The prince wished to accept Georg Schnell in the place of Georg Held, who died on March 6; Luther gives his opinion about it.
1) "they" are not, as De Wette thinks, the articles of the Louvain, but these themselves, "the academy at Louvain", which the emperor calls in his edict "his daughter". See Neudecker, Merkw. Aktenstücke, Th. II, p. 453.
Letters from the year 1545. No. 3216. 3217.
From the original in the archives at Dessau in Linduer, Mittheilungen, Vol. II, p. 94, No. 64 and in De Wette- Seidemann, Vol. VI, p. 374.
To the most reverend and illustrious prince and lord, Lord George, the most holy bishop of the church at Merseburg, prince of Anhalt, Grasen of Ascanien and lord of Bernburg, his very gracious prince in the Lord.
Grace and peace in the Lord. Reverend and gracious Prince! I do not dislike the intention of E. F. G. to put Georg Schnell in the place of Georg Forcheim. And even though he is knowledgeable enough in Hebrew, he is still not completely equal to him in moral skills and reputation. And I am very much afraid that Musa 1) and he will not be able to agree on everything. But in this, E. F. G.'s insight will find the right means 2) and without difficulty. For I do not believe that at this time an unmarried man can be found who is of a more mature age and is more proven by experience. And an unmarried man is in many respects more suitable for E. F. G. than a husband, so that for this reason a removal must take place, if a disadvantage should show up. Furthermore, those at Mönch-Nienburg will more easily find another who is suitable for them than E. F. G. That is my opinion. May God grant that the counsel of E. F. G. be happy and continue, amen. May 7, 1545.
E. F. G.
devoted
Martin Luther, D.
No. 3217.