Grace and peace in Christ! What your Council has written to me I do not know and do not want to know, my dar Nicolaus, because I have sent back its letter sealed and unread because I have simply concluded that I do not want to hear, nor see, nor read the same and want absolutely nothing to do with their fellowship or carrying-ons. Therefore I am sending back at the same time their previous letter which,to be sure,I opened but not read when I saw that it came from Zwickau together with the sealed letters of Stephan Roth. Coming to me is the completely cerain rumor of what they are perpretating against me in Torgau promoting it with speaking and works so "if they want to give me orders in their letters, I will have nothing to do with it." Finally I am sending at the same time a letter giving thought to directing you how to proceed which is designated with the letter "B". You will see what you have to do. I will be most earnest in seeking to have nothing to do with any part of their counsel or actions. What I have previously written to you about should have been written. Howver, I have also written to the preacher at St. Catherine's and speak to his conscience how he can make himself so bold as to preach in the office entrusted to you without asking your counsel. I wish that you together with Cordatuse would STRONGLY urge the matter so strongly so that he, frightened , withdraws from this preaching-office which he has stolen.
For the rest what you write about Erhard Goetz you should know that the opposing party has not appeared as is indicated by the list of particulars. And the suspicion is arising in me that from your Council is breaking forth this tale which will be to the disgrace to you and all of us so that they are the only Zwickauers and the first ones who have tread down the servants of the Word with their feet and confused everything. For this reason I hold that Erhard should be free of his complainant whom by so many witnesses and by her own confession is guilty of breaking the marriage. Yet you know that that which previously encumbered the authority came upon us by necessity and which I have now in a publicized book put it back on the authorities. Now among other things the children of Belial (2 Chron.13:7) have in your Senate branded me with the loosing and binding of marriage as one who is playing and that according to my pleasure have taken over the sovereginty of marriage. "Beneath the skin they are boobs". For this reason if they are not satisfied with our judgment "so let them judge and rule in the name of the devil. They also should not stamp down on the office of the Word with their feet as they have undertaken to do or a different name should be given to them." The LOrd be with you, dear brother, and pray for me. Monday after Georg (24 April)1531. Your Martin Luther.
NOTES: Sounds like ML has mind up his mind about Zwickau.
Stanislaus Hoffman, a Bohemian, is the usurper of the preaching-office of Soranus at St.Catherines. #1788 following is addressed to him.
Saturday, July 30, 2005
#1786-To Justus Jonas
To his Superior in the LOrd, Herr Justus Jonas, the very faithful Archbishop of Saxony.
Grace and peace! If this Laurentius, gate-keeper of the church outside of Eilenburg, finds you, my dear Jonas, provide him pleasingly with some sort of recommendation writing which he is continually wanting. I have flooded the Prince with these sort of writings so that I am ashamed. If this likely is not useful or advisable, dismiss him with good encouraging words. "There's too much of this sort of thing!" And we are forced, especially I, to give away more than we have,although the LOrd richly recompences it.Be it right well with you in the LOrd and pray for me. The 18th of April 1531. Martin Luther.
NOTES: JJ is evidently at the Prince's court in Torgau. Perhaps ML thinks of him as "Archbishop" because of his leading role in the Visitation of Electoral Saxony in 1529.
Eilenburg is close to the eastern border of Saxony on the Mulde,near Leipzig. the Church is likely the Marienberg Kirche near Eilenburg where this Laurentius was custodian-"Kuester".
Grace and peace! If this Laurentius, gate-keeper of the church outside of Eilenburg, finds you, my dear Jonas, provide him pleasingly with some sort of recommendation writing which he is continually wanting. I have flooded the Prince with these sort of writings so that I am ashamed. If this likely is not useful or advisable, dismiss him with good encouraging words. "There's too much of this sort of thing!" And we are forced, especially I, to give away more than we have,although the LOrd richly recompences it.Be it right well with you in the LOrd and pray for me. The 18th of April 1531. Martin Luther.
NOTES: JJ is evidently at the Prince's court in Torgau. Perhaps ML thinks of him as "Archbishop" because of his leading role in the Visitation of Electoral Saxony in 1529.
Eilenburg is close to the eastern border of Saxony on the Mulde,near Leipzig. the Church is likely the Marienberg Kirche near Eilenburg where this Laurentius was custodian-"Kuester".
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
#1783-To Spalain in Altenburg-Re:A Marriage Case
To the worthy man, Herr Georg Spalatin, servant of the Word in Altenburg, his brother.
