See St. Louis edition, vol. XVII, 353, no. 1300.
No. 2644.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Answer to the letter of April 7 (No. 2640). Luther reports that he burned the letter of the landgrave, in which he reported the consummation of his double marriage, and that the secret should not be made known through him.
The original is in the secret archives at Weimar, Reg. C, page 163, No. 19, p. 75. Printed by De Wette- Seidemann, Vol. VI, p. 258.
To the most illustrious, highborn Prince and Lord John Frederick, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen and Burgrave of Magdeburg, my most gracious Lord.
G. u. Friede und mein arm pr. nr. Durchlauchtigster, hochgeborner Fürst, gnädigster Herr! I humbly inform E. C. F. G. that I have promptly burned the letter of M. G. H., the Landgrave, so that it may not, forgotten or mislaid by me, come to anyone's hands. For, God willing, such a secret shall not come from me. S. F. G. write nothing more than thanksgiving, and indicate how they want to carry out the work and keep it secret, for which I have also asked again that it should and must remain secret and not be praised, as has been advised before. Because he values it so highly for the salvation of his souls, we must ask God that He may graciously help it to come to pass, amen. I hereby entrust E. C. F. G. and all those who are now acting in Schmalkalden to the grace of the Holy Spirit, Amen. Monday after Misericordia Domini [April 12] 1540.
E. C. F. G.
subservient
Martinus Luther.
Letters from the year 1540. No. 2645 to 2648.
No. 2645.