To begin with, our greetings. Venerable, dear devout one! As you recently have a writing from us our dear cousin, Duke Georg's son, Duke Johann has given us an answer
thus we do not want to conceal from you our gracious opinion although our Herr uncle
and brother, the Bishop of Mainz and the mentioned,
our cousin, Duke Georg have their Counselors and Messengers with us they have not pointed out anything yet of which our cousin,Duke Johann has written except for Carlwitz who is now the personal counselor of our cousin Duke Georg has himself the matter pointed out although our cousin might not be cognizant of the same
yet S.L. (His Love=Duke Georg) speaks in the same vein. However, the mentioned Carlwitz requests that we regard it graciously. Because we have not yet learned that in your sermon on All Saints Day you actually named our cousin as the young Markgraf (Markgraf Joachim the Younger of Brandenburg) reported yet it is our gracious desire that if it does not burden your conscience that you would not name our cousin and spare him as much as possible so that we with S.L. may have an external peace and His Love may not have concern about the Grimma Agreement.
What pertains to your conscience and personal salvation regarding your opposition to the theologians of S.L. you might not yield and we impose no restriction and we want it understood that we graciously understand and that we are inclined toward you with all grace. Dated at Weimar on the Wednesday after the Holy Christ-day 1535 (30 December 1534).
NOTE: The New Year begins on Christmas for the Saxons.
If you want to read complicated sentences, check with the Saxon Court. Perhaps S.L. would be translated "dear one" for "Sein Lieb".
Friday, June 29, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
#2101-To Chancellor Gregorius Brueck
To the respectable, celebrated Lord Gregorious Brueck, Doctor of laws and electoral Chancellor in Saxony, my favored Lord and God-father.
G.u.(Grace and) peace. Respected, celebrated, dear Lord and God-father. I have written to my most Lord what ECFG can let go and read (publicly?). It's true I gladly have written H.Georg and the Bishop and this letter would be a wonderful boon of Duke Hans to me. According to God's will it might be preserved should I or mine at any time be in need. I want to rub the ears of the ass. However, now I must let everything go. Noster hyparchon est, sicut est contra Archonta. (The editors say the Latin is illegible in the original but think it means that our Prince (Johann Friedrich) is obedient to Duke Georg as to a superior.)
If however, my most gracious Lord earnestly wants to know how this matter stands you may convey my conscience in this case. This is it:
Certainly I have preached publicly and prayed against the Bishop and will also now give the same sermon in the market place. Whether I named Duke Georg I truly do not know. Since the time of Grimma I have put him out of mind and undertaken nothing. However it can well be that after a sermon before the Duchess of Braunmswchweig at the dinner with the Markgrafess I said many such words about the Bishop that he is of the devil and I will pray against him and likely that was said against Duke Georg also. However, I have not spoken against Duke Georg, so I say now and will not do any more now or say any more than previously. Let us yet see whether I will defend it with my neck. Likewise there many additions in the copy about which I do not know and a Prince should not write of that which I can deny with good conscience. However, let it come according to God's will. Mart.Luther,D
NOTE: The wife of Duke Erich evidently reported ML's dinner remarks to Markgraf the Younger of Brandenburg who passed it on to Duke Johann in Dresden.
G.u.(Grace and) peace. Respected, celebrated, dear Lord and God-father. I have written to my most Lord what ECFG can let go and read (publicly?). It's true I gladly have written H.Georg and the Bishop and this letter would be a wonderful boon of Duke Hans to me. According to God's will it might be preserved should I or mine at any time be in need. I want to rub the ears of the ass. However, now I must let everything go. Noster hyparchon est, sicut est contra Archonta. (The editors say the Latin is illegible in the original but think it means that our Prince (Johann Friedrich) is obedient to Duke Georg as to a superior.)
If however, my most gracious Lord earnestly wants to know how this matter stands you may convey my conscience in this case. This is it:
Certainly I have preached publicly and prayed against the Bishop and will also now give the same sermon in the market place. Whether I named Duke Georg I truly do not know. Since the time of Grimma I have put him out of mind and undertaken nothing. However it can well be that after a sermon before the Duchess of Braunmswchweig at the dinner with the Markgrafess I said many such words about the Bishop that he is of the devil and I will pray against him and likely that was said against Duke Georg also. However, I have not spoken against Duke Georg, so I say now and will not do any more now or say any more than previously. Let us yet see whether I will defend it with my neck. Likewise there many additions in the copy about which I do not know and a Prince should not write of that which I can deny with good conscience. However, let it come according to God's will. Mart.Luther,D
NOTE: The wife of Duke Erich evidently reported ML's dinner remarks to Markgraf the Younger of Brandenburg who passed it on to Duke Johann in Dresden.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
#2100-To Elector Johann Friedrich of Saxony
To the illustrious, high-born Prince and Lord, Herr Johann Friedrich, Duke in Saxony and Elector,Landgraf in Thuringia and Markgraf in Meissen, my most gracious Lord.
