Buchholzer reports that a few hours ago the prisoners, who, as it seems, had led away several chanted students from Wittenberg, 4) favored by Agricola, had escaped from the monastery.
From a contemporaneous copy printed in Förstemann's "Neues Urkundenbuch," p. 354.
To D. Martin Luther.
Grace and peace per Christum. Dear Doctor! I have received your letter, and I will hand it over, and I will not be ashamed of you, as Paul said to Timothy [2 Tim. 1, 8]: neque me vinctum noli erube
3) Luther did this in the 16th and 28th thesis of his writing: "Against the 32 Articles of the Theologians at Louvain." St. Louis Edition, Vol. XIX, 1808 ff.
4) In his letter to Buchholzer, May 14, 1545, Melanchthon calls them plagiarii (== human thieves), which Bretschneider, Corp. Ref., Vol. V, 757, erroneously refers to the alchemists of the Elector.
5) No.3213.
scere. I will, praise God, defend heroicum factum, but I will not restrain you from having an example of what kind of fruit Grickel's actions bring. He once told me himself how he escorted the three boys who led the students away from you in Wittenberg to our most gracious Lord. I was also once sent to the prisoners by my most gracious lord, they famed themselves highly for Eisleben's sake, how he did much in their cause. These same prisoners are today date, half way one, 1) come away. It happened like this: They were let go free, behind the house where they lay imprisoned, and left a 2) pile of money; went to them, ate and drank with whom they wished, and consumed 500 fl. (V C fl.) consumed, 200 fl. (ij C fl.) 3) in Rhenish wine, everything is borrowed. Have today thrown the ball. There is a door behind the monastery, they opened it and went out behind the wall to the other gate. That (Thursday) they stopped for the first time at two hours 4). Then (Thu) the mayor, a right pious man, called Georg Freiberger, let them hurry up with some horses, likewise the castles all had to follow, they could not arrive, but it is said that when they came to the gate, a wagon with strong horses was there, on which they sat and drove away. They also dropped their clothes in front of the gate, which were brought into the city; they left in their pants and tights, but they have all their rifles and goatees with them, so that it looks as if some of them had made it. Our most gracious lord did not return home until six o'clock, and became mightily angry that they were allowed to leave, and has hurriedly summoned them and sent word to all the townsmen that they may return. For I fear that they will do "yours the greatest harm" when they get away. I have been a prophet. I warned those of Berlin, but it did not help. I did not want to restrain you in haste, "do with it,1 °) what is dear to you. Dat. with haste Anno etc. 45. Saturday after Cantate [May 9] hora nona, in nocte.
1) That is, 12-1/2.
2) "Boßleich" == bowling alley. Förstemann has the wrong reading: "Bogleich" with the note: "Probably as much as convivium."
3) Förstemann: "ij C", which he explains by: "150 florins." But this would have been written "C L fl." would have been written.
4) That is, at two o'clock.
5) Added by us. (Hole in the paper.)
No. 3221.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Luther informs the Elector of Buchholzer's news and sends his letter.
From the very damaged original written by Luther himself in K. E. Förstemann's New Book of Documents on the History of the Protestant Church Reformation. Vol. I. Hamburg 1842. 4. p. 355; in De Wette-Seidemann, vol. VI, p. 375 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. LXIII f. - Only two additions: "Grickels" and "Epi[machi]", were made by Förstemann, and approved by Seidemann. The rest we have inserted after the striking letters.
To My Most Gracious Lord, Duke Johann Friedrich, Elector of Saxony etc., hastening to S. C. F. G. Handen.
G. u. F. and my poor Paternoster. Most Serene, Highborn Prince, Most Gracious Lord! I have not been able to restrain E. C. F. G. from sending me this letter from Berlin. The devil is an enemy to C.F.G. from the bottom of all his fortune, we all see that and must see it. But God is almighty, in whom we believe and call upon, without doubt also mighty over all our enemies, and has so far shown himself fatherly towards us and will continue to do so, if we remain in faith and [right doctrine]. I have refused the request made to M. Eisleben to forbid him against E. C. [F. G.]. He [has been with me] with a letter, 6) which I have accepted, but I have neither wanted to see him nor hear him, "he was given enough of an answer by me earlier. I hope that he will give the malefactors 7) room and rein, and undertake to protect them. Great is the pride of the high lineage of Master [Grickel]. I have apologized to your Margrave "that) I did not want to hear M. Grickel, and sent the answer to the man who wrote me this red letter, which E. C. F. G. wanted me to receive again, and did not report the man 8) even though he "did not ask much about it, [whether it would happen;] without a reply.
6) We have assumed instead of: "l": "C".
7) "thätern" put by us instead of: "kether".
8) Buchholzer.
Letters from the year 1545. No. 3221. 3222. 3223.
that I do not want to be denied. [Herewith GOtte commanded, Amen. Monday after Epi[machi] [11 May] 1545.
E. C. F. G.
subservient
Martinus Luther.
God also judges Mentz once.
No. 3222.
Elector Johann Friedrich to Luther.
He sends Buchholzer's letter back to Luther, and testifies that he is pleased that Luther did not let Agricola go before him, nor did he intercede for him. News that the Margravine of Lichtenberg has agreed against her son, the Elector of Brandenburg, to return to the Mark on the condition that Agricola and Schenk be dismissed and that righteous preachers be appointed in their place.
From your Concept in Förstemann's "Neues Urkundenbuch," p. 355.
To Doctor Martinum. Johans Friedrich etc.
Our greeting before. Venerable and reverend, dear devotee! We have received your letter together with the enclosed letter (which we are sending back to you herewith), in which it is reported what measure the prisoners in Berlin, who led away the students in Wittenberg, have escaped, and have heard all the contents. And another thing is that the devil and his followers are almost very hard on us, but the Almighty has graciously helped so far, and he will undoubtedly help again, first of all so that these boys, if they want to do something evil against us and ours, will not succeed. You have done us a special favor by not allowing Eisleben to come to you when he was in Wittenberg, nor by forbidding him to come to us. And we do not want to reprove you in your gracious opinion, after our friendly dear grandparents, brothers-in-law and brothers, the Elector and Margrave Hans of Brandenburg, have now been with their dear wife's mother in Lichtenburg, that they have kindly addressed their loved ones and asked them to join them again in the Mark, which her beloved ones then agreed to a certain extent, but especially that the Elector should remove the said Eisleben and Doctor Jakoben from himself and away, and provide himself with other Christian and righteous preachers, and also keep it otherwise with the ceremonies in conformity with the others. Thereupon the Elector shall have made such a promise to her beloved.
If this were to happen, it is to be hoped that Eisleben and Doctor Jakob would no longer have their being and staying in this place. Then, too, you would undoubtedly not refrain from your Christian and possible support of the Elector's Christian work and project. We would not have you do such a thing, and are inclined to you with grace and good. Dated Torgau, Tuesday after Vocem Jucunditatis [May 42] 1545.
No. 3223.