#1954-To Nicolaus von Amsdorf

Grace and peace in Christ!This Johann Busmann reports to me that he has been assured by
several of your citizens, my dear Amsdorf, that were I to intervene for him with you that from your common treasury (gazophylacium) there would be some sort of support given without difficulty for him to undertake his studies here in Wittenberg. Success will prove whether that is true. I might, to be sure, be of help to him but I do not know how that could happen. We are not only overwhelmed but oppressed by poverty actually,conceivably,relatively,in itself,according to every category (tam concretiva,quam abstractiva,tam relativa quam absoluta, et omnium praedicamentorum modis). Help if you are able to be comfortable with it since I want in no way to burden you or want you to do anything grudgingly.
There is no news at least such that would be new to you since you dwell in the show-place of the world. The blasphemous barker,Johann Kos in Leipzig, the LOrd has silenced. One says that the Pope has poison ready for the Emperor; namely because he cannot accomplish anything by force or cunning he is turning to his arts. One also says that he has removed four Cardinals with poison in order to replace them with his Florentiners thinking thereby to confer the Papacy on his Mediciers. One must think that there is no one living who is better able to administer poison with such great art and talent as this most-holy Clement and most-good saint (a word play which cannot be conveyed in German-"sanctissimus Clemens et clementissimus Sanctus")because he is the Vicar of Christ."Wohlan", his day will come that he will be taken out by these people who called him the blessed. Be it right well with you in Christ and pray for me. On the 14th of January 1533 in Wittenberg. Your Martin Luther.

#1953-Justus Menius to ML

To his honor-worthy and very dear Father in Christ,D.Martin Luther, Preacher in the church in Wittenberg etc.
Grace and peace in Christ! I express to you the greatest and eternal thanks, my dear Father in Christ, that you have finally completed the summaries of the Psalter and pray unceasingly to God, our Father that what He has deigned to confer upon us through you,His servant, to present to us according to His immeasurable goodness would be beneficial to us and that such a great abundance of truly spiritual and truly heavenly goods and precious treasure would not be regarded as insignificant. O the happy-blessedness of us being actually the children of God that He should become the participant with us on earth in the flesh and in sin when we were erring and yet in darkness and the shadow of death and make us partakers of the divine and heavenly love and in the light of the highest majesty, that is, and to not only to point to the great wisdom and truth of the exalted God but granted to our hearts to carry nothing other than the light. It is to the glory and praise and thanks to the highest and best Father
in heaven eternally, Amen, that He has supported you and other saints at length to the glory of His Name and everlasting honor. The grace of the LOrd Jesus Christ be with you and pray for me a sinner. Greet all my friends and lords. J. Justus Meinus.
NOTES. The date of this letter is thought to be early in 1533 as the summaries of the
Psalms appeared in January of 1533. ML's summaries of 150 Psalms are in Volume IV of the St. Louis Editon. ML says the Psalter is five-fold and divides it to according to prophecies of Christ,petiitions, thanksgiving,prayers for deliverance.and psalms of consolation.
Seems like J. Menius is being a bit flowery.

