From the original in Schütze, vol. I, p. 319; comparing an old copy in De Wette, vol. V, p. 677 f., and in Corp. Ref. V, 463. Bretschneider has the copies in Cod. Ref. V. II, 844 and in Cod. Monac. 88, no. 4, p. 345, and attributes this writing to Melanchthon.
1) Luther had already left on August 11. Cf. Corp. Ref., Vol. V, 464 f.
Martin Luther and Phil. Melanthon wish those who read this,
Grace and peace! There has come to our academy this Hungarian guest, Bartholomew Georgiewitz, a foreigner from Jerusalem, who tells that he was captured by Turks in the battle in which King Louis perished, and after that he was in Constantinople for seven years and then in Asia for six years in slavery. He reports in such a knowledgeable manner the names of the places and the nature of the regions, and the customs of both the Turkish people and the Armenians and Greeks, and tells such true things in credible stories that we believe he is an honorable man and stays in foreign countries for honest reasons. It was very pleasant to us that he said that in Armenia the Church of Christ and the study of Christian doctrine are still flourishing. Therefore, we entrust this guest to the protection of good people everywhere, who know that services to guests are both pleasing to God and especially fitting for the nature of men, and that they should also remind ourselves of our misery (exilio). For we come as guests into this world, and are received by many tribulations. But we strive for the fatherland and a quiet abode and for contact with Christ. However, God exceedingly graciously mitigates the many miseries of our lives as guests, if we are moved by mercy toward the guests. Given at Wittenberg, the 11th day of August, Anno 1544.
No. 3136.