This income and expenditure record was written by Luther himself in 1542, when he was about to make his will; cf. no. 2872. The sheets on which he wrote are elongated and very narrow; the paper sheet seems to be broken several times and is bound in old written parchment strips. On the one
1) Instead of mediocres probably rneliores (better) would like to be read.
2) Duke Ernst of Celle, who professed the Augsburg Confession (De Wette).
Luther added various things to the margins or between the lines of the individual pages: Notes on accounts, verses, single words. The original is in the Dresden Hauptstaatsarchiv, Locat 8323. From it published by Seidemann, first in Niedners Zeitschrift für historische Theologie 1846, Heft III, p. 411; then in De Wette, Bd. VI, p. 323 f.
Reueuses.
.1. fl
4 fl 12:1/2 fl
facit
.1. quint. 10. dl. 1. heller .1. lot 3 gl. 6. dl.
.3. lot
6. .Loth.
.12. .Loth
.60. 3) Loth.
Reneuses
141 fl.14. gl faciunt libram
Hungarici .128. fl sunt libra 4)
People are rude. The world is ungrateful.
Therefore, after my death, my Käthe or my children shall hold before the council and city (where a Pharaoh would arise who did not want to know about Joseph):
First, that they have from me a large space on the alley in front of my door, which has been the monastery's, as far 5) as the Rymer's little house at the gate reaches out, and up to the end of Braunen's 6) hall.
On the other hand, that they got the whole space of this house, after my death, and Brown House before, under the civil law, which all had been completely free before.
Third, that I have been a preacher for thirty years, taking nothing from them for wages, and giving little but several thousand bricks or lime, and thus serving them from mine, often remaining with them in the pestilence.
Therefore, they may beware of ingratitude, or they will have little happiness.
3) After the preceding, read "60", not "66", which Seidemann offers.
4) This is written in the margin on the first page.
5) Here Luther deleted the words: "when the garden breaks out at the brewhouse (prawhaus), and well".
6) The bill of sale about Bruno Braun's house at Wittenberg (he was pastor at Dobin near Wittenberg), which was sold by him to Luther on June 29, 1541, is in the handwritten Actis Lutherorum, col. 10. 11. on the city library at Leipzig.
Letters from the year 1542. No. 2979.
If after my death I would be asked where the monastery's household utensils had gone, I should answer:
First
The pewter vessels and kitchen utensils with other household goods were given to me by the Visitatores. But in the beginning of the Gospels it is so destroyed that I would not have wanted to give 20 fl. for the rest that was given to me. To this day, I have not ceased to grind away jugs, bowls, spits, pots, 1) and whatever anyone could grab, and mine too.
For this, I have been charged annually and put in the common box IX old ß2) and what more is due to a preacher. I have therefore served the church, city and university for the sake of God and free of charge for 15 years, with preaching, reading, writing, etc., and I have been well satisfied with what I have done, that M. G.ster Lord has also given me free of charge, out of grace, even for the sake of God. For S. C. F. G. has not been guilty of providing the church and city with such expenses for their preacher.
So I must praise this for the sake of evil, ungrateful people. For I can well see how poorly I will be thanked after my death, since some are sorry that they do not have what God has given me, and they have given nothing in addition. So that one can shut the mouth of such evil, ungrateful people and make them ashamed. Otherwise, several citizens and the university have shown me all virtue and honor, for which I thank them sincerely, and God will reward them well.
On the other hand
The church ornaments and equipment, although much and the best of it had come, I have finally sold the best casels that were available; not much over fifty guilders got for it, so that I clothed, fed and supplied the nuns and monks (thieves and peelers among them), with such great benefit that I have added my own and 100 fl., which M. G. H., Duke Hans, gives me for housekeeping, quite avidly.
1) "groppen" == iron or earthen cooking pot with feet. Seidemann's explanation: "shovel, hoe, digging stick" is wrong.
2) Perhaps: "nine old shocks"? That would be 9 gulden 21 groschen.
Anno 3)
The town council has lent me stones and lime several times.
When I now often asked for an invoice and offered to pay, they always said that no one was allowed to pay; until the mayor, Mr. Krappe, and the town clerk, Urban, verbally indicated to me that everything should be bad. So I have also at that time and want to have thanked herewith kindly.
But if they would forget it with the time and demand payment, then my Käthe or children must hold out, and take my thanks again to themselves. Haec autem 1542. post et alia, mutuo dedit.
Anno 1536.
I helped Greger Tischer (Tyschen) buy his little house for a hundred guilders.
The first Augift I gave for him, namely 40 fl. Derselbigen 20 of my Solde and 20 of Moritz 4) borrowed, which I gave him back the same year.
With the other 20 fl. I directed Greger Tischer to the common chest, to whom I owed 20 fl. and paid with it. He is to work off the other 20 for me.
Moritz has put up the following fl. for me, namely
{ XX fl. Anno 1538
{ X fl. Anno 1539
{ X fl. Anno 1540
{ X fl. Anno 1541
X fl. Anno 1542 myself.
50. they gave them to me. Moritz cum sociis. 5)
3) Luther crossed out this word again.
4) "Moritz" is the bookseller Goltze. (De Wette- Seidemann, Vol. VI, p. 508, note 5.)
5) The part-owners of Moritz Goltz are Barthol Vogel and Christes Schramm. G. G. Zeltner's "Hans Luft", p. 41.
Letters from the year 1542. No. 2979.
Built in the house.
