The Frankfurt Convention and the Wittenberg Theurung.
The original is in the library at Wolfenbüttel. From the Benzel Collection at Stockholm in Schütze, Vol. III, p. 98, and after the original in De Wette, Vol. V, p. 174.
Grace and peace in Christ! Although I suspected, my dear Philip, that this letter would not find you in Frankfurt, since I understood from your last letter that you are in a hurry, but not only this, rather I have almost begun to give up hope that peace will be granted to us, this will in any case happen, as we hope that our prayers will be heard, so that, if there should be any unrest at all, Christ will fulfill the interpretation of the vision at Schmalkalden and of your dream 1), although in the meantime we too are irritating God everywhere, especially by ingratitude and contempt of the Word. Yes, our peasants intend to kill us by starvation without need; very many students are forced to leave because of the wickedness of those who hide the grain. And here, in such great difficulties, there is no tax. You know our lack of all rule (anarchiam), which causes an unlimited licentiousness, which perhaps finally becomes untamable. This one thing grieves me, that I see that this exceedingly beautiful school must be dispersed. Christ trample Satan, amen. It is well in your house. D. Jonas suffers anew on the stone. Fare well in Christ. Wednesday after the Day of the Incarnate Word [March 26] Anno 1539.
Your Martin Luther.
1) Cf. no. 2518.
Letters from the year 1539. No. 2522. 2523. 2524.
No. 2522.
All Johann Kymäus, pastor in Homburg.
Request for travel money for a pastor appointed by Cymaeus.
Printed in "Vergnügte Abendstunden". Erfurt 1748. 23rd leaf, p. 182 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 175. German in Walch, vol. XXI, 1289 f.
To the in Christ highly venerable brother, Johann Kymäus, 1) the exceedingly faithful and fair bishop of the church at Homburg.
Grace and peace in the Lord! My dear Kymaeus, U. Valentin Schreiber tells us that he was called by you to a parish. And you are certainly doing a great and good work by helping such a poor man, who is also godly and learned, as you know. And he is ready and willing, even eager to come, but he has oppressive circumstances and extreme poverty at home. He has no travel money, so you would do very well if you could get the costs of the trip for him, but I don't see how he could make the trip. Air would gladly give, because we ourselves would not be oppressed by the multitude of poor, who flow together from everywhere as into a famous place, except our poor, especially with so great a theurung of the grain, whose equal the inhabitants of this country do not remember. Therefore, send the costs, or, if you are not able to do it so suddenly, may you say well whether we can perhaps borrow so much somewhere. For I too very much wish that the man be advised and helped. Fare well in the Lord and greet all of us. Wittenberg, Monday after Palmarum (March 31) 1539.
Your Mart. Luther.
No. 2523.