Grace and peace! M. Philip, my dear Spalatin, is writing my opinion on the marriage case in question. I write little and iin stolen and in-between falling moments so that I do not stir up my head trouble again which is all too much stirred already.Greet your dear doe whom the LOrd has granted a fawn, Amen. That the answer on the previously mentioned case is delayed is likely the fault of the very good man, the Pastor in Zwickau who either didn't remember or didn't keep at it. Be it well with you in the LOrd. On 5 April 1531. Mart.Luther.
Grace and peace! M. Philip, my dear Spalatin, is writing my opinion on the marriage case in question. I write little and iin stolen and in-between falling moments so that I do not stir up my head trouble again which is all too much stirred already.Greet your dear doe whom the LOrd has granted a fawn, Amen. That the answer on the previously mentioned case is delayed is likely the fault of the very good man, the Pastor in Zwickau who either didn't remember or didn't keep at it. Be it well with you in the LOrd. On 5 April 1531. Mart.Luther.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
#1782-Stephan Roth to ML
To the excellent and honored Herr Martin Luther, Doctor of Theology and Ecclesiastic,his especially to be respected Herr, for his special attention.
Grace and peace in the LOrd! In this one thing I boast before God and the world that through you it has been granted to me, beloved father, that I confess Christ and the mystery of the Gospel and that I am a witness of your labors,vigilance,pressures, and pains which now for fifteen years you have, for the glory of Christ and for the sake of the Gospel, consistently and magnanimously born and for which I especially to our God give undying thanks and verify.For the rest I cannot but marvel over the preciptious judgment which you made about me and the Zwickauers whom you have not even once heard and not to mention convicting us who are, yes, innocent and do not deserve this. You condemn us for this one thing that we have condemned this Soranus, whom you know well, unheard and insultingly threw him out without compensation. Why condemn us unheard? It is strictly not true we expelled Soranus disgracefully and publicly punished him but rather there was a Christian dismissal namely through a determination of a definite time for departure motivated not without the Council having reverence and prompt, mature deliberate preparation of which there is yet by us a copy and the original available. Why, worthy father, have you been misled by the ingratitude of these men? That you in such a weighty and most important matter, namely the welfare of souls, have given such a terrible judgement not having heard one of the parties. And I whom you regard as the originator and promoter of this tragedy am condemned to the ropes, may God prevent it, and not conscious of any fault in this matter, with you only taking this Soranus from among the priests,whether they might want to or not, for a witness. This even an unrighteous judge would not even in the most insignificant matter do hastening to judgment when the other party is unheard or absent. Thus one says in the proverb: the testimony of one is no testimony; one should hear from both. It pains me and make me sad that you come to such condemnation seeking only a hearing entirely from your own (side?). I am completely certain you were not even once (before?) deceived by such beasts but have brought them to the light countless times. It is likely that God has ordered it so that I may orally defend myself and mine. How has it come to us poor people that we so innocently and so suddenly should be condemned by the unverified accusation of just one man and come to have both an ungracious God and an ungracious land-prince?May God not let it happen! They have eaten salt for a long time with you at Wittenberg, as with us, so you should know them well as we do. Not all cooks are good cooks who wield a long knife. There are many Christians in name only and preachers of the Gospel who seek more for themselves than for Christ and if you would look more closely, you would find it so. In future times these will be very active and I as a prophet predict this with certainity, and would to God I am mistaken. However, enough about this. For the rest as to what the threat-words are about, namely, that you me and the Zwickauer beasts will be taken up in a book for a common example we leave this with God. You may see what the enemies of the Gospel will bring about through this conclusion or what it will bring upon my Zwickauers. With the church-goods the Council is not ashamed of their dealing and at any time is ready to give a reckoning of every penney. They are not scrambling for the church-good for themselves and do not take them as a robber as you falsely accuse them but it is upon them to justify it to their consciences. Why do you in this regard hear only the accuser? In short, in all these things the Council will prove its innocence.Believe the Council is innocent and holy and this shameful stain should not be permitted to remain. Thus I have briefly answered your vehement letter so that you see we are not fearful before this accuser but confident and steady and give an account of every word and action not only to you, worthy father, but also to our Prince, and anyone else who is concerned and so often as is necessary. Therfore I plead with you for the sake of Christ and Christian peace that you withhold or take back your hasty judgment until you have heard us and read our justification. Little will be lost, I believe, and lest you repent your hasty judgement of