Luther reassures him about the newly established consistory, by which he fears to be rebuked.
1) Burkhardt: "was" and immediately following: "errer" instead of "erret" (saved).
The original is at Gotha in Cod. chart. 122. fol. Printed by Buddeus, p. 270; by Schlegel, vita Spalatini, p. 247 and by De Wette, vol. V, p. 329. German by Walch, vol. XXI, 1306 ff. - Köstlin, M. Luther (3.), vol. II, p. 675 ad p. 452, note 1, remarks that the letter is "probably from the year 1539", but places it p. 585 again in the year 1541.
To the highly famous man, Mr. Georg Spalatin, the extremely faithful archbishop of the churches of Meissen, his very dear brother.
Grace and peace! That I, my dear Spalatin, have answered your so many letters somewhat late, is due to the fact that I thought you were vainly concerned that you might be rebuked. For although here in Wittenberg they have begun to establish a consistory, when it is completed it will not concern the visitators, but will have to do with matrimonial matters (which we neither want to nor can carry here any longer) and will serve to force the peasants into a certain order of discipline and that they pay their income to the pastors, which will perhaps here and there also concern the nobility and the authorities by reason of necessity. Furthermore, you know that you are exempt by a special privilege if (which I do not yet believe will happen) such a correction should take place. Therefore I ask you to dispense with this concern. For here we suspect or fear nothing less than that. Only this one thing I ask of you for the sake of our friendship, that you in no way think anything bad if I do not write as often as you would like. I know that you desire and want me to write in the friendliest spirit, but you know my constant business, which is uninterrupted and very great. Therefore, I ask you to memorize this rule: as often as I do not answer you, be quite sure that I consider that a letter is not necessary, but that you are worrying in vain, or asking for such things, which I have either already arranged and performed, or want to arrange as soon as possible. For when I have recognized that a letter is necessary, do not doubt that I will put everything aside rather than let you be in even a faintly suspected distress.
Letters from the year 1541. No. 2747 to 2750.
let. For I want you to think much better of your old and very sincere friend.
Say thanks to Messrs. Einsiedel (Heremitis) for their extremely benevolent attitude, for they are a rare and peculiar light in the very dense darkness of the nobility at this time. My Lord Käthe greets you respectfully and asks that you lay it on me that I have not written, since she has reminded me quite diligently; I confess that this is true. Fare well with your own in the Lord. Wednesday after Epiphany [12 Jan] 1541.
Your M. Luther.
No. 2748.
To Elector Johann Friedrich.
Luther had been summoned to the Churfürst because of the Naümburg bishop election, but excuses himself that he cannot come because of his sickliness.
The original is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. B, fol. 199 b. Printed in De Wette, vol. V, p. 330 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 295.
To the most illustrious, highborn Prince and Lord, Johann Friedrich, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen and Burgrave of Magdeburg. The most noble Prince and Lord, Johann Friedrich, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen and Burgrave of Magdeburg, my most gracious Lord.
Yours sincerely in Christ. Most noble, highborn Prince, most gracious Lord! In response to E. C. F. G.'s letter to come to me at this hour, I most humbly inform you that my neck became worse yesterday and this night than before, and almost broke me very badly (with leave) last night at two o'clock, so that I, truly weak, cannot come, as I am indeed obliged to do, and would also like to do so humbly. E. C. F. G. graciously wanted to hold this against me. I notice and am disturbed by how the priests have honored the election and also concealed the death of the bishop, no doubt worried that the C.F.G. would like to prove something to the election. They are desperate people, the devil's servants. But methinks D. Brück will advise E. C. F. G. well on this, and E. C. F. G. himself better by God's grace. What you can't achieve, you can
God will send it right into the hands of C. F. G. one day, and catch the devil's smarties in their cleverness. Hiemit dem lieben GOtt befehlt. Amen. Monday at eleven o'clock after [24 Jan.] 1541.
E. C. F. G.
subservient
But if E. C. F. G. wants that D. Jonas and Pomer should come, they will be at Lochau tomorrow on E. C. F. G.'s call.
No. 2749.