Luther asks him to give a detailed and complete account of the history of Frau von Rauchhaupt, since he intends to put it into print.
Handwritten in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 362. Printed in Schütze, vol. I, p. 183 and in De Wette, vol.V, p. 428 f.
To the highly famous man, Mr. Justus Jonas, Doctor of Theology, the extremely faithful servant of Christ in the church at Halle, his superior.
Grace and peace! Although there was nothing there, my dear Jonas, that I could have written, it was also not necessary that I write, if I had something that I could write, since your son Jonas could tell everything that I could have written, and] 4) you could read it from his mouth, even if I wrote nothing: However, so that I do not write anything, it seemed good to me that I write this, namely that you may see to it that the history of Frau Rauchhaupt 5) is described to me again in detail and in all its parts. For I have thought that this history is worthy of being published in print. We would add several other atrocities of Satan, if perhaps the security of the mob could be shaken, which is so furious that it not only despises the salutary miracles of the gospel, which are daily and abundantly manifested.
4) Added by us to give meaning. - According to this, Justus Jonas, the son, was the bearer of the letter. .
5) historiam Dominae Rauchheuptinae. Burkhardt remarks: "In 1542 the Frau von Rauchhaupt together with a girl of 10 years was kidnapped on the Neumarkt, but the perpetrators were executed with tongs and wheels at Pintzenau near Naumburg. Cf. G. Olearii Halygraphia 47.
Letters from the year 1542. No. 2879. 2880.
but also the fierce raging of the devil, and believe that neither God is good, nor the devil evil, and make an effort to be only bellies. Other, when you will have fulfilled your threats, that is, when you come yourself. Fare well and pray for me [to God], 1) who may multiply you and the church in Halle with manifold fruit that will last for eternity, Amen. On Monday after Marcelli [23 Jan] Anno 1542.
Martin Luther, D.
No. 2880.