us poor,unheard, innocent people. It is also not without reason that Soranus is without (prior?) knowledge or inquiry dismissed as you will also learn in time. We should not for that reason be excluded from the fellowship of Jesus Christ as you judge since you have falsely assumed that from the other party. Rather we are driven by a holy zeal and to be sure enabled by our confession and the Gospel of Christ. You would not deny that among those who boast of the Gospel there are at the same time godless and under the pretense of the Gospel follow their own desires and do the same with great bitterness,immodesty and impetuousness so that in their sermons this is mixed in rather than stressing Christ. There is hardly a sermon in which one does not hear:You sticks, you blocks, you rogues, you rogue-necks, you clubs, you oxen, you gross Zwickauers,you godless people, I must chop you up, I must twist you up (behaspeln?), hack you,circumcise and the like. How much this incites the rabble, or how the people are edified, you might well determine by your discernment; whether you call this anything but the denial of the Spirit I wouldn't know. Thereupon follows the greatest and inexpressible despising of the Gospel and of the true servants of the Word of God. The rest I will forego with due consideration. The grace of our LOrd Jesus Christ be with you and long support you and strengthen your heart so that you firm and an iron wall against all the assaults of the enemy and endure them. Presently do not regard this as evil but your letter has forced me to answer. You may ascribe that to this if I have herein transgressed. Greet your Catharina and all who are with you. Do not so hastily push an old friend out your felllowship and if you have time and consider it good write again so that I may know whether I stand in grace or disfavor with you since it greatly concerns me to know. Given on the Monday after Palmarum (3 April) in the year after the birth of Christ 1531.
NOTES: So what do you think? Did ML make a hasty judgement in defense of Soranus?
Sounds like Soranus poured it on in some of his sermons. A prescher said that he didn't worry if people walked out on his sermons, but if they came toward you, look out! When I read: urge the work of Christ I was reminded of ML's principle that the books of the Canon "treiben Christi"
Grace and peace in the LOrd! In this one thing I boast before God and the world that through you it has been granted to me, beloved father, that I confess Christ and the mystery of the Gospel and that I am a witness of your labors,vigilance,pressures, and pains which now for fifteen years you have, for the glory of Christ and for the sake of the Gospel, consistently and magnanimously born and for which I especially to our God give undying thanks and verify.For the rest I cannot but marvel over the preciptious judgment which you made about me and the Zwickauers whom you have not even once heard and not to mention convicting us who are, yes, innocent and do not deserve this. You condemn us for this one thing that we have condemned this Soranus, whom you know well, unheard and insultingly threw him out without compensation. Why condemn us unheard? It is strictly not true we expelled Soranus disgracefully and publicly punished him but rather there was a Christian dismissal namely through a determination of a definite time for departure motivated not without the Council having reverence and prompt, mature deliberate preparation of which there is yet by us a copy and the original available. Why, worthy father, have you been misled by the ingratitude of these men? That you in such a weighty and most important matter, namely the welfare of souls, have given such a terrible judgement not having heard one of the parties. And I whom you regard as the originator and promoter of this tragedy am condemned to the ropes, may God prevent it, and not conscious of any fault in this matter, with you only taking this Soranus from among the priests,whether they might want to or not, for a witness. This even an unrighteous judge would not even in the most insignificant matter do hastening to judgment when the other party is unheard or absent. Thus one says in the proverb: the testimony of one is no testimony; one should hear from both. It pains me and make me sad that you come to such condemnation seeking only a hearing entirely from your own (side?). I am completely certain you were not even once (before?) deceived by such beasts but have brought them to the light countless times. It is likely that God has ordered it so that I may orally defend myself and mine. How has it come to us poor people that we so innocently and so suddenly should be condemned by the unverified accusation of just one man and come to have both an ungracious God and an ungracious land-prince?May God not let it happen! They have eaten salt for a long time with you at Wittenberg, as with us, so you should know them well as we do. Not all cooks are good cooks who wield a long knife. There are many Christians in name only and preachers of the Gospel who seek more for themselves than for Christ and if you would look more closely, you would find it so. In future times these will be very active and I as a prophet predict this with certainity, and would to God I am mistaken. However, enough about this. For the rest as to what the threat-words are about, namely, that you me and the Zwickauer beasts will be taken up in a book for a common example we leave this with God. You may see what the enemies of the Gospel will bring about through this conclusion or what it will bring upon my Zwickauers. With the church-goods