#1852-To the Council of the city of Rostock

To the honorable, respectable and wise Mayor and Council of the city of Rostock, our favored friends.
Grace and peace of God through Jesus Christ. Honorable, respectable, wise, favored friends! We have received your writing concerning the disharmony of the preachers among you and along with it a list of your church ceremonies and that we should add a
friendly opinion, as much as we are able, to advise you what would serve the peace of your churches. W desire nothing more than that the right Christian doctrine be taught peacable and harmoniously to the glory of God and consolation of souls. You should recognize that there is little that we can advise or deal with in your matter since we do not know your preachers nor are we related to them. Yet we do not want to withhold our opinion. We have read the list of your ceremonies and find nothing unchristian or objectionable and especially that which concerns private absolution is good for many reasons so that the private absolution (privata absolutio) should be maintained. Because the present Misseprediger (see note)is opposed to the private confession and absolution and quarrles about others of your ceremonies as futile though yet tolerated we think that it would be good to provide him with this honorable advice that he should abstain from such bickering as reported and teach peacably the same matters for edification, fear of God, faith and confession of Christ and serve the obedience of the people. And although we think that he will not greatly respect our advice you might indicate to him from me, Martin Luther, friendly admonishing him that I have for a long time exercised the preaching office and pursued it and as also D. Johann Pomeranus has previously admonished him that he should not be so bold in spiritual matters. Such boldness is dangerous as can be shown from many examples in our times. He should also take care that there is not offense given by his futile quarreling. If he does not respond by improving through this process and admonition it is our advice that you in a friendly way dismiss him from your city and keep him from having adherents among the common people. You should exercise your office to serve the peace of the city in God's Name and not fear the rabble but trust that God will assist you so long as you seek and serve the glory of God. The rest of the preachers should admonish and instruct the people in obedience to the authority and an honorable and pious people will not set themselves against the council. We do not doubt that you have the skill, though there be several unhelpful people who desire to establish unrest, to well quiet the same.
This is our response to your request and herewith pray and admonish that through this or similar offense you will not turn away from the holy Gospel and comforting teaching of Christ but be aware that the devil brings about such offence to dishonor God and scares away the people from the consolation which they have in Christ and you should be armed and firm against the devil's poison for the praise of God and comfort of souls to preserve the Holy Gospel wherein God, for the sake of Christ, gives forgiveness of sins and salvation and promises to be our Helper in every need. Thereto may God provide His grace, Amen. Given at Wittenberg, the 10th of November anno MDXXXI D. Martin Luther. Philipp Melanchton.
NOTES: Nov.10, 1531 is ML's 48th birthday.
Some thought Misseprediger is the man's name. Likely tho it is the preacher of the early service where they had early, main service, and afternoon preachers. Also not the mass-father as some have thought. What do you think?

#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.

#1849-Jonas and Luther to Elector Johann

Most illistrious, high-born Prince and Lord. To begin with our obedient and willing service in all submission to your Electoral Grace. Most gracious Lord!Mr. Christian Herwick, pastor in Bucko, once a member of the St.Augustine Order in the cloister at Herzberg, has now complained with a notice of how a very narrow and slight income he is given in his parish while having from God a wife and several small children for whom should he die by the will of God would have very little or nothing to leave them. But he has not anything with which to be taken care of from the property of the cloister
but yet wants for his wife and children, should there be anything left, a residence and home after his death and has further indicated to us that two parts of a shed have been designated for Mr.Johann Kolben and Mr.Dionistio to inherit and the third part remaining yet stands empty and concerning that he strongly appeals to us that we would proscribe and appeal to your Electoral Grace that to him and his children such one-third portion from the gateway to the walled house be granted by grace for an inheritance so that he with the help of God and pious people could place a little house therein and make there a dwelling and have the rights of a citizen and gladly take the responsibilities of a citizen. Because we know all matters as the above are resolved in such a way, we submissively request that Your Princely Electoral Grace have mercy on this poor man together with his wife and children and grant them an hereditary space out of electoral kindness and graciously provided as being due to them. For the same we would be attentive to serve your Electoral Grace at all times. Dated at Wittenberg on the Wednesday after the 11,000 Virgins (25 Oct.) Anno 1531. EFG's submissive, obedient Just Jonas,Probst, and Martinus Luther,both Doctors.

