The Elector asks them to raise a concern about the book of the Bishop of Meissen.
The original concept with Brück's corrections is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. N, p. 102. 38 A. 4 Printed by Burkhardt, p. 324.
To our G(russ) to(uvor). Venerable and reverend, dear devotees and faithful! The highborn prince, Lord Heinrich, Duke of Saxony 2c., reported to us next to Würzen, when we were both there together, how the Bishop of Meissen had shortly before sent some of his chapter there to S. L., who had advertised to S. L., and had also sent an instruction on religion, with the request that S. L. would have them and the monastery in gracious protection, and leave them with their old liberties and rights, as would be customary. To this, S. L. gave an answer to the sent ones, that because the delivered letter would be a bit long, that his beloved would not want to see or move it in a hurry, so S. L. wants to do it after her opportunity and answer her then. For this reason, his beloved has now sent us a copy of the aforementioned request, together with the document sent to him, and has asked us to order you to see and move it, and to hear your objections to it, for which you can send the same to us.
1) This "you" we have added, and the words "as Christians due", which stand after "abbitten", we have put here.
Letters from the year 1539. No. 2547. 2548.
We also want to know what the bishop is to be informed about and to answer. Therefore, our gracious request to you is that you take the above-mentioned document in hand and diligently examine and move it with one another, and also that you first inform us, as far as possible, of your good judgment and opinion by returning the document, and especially what you consider should be given to the bishop by our cousin (vnsern vedtern) as an answer, so that the bishop and the chapter will not be misled by their fraudulent pretenses. We would like to see this happen in the most beneficial way, so that the people will not be seduced by such gleamers, who, in our opinion, seek and mean something different than they pretend. So we also think that if the day in Nuremberg on the first of August would have its progress, as if it were not yet completely and certain, then the other part's actions would also run in that direction, so our cousin has also kindly asked us in particular to give S. L. the answer first. We did not want to save this for you; do us, as those 1) we are graciously inclined to, a special gracious favor. Date Sunday the 8th [after] Viti [June 22] Anno 1539.
No. 2548.
Au Wenceslaus Link to Nuremberg.
Joke about gifts made and to be made. A short remark about Duke George and the Archbishop of Mainz.
From the Kraftscken Collection at Husum in Schütze, Vol. III, p. 103 and in De Wette, Vol. V, p. 189.
To the in the Lord highly venerable brother, Wenceslaus Link, Doctor of Theology, Bishop and Pastor of the Church at Nuremberg, his superior.
Grace and peace! Although I knew beforehand that there was an enormous amount of gold florins with you, and even wished myself luck that the small gift I had sent to your wife through Mr. Stromer was so small, there was nothing else by which I could hope that your anger and your threats (as you have so beautifully invented them) would be appeased.
1) Burkhardt: "dem".
could. Although you have accomplished nothing by this eloquent sermon of yours, we can still excuse you as if you had been justifiably angry at my silence. For such oratorical achievements are with us daily in not a little greater quantity and usefulness than with you those gold pieces, and yet we consider them a game and joke. But since you threaten anew that we shall again desire what you may send uus, either to me or to Käthe, I wonder how this Crulchian or Colditzian murmur (Crulchius seu Colditius fremitus) at Nuremberg has become so strong, fat and thick, since I know that you Nurembergers are not in the habit of devouring fat morsels, unless perhaps a Kopfperlinger has become a Werverlinger 2). But that is enough the skin gekraut, 3) so that St. Paul is not annoyed.
If you want to send something, send any light-bearer, usually called taceatis 4), but not of ordinary make or art, such as we used to have as monks, namely one who can carry two or three lights, but much more: One that can suffer the violence and impetuosity of him who purifies it, if perhaps he drops it on the stairs, or throws it down; or if you can find one that purifies itself (you know the customs and manner of the servants at that time), so that it may be safe from being broken and used in the violence of an angry or even sleepy servant.
There is no news here that you do not know. I would have sworn that Duke George was other than such a wicked and lost man, even though he has not yet reached the wickedness of the Mainz monster. But God will accomplish what He has begun, only we must continue to pray. Surely the end is coming, surely
2) The expressions Kopfperlingus and Werverlingrus are not understandable to us. The explanation, which Burkhardt, p. 325, compiles: "Werverlingus: Würfel, Würfeltrager (cf. St. Louiser Ausg., Bd. XII, 1522, § 17)", does not satisfy us.
3) In the text': "cutiapelisatum (?)", where again we have to guess.
4) A tacea argentea [silver candlestick] was donated to Leipzig University in 1446. Zarncke, the Urk. sources, p. 607.
the end is near. Christ take away our souls in peace, amen, as it is written [Isa. 57:1], "The righteous is taken away from calamity." Fare well and pray for me. Greet yours and olle ours. June 23, 1539, the day before St. John the Baptist's Day.
Your Mart. Luther.
No. 2549.