#11952-Nicolaus Hausmann to ML

Grace and peace in Jesus Christ,my hon orable Herr Father Martin,Who for us was born and circumcised! I also was not able to write because of the illness affected my head, however I have again taken up preaching, although I am not completely recovered,inspired by the longing of the people hoping that the stomach will improve.I am experiencing great alleviation through the physician Herr Doctor Augustin; God give to the administered healing means his blessing. I have securely obeyed the Doctor in everything according to the prescribed order and I in no way would have achieved health except through the above named physician so powerful was the influence of the stomach though I do not know on account of what over indulgence; likely the sudden alteration of diet and modesty in drinking has been the cause but it was the will of the LOrd Whom
it pleased to kill the body and pulverize it ad nauseam so that I would daily learn to wait on the LOrd should He come to the Wedding Feast. No one can understand the power of the Word of the Cross unless he be so plagued and afflicted. Through this temptation one acquires patience.
So that I do not appear to be unthankful for the present given for the New Year, worthy father, I am sending you a letter of the Imperial Majesty, Charles V, written to the Pope regarding the assembling of a Council which Doctor Turk, the Chancellor of the Bishop of Magdeburg, shared with my Prince with the condition that the letter should not be made public without sufficient reason. Because of the weakness of my head I have not been able to read or proof-read. You will pardon the writer if he has in any way erred. Keep this copy with you but yet share in with the well-renown lords namely with Philipp, Doctor Jonas, Pommer, and perhaps other faithful people, also Cruciger. Our Prince fears danger. However, in fact, you know our Prince does not yet know the wise man Sirach. However, I am kindled by love to take an opposite position on German relationships. The news has many very terrified, worthy Herr Father. Greet all of the above named renowm men in the LOrd and, in Christ, be it right well with your pregannt wife whom I wish a joyful confinement by the blessing of Christ,Amen. I also will not cease to pray for you. Greet your Catharina. Indicate to the skillful Herr Doctor Augustin the circumstance of my health with a Christian greeting. I cannot now thoroughly answer Doctor Hieronymous Weller;may the blessed man not be vexed. May
you take the trouble to greet all the acquaintances. Your letter to the Lord Prince would be very much appreciated but do not delay taking time to do it; nothing would be more dear and appreciated by the Herr Probst. He is zealous in the opposition to Duke Georg and all opponents. The Prince greets you respectfully and in a friendly way. From Dessau on the day before the Feast of God's Appearance (Theophanie) [5 Jan.] 1533.Worthy Father, Your Pupil Nicolaus Hausmann
NOTE: Might one say Hausmann was nauseated ad nauseam?

#1951-To Nicolaus Hausmann in Dessau

To the, in Christ, highly-honored man, Herr Nic. Hausmann, the very faithful servant of Christ in Dessau, his superior in the LOrd.
Grace and peace in Christ, ou LOrd! Already for three times the opportunity to write to you has escaped me, highly-honored man, and very much contrary to my will. Constantly I am overwhelmed with writing and other labors (agendo) pertaining to the books as well as the forewords which we appended to this Leipzig Mass. Therfore I plead with you that you regard this delay for the best. My good will toward you is unassailable and it will always be so though it may be somewhat negligent. I want to be favorable and servicable to you in the highest way. After earlier today completing the writing of the books I set out this evening to complete the letters which are to be sent to Leipzig and Nuernberg. When these are finished finally I am taking the leisure to write extensively to you and your Lord Prince, the illustrious Lord Georg, Probst in Magdeburg and the contract I will attest to, amidst the mass of writings which I hope will be good and acceptable.
I wish you the happiness that your lack of well-being will be overcome and better health will be restored to you. Christ preserve your health and you as one who prays for me.
The sermon which I held forth in Worlitz is printed and I am delivering it herewith.I thought that the books which were newly published you already had because I am convinced of the carefulness of the Magister Georg for you, yes, it has been proved but if there is anything else that you do not have let me know I plead with you. Christ, as one hears here, has His enemy, the screamer in Leipzig ,killed right in the chancel and in the midst of his blasphemy.
In Hamburg a Domherr (cathedral priest) did himself in, one who especially hated the Gospel and at the same time a Sacramentarian in the very same city plunged into the fountain and although the fountain is not very deep and the people ran to the fountain and called upon Christ, he intentionally nevertheless threw himself backwards and suffocated despising the assistance which was offered to help him out. His words were exactly like those of Judas: I have deceived many therefore there is no hope available. Thus should your enemies be done away with, O LOrd, who knowingly and expressly have no end or degree of their blasphemy and with outsretched necks assail God.
You commend me to your very good and upright Prince whom, when I have attained leisure, will write to in a confidential way. Christ be with you. My lord Kaethe greets you respectably and requests that you in your prayer will stand by her since she is near to her confinement (delivery?). On the second of January 1533. Your Martin Luther.

