Intercession for the pastor Calixtus zu Pollerstorf for increase of salary.
The original (by Schreiber's hand, with the three seals of the signers) is at Hamburg in the Wolff Collection, Vol. IV. Printed by Schütze, Vol. I, p.399; by De Wette, Vol. V, p. 301 and by Kolde, Analecta, p. 343. Only the latter with correct time determination; the others dated from "Aug. 22, 1540".
To the most illustrious, highborn prince and lord, Mr. Johans Friederichen, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen and Burgrave of Magdeburg, our most gracious, dear lord.
Most Serene, Highborn Prince and Lord! E. C. F. G. are ready to God our prayer with submissive, obedient services always with diligence before. Most gracious Lord! With the enclosed letter, he has sought out Calixtus, pastor at Pollerstorf in the office of Wittenberg, and reported his distress to us, humbly requesting that we take his poverty and distress to heart and request him from E. C. F. G. that he be granted a gracious
The parish is to be granted an allowance of 15 fl. per year. Now we know, as found in both visitations, that such a parish has a small village and no branch, the people of the village are not wealthy, and the field is also not so enjoyable that a priest could drive it himself and keep servants and horses on it, we also could not put some allowance on the people because of that. Because we have now looked over the registration itself and considered the income, and find that all together it does not amount to much more than twenty guilders per year, we ask in humility and submission that E. C. F.. G. should graciously provide the poor man with one florin or fifteen florins annually from the sequestration, considering that such parish is otherwise not close to any other parish in E. C. F. G. Chur in Saxony, and this pastor is now 1) an old man, who should remain unchanged. E. C. F. G. will therefore graciously show himself in this. For the same E. C. F. G. we want to ask God for a blessed regiment and welfare and to earn it in humble obedience at all times. Dat. Wittenberg, Sunday after Assumption of Mary [Aug. 17] Anno 1539.
E. C. F. G.
submissive obedient Visitatores Martinas Luther, Joannes Bugenhagen, Doctores, and Philippus Melanchthon.
No. 2574.