From a copy of CodI. Monac. 89, no. VI, p. 100b, in Hummel's New Library of Rare Books, vol. II, p. 484. Another copy in Cod. Monac. 65, p. 7. then in Corp. Ref., vol. V, 96 and in De Wette- Seidemann, vol. VI, p. 345.
1) Cf. no. 2985.
2) Already at the beginning of the year, there was a rumor that the emperor had been shipwrecked and had perished. The contrary information was not believed for a long time, and still on August 18 Luther wrote to Amsdorf: "One wants to persuade me by force that the emperor is alive.
Nicolaus Gallus 3) from Köthen stayed at the school of our church for ten years, and because of his erudition and his very good manners he was decorated with the degree of a master in philosophy. After that, however, he gave samples of his erudition, faith and diligence both in the schools and in the churches. Therefore we were pleased that he was appointed to the office of a deacon in the church at Regensburg. Although his studies were known to us beforehand and approved by us, when he sought ordination, we nevertheless heard him again publicly and recognized that he understood and held the teachings of Christ correctly and accepted the pure opinion of the Gospel, which our church confesses in one spirit and with one voice with the general church of Christ, and that he had an abhorrence of the fanatical opinions that are condemned by the judgment of the general church of Christ. This Magister Nicolaus also promised constancy in doctrine and faithfulness and diligence in office. Therefore, according to the teaching of the apostles, he is commanded by public ordination to teach the gospel and to administer the sacraments instituted by Christ according to his profession. And since it is written of the Son of God [Eph. 4, 8.11.]: "He ascended on high and gave gifts to men, prophets, apostles, shepherds and teachers", we ask with fervent wishes that he may give suitable and salutary regents to his church, and grant that the office of this Nicolaus may be effective and salvific.
We read that Lucius of Cyrene, a disciple of the Apostles, taught the Gospel at the beginning on the Danube in Augusta Tiberina, from whose remains Regensburg was built. Now we rejoice that the old church is being restored and cleansed, and we exhort the godly citizens of Regensburg to see to it that the Gospel of God is preserved and propagated purely and faithfully. For God demands that He be honored primarily through this service.
3) In the Albüm, p. 130: Nikolaus Haen de Köthen, inscribirt 1530.
Letters from the year 1543. No. 3009. 3010.
as Christ says [John 15:8], "In this my Father is honored, that ye bear much fruit, and become my disciples." 1) And if this light is held fast, there remains the Church, in which God will be present; he will give eternal life to those who call upon him, and will stand by them in all the tribulations of this life. For God is present and hears where his gospel resounds, as it is written John 15:7: "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done for you." Given at Wittenberg, on the seventeenth day of April, on which day 3831 years ago 2) Noah entered into the ark. By this example God testified that He would miraculously preserve His Church in the floods of the world and the terrifying upheavals of the wicked 3). Anno 1543.
Johann Bugenhagen, D. Caspar Creutziger, D. 4)
No. 3010.
Elector Johann Friedrich to Luther.
Request to arrange for a clergyman to go to Brunswick, since Medler must remain in Naumburg. About leaving D. Curio in Wittenberg.
The original concept is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. P. 144. EEE. N. 16. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 424.
Our greeting before. Venerable and reverend, dear devotee! Your letter, 5) which
1) We cannot help but notice here that, as in several places the same expression, so also this sentence is found from word to word in the Facultätszeugniss No. 2995, without the slightest deviation. Nevertheless, Bretschneider i. l., and Seidemann follows him, claims that this testimony was written by Melanchthon, and even brings forward as a reason for proof that this writing is not found in De Wette. - We consider this to be a testimony of Luther.
2) According to Luther's Chronikon, St. Louis Edition, Vol. XI V, 561, the result is 3847 years.
3) Instead of impiorum, shouldn't imperiorum [the empires] perhaps be read?
4) Melanchthon co-signed because he had left that day to visit the Archbishop of Cologne.