#1950b-To Frau Dorothea Joerger

To the noble, virtuous Frau Dorothea Joerger,widow in Keppach,my favored, good friend.
Grace and peace in Christ. Nobel,virtuous Frau! As you have recently and at another time written about the 500 Gulden which you have set aside to the glory of God I have provided your first writing to certain trustworthy people from Nuernberg in Linz and to increase the credibility have sent along your handwriting. What has happened meantime I do not know. One does not know whether those in Linz accept money or gold. Whether we should send again your writing in vain or send it to Nuernberg to the city-syndico Mgr.Lazarus Spengler who would invest it in Nuernberg or elsewhere I am certain. My good advice is that there should not be a single distribution but annually and dedicate it for the help of two students in theology. However, everything is according to your good pleasure. Herewith be to God commended,Amen. On New Year's Day 1533.
I am sending to you herewith a notice or form, as Mgr.Michael Stiefel reports that you should
have. May the same be taken in a good way. Your willing one D. Martinus Luther.

A notice or form of a Christian testament for the noble Frau Dorothea Joerger,widow.
In the Name of our LOrd Jesus Christ, Amen. I Dorothea Joerger,surviving widow of the late Herr Wolfgang Joerger,knight, do set and place my Testament or Last Will in the confession of my faith and to the witness of my life and manner in general as follows:
Firstly, I confess and also (with God's help and grace) want to continue to believe in God the Father Creator of heaven and earth and on Jesus etc.,up to the end (usque in finem). Through this faith may dear LOrd Jesus has graciously taught me so that I know that only through His blood and death am I saved from sin, death and hell and not through my merit or work can pay for the slightest sin and the more I have done to be free from sin and gain release the more I have angered God and despised His Son. And I am very sorry that I have been so long and deeply involved in my own work righteousness and other sins and blaspheming my LOrd Jesus Christ being blinded and deceived and yet I am glad and thank Him from the bottom of my heart for eternity that He has freed mefrom so many great errors in which I was stuck saved and enlightened me and daily protects me from the false sects and spirits. And I have received from Him two signs or assurances of such forgiveness of sins and salvation from death the two seals or marriage (with Christ?) vows, baptism in my youth and in addition the holy Sacrament of His Body and Blood so that I am certain and must not doubt that He is my gracious God and that I am in favor before Him through His dear Son, our LOrd,and not through my merit and good work since I from the heart condemn and renounce from the heart and in earnestness the Anabaptist and Enthusiast blasphemy against these two holy Sacraments together with every error which strives against my faith or which will strive against it in the future since such faith is that of all the saints and the faith of the entire Christendom and I believe with them and they with me and all are through the same faith holy and blessed with me and I with them and there is no other Name and faith wherein one can be holy and blessed but apart from this faith everything is sin and condemned no matter what it is called or whether it wants to appear to be holy. In this faith I commend my soul and spirit into the hands of my LOrd Jesus Christ and pray in my heart that He will strengthen and preserve me steadfast and unblemished until His Day and grant me to continue now this confession and afterward to depart this vale of tears and come to my end in the same and to this end help me, my LOrd and Savior Jesus Christ Who with the Father and Holy Spirit is praised and blessed ,the one and only God in eternity,Amen.
Secondly,I commend, permit and establish, inasmuch as is appropriate to my motherly office, the same Gospel and faith to my dear children with which God has graciously a blessed (us) and plead and admonish them with all motherly faithfulness (in that I am also gladly entrusted by God to them as my spiritual children)that they should above all things seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness remaining firm in the Gospel and constant and the same further and increase from the heart both in themselves with their little people and wherever they can protect them so that Mammon is not dearer to them than to be partakers and satisfied with the dear holy blood of Christ since everything is eternally cursed and damned which robs us of the blessing which the Blood of Christ pours out on us through His Holy Gospel.
Thirdly, ( I plead and admonish) according to the same motherly duty that they continue in brotherly love and unity and not be complaining of one another, in disharmony, or motivated by disfavor but each occasion to the same whether brought about by words or works they would quiet down and overcome with love and patience since God, Who does not lie, says that brotherly love and unity is the greatest treasure on earth and He will grant happiness and salvation through the same as He promises in Psalm 133. There is no good or empire that is not finally destroyed where brothers are disunited as Christ Himself says that a kingdom divided against itself goes to the ground. Again there is no good so slight that it grows and increases when one lives in harmony. This is the reason that God promises in the above mentioned Psalm blessing,happiness and salvation where brothers live in unity. On the other hand
He also brings about a pure curse,unhappiness, and destruction where there is disunity,arrogance and pride among one another.
Fourthly, although my dear daughter has consented to give to my dear son the motherly property since I while living have control over it is my will and decision(so as to avoid future reasons of impatience and disunity as much as possible)that the same motherly property be equally divided. Doctor Martinus" Handwriting.

