An Economical Matter.
The original is in the archives at Weimar. Printed by Schütze, vol. III, p. 147 and by De Wette, vol. V, p. 312. The latter says that he did not have the original, but that he had Cod. chart. Goth. 452. tot. compared.
To the distinguished man, Mr. M. Georg Spalatin 2c.
Grace and peace! What she [Luther's wife] spoke to you, my dear Spalatin, when you were here recently, this, she asks, may you
1) Instead of Sixonienum in the Corp. ref. is to be read Seccaviensem. Bucer wrote extraordinarily unclearly.
now. She asks that you deliver this letter of the prince, which is addressed to your treasurer, and at the same time also urge him, as she has asked, that he may also kindly give usable, especially strong oak trunks, so that there is not (as it often happens) displeasure over the gift obtained from the benevolent prince, which one must receive, corrupted by the malice of the officials. God undoubtedly wants everything, especially the servants of the Word, to be given to us in the most gracious way. At the same time, she asked that, if it would please the shepherd, she would like him to buy the sections of the trees, "not the little rice" (Reisseln) or branches, but the stronger branches, which, as they say, are due to the shepherd. She wanted to use these as firewood in her new kingdom "Zülsdorf". But since you know everything better than I do, you will do everything very faithfully. What has to be given will be given, so that we can install the new queen in her kingdom. Fare well. I send the writing of the furious Cyclops against the Brunswicker as news. We have not received anything else yet, not even from Worms. Again, farewell with your family in Christ. Wednesday after Leonhard [Nov. 10] 1540. Yours, Martin Luther.
No. 2727.