At the request of his widow, Luther's will was confirmed by the Elector Johann Friedrich on April 11, 1546. - Luther's first will, dated February 28, 1537, is included in No. 2348.
1) Walch offers (perhaps more correctly): Bundtrosse". Seckendorf in his account of the contents of this letter, Hist. Luth., lib. III, p. 415b f., says only: qui cupiditate secularium rerum repleti sunt. Perhaps by "Buntrosse" the noblemen (centauri) are to be understood.
Letters from the year 1542. No. 2872.
The original is (according to Burkhardt, p. 405) in the General Archives of the Lutheran Church of the Augsburg Confession of Hungary. Printed in the Altenburg edition, vol. VIII, p. 846; in the Leipzig, vol. XXI, p. 692 and in Walch, vol. XXI, 270*. Without the churfürstliche confirmation in Sam. Stryck. adpend. ad libr. de cautelis testamentorum, p. 200, no. XIII; in Henr. Wurzer,
Luther. reformator, p. 1005; according to a copy in the von Rhedig. Bibliothek irr Breslau in De Wette, vol. V, p. 422 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. 2. Manuscript also in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 359.
I, M. L. D., confess with this my own handwriting that I have given to my dear and faithful housewife Catharinen for a life bond 1) (or as one can call it) for the rest of her life, so that she may give birth to her liking and for her best, and I give this to her by virtue of this letter, this day and this day:
Namely, the Zülsdorf estate, 2) how I bought and prepared it, all the same as I have had it up to now.
On the other hand, the house Bruno to the apartment, so I bought under my wolf's name.
Thirdly, the cups and jewels, as rings, chains, gift coins, gold and silver, which are worth approximately 1000 fl.
That is what I am doing.
First of all, that she has always held me dear, valuable and beautiful as a pious, faithful, honest spouse, and has borne and raised five living children for me through God's rich blessing.
Secondly, that she shall take upon herself and pay the debt, if I still owe it (if I do not pay it when I am alive), which may be about, I know, 450 fl., perhaps more may be found.
Thirdly, and most of all, that I do not want her to look into the hands of the children, but that the children look into her hands, hold her in honor, and be subject to her, as God has commanded. For I have seen and experienced how the devil incites and provokes children against this commandment, even if they are pious, through evil and envious mouths, especially when the mothers are widows, and the sons get wives, and the daughters get husbands, and the children get wives.
1) So all editions and Aurifaber. De Wette: "Wipgeding". In the confirmation of the Elector, the expression "Leibgeding" is repeated.
2) De Wette: "Zeilsdorf."
again socrus nurum, nurus socrum. For I hold that the mother shall be the best guardian of her own children, and shall not use such chattels and chattel to the children's harm or detriment, but for their benefit and improvement, as they are her flesh and blood, and she has borne them under her heart.
And even if after my death she would be forced or otherwise caused (for I cannot set God a goal in His works and will) to change, I still trust, and hereby want to have such confidence, that she will keep herself motherly towards both of our children, and faithfully share everything with them, whether it is a life bond or something else, as is right.
And also ask hereby most gracious M. 3) Duke Johann Friedrich, Elector 2c., S. C. F. G. to graciously protect and handle such endowment or Leibgeding.
I also ask all my good friends to be witnesses to my dear Käthe and to help excuse her, where some useless mouths want to complain or slander her, as if she should have some cash behind her, which she would steal or embezzle from the poor children. I am a witness that there is no money, except for the cups and jewels mentioned above in the Leibgeding. And this can be publicly accounted for by anyone, because it is known how much income I have had from my most gracious lord, and otherwise I have not had a penny nor a grain of income from anyone, except for what has been given as a gift, which is still partly in debt and can be found among the jewels. And yet I have built and bought so much from such income and gift, and have kept a large and heavy house, that I myself must recognize it as a special, wonderful blessing that I have been able to obtain it, and it is not a miracle that there is no cash, but that there is no more debt. This is what I ask; for the devil, if he could not come closer to me, he should search for my Käthe, only for the causes, in all kinds of ways, that she has been the husband's D. M. marital housewife, and (praise God) still is.
3) De bet wrong: "gstr."
4) De Wette: "gestr."
Letters from the year 1542. No. 2872. 2873.
Ego Ph. Melanthon testor, hanc esse et sententiam et voluntatem et manum Rdi. D. D. M. L., Praeceptoris et Patris nostri charissimi.
Et ego Ca. Cruciger, D., testor, hanc esse et sententiam et voluntatem et manum Rdi. D. D. M. L., charissimi Patris nostri, quare et ipse mea manu subscripsi.
Et ego Joh. Bugenhagius Pomeranus, D., idem testor mea manu.
Electoral confirmation of Luther's will.
By the Grace of God, we, Johann Friedrich, Duke of Saxony, Elector, and Burgrave of Magdeburg, confess and declare to all men, after our dear special one, Catharina, of the venerable and highly respected, our dear devotee, Mr. Martin Luther, Doctor of the Holy Scriptures, himself, had her widow's will and decree of his own handwriting submitted to us. Scripture Doctoris, sel., bequeathed widow, her Lord's will and decree of his own handwriting humbly presented and asked that we graciously confirm and confirm such: as we have the same Doc.
toris M. Luther's ordinance from word to word, and thereby heard his will and mind. And even though the reported ordinance would be deficient in terms of decorations and solnities required by law, we have nevertheless graciously confirmed and not refrained from confirming it, so that we have always been inclined to the aforementioned D. Martino during his life, and for the sake of the causes and concerns which he has indicated in such ordinance. We hereby confirm and ratify this decree by virtue of this letter, and wish that the contents thereof, as far as the aforementioned bequest and inheritance of his widow's estate are concerned, shall be binding upon the children and their guardians appointed by us, We have also decided that the aforementioned widow should be protected and handled graciously, without any danger. For the record with our secret printed on the back, sealed and given at Wittenberg, Sunday Judica [April 11] Anno 1546.
No. 2873.