Ferdinand I

#1950a-Fundamentals for religious Peace

(This is the first entry of Vol.XXIa which is the final Volume of the St. Louis Edition of Luther's Works. Most of the letters were origanlly in Latin. Here Melanchton (Ph.M) makes a statement and Luther (D.M.L.) comments.)
Ph.M. 1. On peace throughout the Empire until a Council.
Agree. D.M.L.
Ph.M. 2. The Lutherans should remain as they are and introduce no further innovations.
Also that the Pope,Emperor,Princes, and Lords do not further abuse them.
D.M.L. That the Lutherans should thus remain means that they maintain their doctrine and only that they do not otherwise abuse the opposite party. That would be gladly done provided that they also remain as they and do not revile our teaching.
Ph.M.3. That the Ecclesiastics take nothing of the ecclesiastical properties.
D.M.L. Agreed. Would to God that party nor ours nor their ecclesiastic would take anything.
P.M.5. On the renewal of the country's peace.
M.L. This transpires by itself. (hoc transit per se)
Ph.M.5. On both kinds. (De utraque specie.) In order to quiet the people one or both forms should be able to be received throughout the Empire.
M.L. We are quite content that the world authorities should force no one to either one form or to both forms. However, it is impossible that we should teach that one form is equally right. One leaves it up to their conscience to receive.
P.M. If the ceasarly majesty (kais.Maj.) should propose something different.(should he become Emperor?)
D.M.L. That Ferdinand should be King of the Romans is truly proper. If they want him to be chaste they should not want him to marry says the former.
NOTES: Not sure about the last one but Ferdinand I was named to be successor to Emperor Charles V his older brother in 1527. That made him King of the Romans until he would become Emperor. Ferdinand and Anna of Bohemia had fifteen children so whether ML had some of them in mind I am wondering.
The date of these proposals is only given as sometime in 1532.
As King of Hungary, Bohemia etc., Ferdinand issued a mandate against the Evangelicals in 1527 repeating much of what was said at Worms. Looking a little at it in Vol.3 it appears to be mainly against Carlstadt and the radicals.

#1948-To Bernhard Rothmann, Preacher in Muenster

(This is the last letter in Volume xxia of the St. Louis Edition. On to xxib, God willing.)
To the highly-honorable brother in Christ, Bernhard Rothmann, the faithful and wise servant of the LOrd in Muenster in Westphalia.
Grace and peace in Christ! I, who am for the most part busy, my dear Bernhard, am forced by concern to (write) this letter because of a trustworthy rumor has come over that in Westphalia several sacramentarians are going about who are attempting to sneak into the cities which have been recently won over to the Gospel.For this reason I admonish and plead that not only you be protected but also the churches or the people be fortified. Such confidence we have in you in the LOrd that you, as you have begun that which gives the angels joy in heaven and on earth in that the city of Muenster is converted by you that it may also continue so that this offering to God is completed and that there not be blame to you that this joy of which we are partakers will be turned to sadness but rather will increase and abide to eternity.
Now you see that Zwingli with his many colleagues has been punished for his doctrine as a horrifying example if any may be moved by that. Thus also Muenzer is done in and Hetzer and several others whom God in demonstration of His horrible (monstris) wrath showed how He hates these godless spirits and though they have become hardened as the
Jews and Philistines they should be despised and not regarded in any way as martyrs.Christ who began this great work in you and through you will now perfect and edify you in the plain and pure recognition of the Word secure and unharmed from all the impurities of these people, Amen. I have written this uprightly and in good confidence; would that you would also receive the same uprightly and in friendly disposition. I do not want you to doubt that you are beloved and honored by us. Given at Wittenberg two days before the Birth of Christ. Your Martin Luther.