5) This letter of Luther is missing. Luther's answer to the present letter is also missing.
We have read the contents of the complaint you have made to us on behalf of the chapter and the city of Naumburg, and also on behalf of Doctor Curio, and have noted the notification you have made to us on behalf of the chapter and the city of Naumburg, which you have not done otherwise than in your faithful opinion. And because the Naumburg complaints have been brought before us, we do not want to refrain from duly seeing to it that, with God's help, things are straightened out so that there will be no cause for some annoyance or cheap gossip on our part. We have also heard that Doctor Medeler, the prefect of Naumburg, has been with you and has let himself be heard that he no longer wishes to remain in this place. Since it should now be good that he be taken away from the place, the people of Brunswick would like him very much, as we still receive a letter from them today, in which they ask for him again. We note, however, that those of Naumburg did not want to leave him gladly; so we also have care, should he leave the place, and another be appointed in his place, there might be other more injustices to Naumburg and also in the monastery, because the complaint, so Doctor Medeler has, can be easily settled by means of divine help. Where now the said Doctor Medeler is to be retained in Naumburg, we graciously request that you consider appointing another skilful and honest man as superintendent in Brunswick, and that you name him to us by your letter. For we want to put off the people of Brunswick in our answer, if D. Medeler of Naumburg is not to be taken, that then another skilful, honest man should be sent to them.
But as far as Doctor Curio is concerned, we would have thought that he would have gone into service elsewhere for the 6) reason we gave you in our answer. For he hopes that nothing will be brought upon him, for as far as the beating is concerned, you know that witnesses are not called to such matters of which he has been accused, for which reason the law has decreed other ways of inquisition in this matter. 7) The beating of Doctor Curio, however, would have been a punishable offense. Nevertheless, the beating would also be reason enough for us to let him go. But because we note that you like to see him in Wittenberg and want him around you, since you should live longer, for the preservation of your health, we also want to tolerate him there longer, and let him stay with the lectionary.
6) Burkhardt: "dem".
7) See the note to No. 2986.
let. But you want to indicate to him that he should behave in this way, so that such a thing does not come to us from him; for if it were to happen, we would not refrain from punishing one with the other in due inquisition. We have graciously not wished to restrain you from doing so, as we are inclined to do so with grace and good. Date Torgau, Friday after Jubilate [April 20] Anno Domini 1543.
No. 3011.
To Hieronymus Baumgärtner in Nuremberg.
Scholarship Recommender.
The original is in the Munich Hof- und Staatsbibliothek. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 426, after a communication by D. Menzel. 1)
Grace and peace! This Hieronymns, the pointer of this letter, a citizen of your city, has asked me, and others have also interceded for him, that I would like to recommend him to your famous Senate. He asks, if he could obtain it, to continue his studies anew, for the studies of the higher faculty for some 2) larger scholarship; he believes that some of the kind is now free. I, who am unknown to your Senate, and he to me, have not wanted to evade this man's request, and have decided to approach you, my best Hieronymus, and ask that you also request and accept Hieronymus Ebner as a comrade in my name, and that you two powerful Hieronymuses assist this man, the less powerful Hieronymus, as much as you can according to time and circumstances. You know that this is a good work and pleasing to God. I write only a few, and with difficulty, since I have hardly recovered my breath from death in these days, and do not yet know whether my health will become firm; nevertheless, I must write letters, 3) perhaps even when I am dying.
1) We state this here so that one does not blame Mr. D. Burkhardt for the wrong readings.
2) Instead of aliquot will read aliquod.
3) The text reads: tamen licere rnihi; scribende
sunt etc.; we have assumed: tamen literae rnihi scribendae sunt, which will probably also be found in the original. - Instead of morienti forti we have read morienti forte.
and finally a corpse. Farewell to your Lord, who may shower you, together with the Church and the whole world, with the full blessings of his exceedingly rich grace, 4) Amen. On Monday after Cantate [April 23] 1543.
Your Martin Luther, D. 5)
No. 3012.