About a trip to Mansfeld for the foundation of a settlement between the counts in dispute with each other.
Handwritten in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 469. Printed in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 111, no. 213; in Walch, vol. XXI, 511; in De Wette, vol. V, p. 770 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. 146.
To the noble, well-born Lord, Lord Albrecht, Count and Lord of Mansfeld, my gracious and dear sovereign.
Grace and peace in the Lord, and my poor Pater noster before. Gracious Lord! Once again I was willing to be with E. G. on the next Monday, as I have offered myself, so today a letter comes to me from M. G. Counts Philipp and Hans Georgen, in which they give me a very gracious answer to my previous letter, that I am very pleased, and very graciously offer to trade with E. G., with indication that I should name a day after the next Leipsic market. So I must stay here again; for I had intended to stay at Mansfeld this Christmas. Because they are so gracious to E. G. and so gracious to me, I will soon appear at the end of the Leipsic market at Mansfeld, and let you, both parties, appoint a day for yourselves, and, whom you want to have with you, I will appoint. There must be no need for 8 days, although I have much to do, which I want to dare to do, so that I can enter my coffin with joy.
Letters from the year 1545. no. 3277. 3278. 3279.
I may lay me down, where I have previously tolerated my 1) dear sovereigns and seen friendly, unanimous hearts. I have no doubt, Your Grace will do your bidding and gladly see this displeasure laid to rest. Hereby commanded to the dear God. The Nicolai [Dec. 6] anno 1545.
E. G. williger
Martinus Luther, D.
No. 3278.
To the Elector Johann Friedrich, together with the other theologians.
Repeated intercession for Helmstädt.
The original (Canzleihand with original signatures) is in the archives at Weimar, Reg. H, p. 1103. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 483.
God's grace through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, beforehand. Most Serene, Highborn, Most Gracious Prince and Lord! Some weeks ago we 2) made a submissive intercession for the poor people of Helmstädt to E. C. F. G. and to the most illustrious, highborn prince and lord, the landgrave of Hesse, as to our most gracious and gracious lords, not to excuse them, but in consideration of the impossibility, and that we know that with E. ch. and F. G., as with Christian rulers, mercy and grace surpass and prevail over severe judgment, to which this enclosed short answer has been given to us. 3) Now we hear that the punishment continues, people are taken away, even poor servants (Dienstmeyden) are deprived of their clothes. Although it may be that the people of Helmstädt have acted very badly, we ask again for God's sake that E. C. F. G. will graciously help to alleviate the punishment, which will undoubtedly be pleasing to God, whose honor should be justly increased by this victory. We know, however, that the parish and the school of Helm
1) "my" put by us instead of: "my". Luther also calls elsewhere all counts of Mansfeld "his sovereigns".
2) No. 3269.
3) No. 3273.
The church in Helmstädt is now even more destroyed by this misery, even though previously, for three years after the first conquest of the land of Brunswick, a pastor in Helmstädt never received the prescribed salary and provision. For although I, Doctor Joannes Bugenhagen, Pomeranus, the time required to establish church order in the Principality of Brunswick, have determined a fair salary, with indication in which places the same is to be taken, this faithful and Christian order has never been put into practice, of which complaint often reaches E. C. F. G., and to some extent they regard this matter as if the governors at Wolfenbüttel were a little harder on them for the very reason that they are sued for it. Should this gracious victory result in the destruction of the parishes and schools, we would be very sorry, as we have been informed that the schoolmaster can no longer remain, and he is still owed some previously earned salary. For this reason, we ask once again, for God's sake, that His Holiness show mercy to the poor people and, in addition to alleviating the punishment, command to God's honor that the parish and school be maintained according to the established order. God will reward this, and may He always graciously preserve E. C. F. G.. Date Wittenberg, 12 Decembris 1545.
E. C. F. G.
servants Martinus Luther, D. Johannes Bugenhagen, Pomer, D. Philippus Melanthon.
No. 3279.
Elector Johann Friedrich to Luther and Melanchthon.
The Elector asks them to promote Joh. Friedr. Petzsch, whom he has long supported, to a church office.
The concept is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. Mm, fol. 66a . 10. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 485.
Our greeting before. Venerable and Reverend, dear devotee and faithful! Now that Magister Johans Friedrich Petzsch has reached us with a letter, and has asked for a condition and service for which he might be needed,
or in the absence of which he has asked for a tax for the further maintenance of his studies, we are sending you such a document enclosed here, from which you will further hear his report, request and offer. Since we have now transferred him to his studio for a good while and have provided him with entertainment, we hope that he will have made such use of it and applied himself diligently that he may now be used for church offices. Therefore we graciously request that you promote him to such an office, as you will certainly know how to do, since applications of this kind come in daily. Our opinion is based on this, and we are inclined to you with graciousness and good. Date Torgau, Monday after Luciä [Dec. 14] 1545.
No. 3280.