Inquiry about the preacher Johann Cellarius sn Frankfurt, who was to be employed in Meissen and subsequently became pastor in Dresden.
The original is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. Ji, fol. 144 a. D. 2. 11. Printed in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 85, no. 152; in Walch, vol. XXI, 415; in the 6orp. kek., vol. III, 715; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 183 f. and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 227.
I) "brother" put by us instead of: "baider".
2) We use "to set up" instead of "to arrange". We assume in the original: "äinrichten".
3) "to forbid" shredded by us instead of: "to ask before".
God's grace through our Lord Jesus Christ beforehand. Sublime, highborn, most gracious Prince and Lord! We humbly inform E. C. F. G. that Joh. Cellarius, preacher at Frankfurt, is now and here; after we have talked to him about whether he would like to be used in Meissen, he has offered to do so, provided he would like to obtain permission from the Council of Frankfurt: as we do not doubt, the Council of Frankfurt will gladly serve E. C. F. G. especially in this case, which is also convenient for them. We also do not want to deprive E. C. F. G. of the fact that he is now taking his wife and servants with him from Bautzen, who are still waiting for him in Leipzig. Now he cannot lie with his servants for long; therefore, if he should be needed, his opportunity demands that a certain place be indicated to him, where he would also have provisions; for waiting with wife and child would be difficult for him. For this reason, we respectfully request that E. C. F. G. graciously inform us, if Joh. Cellarius should remain, where he should dispose of himself and who would provide him with entertainment; and in the event that he should remain, it is necessary to write immediately to the Council of Frankfurt. God keep E. C. F. G. always. Date Wittenberg, Sunday Trinitatis [June 1] 1539. M. L.
4) And E. C. F. G. may also graciously consider in such cases that the Duke Georgians (if still raw) may send E. C. F. G. a register to pay what they have meanwhile consumed because they did not want to know about any appeal. So E. C. F. G. would have to pay the banquet high enough; unless E. C. F. G. knows other ways beforehand. My concern is that E. C. F. G. is not burdened with expenses.
Martin Lutherus. Philip Melanchthon.
No. 2541.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Repeated intercession for the castle Hiltener zu Seyd" (cf. No. 2525).
4) This paragraph is written by Luther himself under the letter.
Letters from the year 1539. No. 2541. 2542. 2543.
The original is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. N 108. 41. Ex Copial. Archiv. Vinar. in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 85, no. 153; in Walch, vol. XXI, 416; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 185 and in the Erlauger edition, vol. 55, p. 228.
To the most illustrious, highborn prince and lord, Lord John Frederick, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen and Burgrave of Magdeburg, my most gracious lord.
G. and Peace in Christ and my poor Pr. nr. Most Serene, Highborn Prince, Most Gracious Lord! Because I have not yet received an answer from Hiltener, the treasurer of Zeida, that I am thinking of E. C. F. G.'s word in Wittenberg that I have a bad thing, I must finally stop one more thing, because I am sorry for the good, poor man who perhaps, out of confidence that he has served so lukewarmly and has been brought in and put off by Duke Frederick the Blessed, has provided himself with a gracious answer. Now, because I do not know the matter, I make this blind, humble request, that E. C. F. G. should grant him a gracious deadline and payment for the grain, so that he does not have to perish with his wife and child. For if he perishes (as he complains), E. C. F. G. will help to feed him out of Christian love. E. C. F. G. will graciously know how to show themselves. Hiemit GOtt befehlt, Amen. Tuesday after Trinity. [3 June] 1539.
E. C. F. G. undersigned Mart. Luther.
No. 2542.
To Hans von Taubenheim, Landrentmeister.
Luther asks him to take care of the Schösser Hiltener.
The original is in Cod. Seidel. at Dresden. Printed in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 86, no. 154; in Walch, vol. XXI, 417; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 185 f. and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 229.
To the strict and firm Hans von Taubenheim, Land-Rentmeister zu Sachsen, my favorable lord and good friend.