Grace and peace in Christ etc. Ilusstrious, high-born Prince, most gracious Lord!
I have received the writing of ECFG together with the writing of H. Hans of Saxony and obediently read and thereupon, in the enclosed list of particulars (Zettel), delivered my answer. I thank herewith ECFG's gracious undertaking on My Parteke etc. I also hope that Jesus Christ will grant that ECFG be not too much taken with the promises toward H. Georg (Duke Georg of Ducal Saxony) as he is, as H. Friedrich (the former Elector) used to say: my cousin is a gross man for whom no answer is sufficent and for such heads the first anger is the best; it has not yet ceased. Herewith be commended to God,Amen. Midweek after Thomas (23 December)1534)Ecfg's obedient Martinus Luther,D.
ENCLOSED PULIC ANSWER
Illustrious, high-born Prince,most gracious Lord! First of all according to God's grace and peace (I offer) my poor prayer and dutiful service obediently. I have ECFG's writing with the enclosed copy of a writing of Duke Hans of Saxony etc. and very well perceived how the high-named Prince complains against me to ECFG as I should have F.G.'s (Duke Hans) father, H.Georg, and the Bishop of Mainz spoken against with the words related in the copy at length. Therefore ECFG desires of me a report regarding all of this and the reasons I did this.
Where should I go,most gracious Lord? I would prefer that the high-named Prince would have spoken himself to me an inferior rather than addressing and writing to the Elector. I do not see ECFG as being well-served in this matter; I also have not a little to complain about in that such a high Prince should go against me a poor man to my Land's Prince, to whome I am sworn and serve, with such flighty speech without seal and letters and in addition without witnesses complaining in such a gross and inept way. However, it is likely that H.Georg and his have five corners on the Sack.
Thus it is my humble petition that ECFG would graciously spare me and request no report in such a case not only for my sake but on account of H.Georg; for I might coarsely answer the gross inept writing of H.Hans grossly answer. Should I do it I would want to do it thorougly and eloquently and give a proper answer to such writing. ECFG knows what rough and impure articles we all had to digest that went out under the name and banner of H.Georg. I have forgiven that but haven't forgotten and truly wish that H.Georg would not irritate the old wounds.
I hold that ECFG could do nothing better than issue a command that one should preach in the lands of H.Georg, cry and print in Leipzig consolation books to the disgrace of the Elector of Saxony but not stir up things in the electoral lands; thereby ECFG would well please not only the enemies but likely officials and nobeles who live well under him.
However, most gracious Lord and Prince, summing up, I cannot suffer that H.Hans,H.Georg,Bishop of Mainz be Doctors who should teach me how I should speak; since I know that they are not able to do so. However, if they are so skillful and well-learned, I am sitting here in Wittenberg and await their artistry tho ECFG can be severe and hard against me. I cannot suffer my right to respond. This is as much of an obedient report that I can give ECFG at this time. To the Bishop in Halle I will give a public writing ( so long as God permits me to live) and also a proper report since I already merit no absolution. Christ will not be so easily terrified as the holy Creature of St. Leo the Great might think..ECFG's obedient Mart. LutheR,D.
NOTES: H. =Herzog or Duke. When Attila was about to sack Rome Pope Leo confronted him and above Leo's head appeared in a cloud the vision of St. Peter. Attila turned back from Rome at the sight, so he said.
As to the five corners of the sack, check Luther Index for the meaning of a five conered sack rather than a four cornered on.
Grace and peace in Christ etc. Ilusstrious, high-born Prince, most gracious Lord!
I have received the writing of ECFG together with the writing of H. Hans of Saxony and obediently read and thereupon, in the enclosed list of particulars (Zettel), delivered my answer. I thank herewith ECFG's gracious undertaking on My Parteke etc. I also hope that Jesus Christ will grant that ECFG be not too much taken with the promises toward H. Georg (Duke Georg of Ducal Saxony) as he is, as H. Friedrich (the former Elector) used to say: my cousin is a gross man for whom no answer is sufficent and for such heads the first anger is the best; it has not yet ceased. Herewith be commended to God,Amen. Midweek after Thomas (23 December)1534)Ecfg's obedient Martinus Luther,D.
ENCLOSED PULIC ANSWER
Illustrious, high-born Prince,most gracious Lord! First of all according to God's grace and peace (I offer) my poor prayer and dutiful service obediently. I have ECFG's writing with the enclosed copy of a writing of Duke Hans of Saxony etc. and very well perceived how the high-named Prince complains against me to ECFG as I should have F.G.'s (Duke Hans) father, H.Georg, and the Bishop of Mainz spoken against with the words related in the copy at length. Therefore ECFG desires of me a report regarding all of this and the reasons I did this.
