First, about the matter of the abbot in Posen who wanted to marry. Then about the letter of Cordatus (No. 3268).
The original is in Cod. Seidel. at Dresden. Printed by Schütze, Vol. I, p. 369 and by De Wette, Vol. V, p. 766. German by Walch, Vol. XXI, 1556.
To the most reverend father and lord in Christ, Mr. Nicolaus, the right bishop of the church at Naumburg, his superior to be highly honored in the Lord.
Grace and peace in the Lord! I have written about the Abbot of Poznan, Reverend Father in Christ, in order to fulfill my promise. I do not ask and do not desire that anything else happen than what you write.
I am sending you a letter from Cordatus, from which you will see what I very eagerly believe. For for some days I had been doubting in my heart that there might be some secret agreement between Mezentius and ours; so I interpreted this sudden transfer. But Cordatus, through this letter, has put this contestation to rest. But I wonder why they [the papists] so conceal this honor of God, by which he wanted to make himself known. Do they perhaps seek a future, other, even greater defeat and disgrace? At court one learns nothing, not even from the prince himself. Therefore, I ask you to get involved in gathering information wherever you can 1). For you dwell among the enemies of the prince and the friends of the me
1) Instead of: ubi, ubi is to be read ubiubi.
zentius, whether we might be able to detect something that would strengthen the testimony of Cordatus. I had intended to make the letter, which I have now put into print, to our prince and the landgrave, 1) that they should not release Mezentius, stronger and more extensive through this matter, therefore I inquired at court. But they make a fairy tale out of this matter. But I believe that our Lord has not yet experienced such a thing (audisse). 2) For God uses to frighten the enemies in such a way. But they want to hide their shame, as you see. Fare well in your Lord, venerable father. November 5, 1545.
Yours faithfully, Martin Luther, D.
Send the letter of Cordatus back after you have copied it, if it so pleases you, for it does not seem to me to resemble fiction.
No. 3271.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich.
Luther gives thanks for a rich gift of food.
Printed in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 110, no. 211; in Walch, vol. XXI, 509; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 767 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. 144.
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. The most gracious lord is the Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen and Burgrave of Magdeburg.
G. u. F. and my Pr. nr. Most Serene, Highborn Prince, Most Gracious Lord! This morning I received a rich gift from E. C. F. G., namely half a cartload of Suptitzer, half a cartload of Gornberger, four buckets of Jenisches wine, plus a shock of Karpen and a centner of pike, beautiful fish. It is too much at once, if enough of the pieces had been for one. Well, I thank E. C. F. G. most humbly. Our Lord God will
1) St. Louis edition, vol. XVII, 1396 f., no. 1440. 2) Walch: "sich unterfangen".
E. C. F. G. again. Thus, I do not deserve all the mercy that E. C. F. G. shows me daily and so abundantly. With my arms I will do what I can. Hiemit dem lieben GOtte befohlen, Amen. Sunday after Leonhardi [Nov. 8] 1545.
E. C. F. G. subservient
M. Luther, D.
No. 3272.