First of personal matters, then of the arsons in Wittenberg and of the hostility of the Archbishop of Mainz.
The original is in Dessau. Handwritten in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 203. Printed from the Hanische Sammlung at Kiel in Schütze, vol. II, p. 313; in Strobel-Ranner, p. 238 and in De Wette, vol. IV, p. 530. German in Walch, vol. XXI, 1419.
To the man to be highly honored in Christ, Mr. Nicolaus Hausmann, the servant of Christ in Dessau, his extremely dear brother.
Grace and peace in Christ! I have, dear friend, admitted this man, as you wrote, to the conversation, as he will report to you fund told him^: if this matter would become of such great importance that you should write for the same, since also many enemies and repugnants weigh me down with conversations, who afterwards speak and do the worst of me.
It is true of Sebastian's harm that he asked me to admonish you; but because I am sure that he has abundance and you are in want, I have not wanted to indicate anything to you, nor to weigh you down, but also
I do not yet want you to be weighed down. I will tell him or write to him that he should be patient with you, since he is so rich, and he will do so, as I confidently believe.
We are sitting here every hour in danger of arsonists, and the matter is carried out under a different guise (as I would dare to swear for the sake of credibility) by this person, the tool of Satan, Margrave Joachim. God may call him to his doom, or it will become an occasion for war, if (what God forbid) arsonists should be sent to him again.
We have heard that the bishop of Halle was furious, but that he has not yet straightened everything out. He is the one (unus) comrade who is not unlike the brother. Christ will suddenly come upon these Epicureans. This I ask and desire; let it be done, amen. Fare well in the Lord and pray for me. 1534, Sunday Quasimodogeniti [April 12]. Yours, Martin Luther.
No. 2050.