Concerns about the position of the Elector regarding the election of the bishop of Naumburg and the Reformation of the Naumburg Abbey.
The original in Bugenhagen's handwriting with original signatures is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. B, fol. 190. Printed in Burkhardt, p. 367.
Most Serene, Highborn Prince! Ew. ch. G. our obedient, completely submissive, willing services are ready beforehand. Most gracious Prince and Lord! After the Bishop of Naumburg recently died according to the will of God, we have received from Doctor Brücken, E. ch. F. G. Rathe, the articles and partly received and read them in writings, therein E. ch. F. G. graciously requests our concern. Although we have not yet received full or complete reports on the occasion of this trade or on the diocese and monastery of Naumburg, we do not yet really know what E. ch. F. G. has to say about the law and the law of Naumburg. F. G. have for jus and justice to the diocese and monastery, however, so E. ch. F. G. report in the writings sent over next, that it is E. ch. F. G. to be authorized to do so, as the Electors and Princes of Saxony did in former times, that the canons without prior knowledge of E. ch. F. G. as the sovereign and patron prince, shall not elect any person as bishop whom E. ch. F. G., then in this matter, according to our simplicity, this is our submissive concern: First, where it is certain and can stand for a reason that E. ch. F. G. are authorized before age, the canons, if they are not rightly the Election
1) this advice is brief, that E. ch. F. G. proceed and not allow the canons to make a papist election, but force them to elect a bishop who is able to exercise the episcopate in a Christian manner, as St. Paul writes in Tito and Timothy, who is also zealous for pure doctrine in the Confession and Apology, and in sum is not contrary to the Gospel and divine truth. In the event, even where E. ch. F. G. is certainly authorized to do so, E. ch. F.G. would have to keep the monastery and the churches free from papal idolatries and abominations, their ch. F. G. to reform them according to Christian conscience and by God's word. And truly, the canons are worthy, and with their defiance, their manifold blasphemies, and their Pharisaic bitterness and quarrels against the Gospel, they deserve such serious coercion. The poor subjects, so many souls, are groaning for salvation, and it would be necessary for the poor citizens to come to their aid and salvation through this occasion. On the other hand, if it is public, and we all know that the canons and priests are blinded and obdurate from time to time, they will whimsically seek evasion and a remedy, that they will not grant E. ch. F. G. such a thing. And in the event that E. ch. F. G. could not or would not base themselves on a jus brought here, the way to be taken would be that E. ch. F. G. should appoint a person who pleases E. ch. F. G. to be a prince, or as it would please E. ch. F. G. to petition the Chapter, and with such petition, which may be called preces potentes or armatae, therein E. ch. F. G. may note them seriously. F. G. seriously that E. ch. F. G. do not like the idolatry they have practiced, and that they intend to carry out reformation in the future, as E. ch. F. G. know how to do better than we can consider or indicate. If, however, the canons will not grant the gracious intercession, but continue with their electio as hardened, then it is to be advised that E. ch. F. G. expect another occasion through patience, which occasion God will give. For that E. ch.
1) Here Burkhardt offers: "befugt sind, vor alters die tumherrn, ob sie mit recht die election furzunemen zuzwingen" 2c. - Instead of "with" is to be read "nit".
Letters from the year 1541. No. 2744 to 2747.
F. G. should, in these dwindling times and tempers, when everything is almost carefree and dangerous, take the diocese and monastery in hand, in which the nobility is also secretly opposed to the princes, on a journey and undertake something by force, we would not in conscience be able to advise ourselves now, and there would also be a complaint against our consciences if we had given cause for such a journey.
In the meantime it would be enough that by the word 1) and preaching ministry the souls of the sighing would be saved. Where one could also direct this trade with the election, so that it comes into a dilation, and the invasion of a papist bishop is thus prevented, until more convenient, absente Caesare, change and reformation can be made, should also be useful here. This is, most gracious Prince and Lord, our submissive concern, and E. ch. F. G. obedient, completely submissive, willing services, we are obliged and always completely willing. May the Lord Christ strengthen E. ch. F. G. by his grace at all times. Date.
E. C. F. G.
willing, subservient servants Justus Jonas, D.
Martinus Luther.
Johannes Bugenhagen, Pomer, D.
No. 2745.
To Friedrich Myconius, pastor in Gotha.
See St. Louis edition, vol. X, 1790.
No. 2746.
To Jakob Stratner, court preacher in Berlin.
See St. Louis edition, vol. X, 1616.
No. 2747.