Intercession for a Mansfeld man who was oppressed by Count Albrecht, with expressions of displeasure at the arrogance of the nobility.
From the original in the Gözische Sammlung at Hamburg in Schütze, Vol. I, p. 402; in De Wette, Vol. V, p. 416 and in the Erlangen edition, Vol. 55, p. 339. A copy in the Weimar archives, Reg. N, 41. 15a, has as date March 13 (so Bnrkhardt, p. 402, without specifying the year), which could only be correct on the condition that this letter did not belong to the year 1541, but to a later year, since Duke Heinrich did not die until Aug. 18, 1541, but this letter speaks of "E. F. G. Vater seliger, Herzog Heinrich".
Grace and peace in Christ. Most reverend Prince, most gracious Sir! I am very reluctant to burden E. F. G. with my letter, especially now, when there is enough unpleasantness in the regiment; but necessity is necessity. Your honor may well know how your father, Duke Heinrich, had to interpose himself as a sovereign between Count Albrechten of Mansfeld and Wilhelm and be their patron; for I have to write this with great sorrow in my heart, that the said count, whom I had been particularly fond of up to now and who I considered a gracious lord, has shown himself so quick and hard against his subjects that they had to lament and cry out. One of them is also this good man Barthel Drachstedt, citizen of Eisleben, who asks, and I beside him, humbly, E. F. G. would have him graciously commanded, and as the sovereign prescribe against Count Albrechten, that he act more graciously and more gently with such pious, faithful subjects; for it is the nobility and secular rulers set by God to protect the pious and punish the wicked, Rom. 13. Should it now come to pass that the rulers Tyran
No. 2867.