#1848-Nicholas von Amsdorf to Luther

Hans Hornbeck, a blessed man and a very good friend and supporter of Luther greets you very respectfully, my dear father in Christ, and humbly requests that you answer his enclosed letter and has requested that I should send it in order to receive an answer.If you should do this it would be something appropriate for a Christian man to do. However, you are so idle, as Ebeling Alemann reports, that Luther has nothing to do but to lecture, to preach,to write and give letters to all the world so in that respect you would be better off to answer this letter. I hear that the one behind this letter is a good man who loves Christ from the heart and would not do any sort of thing that would not agree with the Gospel which you can easily learn from the letter which he has written to you. I believe that you know what the bride of Mainz has put forward in Halle how he no longer is going to waver from side to side, which he has long thought, but now publicly is in open war with us. I may not venture to write the great sum of gold with which the tyrant has blackmailed his subjects namely an unbelieveable amount and never ever heard of in this land. He has set up a new Counselor at the Court namely , "the Domherr is his Court-master, three Domherr and an Abbot are his superior-Council."Be it right well with you in Christ, my dear father. Magdeburg, the 18th of October Anno 1531. Your Nic.Amsdorff.
Notes: The bride of Mainz is the Cardinal and not Crotus Rubeanus as some think according to the editors.
Amsdorff is a very close friend and jesting with ML about being idle. Ebeling Alemann is a medic whom ML requested Amsdorff to find a position for him in Magdeburg. Domherr are the pastors in the Stiftkirche-bishop's church or main church.

#1847-To Justus Menius

Grace and peace! See to it that you right soon send your copy of the Use of the History of the Holy Scripture, that is, what remains to be completed. What you have sent is already at the press, my dear Justus.
We are very pleased that you desire our opinion about those who do not commune; I believe that you have sufficiently fulfilled your obligation if you have done as you have written. Let those go who do not want to (commune). It is not yet appropriate to undertake something more severe at this present difficult (paroxysmum = Krisis) time but wait until God changes things in the necessary way which will be in a short time.Endure as before also these dragons.
We will not endure that Wicel (Weselium), this dishorable man, who also through bald lies and deception of the Prince has left here to make his nest by you. he has promised that he was going to his father and after setting aside the Office of the Word was going to become secular. Now a letter demonstrates, whether it be true or false, or imaginary,he appeals under the name of his father. We will write to the Court (of the Prince) and you avoid him meanwhile as the devil; he seeks a place to spread his poison as he seeks to make his nest. It is marvelous how much I abhor the man who goes about pregnant with a monstrosity as you will experience further.
We see that Crotus,the Epicurean, who poisonly persecuted us flatters the Bishop of
Halle. We are sending you a copy and you meanwhile after you have thrashed (depexum) it well, deliver again to us with the color of his Epicureanism portrayed. That is your position to perform. I write amidst very many projects. I must have your writing against the idol of Mainz for sure. The Prophets (translation) are under the press and should be ready to put in the German language. On the day of St. Luke (18 Oct.) Anno 1531. Your Martin Luther.
Notes: Wicel was recently released from prison. Crotus is the poet Crotus Rubeanus who was once a friend of ML but returned to Catholicism. Lots of refernces to him in a Yahoo or Google search as I remember from before. The idol of Mainz is thought to be the Cardinal thereof.

#1846-To Elector Johann of Saxony

G.und F. (Grace and peace) in Christ. Most illustrious,high-born Prince, most gracious Lord! Although it would not be necessary to trouble ECFG with this writing: because the poor pastors are almost begging me and think that through me their supplication would be made more believeable and find more acceptance, I did not now how to refuse them. ECFG can easily from their supplication perceive how equally with the peasants they are required to work on the dam. Now ECFG knows well how great the poverty is. So also the parish-properties are not their own to inherit as the peasants properties and they have as virtual slaves barely gotten their bread thereby and might today or tomorrow let the same lay and go away empty-hnaded. Should now their daily bread, which they barely have, also equally like the land-properties be also under a burden, the greater portion of the pastors must leave as they cannot endure it and this is right because these who wait on souls should not be taken over as common servants. The pastors are already in great need so it is not necessary to burden them further so to terrify them and it has not previously been the custom and they are poorer than before now without in addition the wife and children becoming true beggars. ECFG will know well how graciously to proceed herein. Herewith be to God commended, Amen. On the Tuesday after St. Francis (10 Oct.)ECFG's obedient Martinus Luther.