the Council is not ashamed of their dealing and at any time is ready to give a reckoning of every penney. They are not scrambling for the church-good for themselves and do not take them as a robber as you falsely accuse them but it is upon them to justify it to their consciences. Why do you in this regard hear only the accuser? In short, in all these things the Council will prove its innocence.Believe the Council is innocent and holy and this shameful stain should not be permitted to remain. Thus I have briefly answered your vehement letter so that you see we are not fearful before this accuser but confident and steady and give an account of every word and action not only to you, worthy father, but also to our Prince, and anyone else who is concerned and so often as is necessary. Therfore I plead with you for the sake of Christ and Christian peace that you withhold or take back your hasty judgment until you have heard us and read our justification. Little will be lost, I believe, and lest you repent your hasty judgement of us poor,unheard, innocent people. It is also not without reason that Soranus is without (prior?) knowledge or inquiry dismissed as you will also learn in time. We should not for that reason be excluded from the fellowship of Jesus Christ as you judge since you have falsely assumed that from the other party. Rather we are driven by a holy zeal and to be sure enabled by our confession and the Gospel of Christ. You would not deny that among those who boast of the Gospel there are at the same time godless and under the pretense of the Gospel follow their own desires and do the same with great bitterness,immodesty and impetuousness so that in their sermons this is mixed in rather than stressing Christ. There is hardly a sermon in which one does not hear:You sticks, you blocks, you rogues, you rogue-necks, you clubs, you oxen, you gross Zwickauers,you godless people, I must chop you up, I must twist you up (behaspeln?), hack you,circumcise and the like. How much this incites the rabble, or how the people are edified, you might well determine by your discernment; whether you call this anything but the denial of the Spirit I wouldn't know. Thereupon follows the greatest and inexpressible despising of the Gospel and of the true servants of the Word of God. The rest I will forego with due consideration. The grace of our LOrd Jesus Christ be with you and long support you and strengthen your heart so that you firm and an iron wall against all the assaults of the enemy and endure them. Presently do not regard this as evil but your letter has forced me to answer. You may ascribe that to this if I have herein transgressed. Greet your Catharina and all who are with you. Do not so hastily push an old friend out your felllowship and if you have time and consider it good write again so that I may know whether I stand in grace or disfavor with you since it greatly concerns me to know. Given on the Monday after Palmarum (3 April) in the year after the birth of Christ 1531.
NOTES: So what do you think? Did ML make a hasty judgement in defense of Soranus?
Sounds like Soranus poured it on in some of his sermons. A prescher said that he didn't worry if people walked out on his sermons, but if they came toward you, look out! When I read: urge the work of Christ I was reminded of ML's principle that the books of the Canon "treiben Christi"
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
#1781-To Valentin Hausmann in Freiberg
Grace and peace in Christ! Your brother N[icolaus?] has let me see your writing wherein with many words you console very little and indicate sufficiently the reason whereby you are motivated; it's true that your writing has moved me to think about it. I plead with you, however, for God's sake, to consider that those of Zwickau have no more right to be considered as the witness for the prosecution since it is the word of a single person and God's Word commands that a matter should be determined by two or three men. Thus, I am, D. Martin Luther, to such a position come, that I am charged with more land and people, also more lords and authorities than is Zwickau and as little as I would do them an injustice so I would just as little do an injustice to Zwickau. There is resting on my soul more than 100,000 Zwickaus. If my doctrine is right, those of Zwickau should not continue their defiance. If I could be with you, I would should you how to answer the keen Zwickauers. Therefore I plead with you in a friendly way that you would defend your dear brother and do not believe everything from those of Zwickau because they have the reputation that they will not suffer any preacher or head-pastor and no one wants to go there as I have previously learned. You might well consider whether a good fellow should study all his life-long, consume his father's goods and suffer every
misfortune if he wants to be the parish-leader in Zwickau because they have the repute of wanting to be the lords and the parish-leader the servant who should sit all day at the pump; if Muhlpfort wants it, he may remain; if not, he must go. No, my dear sir, you cannot bring there or keep a parish-leader there; we will not suffer it to be done since they confess that they are not Christians. From heathen we would endure it and should do so but from Christians not even Christ would endure it. You and those from Zwickau, my dear lord and friend, might not give your brother sustenance and you might actually do the same. Christ is somwhat richer than the world although He is regarded as poor. It says: feed the hungry (Esurientes implebit): that's where we stand and let those at Zwickau go on.