#1946-To the city council of Soest

To the honorable and wise mayor and council of the city of Soest, my favored lords and good friends.
Grace and peace in Christ! Honorable,wise,dear lords and friends! Recently (the letter of June 17) I have written to you (although by the hand of Philipp because of the dizziness of my head and the weakness of my spirit I was not able to write with my own hand) commending faithfully to you as your superintendent, Sir Johann Brun etc., and earnestly warning you about the harmful man Johann Campen etc. Now I hear that the same apostle of the devil brings about misfortune among you; it is thereto my hearty and faithful Christian advice that you should be free of this man. It requires no complaint
nor remittance (proof?) since his action is public how he in Flensburg with Melchoir Kurschner (called Hofmann) stood with the enthusiast and undertook to sow his seed in Lubeck and Brunschweig. I plead that all of yours will be warned in time lest a fire grows out of a spark since there is nothing good therein and it is certain your city has the devil for a guest in him. We are doing that in ours and herewith want to warn yours. Christ our LOrd who granted you desire and love for His pure Word strengthen and protect you in the same until you are perfected, Amen. On the day of St. Thomas 1532. D. Martinus Luther with his very own hand.

#1945-To Caspar Cruciger

To his Caspar Cruciger, the philosopher and theologian.
Grace and peace!
Yesterday your Elizabeth brought my mistress a golden donation as a mass-present, my dear Caspar, which was very acceptable,and as a sign of gratitude in return I am sending to your mistress this mass-gift which to yours may seem dissimilar to be sure but with us it is sent with a similar will and consideration and I pray and plead that you will not despise it. Sed poterit e colo pensili _ _ _ expendere. Be it right well with all of yours. On the Saturday the day of St.Thomas (21 Dec.) 1532. D. Martin Luther.
Notes: Editors say that the salutation appears to be by a later hand and they would not venture to speculate on the Latin with the missing words. Your speculation is invited.

#1944-To Gerhard Wilskamp in Herford

Grace and peace in Christ! I rejoice, my dear Gerhard, that by you the unrest is dampened which Satan began to inceite. Thanks to Christ and may He sustain and increase the quiet. I have thankfully received your little present although it is not necessary that your little poverty( vestram tennitatem) should be dispensed to me also. I will therefore take care that your letter to your relative Andreas is delivered as soon as possible.
Beyond that there is no news outside of that which I believe you already know that the Turks have been turned back after several thousand were lost and after having plagued Austria with fire and plunder. By us there was a comet sighted in the east in the spring.However, we have nothing to fear over the signs of the heaven over which only the heathen fear. We want to pray for one another that we will be delivered. Christ be with you. Greet all of ours with love. On the Saturday after Lucia (15 Dec.) 1532.