Where should I go,most gracious Lord? I would prefer that the high-named Prince would have spoken himself to me an inferior rather than addressing and writing to the Elector. I do not see ECFG as being well-served in this matter; I also have not a little to complain about in that such a high Prince should go against me a poor man to my Land's Prince, to whome I am sworn and serve, with such flighty speech without seal and letters and in addition without witnesses complaining in such a gross and inept way. However, it is likely that H.Georg and his have five corners on the Sack.
Thus it is my humble petition that ECFG would graciously spare me and request no report in such a case not only for my sake but on account of H.Georg; for I might coarsely answer the gross inept writing of H.Hans grossly answer. Should I do it I would want to do it thorougly and eloquently and give a proper answer to such writing. ECFG knows what rough and impure articles we all had to digest that went out under the name and banner of H.Georg. I have forgiven that but haven't forgotten and truly wish that H.Georg would not irritate the old wounds.
I hold that ECFG could do nothing better than issue a command that one should preach in the lands of H.Georg, cry and print in Leipzig consolation books to the disgrace of the Elector of Saxony but not stir up things in the electoral lands; thereby ECFG would well please not only the enemies but likely officials and nobeles who live well under him.
However, most gracious Lord and Prince, summing up, I cannot suffer that H.Hans,H.Georg,Bishop of Mainz be Doctors who should teach me how I should speak; since I know that they are not able to do so. However, if they are so skillful and well-learned, I am sitting here in Wittenberg and await their artistry tho ECFG can be severe and hard against me. I cannot suffer my right to respond. This is as much of an obedient report that I can give ECFG at this time. To the Bishop in Halle I will give a public writing ( so long as God permits me to live) and also a proper report since I already merit no absolution. Christ will not be so easily terrified as the holy Creature of St. Leo the Great might think..ECFG's obedient Mart. LutheR,D.
NOTES: H. =Herzog or Duke. When Attila was about to sack Rome Pope Leo confronted him and above Leo's head appeared in a cloud the vision of St. Peter. Attila turned back from Rome at the sight, so he said.
As to the five corners of the sack, check Luther Index for the meaning of a five conered sack rather than a four cornered on.
Friday, June 08, 2007
#2099-Doctor Gregorious Breuck to Luther
To begin with, honorable and celebrated, dear Herr and God-father, (I offer) my willing service! Although my most gracious Lord in his electoral grace has indicated to you in his writing that you will find the certified list of the content and import of the words ,yet his electoral grace has ordered me to send you a copy of the writing of his cousin Herr Johann which you will find enclosed and the contents at length you will perceive.
And since his electoral grace assumes that the Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg and Duke Georg of Saxony will within 10 days approximately send their message on this matter to his electoral grace and seek from his electoral grace strongly a visit with his electoral grace thus it is the desire of his electoral grace that you give answer by this messenger as he returns and give your own report, with clear words, on whether you named Duke Georg with the Bishop or not and state the reason that caused you, with good conscience before God, to permit prayer in the Christian community against them, as being responsible and without denouncing as an insult or dealing with it according to rebuke so they do not cease to pray for punishment and whether Duke Georg is , as his son writes, named explicitly so that he pretends that it is contrary to the recent contract of Grimma and especially the corresponding article's sense which your worthiness immediately thereafter denounced. Also my most gracious Lord was provided by Cochlaeus in his Philippicae and other of Duke Georg's theologians ,scribes and preachers in their writings that the Grimma contract has not been utterly and completely forgotten. On this accound his electoral grace desires that you the Probst, my god-father and Doctor Jonas and others, with whom you are comfortable would peruse the Philippcae and other writings, published within the year, and to research and discover whether his electoral grace or other of his relatives are explicitly named and done so with what words and make this known to his electoral grace that he might have reason to at once turn the people away from them.
His electoral grace also sees several announcements which his electoral grace regards as and especially desires graciously that you yourself pay close attention to and be careful that you do not secretly ruin and insult thus doing further harm. Also your worthiness' friendliness does not go unappreciated. Thus to serve in every friendly way I am willing at all times. DAted at Weimar on the Monday of the Apostle Thomas (21 Dec.)1534. Doctor Brueck.
Zettel. My most gracious lord also desires graciously that in your report you distinguish that which involves the bishop alone through a special list and whether it involves somewhat a pouring out (aufgeuset?) against the Mass Fathers only and that which involves Duke Georg alone. If you could go a little easy in your report my most gracious lord would be very appreciative yet omino citra offensionem gloriae et verba Dei. Date uts.
