About the repurchase.
A copy is available in the library at Wittenberg, published by H. Lindner in the Theologische Studien und Kritiken, 1835, Heft II, p. 357. From it in the Erlanger Ausgabe, Vol. 56, p. LVII and in Seidemann-De Wette, Vol. VI, p. 346.
To the honorable, prudent Bastian Müller, citizen of Mansfeld, my good friend and dear brother-in-law.
G. and F. in the Lord. Honorable, prudent, dear brother-in-law! If you have read Brentium Lucä 6, then you have found good certain reason, which rhymes well with the disputation of D. Hieronymi Schurff, and my booklet on usury 2) is also not against it, although in the same booklet I write nothing of the contract reemptionis, but of the mutuo and dato (which now all has also become usury or would like to be). Fifteen years ago I wrote about usury. 3) Then I dealt with the contract reemptionis. That you indicate that it is strange to you that another should improve his property with your money, and you have nothing from it, is probably another unnecessary good work, as I might give 100 fl. to someone who should not. But this does not excuse usury; why did I not keep it, or use it more needfully?
Belongs to the repurchase:
Primo hypotheca, a pledge, as a field^.
House, city, land on which the interest is purchased. For that which bears nothing can bear no interest. And where the pledge spoils or is lost in war by enemies, as Turks, then both lose theirs, the buyer and seller.
Therefore, on merely bad money, as on a hundred (or how much that is) guilders, without sub
1) The editions name the addressee Bastian Weller, but Burkhardt, p. 500, notes that the letter is addressed to Bastian Müller, the brother of the Mansfeld chancellor Caspar Müller.
2) "An die Pfarrherren, wider den Wucher zu Predigen," St. Louis edition, vol. X, 860.
3) "Von Kaufhandlung und Wucher." St. Louis edition, Vol. X, 914.
Pledge expressed and called, five or more, even one fl.. Taking one heller is usury.
Secundo, that the buyer (who buys the interest) remains obliged to allow the seller (who takes the sum of money on his credit) in turn the redemption of the interest with the same sum, if he can or wants.
Therefore, if the buyer reserves to him the. Summa of his money, so that he buys the interest, to demand again over One, two, three etc. Therefore, if the buyer reserves the right to reclaim the sum of his money for the purchase of the goods over one, two, three etc. years, which the lawyers call repetitio sortis, this is also usury, a real villain, because it wants to be borrowed money at the same time (which may be reclaimed) and yet also a purchase money (which I may not reclaim according to the received goods).
Although one wants to dispute here, if the seller desires or grants the recovery from himself, as he no longer wants to have sold it, which is strange, and may well take care that [it] is not a sham without light. But this is not to be written now. Hereby commanded by God. Thursday after Magdalene [July 26] 1543.
Martinus Luther.
No. 3030.
To the Landgrave Philip of Hesse.
Luther asks him to give Johann Richius his lecture in Marburg, which he will take up as soon as he has become a master in Wittenberg.
The original is in the library at Cassel. Printed in F. W. Strieder, Grundlage zu einer hessischen Gelehrten- und Schriftsteller-Geschichte, vol. XII, Cassel 1799, p. 2; in De Wette-Seidemann, vol. VI, p. 348 and in the Erlauger edition, vol. 56, p. HX.
G. u. F. and my poor Pater noster. Sublime, highborn prince, gracious lord! E. F. G. Johanni Nichio of Hanover has promised a lecture there at the University of Marburg. He then decided to go to Wittenberg to receive the Master's degree there, because he studied there and spent his time in the studio. Now a displeasure wanted to stir, that some of the Faculty of Arts at Marburg wanted to bite him out and put another one behind his will and before he could return to his profession E. F. G., he had to go to Wittenberg.
Letters from the year 1543. No. 3030. 3031. 3032.
says. They want to understand that his absence is too long, since he is only outside to obtain the Magisterium, which is not his fault that he is so far gone; for the people have not been at home. He has therefore asked me to write to E. F. G. and to ask E. F. G. to keep him at the promised lecture, since he will certainly still be employed before Michaelmas, as soon as he has become Master. I do not write that E. F. G. should take disfavor upon the faculty of Marburg. People are people, may good opinion also want to do otherwise. Thus God's children must always suffer Satan among themselves, as Job's book teaches us. Therefore, E. F. G. will graciously show himself on both sides that Richius will not be deprived of the promised lecture and that this opinion will be well interpreted and tolerated. Our dear Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and keep E. F. G. in the blessed regiment to his praise and honor and the bliss of many souls, Amen. Thursday after Petri Vinculor. [Aug. 2, 1543.
E. F. G.
Martinus Luther, D.
No. 3031.