Grace and peace in Christ. Strict, firm, dear Lord and Godfather! Although I
I know that you will blame this intercession on my gracious lord, but I cannot avoid it. As you know, Hiltener, the Zeida castle owner, is in great distress, and I would like to help him with intercession, also for the sake of his sister in Coburg, who has shown me all good at the time. So it is also to be lamented that he served so long, brought in by Duke Frederick, with the promise to provide for him, and in the end is to go to ruin. Therefore, I kindly ask you to also help advise the best and accomplish a good work. I cannot know the matters of such great disgrace, because he has taken the money to pay for the grain by the day, and the departure will also help him. Please do what you can, so that the good man does not perish. Hiemit GOtt commanded, Amen. Tuesday after Trinity [June 3] 1539.
Martinus Luther.
No. 2543.
Elector Johann Friedrich to Luther.
The Elector commissions Luthern to settle the disputes in Werdau. Compare the situation with No. 2536.
Transcript in Weimar Archives, Reg. .Ii, fol. 138b. C. 9. 27. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 323.
Our greeting before. Venerable and esteemed, dear devotee and faithful! What our also dear faithful, the council of Werdau, now write to us again on account of their pastor, and with the sending of interrogated reports thereon humbly request (untherdeniglich biethen), such you will find enclosed for your perusal. Now we are very reluctant to learn of such a dispute that is taking place there in Werdau between the same priest and most of his parishioners.
We are also concerned that more trouble than good would result from this. If, however, we would ever prefer to have such trouble stopped, and would like to see and know unity between the pastor and the parishioners, we graciously request that you read such a deal and diligently consider what we want to do about it after the occasion arises, and if perhaps, according to your concerns, a change should be made with the pastor, and another one should be appointed to his position.
Letters from the year 1539. No. 2543. 2544. 2545.
Instead of being ordered there, be suspicious of who is to be used for this purpose, and how the present pastor might again be accommodated, and report all this to us in addition to sending us the documents in our custody, so that we may also have to show ourselves in this regard in the future. In this you do our pleasing opinion, and we are graciously inclined to you. Date Torgau, Tuesday after Trinity [June 3] Anno 1539.
No. 2544.
To Mrs. Ursula Schneidewein in Stollberg.
Luther exhorts her to give her consent to the marriage of her son, Johann Schneidewein, to a Wittenberg virgin (Anna Goldschmidt).
From the original in the public library at Basel in De Wette, vol. V, p. 186 and in the Erlauger edition, vol. 55, p. 230.
To the honorable, virtuous woman Ursula Schneidewin, widow, citizen of Stollberg, my favorable good friend.
G. and peace in Christ. Honorable, virtuous, dear wife! I have written to you about your son John, how he is arrested here with an honest virgin in great love, and as you have well heard my good opinion, I would have hoped for a good answer; but because this delay of your son is also too much for me, I have written to you.
long, I am caused to stimulate further. For I, also not unfavorable to him, would not like him to reach into the ashes. But because the matzo so nearly pleases him, and he is not unequal to his station, in addition a fine, pious child, of honest birth: so methinks you may well be satisfied, because he humbled himself childishly, and asked for these matzos, as Samson did: for which reason it is henceforth due to you, as to a dear mother, to give her will in it. For although we have written that children shall not be betrothed without the will of their parents, we have also written that parents shall not, nor with God can they, compel or hinder the children according to their pleasure. The son shall not bring a daughter to his parents without their will, but the father shall not force a wife on the son. They shall do so on both sides. Otherwise the son's wife will become the father's daughter without his thanks. And
who knows what happiness God may bestow upon him with this matzo that he might otherwise miss? especially because the good matzo is put off, is not of unequal standing, and its sadness may become an evil prayer. Summa, I beg you, do not delay your yes-word any longer, so that the good journeyman may come out of his restless being. For I can no longer hold, but will have to do so ex officio. But pray you, let not this writing come out before your son, John; for he shall not know it till it come to an end, lest he forsake himself, and be too bold. For I love him, as he is well worthy, because of his virtue, that I would not willingly counsel him to anger. Therefore do you also as a mother, and help him from the torture, so that he does not have to do it. Hereby commanded by God, amen. Wednesday after Trinity (June 4) 1539.
Martinus Luther, Dr.
No. 2545.