#1845-To Spalatin

To the entirely upright man, Herr M.G. Spalatin, the valiant and faithful servant of Christ, his very dear brother.
Grace and peace in Christ! Regarding that wonderful powder that is salvific against the plague, my dear Georg, one knows nothing here, nor have we heard anything about it.Christ, the true physician, protect and support you, Amen. Yet I hope that this plague everywhere will be slow and mild.
The confession of Joh. Fresland has not been delivered to us by anyone and we have never seen it. The LOrd will repay the Zwickauer kloetzes what they deserve for their great ingratitude and rage against a very good man. However, it is their practice to vex the Holy Spirit which will yet lead to their destruction. I would gladly write my defense-document but because of other projects am continually kept from doing it and because of obligated duties I am so firmly held that I cannot devote even a seventh part (of my time) to it although I am very much longing to do so; so it goes one day after another and the matter is pushed aside. I devote two hours each to correcting the Prophets (translation of OT). But why I am writing this as you know it very well?
It is certain that the Roman Pope is estranged from the Emperor and it must also be assumed that the French are negative toward him because he has commanded throughout the entire kingdom of France that the properties and matters of the Genser (Genevensium) are to be plundered ( I know not on account of what small insult) out of hate (as it is believed) toward the Emperor. The same is offended with the English
because of the indications that he seeks to have the Queen expelled through divorce since you know that the mother is sister of the Emperor. So it goes in this very evil
world and such are efforts of the children of men. May God graciously regard the Emperor and bring to shame all his enemies including the Pope,Amen. The comet makes me think it portends evil for the Emperor as well as for Ferdinand because first it trail went to the north and afterward to the south indicating by both directions each of the brothers.
God grant that your Rib happily bears fruit and brings into the world a little beautiful and holy Abel (Abelchen) in whom you both may rejoice,Amen. Greet and comfort M.Brisger in the LOrd. Wittenberg on the 10th of October 1531.Your M.L.

#1844-To Martin Goerlitz in Braunschweig

Grace and peace in Christ! I have not forgotten to serve you, my dear Martin, but I was looking and expecting constantly for a suitable position for you. How often has it grieved me that you would be moving from Torgau; however we do this in good hope and in obedience to Christ.If your health there cannot longer endure the nature of the land I advise that you before the determined time of departure go to somewhere meanwhile where the air is milder than in Torgau and helps you until the Lord provides for you. It's is up to your discretion what you want to do for the sake of your small body (corpusculum)to become again substantial. Be it well with you in Christ with your wife and children. On the 9th of October 1531. Mart. Luther.

Pretzsch area

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Pretzsch area

#1843-To the Mayor and Council in Zerbst

(Editors summarize #1842 as Luther's thoughts on the matter of King of England sent to Philip of Hesse on 22 September 1531.)
The honorable and wise Mayor and Council-men of the city of Zerbst my favored lords and good friends.
G.u.F.( Grace and peace.)Honorable, dear lords! I have upon your requests to me for a jurist accomplished it. Because you have been so long remained without one and matters hindered thereby, especially as you have mentioned, I have with good advice chosen my friend
and lord the Licentiat Conrad Mauser who among is well known,also practiced and exercised in art and history so that I hope you will be well provided for and he should be with you by next Tuesday. So the matter is good also with you and God's own. Herewith be commended to God, Amen. On the Saturday after Francis (7. October). Martinus Luther.
Note: Though Gechictlichkeit is actually "dexterity" I have translated it as history to go with "Kunst", art.

#1840-Jonas,Luther and Melanchton to Hans Loeser in Pretsch

(Nota bene: The Editors say the text is very bad in order.["Der Text ist hier gar ubel in Ordung.]I had trouble in determining what actually happened whether Schectel killed or injured the game warden so maybe someone can find a translation.)
To the valiant and firmly-honorable, Hans Loeser in Pretzsch, land-marchall in Saxony, our specially beloved lord and friend.
To begin with our willing service. Valiant and firmly-honorable, special lord and friend! Recently we have written in multiple and fervent requests pleading that our petition on behalf of Bartel Schectel once your judge in Pretzsch, who by the fate of God, and without premeditation injured (or killed?) your game warden, and now requests safe-conduct to be contracted in friendship. And although you do not want to brand him as a criminal may it also be that he may sell his goods and go elsewhere. Thereto no answer has come. We plead therefore once again that you will with earnest efforts have mercy on the poor man in the light of, as we reported, that he has come to this fate without his planning it, so that he together with his wife and child do not become wanderers
and that they may be helped in their misery and we depend upon you greatly for the same so that the poor man may again come to a peaceful conscience and be located where
we can benefit and (help?) him. Herewith we would at all times pledge that we are willing to serve and be found praying to God for you. Date at Wittenberg on the Wednesday after Mary's birth in the year of the LOrd 31. Just. Jonas,Probst, Martinus
Luther, both Doctors, and Philip Melanchton.

#1839-Leonhard Munsoor of Antwerp to Luther

(This letter of 12 September 1531 is summarized in the St. Louis Edition)
Munsoor at the request of several brothers places before ML the question whether in the throes of death one might receive the Sacrament from a Papist. Previously they had been receiving communion in secret meetings but now were conscience stricken because little fruit (good) resulted and there were many dangers and offenses given to those who also love the Gospel. Since the choice of a preacher is up to the whole church it is edified only when they persuade one another. In the postscript it is reported that the Emperor after his return from Augsburg fall of 1530)raged with fire and sword against the Gospel but now everything is peaceful with only the rabble murmurring against the Gospel.