130 Brewery
Braugeräthe
s Horse
20 Stable cow (tue)
s Acid (Sem)
5 Thorbuden
Bathroom with barrel next to it
130 The large cellar together with the Schadl
50 The new cellar and crushing wage
100 The upper room and chamber
40 The lower parlor
20 The stairs twice
5 Muhme Lehne 1) Stüblin with chambers. Chimney.
5 Craffts Stüblin
5 Johannes Stüblin
5 Plato's Stüblin
400 Garden at the house and Brunn and
100 Gedielte boards
10 The wine cellar
130 The roof
400 The new house
250 Brown house; patched 70 fl.
buys and Greger
easily calculated
Purchased
Claus Bildenhauer's garden 2) 900 fl. with house and all buildings, well, fence, saffron and other expenses.
20 fl. Wolff's garden
90 fl. Hoof
100 fl. Horse, harness, cattle
100 fl. canvas, flax
300 Are still to be paid to brown house 3)
1) Luther's sister's daughter. - Crafft" is Johannes Craft from Breslau. - M. Plato was Luther's table companion.
2) He died in August 1539.
3) Luther deleted this item. Perhaps only later.
Nota
Wonderful account kept between Doc Martin and Käthen z4) 1535 Anno 1536
That was two half years
90 fl. to both parish priests of Rokit and Dobrun for grain, as they moved away.
90 fl. for the hooves
20 fl. for canvas (linwat)
30 fl. for pig
28 Muhme Lehne gen Bernau
29 fl. C. Köckeritz for oxen
10 fl. Valt Mollerstet paid
10 fl. escort paid
8 Thaler M. Philipp paid
40 fl. for Greger Tischer (tisscher)
26 University paid
389 fl?)
Rath, where does this money come from? Shouldn't it stink and cause guilt? praeter alia victualia.
In hoc mundo Solus Maritus est Vir et Heros. Sola Uxor est Mulier et Herois.
Caeteri et Caeterae sunt peppen,6 ) tantum suos ventres alendo.
Et ut casus aliquando fert, furentes potius, quam heroibus similes.
Igitur
Maritus Audiat et Audeat istud psal. 26 [Ps. 27, 14.]
Expecta dominum, viriliter
age. Confortetur Cor tuum et sustine dominum.
Nam Oeconomia Est Altrix politiae et Ecclesiae. Cato dicit Agricolas esse fortissimos viros.
A lot goes into a Halls.
But if you want to calculate it, much more must come out. Take my house as an example. 7)
4) Maybe: Zuelsdorferin?
5) This sum comes out only if one calculates the 8 Thaler (taler) equal to 16 fl. But otherwise one thaler is only 24 groschen. (Cf. No. 2948.)
6) See St. Louis edition, vol. XVII, 2253 8. v. "Pappenblumen".
7) This verse is already in the margin of the first page, but here it is repeated and excluded into the text.
Letters from the year 1542. No. 2979.
Give money
For
Grain barley,
Hops tusks
Mowers hay wheat flour wine beer peas
(Heirloom) Hemp,
Flax Groats Barley Rice Millet Sugar Spice Saffron Fruit
For
Cabbage Carrots Turnips Zippel Poppy Parsley
Karbey caraway oxen pig geese chickens ducks birds pigeons eggs butter
For
salt wood coals straw fish, skinny
Fish, green
Meat in coulters 1)
Brod bread roll nails hook iron stuff
Honey tallow yarn wax oil
Give money
Butcher to
Potter
Beggars
Battles
Müller
Thieves
Cobbler
Carpenter
Brides High
Schneider
(Tisscher)
time
Furriers
Leinweber
Godfather,
(KURSNER.)
Gürtler
Gift
Buttiger
Beutler
Gastung
Blacksmith, rough
Pharmacist
Accountants
Blacksmith, small
Doctor
Bookbinders
Balbirer
Preceptor
Fair
Bader
Bricklaying
St. Niclas
1) Seidemann explains "meat ynn Schernn" by: "Krebse"; but "Schern" is: Scharren, Fleischerläden, Schrannen.
Give money
Basin kettles pans shovels scoops
(Schupen) troughs wheel barn 2)
Rough pieces
s son wedding make s daughter
l girlfriend silk oum 8uis
Kriimer
Manner
I poor man, so I keep house. Where I should spend my money. I can spend it in seven places, and I miss it here and there.
Do as your father did, Where he wanted a penny, He found three in the bag in cash With that he paid everything. Not a penny did he want to owe, so he kept house and lived well.
Do as your father did, Where he should have a penny, He had to borrow three, Always owed skirt and shoe. That's what it means to keep house. So that no fire or smoke remains in the house.
For the best the dung fertilizes the field, Which falls from the master's feet The horse is well fed finely, Where his master gives him the eyes. The eyes of the woman cook well, Probably more than maid, servant, Feur and
Kohln.
2) This is wheelbarrows.
No. 2980.
Without date 1542.
Concerns about emergency baptism and the baptism of foundlings, along with a letter of consolation.
See St. Louis edition, vol. X, 2130-2135. The letter of consolation there, Col. 730-735. The inserted piece in brackets in the latter in s 6 and § 7 is from a letter of Luther to Lauterbach of 8 Feb. 1536. To the locations in Walch's preface, Col. 83 and 182, here is to be added: Seidemann-De Wette, vol. VI, p. 332, who brings the four concerns as one; likewise in all editions of the Tischreden, cap. 17, s 13, with the exception of the St. Louis edition, where reference is made to the above locations. - For the date of the letter of consolation, see the introduction to No. XV in the Nachlese of this volume.
N o. 2981.