Luther recommended M. Georg Aemilius (Oemler), who had been appointed school teacher in Siegen. - "Probably Erasmus Sarcerius, who was Rector of the Pädagogium there in 1540, had approached Luther about a teacher." (De Wette.)
The original was still in the city archives at Siegen in 1818. Printed in the Nassauische Zeit- und Taschenbüchlein (Hadamar 1801); in De Wette, vol. V, p. 279 f. and in the Erlanger Ausgabe, vol. 55, p. 279.
To the mayor and town council of Siegen.
G. u. F. in Christo. Honorable, wise and dear gentlemen and good friends! Since Magister Georgius Aemilius is called upon to train your youth and to lead them in the arts and breeding, I kindly ask you to let the same M. Görgen be faithfully ordered to you; for he is a very fine, learned fellow, and has also shown himself to be quiet and calm with us, so that, where you will also do to tame the wild youth for the good example of others, he can produce great fruit. So you see how great shortage of people has become now, and the youth may well need strict abstinence. Hopefully, if God wills, you will know how to abide in this. Hereby commanded by God, Amen. Monday after Vocem Jucund. [Martinus Luther, D. SS 1)
No. 2651.
To the dean and the canons of Zeitz.
Luther sternly demands that they return Pancratius Fischer to the court that has jurisdiction over him.
The original is in the parish of Oberlungwitz. Handwritten in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 296. Printed from the original in the Sächs. Kirchen- und Schulblatt, No. 32, 1865; also in the Eisleben edition; in the Alten-
1) SS == subscripsit.
Letters from the year 1540. no. 2651 to 2654. -
burger, vol. VII, p. 422; in the Leipziger, vol. XXI, p. 366 (not "266," which De Wette offers and the Erlanger reprints); Walch, vol. XXI, 433 f.; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 280 and in the Erlanger, vol. 55, p. 280.
Repentance or hardening, as God has provided, dear nobles! My request and request is that you release the poor man, Pancratius Fischer, and return him to the court from which you have taken him with iniquity and violence. For you should know that no one should interfere with another's judgment. Now he (which you cannot deny) has been and is found in the judgment of Christ and his church, and you have shown yourselves to be the sacrilegious and church robbers, and have taken Christ into his judgment. But if you will not do this, then I will play a game with you priests, and tell all the world what you are, where your power is. If anything happens to you, I have faithfully warned you and done my part; I also hope that my most gracious lord will be man enough for you, and whom I can entreat more. If you want to punish me, then you should start with yourselves and mend your whorehouse, murder pit and church robbery 1) beforehand. But more of this soon. Do and make as you will, that your misfortune may not fail. Tuesday after Vocom Jucunditatis [May 4] 1540. Martin Luther.
No. 2652.