could not refrain from writing a letter to you, fearing that I would be highly reproached for being an ungrateful and unfeeling person. For, since you, in addition to the exceedingly sweet intercourse that you have cultivated with us here, have also done me a great deal of good and have helped me with advice against my enemy, the stone, there is no occasion for me to forget you. We have often spoken of you and at great length, especially since, because affairs in your kingdom are so changeable, you have either been unable to write letters to us, or those that have been written have perhaps been intercepted, with which we might have satisfied our longing. For we were in uncertainty, and indeed feared that this hard
The stubborn silence might have been the sign of a very sad accident that would have befallen the Gospel. And there were people who were saying that your king, finally entangled by the Roman intrigues, would again enter into a good understanding with the pope. Here we prayed and wished with hope and fear that Satan would be crushed under your feet. We are not yet sure what or how you will act in the Gospel. But we hope to hear through these envoys, when they return, happy news and a true gospel about your English church. But how it stands with the church and the commonwealth in our Germany, you will be able to learn abundantly and completely from these people of ours. May the Lord Jesus Christ increase in you and us at the same time His grace and gifts to the glory of God the Father, amen. Venerable Lord, my daughter greets you reverently. In Christ, your dignities are quite at ease, and let me be in command of her. On the 12th day of May, Anno 1538.
E. W. most devoted Martin Luther.
No. 2433.