Response to Luther's letters No. 3033 and No. 3034.
De Wette communicates this answer of the Duke in a note, Vol. V, p. 582.
Our favorable greetings and gracious will beforehand. Venerable, respectable and highly learned, especially beloved! We have now received two letters from you, have graciously heard their contents along with your faithful Christian wishes, and although we are quite pleased with your person to answer them with your own hand, it is still the case with us that we were not able to bring them, so you will accept our apologies for this. It happens to us, however, that you visit us with your letters, not to our chagrin, but to our great pleasure, for we feel from this your well-balanced, well-meaning good will, that you, notwithstanding your important, manifold business, and shall find it, where we may recognize it with gracious will towards you and yours, that we want to be felt therein as the gracious Lord in noticeable deed, also for your sake Doctorem Joh. Bretschneider be graciously commanded 2c.
No. 3053.