(Regest.)
Reply to No. 3192 and Corp. Ref., Vol. V, 698. The Prince thanks them for their letters of consolation on account of the death, by ^l. Georg Helt (Forchemius).
From the original in the Wolf Collection of the Hamburg City Library in Kolde, Analecta, p. 411.
No. 3197.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Upon request, Luther names several pastors to fill Spalatin's position, who had died on January 16, 1545.
Printed from the original in Joh. Aug. Bergner's "Etwas von denen Superintendenten-Adjuncten in Chursachsen" 2c., Bauzen 1781. cl. 8th, p. 62; in De Wette- Seidemann, vol. VI, p. 370 f. and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. LXI.
To the most illustrious, highborn Prince and Lord Johann Friedrich, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen and Burgrave of Magdeburg, my most gracious Lord.
G. and F. in the Lord and my poor services before. Most noble, highborn prince, most gracious lord! I have delayed to answer in the von Altenburg matter, for reasons. But the most noble one is that M. Andres has all the
2) Instead of populo (?) we have assumed flosculo. 3) Adreas hill.
I have been waiting for Amberg's letter and answer for days, so that he would know where he was, whom I would have liked to see instead of M. Spalatin. Now, according to his promise, he is already connected, and those from Amberg are here to fetch him. We have, praise God, a good supply of young theologians. But we must have so many in foreign countries that, where one is ripe, many hands ask for him, that we cannot suddenly give all the time who and what he wants. Some of our students, who are now pastors and preachers there, are already in Turkey and occasionally in Hungary. The cities also have very few students, and think that we have plenty of them here, and that they should be sent to them. Accordingly, M. Philipp and I have looked around and considered whether M. Augustinus 1) should not be called to Colditz. But we are told that he is weak. So we would like to have him at Jessen 2) there as well, because he is also thinking of leaving there. Finally, we are considering the schoolmaster at Altenburg, who is learned and old enough, also almost experienced in church matters, and known at Altenburg, and [it] has always been the case that the schoolmasters have given the best pastors, especially when they have been practicing in the school regiment for so long. To them we give E. C. F. G. to choose and provide what E. C. F. G. pleases. We do not know anything more or different this time until the others mature. I do not know what grows there in Leipzig or Erfurt. Wittenberg is not able to give pastors to all the world, and it does more for one church than Rome and the papacy do now. Should be called differently what the devil does. Hiemit dem lieben GOtte befehlt, Amen. March XX, 1545.
E. C. F. G.
willing and subject Martinus LutheR, D.
No. 3198.
To the Landgrave Philip of Hesse.
Luther sends back the Welsh falsehood about his death, and reports that in a few days his book "against the diabolical Pabstthum" will go out.
1) Augustin Himmel.
2) Wolfgang Brauer.
The original is in the State Archives at Kassel. Printed in Rommel, Urkundenband, p. 109, No. 29; in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. LXIII and in De Wette- Seidemann, vol. VI, p. 373.
G. and F. in the Lord. Sublime, highborn Prince! I hereby send to E. F. G. again the French joy over my death. He is a poor merciful shithead who would like to do good, and yet has nothing in his belly. My booklet against the devilish pabstry will be out by Thursday, and it will be seen whether I am dead or alive. God, our dear Lord, be merciful to E. F. G., Amen. Saturday after Lätare [March 21].
E. F. G. williger Martinus Luther.
I want to have the German and Welsh printed in their entirety. 3) For it is not worth any other answer. I only want to prove that I have read it.
No. 3199.