On Amsdorf's relationship with Nicolaus Medler and the Court's slowness in establishing the church system in Naumburg.
The original is in Cod. Keiäel. at Dresden. Printed by Schütze, vol. I, p. 248 and by De Wette, vol. V, p. 531. German by Walch, vol. XXI, 1498.
To the reverend man in Christ, Mr. Nicolaus, the very loud bishop of Naumburg, his superior who is to be highly honored in the Lord.
Grace and peace! D. Medler has been with me during these days and has even
He humbly apologized and exalted your person, complaining at the same time that he had perhaps been given more unfair treatment by others than he deserved. I countered him with what you had written to me, and I to you. He most decidedly denied that he had said such things that had been brought against him, and therefore asked that I at least obtain this from you, that you would not believe anyone, however many and great people there might be, if he could not first, called and heard, speak freely what his opinion was. This I promised him so surely that I even accused him of never having asked this of you. But I will be brief. You will do it, that you hear him. We have advised him that he should not do any of these things alone (per se) until the visitation.
But I understood this with sadness from his narration, since he himself did not notice that nothing was yet established or ordered, not even for the Consistory, of which I firmly believed that it had already been in full activity for a long time. 1) I am annoyed by the negligence of our court, which boldly misses so many things, and afterwards, when we are thrown into the muck, snores idly and leaves us in the lurch. I will open the ears of D. Brück and even of the prince himself with peevish words as soon as I can. I see what I am annoyed to see, that the nobility rules under the name of the prince. And even now Creutz rules with you, 2) the exceedingly hateful man. But more at another time. Yes, I too wish most of all to see you and to talk to you. In the meantime, I ask that you do what you will do of your own free will and, according to your kindness, let Medler be commanded; he will do what is pleasing to you. In this way it will happen that the eyes and ears of those people will suffer who wish to see discord between the bishop and the priests. For this is also what Satan desires to the shame of Christ. In any case, if the condition of my head somehow allows it, I will
1) Walch translates the words: esse in entelechia sua by: "that he would be in his church".
2) Melchior Creuz (Creiz, from Creizen).
Letters from the year 1543. no. 2985. 2986. 2987.
appear with you in a short time, either during Lent or shortly thereafter. Prepare the inn. Fare well in Christ, dear man of God. On Saturday after Erhard [13 Jan] Anno 1543.
Your Martin Luther, D.
No. 2986.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Intercession for D. Curio.
Ex Copial. Archiv. Vinar. in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 103, no. 193; in Walch, vol. XXI, 484; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 603, with incorrectly resolved date: "November 19," and likewise in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. 68.
To the most illustrious, highborn Prince and Lord, Johann Friedrich, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshal and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen and Burgrave of Magdeburg. R. Reichs Erzmarschall und Churfürsten, Landgrafen in Thüringen, Markgrafen zu Meißen und Burggrafen zu Magdeburg, my most gracious Lord.
G. u. F. and my poor Pater noster. Most illustrious, highborn Prince, most gracious Lord! What has happened to D. Curio this time, 1) is not known to E. C. F. G.. Now it is true that such an evil clamor of his absence arose everywhere that the lords of the university could not well do otherwise than to counter the annoying rumor, to suspend him from his position and office until several days had passed, and also to report it to E. C. F. G. so that it would not become worse. Now, however, after the previous suspension, he allowed himself to be interrogated, and the matter was not found to be so bad, everything turned out well again, so that he was released from his suspension, and enough happened everywhere. Thereupon he asked me to humbly ask E. C. F. G. for him, that E. C. F. G. would also graciously drop such a disgrace, and graciously let him follow the lection and pay as before. Because I have experienced myself that in this matter such a rumor and cause of the university for such a suspension
1) Curio had the reputation of being on terms with women. A public slander would bring him into violent conflict with Caspar Teuschel and Pucher, on the open street as well as in the former's apartment (Burkhardt).
first of all by bad suspicion originated and of his absence, because nobody was able to answer for it, torn through, as if he had fled with bad conscience, that also many pious people must believe almost the rumor: so I ask E. C. F. G. humbly, wanted to let him the lection and pay promoted, as happened until now, because he is rightly in this and everywhere inherited. . E. C. F. G. will know how to graciously show themselves. Hiemit dem lieben GOtt befohlen, Amen. Monday after Felicis [15 Jan] 1543.
E. C. F. G. subservient
Mart. Luther.
No. 2987.
Elector Johann Friedrich to Luther.
Answer to Luther's intercession for LI. Johann Dürften!, because of obtaining his scholarship.
The original concept is in the Weimar archives, Reg. Mm, fol. 20 b. D. 14. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 420.
Our greeting before. Venerable and reverend, dear devotee! We have read your repeated letter of the 40 fl. half, which should be withheld from Magister Johann Dürstein from the fief on our castle Wartburg now longer than one year over our prescription given to him, 2) and heard your humble request from it. Now we cannot know what the impediments are that such money is not sufficient for the same magistrate, and have 3) also written to our mayor against Eisenach for this reason, also because there are more such complaints, to consider the ways so that the scholars may get hold of that which 4) we have prescribed for them without further delay, or report to us what the lack is, so that we may further do due procurement. The aforementioned mayor will therefore follow up on this, and in his gracious opinion, we do not wish to conceal it from you, to whom we are graciously inclined. Date Grimm, Tuesday after Fabiani and Sebastian's [23 Jan.] 1543. 5)
2) Burkhardt: should.
3) In Burkhardt wrongly interpungirt: "have not sufficed, also" 2c.
4) Burkhardt: "that one".
5) Burkhardt notes: In 1544, Friday after Vincula Petri (Aug. 8), Dürstein received the scholarship on Luther's and Brück's intercession for one more year to establish his household as pastor in Belzig.