NOTE: Cod. Goth. mysteriously ,and is followed by Eralngen , makes Nicolaus Hausmann the addresse. All others have this to Valentin Hausmann.
misfortune if he wants to be the parish-leader in Zwickau because they have the repute of wanting to be the lords and the parish-leader the servant who should sit all day at the pump; if Muhlpfort wants it, he may remain; if not, he must go. No, my dear sir, you cannot bring there or keep a parish-leader there; we will not suffer it to be done since they confess that they are not Christians. From heathen we would endure it and should do so but from Christians not even Christ would endure it. You and those from Zwickau, my dear lord and friend, might not give your brother sustenance and you might actually do the same. Christ is somwhat richer than the world although He is regarded as poor. It says: feed the hungry (Esurientes implebit): that's where we stand and let those at Zwickau go on.
NOTE: Cod. Goth. mysteriously ,and is followed by Eralngen , makes Nicolaus Hausmann the addresse. All others have this to Valentin Hausmann.
Friday, July 08, 2005
#1780-To Johann Frosch (froggy- Rana) in Augsburg
Grace and peace in Christ! I have heard of the boasting of your Michaelists (Michael Keller was the leader of the Zwinglians), boasting that there is harmony between us and the Zwinglians with also the rumor that we have completely agreed with their opinion. You howver,my dear Frosch (Rana), along with your colleagues, be assured firmly that we have not yielded anything of our opinion. This is how the matter stands: Martin Bucer is very earnest and as the Word makes plain, sincerely minded to hold the same with us and to teach it. And for this reason, I have good hope, as far as he personally is concerned, that he, at least, will return to the right way. As for the others I have nothing certain but yet I might, if they sincerely want harmony, have a follow-up with them that they may gradually come around after one temporarily has patience with their interpretations yet without doing any damage to our position which we have previously defended. If they are not sincere the matter itself will cry out against them and stand. Meanwhile, you be strong and firm with our brothers, as you do, and through no sort of sperm-spewing (Acts 17:18) and boasting be broken down or changed and I will not change my opinion and faith. The grace of God be with you. Greet Herr Doctor Stephan and all the brothers respectfully.Wittenberg on the "Tuesday" after Judica (March 28) 1531, Martin Luther.
The secretary M. Veit Dietrich, who wrote this letter, greets you.
NOTES: Frosch and Agricola had to leave Augsburg when the Council there called also two Zwinglians to serve with them but forbade any discussion from the pulpit on the oral eating of the unbelieving in the Sacrament. Frosch and Agricola went to Nuernberg with Frosch serving Stsebalduskirche there and Agricola staying Wenceslaus until he was called by Markgraf Georg of Brandenburg.
The secretary M. Veit Dietrich, who wrote this letter, greets you.
NOTES: Frosch and Agricola had to leave Augsburg when the Council there called also two Zwinglians to serve with them but forbade any discussion from the pulpit on the oral eating of the unbelieving in the Sacrament. Frosch and Agricola went to Nuernberg with Frosch serving Stsebalduskirche there and Agricola staying Wenceslaus until he was called by Markgraf Georg of Brandenburg.
#1779-To Cyriacus Gericke in Koethen
To the highly honorable man, Cyriacus N., at the castle in Koethen servant of the Word, his brother. "To Coten at the castle, to the Preacher."
Grace and peace! The Council at Goettingen demanded of me a preacher,dear brother, who at the same time should be superintendent; I promised to the same Basilius Schumann but he has been called to Goslar. Therefore, if you think it good, talk it over with this envoy from Goettingen. The compensation seems adequate enough as it is annually 70fl. If you therefore can move the senate that you accept this, it is good; if not, you yourself should answer and give the Goettingen Council your opinion. Be it well with you in the LOrd. Wittenberg on the Tuesday after Judica (28 March) 1531. Martin Luther.
Grace and peace! The Council at Goettingen demanded of me a preacher,dear brother, who at the same time should be superintendent; I promised to the same Basilius Schumann but he has been called to Goslar. Therefore, if you think it good, talk it over with this envoy from Goettingen. The compensation seems adequate enough as it is annually 70fl. If you therefore can move the senate that you accept this, it is good; if not, you yourself should answer and give the Goettingen Council your opinion. Be it well with you in the LOrd. Wittenberg on the Tuesday after Judica (28 March) 1531. Martin Luther.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
#1777-ML writes in margin
Melanchton wrote to Spalatin: The verses of Peter (1 Peter 3:18ff and 4:6)I cannot explain. Our Pommer maintains firmly that only the heathen are to be understood whom the Apostle says had the Gospel preached to them after the resurrection. He points out that these were in prison before they heard the Gospel and had almost persuaded Luther of the same.
