Intercession for the wives of two pastors who had formerly been nuns.
From the original in the Ansbach Archives in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 108, no. 204; in Walch, vol. XXI, 501; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 693 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. 116.
To the honorable, prudent Herr Christoffel Straße, Margravial Chancellor on the Mountain, my favorable good friend.
Grace and peace. Honorable, prudent, dear Lord and friend! The from
I have asked this letter to you, for the sake of their wives, who were nuns at Himmelskron, that you want to be a good, favorable sponsor with the gracious Margrave Albrecht 2c., so that they might receive a gracious settlement 1). Accordingly, because I did not know how to refuse their honest request, and yet unknown to you, I let myself be moved the most, that they put such good trust in you, as if my intercession should nevertheless count for something: my request to you is quite amicable, friendly, want to be the best friend, and appear to the good lords conducive to such their favorable request; for such faithful servants (says St. Paul) are worth twofold honors. In this you are doing a good work, which will be pleasing to God and will give you a good conscience. Hiemit GOtt befohlen, Amen, Prima Novembr. (omnium sanctorum), MDXLIV.
Martinus Luther, D.
No. 3155.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Luther asks the Elector to leave D. Jonas in Halle longer.
The original is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. N, fol. 108. 41. Printed in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 108, no. 205; in Walch, vol. XXI, 502; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 694 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. 117.
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 Churfürst, Landgrave in Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen and Burgrave of Magdeburg, my most gracious Lord.
G. u. F. in the Lord and my poor Pater noster. Most illustrious, highborn prince, most gracious lord! My dear Lord and friend D. Jonas is here, and has told me of his cause, whereupon I have given him this writing and my humble concern. Firstly, that the lectionary at Wittenberg must, as decided, according to the Foundation or Fun
1) That is, share in the monastery estates.
If the patient is appointed to the doctorate, there is no disputation anywhere, as E. C. F. G. do. But now D. Jonas cannot well leave Halle without the danger and harm of the churches, it is not at all advisable that he should leave Halle, because the evil worm in Mänz is still alive, who must nevertheless be in trouble as long as D. Jonas is in Halle, who has taken away his followers and is doing more than the evil worm has to suffer. But there it is, because E. C. F. G. graciously let himself be heard, and allows him that [he], if it is his opportunity, may remain in Halle, and E. C. F. G., if it is his opportunity, may remain in Halle. C. F. G. wants to give him 140 fl. annually for eight or nine years, or as my dear Mr. D. Brück writes to E. C. F. G., D. Jonas will also report at present. Jonas at present. Is thereupon such a request that he wants to leave the probation or lecture, with this decision, where E. C. F. G. graciously (as he desires) wants to let such a hundred, and as said number of fl. last the eight, nine years. He also wants (which I gladly heard) to be called and needed as a person of the Faculty in Theology, to serve not only E. C. F. G., but also the university, as often as it is needed; for he does not want to consider himself separate from the university, which I will gladly grant to eight of those at Hall (as I have noticed). Accordingly, my humble request is that E. C. F. G. be graciously found in this, since he is now also one of the old servants, both in churches and schools, and is worthy of such and more; who knows where God will bring it in again. The children grow up for him, and all kinds of things are to be meant. E. C. F. G. will know how to show themselves graciously and Christianly. Hiemit dem lieben GOtte befohlen, Amen. Saturday after All Saints' Day [Nov. 8] 1544.
E. C. F. G. subservient Martinus Luther.
No. 3156.