See St. Louis edition, vol. X, 730. There it is attributed to the year 1542, also Seidemann, in De Wette, vol. VI, p. 336, dates it the same way, but it belongs to the year 1541. Luther wrote this letter for Bugenhagen's interpretation of the 29th Psalm (in this volume, Nachlese, No. XV), which, as Bugenhagen himself testifies (Wittenberg Edition [1559], Vol. XII, p. 2006), was first published at Christmas 1541. Compare our introduction to No. XV of the Nachlese.
No. 2863.
Elector Johann Friedrich to Luther.
The Elector "prescribes to Luther" for life the interest of 1000 florins, annually with 50 florins, for himself and
1) Cf. Horat. Od. lib. III, Od. III, v. 7. 8.
his heirs, but in such a way that the Elector reserves the right to redeem the interest with the principal sum himself after Luther's death.
The concept is found in the Weimar Archives, Reg. Aa, pag. 255. n. 50. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 402.
By the Grace of God, we Johans Friderich, Duke of Saxony 2c., hereby declare and confess for ourselves and our heirs against all men, that after we have given the venerable and reverend, our dear devotee, Ern Martin Luther, Doctor of the Holy Scriptures, and his children, for many reasons, which we consider unnecessary to relate, we have therefore, out of our own motive and gracious mind, graciously agreed to give him, his children and their heirs, one thousand guilders of our princely coin from our pension chamber and to let it follow, 2) Doctor Martin such thousand florins during his lifetime, which the Almighty wills to grant him for a long time, with fifty florins annually, for two terms, as Walpurgis and Michaelmas, from our pension chamber in the two markets of Leipzig, to be used as a daily penny, shall bear interest, and be given to him or his brothers and their heirs after his death, each time against due confession, at his or his commander's request.
However, we hereby reserve the right for ourselves and our heirs, if the said Doctor Martin should pass away by death, which the Almighty will long prevent, to redeem to his children or their heirs such fifty guilders of annual interest with a thousand guilders principal sum at our and our heirs' opportunity, 3) that we or our heirs, against payment of the principal sum notified in advance, are to be handed over this prescription of ours again, and thereupon we order our present and future rentmaster, rent and chamber clerks to comply with such prescription of ours in such a manner; This is our opinion. In witness whereof we have hereunto sealed this letter with our seal annexed hereto, and have hereunto set our seal at Lochau, Monday after Christ's Day [Dec. 26] after the birth of Christ our Lord, 1542 [that is 1541].
2) Burkhardt: "obgedachter".
3) Added by us.
Letters from the year 1541. no. 2864. 2865.
No. 2864.