Luther wrote in the margin: That is not true. M.L. with his own hand.
[Postscript]
The sick but not yet [dying] Brother Martin Luther.
NOTES: The word in brackets [sterbende] is not legible. Breitschneider thinks it "Steuriguadus" but perhaps: "moribundus".
#1778-To the Council in Goettingen
To the honorable and wise lords, mayor and council in Goettingen, my favored lords and friends.
Grace and peace. Honorable, wise, dear lords! The Licentiat Basilius of whom you write is not now available but is ordered to Goslar since as I indicated to you previously the personnel are rare and becoming more and moreso so that at this time I do not know anyone who is capable in the Saxon (low German) language. Still, I have spoken with your envoy that he should with my writing (recommendation?)deal with one Herr Cyriacus in Koethen who previously had the preaching office especially in Zerbst. Should that be acceptable and please you I would glad to be helpful in whatever way that I can. Herewith be to God commended. Dated on the Tuesday after Judica [28 March]1531. Martinus Luther.
Luther wrote in the margin: That is not true. M.L. with his own hand.
[Postscript]
The sick but not yet [dying] Brother Martin Luther.
NOTES: The word in brackets [sterbende] is not legible. Breitschneider thinks it "Steuriguadus" but perhaps: "moribundus".
#1778-To the Council in Goettingen
To the honorable and wise lords, mayor and council in Goettingen, my favored lords and friends.
Grace and peace. Honorable, wise, dear lords! The Licentiat Basilius of whom you write is not now available but is ordered to Goslar since as I indicated to you previously the personnel are rare and becoming more and moreso so that at this time I do not know anyone who is capable in the Saxon (low German) language. Still, I have spoken with your envoy that he should with my writing (recommendation?)deal with one Herr Cyriacus in Koethen who previously had the preaching office especially in Zerbst. Should that be acceptable and please you I would glad to be helpful in whatever way that I can. Herewith be to God commended. Dated on the Tuesday after Judica [28 March]1531. Martinus Luther.
Monday, July 04, 2005
Friday, July 01, 2005
#1774-To Justus Jonas
Grace and peace in the LOrd! I see, my dear Jonas, from your answer that it is not the right time to attempt to deal with Doctor Basilius so that I may accomplish the most since I thought that while you were deliberating the Prince might come to have more leisure. However, since this hope has not been realized I will at another time and to be sure,in a short time, do what I can.
A certain Herr Peter from Prague who is studying the sciences here has written to me that the Turk will surely come and that in the last harvest in the kingdom of Hungary took away countless bushels of grain to feed his army. That signifies that we Germans must valiantly resist till we go down to the ground. However, if it is our destiny to completely go down to the ground it is easier to perish with the godless than to live with them since while they live they are determined not let us live with them and if we die with them we will lack nothing and they will utterly perish. Be it right well with you and pray to the LOrd for me; in Him be it right well for you and live. On the Monday after Gregory [13 March] 1531. Your Martin Luther.
NOTES: This is certainly the physician Basilius.
There was only one student from Prague at Wittenberg at this time- Johann Tracko who matriculated there in 1531. Surely someone has a better translation of "zu Grunde gehen" than " go down to the ground". My helper is on vacation.
A certain Herr Peter from Prague who is studying the sciences here has written to me that the Turk will surely come and that in the last harvest in the kingdom of Hungary took away countless bushels of grain to feed his army. That signifies that we Germans must valiantly resist till we go down to the ground. However, if it is our destiny to completely go down to the ground it is easier to perish with the godless than to live with them since while they live they are determined not let us live with them and if we die with them we will lack nothing and they will utterly perish. Be it right well with you and pray to the LOrd for me; in Him be it right well for you and live. On the Monday after Gregory [13 March] 1531. Your Martin Luther.
NOTES: This is certainly the physician Basilius.
There was only one student from Prague at Wittenberg at this time- Johann Tracko who matriculated there in 1531. Surely someone has a better translation of "zu Grunde gehen" than " go down to the ground". My helper is on vacation.
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