About the disagreement between the Elector and Duke Moritz about spices; about Carlstadt's death.
The original is at Dresden in Cod. Seidel. Printed by Schütze, vol. I, p. 198 and again there, p. 304 (as from 1544) and by De Wette, vol. V, p. 454. German by Walch, vol. XXI, 1485 f.
To the highly famous man, Mr. Nicolans von Amsdorf, the extremely faithful bishop of Naumburg, his superior in the Lord.
Grace and peace! Since Georg Blank (for that is what we call him), your organist, wanted to return to you, my dear friend, I did not want to leave such a reliable messenger without a letter from me. I hope, however, that you will be confirmed in the office which has recently been placed upon you, and that Christ will act in you and govern the church purchased by His blood, which I desire with constant sighing and longing of my heart, as we also pray and desire constantly in the spirit that the name of God may be sanctified.
You see what a terrible trouble Satan has caused between our prince and Duke Moritz. May God defend and humiliate the nobility, especially in Meissen, a type of people that is completely corrupted by luxury, indulgence, pleasure, avarice, usury and godlessness. But perhaps the iniquity of the Amorites must become full, and the
The people of the Holy Land have enemies, of which they would have either none or contemptible ones today, if not only the nobility were raging against us. Thus they fear that they may be thrust out of the dominion by which they have hitherto had the princes and bishops as subjects and servants. I often remember a certain saying of yours about the adulterous princes, and it seems the word in the Book of Wisdom Cap. 3, 16. and 4, 3. is fulfilled: "The children of adulterers do not prosper, and the seed from an unrighteous bed will be destroyed," and: "What is planted from fornication will not take deep root, nor will it establish a certain foundation. May God hear justice, amen. I am very much hurt by that ingratitude (which is undoubtedly detestable to God), because Moritz would not even have been born, nor become anything, if Duke Frederick and John had not preserved his father against Duke George. But those who are destined to perish must perish in this way.
You know that Carlstadt died, of whom the Basel clergy wrote that he had been an exceedingly poisonous plague for their school. But he died because the devil killed him. They write that while he was preaching, a man of great stature appeared to him and many others, entered the church, and stood next to a certain citizen in an empty pew. He went out again and entered the house of Carlstadt. There he found the son alone and picked him up with his hands as if he wanted to hurl him to the ground, but he let him go unharmed and ordered him to tell his father that he would return for him after three days. Thus, they say, he died after three days. They added that after the sermon was over, he approached that citizen and asked him who that man was? But the citizen said that he had not seen anything. So I believe that he, seized by sudden terror, died of no other plague than from fear of death. For he used to be terrified of death.
This George desires that, when your Consistory is established, he may be Notarius, and has asked that I request this of you.
Letters from the year 1542. No. 2901. 2902. 2903.
would like. You will do what is due. He is, it seems, a man who is capable of everything. Be well in the Lord. And my letter, I ask, tear up, because you do not want to suffer the titles of bishop and prince to be attached to you by me, but I do not want this to be known to others, lest it appear as if I had despised the majesty of your bishopric. For an intelligent person, this little is enough. On Char Friday (Parasceues) [April 7] 1542.
Your Martin Luther.
No. 2902