Intercession for the castle Hiltener zu Seyd" ("to Syde", "to Zeida", "to Zeyda").
1) The emperor's envoy, an expelled bishop ^on^Lund and Röskilde. (Köstlin, M. Luther, Vol. II,
Printed in the Eisleben edition, vol. II, p. 16; in the Altenburg edition, vol. V, p. 154; in the Leipzig edition, vol. XXII, p. 557; in Walch, vol. XXI, 304; in De Wette, vol. IV, p. 206 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 54, p. 207. In all these editions as addressed to the "Duke" Johann Friedrich, without date, and placed in the year 1530. Burkhardt (p. 188) found the date of the letter from Bibl. Wolf. (Hamburg City Library) 107 O. 14: "1539 on Easter Eve," April 5. That the letter belongs to this year is also shown by the two letters of June 3, 1539 in the same matter.
Grace and peace in Christ. Sublime, 2) highborn prince, gracious lord! E. F. G. graciously wished to grant me this letter, because I could not refuse it after so many requests; E. F. G. will nevertheless know what is right. The Hildener zur Syde has received a short farewell from E. F. G., that must have its cause; but because there, weeping and wailing wife and child, do not know where they are going so suddenly, they ask in complete submission that E. F. G. should give them room and time to go elsewhere, also so that he would not have to leave so suddenly, as if he had been at fault, yes, let his things also do word or report, as he thinks he could do. But I do not know what to ask, E. F. G. will have cause enough. Again, I think and almost worry that the right cabbages are with us in part. Duke Wilhelm's time is approaching again, when the nobility wants to teach the princes that one cannot rule the world without them. Therefore, we must pray all the more vehemently for you princes, and especially for E. F. G. and his relatives. The devil is sorry for the Confession and Apologia, and we must also repay him with ours. God help us continue as before; E. F. G. will know how to graciously respond to this request of mine. 1539, Easter Eve [Apr. 5].
E. F. G. Martinus Luther.
(Wittenberg.) No. 2526. g April 1539.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Luther asks the Elector for advice and help with the sudden theurge in Wittenberg.
2) Although the salutations and titles in this letter are addressed to the "Duke" and not to the "Prince Churfürst", we did not want to change them.
Letters from the year 1539. No. 2526. 2527. 2528.
Printed in the Altenburg edition, vol. VII, p. 717; in the Leipzig edition, vol. XXII, p. 568; in Walch, vol. XXI, 414; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 175 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 224.
Grace and peace in Christ, and my poor Father-Our. Sublime, highborn F., G. Lord! Here in the country a sudden theurung and unforeseen hunger has occurred, that it is a miracle that I am forced to call E. C. F. G. as lord and father of the country for hills and council. What supplies are here in Wittenberg, E. C. F. G. knows without a doubt. Now Wittenberg has to feed the towns of Kemberg and Schmiedeberg with baked bread, so that the council only says that more bread goes out into the country than is eaten here in the city. Some still think that such a famine comes not so much from lack as from stinginess and malice on the part of the wealthy nobility, and there is a lot of strange talk about it, in which I can say nothing. It is true that mau says that N. N. has let himself be heard saying that he will not sell a grain until a bushel is worth 1 old shock or 1 guilder, and that the grain should be taken out of the country and seduced. However, the Elbe also does so much that one cannot grind or bake, because the castle mill has to stand still because of the water. It is a small challenge, but it will become a big one if E. C. F. G. does not provide help and advice. Therefore, we all ask that the C.F.G. will graciously show itself, not only with present help for the need, but also with government, so that those of the nobility do not henceforth buy the grain for themselves alone, and lead it away, and usurp it so brazenly, to the ruin of the C.F.G. country and people. They are rich enough without that, that it is not necessary to take the lives of poor people through hunger, for the sake of their avarice. E. C. F. G. will probably know how to advise further and princely on this. Hereby commanded to the dear Lord Christ, Amen. Wednesday in Easter [April 9] Anno 1539.
Martin Luther, D.
To Gabriel Zwilling, pastor at Torgau.
On a matter concerning a will.
In Gräters Jduua 1812, p. 168; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 176 f. and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 225.
Grace and peace in Christ. Dear Magister Gabriel, your parish priest! Tell the good friends of mine (who I mean well) that they do not burn themselves in the matter with the parish priestess of Nida, and let the council and the great people, who do such things, run well. For over the great ones there is still a greater one in these lands, who is called Duke John Frederick; what he will judge, both council, friendship and great people will have to suffer. For if the Court Court here has found it to be a right testament (as you write), the Elector, who is such a Court Court, has done so; they wanted to contest it elsewhere than in the Court of Appeal; they may well desire to do so, and if it would not be advisable, they must not care for ridicule and damage. Summa, if the will here in Wittenberg is recognized as right, then the widow has it. Hereby commanded by God, Amen. Thursday after Quasimodogeniti [April 17] 1539.
M. Luther.
No. 2528.