#1851- To Nicolaus Hausmann

Grace and peace in Christ, Who is greater (hoeher) than your tribulation which those zwickau have brought upon you. My better Nicolaus! I am writing late to you because of the scarcity of the messenger and because of the uncertainty at the time of the volume of projects. I was very displeased to read that you write that you will not be returning to me; though I would very much like to see you by me, and still request that if there is any way that it could happen you would return to us; we will not be troubled nor would it by any means a burden but pure comfort and benefit. Your little study is ready and everything set up. It is beyond comprehension to me how the rage and pride of the Zwickauers has repaid you with ingratitude you who for so many years have administered your office among them midst so many great dangers and with the utmost of effort and this slight debt have so strongly required of you while each year they have paid you less than they were responsible for and you have given to them all you were capable of. However, this monstrous godlessness we will leave to the One who judges righteously.Christ will also make you free of this debt and repay them with what they deserve. And the very same LOrd, our Hope, and our Crown, our Life and our Peace, strengthen and rejoice your heart so that you can despise the poisonous tongue and boastfulness of these enraged men. And truly you must be joyfully opposed to them and exalt since you see that they are so smitten with rage and senselessness that they are worthy to speak well of you or able to recognize the gift of God. Honorable and praiseworthy it is to be blamed and hated by very evil men. My Kaethe greets you respectfully; she awaits every hour the birth-helping hand of God. The grace of God and the consolation of the Holy Ghost be with you,Amen.On the last (day) of October Anno 1531. Your Martin Luther.
Nota Bene: Hausmann is a great and long-time friend of ML. "Your Martin Luther" is a sign of affection, used infrequently.
Does ML remember October 31, 1517 on October 31,1531? Too bad the coming child was not born on that day, right? For the trivial pursuers, when did Kaethe deliver and was it a boy or girl, and how named?
The Zwickauers recently expelled Hausmann and demanded that repay a small debt he owed them. Earlier his associate Cordatus was expelled or at any rate advised by ML to leave Zwickau.