About Luther's departure from Wittenberg.
From the archives at Weimar, Reg. O, p. 151. FFF. 9. Printed in Kolde, Analecta p. 416.
... So Mgr. Philippus came to me at noon and ate with me, and after that told me Doctoris Martini's plans, also how he wrote back to his housewives from Zeitz and ordered them to sell everything (but since, thank God, there will not be any merchants so soon, there are other people who do not have such valuable houses and goods to sell as his), has also reported to me his thoughts, who is doing it, 2) and what the things look like to him, and that it is not that, as he claims, as he would have reported all this to Hans Hudlofen at Weydenheim after the length, and especially what his, Doctor Pomerani's and Major's concern is, how their request does not want to help, as E. churf. G. would like to set him straight again, so that his displeasure and anger would pass.
It takes me that already so much crying about it will not remain hidden even from the adversaries. So I note, Philip has also told the Chancellor and Doctor Mordeisen about it. I hope 3) that the chancellor will not spread it further. The almighty God who helps. Will Mar
1) According to Lingke, who refers to Goetzii Miscell. ex Hist. Vit. Lutheri, p. 6, the Merseburg dean Sigismund von Lindenau, Lic. Antonius Musa, preacher there, Wolfgang Stein, superintendent at Weißenfels, Laurentius Reinhart, pastor at Merseburg, and Jakob Steyrer, pastor at Roßlau, also signed.
2) This will be meant for Luther's wife. Cf. No. 3283, first supplement.
3) Here we have omitted a "not" (nit).
Letters from the year 1545. no. 3248. 3249. 3250.
tinus sitting on his head, I note that Philip will not stay either. For he said that the doctor had started the matter and that he was the least likely to join in. But if the doctor himself wanted to make such a nuisance of the matter, he would also have to go into hiding and would not be able to stay. Therefore, it will be necessary to use smooth and convenient ways, first of all through your Lordship.
No. 3249.
Elector Johann Friedrich to Luther.
The Elector is surprised at Luther's secret departure, offers him an escort, and sends D. Ratzeberger away to persuade him to return to Wittenberg.
The original concept is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. O,
p. 147. Litt. fff. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 475.
Our gracious greeting before. Venerable, respectable and highly respected, dear devotee! It is credible to us that some days ago you went to Zeitz to the venerable, our dear devotee, Ern Niclasen, bishops of Naumburg, which we quite gladly heard for the sake of your health and recreation, although we would have graciously provided for you that you should have made such a planned journey known to us before your departure, so that we could have provided you with a living escort, also food, to move to the place touched and to get through all the more safely. For you know that we did not like to have it done to you before, and that we considered it useful and good, because you know yourselves that Julius Pflug does not cease to strive for the monastery of Naumburg, and to do all kinds of strange practices and substructions with his cousins and friends who sat at the end. And although we do not doubt that the Almighty will let his holy angels wait for you and the churches at your prayer, and guide you in your ways, we nevertheless recognize ourselves guilty of being careful for you with our princely and human assistance. Therefore, we would have graciously and well suffered if you had informed us of your departure beforehand, as we also graciously request that you inform us of your return from Zeitz beforehand, so that we may assign some of our own to you and also have other convenient orders made.
However, when we arrived at Torgau yesterday, after the date we had set for our main court camp, we were told that you would be in Wittenberg.
If you complain about all kinds of things, so that you should not like to be there anymore, we may not reassure you in our gracious opinion that we have truly heard this in true sorrow and compassion. For if we had noted the causes of your grievances in this, we would not have failed to see and procure for ourselves as much as we could through God's help, so that we could have averted it. Now we have not heard your complaints so far, which is why we do not know how to take care of them, as you yourself, as a person of understanding, can consider.
However, as we note, there is a rumor and widespread spread of both on the present quay. M. Reichstag at Worms, as well as elsewhere, first of all among those who oppose the divine word and enemies, to their great joy, where such a rumor should press on and on, so we have not refrained from ordering the esteemed, our dear faithful, Matthias Ratzenberger, the doctor of medicine and our personal physician, with this our writing to you, and graciously request you to give him, like ourselves, complete and utter faith in his statement, and to show yourselves ready to do so, as we graciously provide ourselves with this and all good will toward you. In this you do us a particularly gracious favor and we are inclined to you with grace and all good. Date Torgau, Wednesday after Vincula Petri [Aug. 5] 1545.
No. 3250.
August 6, 1545.
To D. Ratzeberger, personal physician to the Elector.
Luther sends him and his wife writings as a gift.
Handwritten in Aurifaber, vol. III, p.467. Printed in Schütze, vol. I, p. 361 and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 754.
Grace and peace in the Lord. Esteemed Doctor! I am sending here by the Prince's messenger for you and Marcus Crodel a copy of my angry writing against the papal monster. But I have not done enough for myself and the greatness of my anger, nor do I trust myself to be able to do enough, so great is the immensity of the papal monster. Only that I believe that we are that last trumpet, through which a preparation and a run-up of the
Letters from the year 1545. No. 3250 to 3253.
No. 3251.