The Elector acknowledges receipt of Luther's letter, 1) according to which he wants Melanchthon and Cruciger to be spared the journey to the Regensburg Diet for the sake of the university, but still wishes them to make this journey (for political and religious reasons) and to arrive in Altenburg on March 16.
From the original concept in the Weimar Archives, Reg. L, fol. 48. vol. V, 20, in Corp. ref. vol. IV, 118.
To Doct. Martin Luther.
Johanns Friedrich, Churfürst etc.
Our greeting before. Venerable and reverend, dear devotee! We have received your letter concerning the attendance at the above Imperial Diet, in addition to your concern as to why the also reverend, dear faithful, Magister Philippus Melanchthon and Doctor Creutzinger, should be spared such a journey or be spared it for a time, and read further contents, and note such your report from you to our gracious favor, can also consider the causes, so you in touched your writing, with ourselves of importance, that it would be useful, and for the sake of our university necessary and good, that said Mag. Philippus and Doct.
1) This letter cannot be found (Burkhardt).
Creutzinger remained at Wittenberg and would be spared with such a journey.
But since you know that much is at stake in this Imperial Diet, and before that in matters of religion: if we should not attend the same in our own person, nor provide it with theologians, it might be suggested to us that we, with our Christian true religion, were shying away from coming to light, because the Emperor's Majesty would be there himself. Majesty would be there himself, to come to light. Therefore, we consider it necessary to send the aforementioned two persons, which you will undoubtedly put up with, and will graciously provide for them, they will keep to our previous letter for the sake of such a journey, and make sure that they will certainly arrive and arrive at Altenburg next Wednesday [March 16] in the evening, which you shall inform them of and report to them.
Thus, we want to keep our university in gracious and diligent order no less than before, and we also want 2) with the grant of God Almighty, to stick to the once recognized truth and pure doctrine of the divine word, which by God's special providence and grace you brought to light against the papal idolatry, We will remain steadfast to our end, of the same opinion and mind as other members of our religion, and will also firmly stand beside us at the Imperial Diet for that which is for God's glory and the spreading of His holy Word. Which we, in our gracious opinion, do not wish to hold against you, and we are graciously inclined to you. Date Torgau, Sunday Reminiscere [March 3] Anno Dom, 1541.
No. 2758.
To Elector Johann Friedrich..
Luther asks for the employment of a musician using a settled fiefdom.
The original is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. Mm, fol. 94 b, No. 22. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 372.
Most Serene, Highborn Prince, Most Gracious Lord! I am sending this letter to E. C. F. G., partly at your request, and for the most part also from myself; E. C. F. G. would graciously understand it. So far, we have had a great lack of a musico,
2) "want" put by us instead of: "have".
Letters from the year 1541. no. 2758. 2759. 2760.
but because nothing was available, we did not like to trouble E. C. F. G. with much supplicating. Now, however, the income of Licentiate Blancken 1) has been settled, it seems to me good that a handsome musician would be kept from it. For at that time we still had supplies from the papists (like other parishes) who could sing. But now we are supposed to raise our own, there is a lack of them. However, since I know that C.F.G. wants to use the church property for the church's needs and best, and thus proves by deed that such parishes improve C.F.G.'s own land and remain in the country, I hope that C.F.G. will graciously move our concern and humble request and know how to show Christianity in this. Hiemit dem lieben GOtt befohlen, Amen. Sunday Oculi [March 20] 1541.
E. C. F. G.
subservient Martinus Luther.
No. 2759.