Intercession for scholarship holder Kilian Windisch.
From the Weimar Archives, Reg. Mm, fol. 94, No. 21, printed by Burkhardt, p. 370. - The whole letter is Canzleihand, even the signatures are not handwritten, > but the four preserved seals of the letter are originals.
Most Serene, Highborn Prince and Lord! Your ch. Our prayers and submissive, obedient services to God Almighty are always ready with diligence beforehand. Most gracious Lord! The pastor and council of Leisnig have indicated to us, around Martinmas, next to several others, by means of a document, how they have asked Gregor Windisch', their mayor's son, by the name of Chilianum, for a scholarship because of his skill, since his father is not able to transfer him to the studio. G. for a scholarship. Ew. chf. G. has graciously answered that E. ch. G. has granted this and other young fellows, who are expected to preach in the future in E. ch. G. to preach and to be used in other Christian ministries; but so that E. ch. G. may have good witness of this, the same E. ch. G. would not award a scholarship for this, unless he had first been interrogated at the University here in Wittenberg on account of his conduct and skill, and had produced a good testimony. Now the council has sent for this young journeyman and asked us diligently to interrogate him now or in future examinations. We have diligently interrogated him, and find him to be so competent that, if he continues, he should be usable for Christian offices in time; he has had to make a scriptum about this and hand it over to us together with several carminibus 4), which we are sending to E. ch. G. herewith sealed.
4) The transmitted poem has the superscription: De religione cum sermonis elegantia conjungenda ad puerum admonitio. - The prescription for 30 fl. is dated: Torgau, September 1. (Burkhardt.)
Letters from the year 1541. no. 2753. 2754. 2755.
For this reason, we humbly request that Ew. ch. G. will graciously provide the poor journeyman, for whom there is good hope, with a stipendio, so that he may not neglect his studies, which he has begun, out of poverty and inability, in gracious consideration that his father should be an honest, pious man, and otherwise graced by God with many children, E. ch. G. will graciously show himself in this. For the same E. ch. G. we ask God for their blessed regiment and welfare, and in humble obedience we are always willing to earn it. Date Wittenberg, on Sunday Sexagesimä [20 February] Anno 1541.
E. chfl. and F. G.
subservient, obedient Martinus Luther, Ecclesiast, Justus Jonas, Probst, Joannes Bugenhagen, Pfarrer, Doctores, and Vitus Ammerbach, M.
No. 2754.