Theologians.
Request to allow the export of purchased grain.
The original, written by a scribe of the time and signed by the theologians, is found in Cod. Seidel. at Dresden. Printed in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 90, no. 162; in Walch, vol. XXI, 430; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 254; in the Erlanger Ausg., vol. 55, p. 271 and in the Corp. Ref., vol. III, 918.
To the most illustrious, highborn prince and lord, Mr. Joachim, Elector, Margrave of Brandenburg, of Stettin, Pomerania 2c. and in Silesia, of Crossa, Dukes, Burgraves of Nuremberg 2c., our most gracious lord.
God's grace through our Lord Jesus Christ before. Most Sublime, Highborn, Most Gracious Prince and Lord! E. C. F. G. we humbly add that the church has been very diligent in buying grain for the needs of its poor, and the people who have been appointed to do so have been in many places for this purpose. But when finally the honorable and strict Dieterich full Rochau asked to sell grain, he kindly agreed to leave 21 wispel 1) to our church and the poor, so that E. C. F. G. graciously agreed to carry them out of E. C. F. G. principality. Although we now know that the C.F.G. has made this prohibition for the sake of their country's need, we humbly request that the C.F.G. will graciously consider that such statues against the nearest neighbor, especially in such need and for the poor, can sometimes be alleviated and dispensed with; just as Joseph, in the great land theft in the Orient, not only helped the Egyptians, but also other countries and people. Thus says the prophet: Frange esurienti panem tuum etc.; and Solomon says: "He who hides the grain will be cursed, but he who sells it will be blessed"; which sayings are to remind everyone to exercise faith, and with this hope to tell others that God will bless us again, give us a gracious year, and feed His poor, as the prophet tells us about the young ravens: Qui dat escam pullis corvorum. For it is said that they are abandoned by their elders; therefore worms grow in the nest, so that the young may be fed in the meantime. Therefore we also ask with diligence that God will have mercy on the poor and give gracious growth for their sake. For this reason, E. C. F. G. will graciously show mercy to the poor here, for nothing is sought there but for great need, and will graciously grant a reported number of grains,
1) 1 medlar == approx. 4 bushels.
Letters from the year 1540. No. 2616. 2617.
bought from Dietrich von Rochau. God will undoubtedly reward this, as He has promised. So we want to ask God with diligence to give E. C. F. G. his blessing and welfare. Date Wednesday after Epiphany [Jan. 7] of the 1540th year.
E. C. F. G.
subservient willing Martinus Luther, D. Justus Jonas, D. Joh. Bugenhagen Pomer, D. Philippus Melanthon.
No. 2617.