#1943-To Eberhard Brisger, Pastor in Altenburg

(Brisger along with Spalatin were transferred to the Stift-kirch in Altenburg in the early days of the Reformation to counter- balance the number of priests loyal to the Pope.)
Grace and peace in the LOrd! That I rarely write to you, my dear Eberhard, is not only because of the pressure of the mass of other extensive things to be written and their frequency but also because you sit in peace and have no need of my writing. But now because of the tribulation of your soul over the death of your father and the lovelessness of your mother and the dispossession of your inheritance you must again, with Job, compare the good which you have experienced with the opposing evils. Also do you not see and is it your desire rather to have the favor of your father and mother and be without Christ than to be in Christ and have the hatred of your mother? You must commend these people to the judgment of God and sing with the Psalm and with Joseph (Genesis 41:51 ff.):" The LOrd has permitted me to forget my father and the house of my father in a foreign land." So then how do you know what the end of your father was like and or what God did with him? Further, your mother has yet twelve hours (another day?) and who knows whether soon the Gospel will prevail so that the Papists will cry that the Emperor has become a Lutheran because he does not want to rage against it and exalt their godlessness. If everything yet does not turn out right you can yet consider yourself lucky to have been plucked as a stick out of the fire and as an Ohrlaeppchen(?)(delicacy?) from the vengenace of the wolf. Lot had to leave his own wife back in Sodom, and David lost his beloved Absalom; moreover Christ (lost?) the synagogue and Paul the children of Israel his brethren. Not only you must suffer evil but others have suffered it more and do so now. This truth must also be for some:"I am come to set the son against father." (Matthew 1:35). Likewise you have many ( other verses) to comfort you. For us the one Christ is sufficient if we lose everything else. The LOrd be with you and all of yours. On the 12th of December Anno 1532. Your Martin Luther,D.
NOTE: No doubt a vote for ML as Pastor.

#1941-To Johann von Riedtesel

To the valiant and honored Johann Riedtesel, Saxon electoral treasurer and in the new Markgraf (?) (Markt.), my gracious and dear godfather.
Grace and peace in Christ. Valiant,honorable,dear Herr and God-father! I have done my recent writing to you without knowing anything of your circumstances and you have become so secretive toward me that I cannot ascertain by questioning how it goes with you but yet I want to do so. I am always concerned that Junker Neihard is dangerous for you as your last writing indicated and the faithlessness of the world saddens you. Although I have greater confidence that my most gracious lord (the Elector) will deal graciously with you and not do what your false friends likely desire and perpetrate. Christ our LOrd will be with you and because you have learned what the world is it will make you more faithful and you will experience with us christians that it is better to serve than the world.
My Kaethe and your god-child greets you in a friendly way and wishes everything good for you.
We are reasonably spright and healthy, praise God.Your god-child wants to be an active man and wants to have his own way. Greet for me your dear Rib together with all of yours. Herwith be commended to God,Amen. 1532 on the 6th of Lucia (6 Dec.)E.G.'s willing to serve D. Mart. Luther.
Note: How about that ML is in fairly good health?

#1940-The Council of Soest to ML

The Editors of St. Louis Edition provide the summary of Kolde of this letter which gives thanks for the care of Joh. Brunz as superintendent and requests instructions from ML on the machinations of Joh. von Campen about which ML had warned them. #1938 and #1939 are to Jonas von Stockhausen commander in Nordhausen and to the wife of Stockhausen respectiviely which are in Volume X of the St. Louis Edition. This for new readers who may have noticed the gap in numbering. I haven't been venturing much out of Vol.xxia.Why some letters are in other volumes I haven't learned yet . Perhaps related to the subjects covered in those volumes?

#1937-To Nicolaus Hausmann in Dessau

To his, in Christ, very dear Herr Nicolaus Hausmann, his brother and faithful servant of God.
Heil in Christ our LOrd! Your letter, but not you as we mainly hoped, we have found, my dear Hausmann, and so we write but briefly because we are hindered by the parley now in progress so we cannot extensively write. The worthy Prince will relate everything to you. They have received us in a friendly and hospitable way. The rest at another time. Now we are hastily boarding the wagon Be it well with you, my dear brother in Christ. From Woerlitz on the Sunday after Elizabeth (24 Nov.) 1532. Your Martin Luther.

#1936-To Nicolaus Hausmann, Preacher in Dessaau

To the worthy man in the LOrd,M. Nicolaus Hausmann, the faithful servant of the Word in Dessau, his superior in the LOrd.
Grace and peace in Christ! This letter I have had a long time laying before my eyes, dear man, so that in each and every hour it could be sent to you but Aurelius always answers that neither he nor M. Georg has a trustworthy messenger but now during my absence it has been smudged by spilled ink. You must hold me inncoent since I was taking care with the hope it could be sent without first getting out of my sight.
For the rest, I thank our LOrd Christ that you are there unhurt supported in grace by the Prince; thank him in my name not only for the present of the boars but moreso because of his homage and favor toward the Word of God and what is rarer toward yours truly which has the great hero glancing at the inferior. Above all you will above all things commend the Prince and me to God in your prayers.
With me will be, as you would want to be, also Justus Jonas, Phillip, and Pomeranus and Cruiiger to feast on the wild pigs on the birthday of St. Martin,the son Martin, and the father of Martin. Oh, that you would be with us!.
There is no news beyond except that by the command of the Prince the Visitation will be renewed; Justus Jonas is one of the visitors. Further the Sequestration is going forth severly. I fear it might be too severe. "Our dear LOrd make everything good", Amen. On the 6th of November 1532. Your Martin Luther,D.
NOTE: The last Martin was born on November 9,1531 and everyone knows the birthday of ML and the day of St. Martin.
Should we have a vote on the skill of ML as a wild boar eater or lover?

#1934-To Nicolaus von Amsdorf

Grace and peace in Christ! The wife Pack,my dear Amsdorf,is concerned for her husband
Doctor Otto Pack because the rumor in Leipzig is that he was seen in the dukedom of Duke
Georg and she fears he may be imprisoned. I have consoled the very good wife as much as I am able assuming it could be something different. Therefore she has requested that I request that you ,as it is likely will run into him in Magdeburg , would earnestly admonish him to refrain from traveling especially in the dukedom of Duke Georg (ducal Saxony) as there is an extraordinary pursuit of him ready; this do for the sake of love.
There is little news. That which is reported on the conquest of the Turkish ships is a happy report if it is true. I am now entirely involved with the translation of Sirach. I am hoping to be free of this burdensome work (pistrino, Treimuhle) within three weeks. My Kaethe is ill from a fever and sleeeplessness and at the same time her confinement is near. I commend her to your prayers and also for me and all of mine. Our Christ be with you, Amen. On the 2nd November 1532, Your Martin Luther.

#1932-To Elector Johann Friedrich

(ML says this is the second appeal he is making to Johann Friedrich as Elector (JF became Elector when Johann died in August of 1532). The first was made orally in Wittenberg for one M. Pacaeus, deacon in Leisnig, and his wife and six children who were not being well cared for in that parish. ML repeated the request for them in March of 1533.)

Grace and peace in Christ. Illustrious, high-born Prince,most gracious Lord! The first
humble supplication I made to you orally in Wittenberg for Pacaeus.Now I am coming with the second (I want to count them so I don't make too many). I speak now of a Christian
supplication and it is my humble request for two boys, sons of the late Hans von Kanitz ,who have done very well in their studies in Torgau and it would be well advised (to continue?) since their mother who is in poverty can no longer support them and it would be a continual disappointment if these fine boys had to give up their studies since people (learned?) are needed; I know very well that my late (Johann) etc., most gracious Lord upon my writing and request gave these same boys an expectation of a stipend. Therefore I request once more to the praise of God and good of the country that such fine boys have such an Expectanz graciously provided with such stipend being according to the pleasure of E.C.F.G. Your father has obligated and committed E.C.F.G. and all of them, father, mother and children are pious people. I firmly believe that E.C.F.G. will be graciously disposed about this. Christ, our LOrd, help and strengthen E.C.F.G.for a blessed regime and afterward to everlasting life, Amen. On the day of St.Luke (18 Oct.) 1532. E.C.F.G.'s submissive Martinus Luther,D.