NOTES: Looks like ML is on bit of a hot seat with the Saxon Electoral Court. The contract at Grimma of Nov. 1533 was to settle the dispute between the Elector and Duke Georg of ducal Saxony.
Cochlaeus had already composed his response to Melanchton's Confession in 1531 and it was first published in 1534. The Apoligia means the Augsburg Confession here. ML's answers to the Elector and Brueck follow.
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And since his electoral grace assumes that the Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg and Duke Georg of Saxony will within 10 days approximately send their message on this matter to his electoral grace and seek from his electoral grace strongly a visit with his electoral grace thus it is the desire of his electoral grace that you give answer by this messenger as he returns and give your own report, with clear words, on whether you named Duke Georg with the Bishop or not and state the reason that caused you, with good conscience before God, to permit prayer in the Christian community against them, as being responsible and without denouncing as an insult or dealing with it according to rebuke so they do not cease to pray for punishment and whether Duke Georg is , as his son writes, named explicitly so that he pretends that it is contrary to the recent contract of Grimma and especially the corresponding article's sense which your worthiness immediately thereafter denounced. Also my most gracious Lord was provided by Cochlaeus in his Philippicae and other of Duke Georg's theologians ,scribes and preachers in their writings that the Grimma contract has not been utterly and completely forgotten. On this accound his electoral grace desires that you the Probst, my god-father and Doctor Jonas and others, with whom you are comfortable would peruse the Philippcae and other writings, published within the year, and to research and discover whether his electoral grace or other of his relatives are explicitly named and done so with what words and make this known to his electoral grace that he might have reason to at once turn the people away from them.
His electoral grace also sees several announcements which his electoral grace regards as and especially desires graciously that you yourself pay close attention to and be careful that you do not secretly ruin and insult thus doing further harm. Also your worthiness' friendliness does not go unappreciated. Thus to serve in every friendly way I am willing at all times. DAted at Weimar on the Monday of the Apostle Thomas (21 Dec.)1534. Doctor Brueck.
Zettel. My most gracious lord also desires graciously that in your report you distinguish that which involves the bishop alone through a special list and whether it involves somewhat a pouring out (aufgeuset?) against the Mass Fathers only and that which involves Duke Georg alone. If you could go a little easy in your report my most gracious lord would be very appreciative yet omino citra offensionem gloriae et verba Dei. Date uts.
NOTES: Looks like ML is on bit of a hot seat with the Saxon Electoral Court. The contract at Grimma of Nov. 1533 was to settle the dispute between the Elector and Duke Georg of ducal Saxony.
Cochlaeus had already composed his response to Melanchton's Confession in 1531 and it was first published in 1534. The Apoligia means the Augsburg Confession here. ML's answers to the Elector and Brueck follow.
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Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Monday, June 04, 2007
#2098-To Eberhard Brisger in Altenburg
Grace and peace in Christ! What can I, my dear Eberhard, write about the sale of your house? since you know that in such things I am no appraiser nor an appropriate buyer and you have rich people who can better advise you in this matter and you yourself have insight and experience in such matter; beyond that I have no answer but that you perhaps are requesting to sell it to me. However I am not inclined to make a show of my poverty in that it would be impossible for me in anyway to come with half of so great an amount. By reputation I am supposed to have super treasure but I would not like to see you or others in my situation. You would not have me for a buyer if you wanted to sell it two-hundred times. However I want to talk with you in reference to Bruno and if my request might accomplish something for you in that I wish you would sell it to him for four hundred and forty gulden since I hear that it has been so appraised by your relatives. Why do you want to deal with our good brother so acutely since the LOrd has blessed you with this good and it has not justly been conceded to anyone what you have determined to sell it for? And the LOrd can also thereto return a rich blessing if you believe He is the Creator, Preserver, and Provider and that He will be regarding fleshly things to say nothing of the special things. That is to say, why are you burdened with care in vain as to how the children will be provided for. Christ who has begun will complete it for those who do not give up though weak. I should also be full of care for my own as I up to now are poorer in possessions than you in fact but I know that worry is in vain. Therefore I commend everything to Him who has sufficiently provided up to this day that He will give if I am worthy in the future or take away from whom He does not want to give. The LOrd strengthen you and teach you that upon our worry nothing more than suffering trouble follows and nothing is hindered by worry. On the fourth Sunday of Advent (20th December) 1534. Your Martin Luther,D.
NOTE: The Latin of the last sentence seems to be missing something but the sense seems to be that anxious care does not impede what was worried about.
Brisger, along with Spalatin, former colleagues of Luther at Wittenberg, were sent to help the transition to the Evangelical at the Stiftkirche in Altenburg by the Elector. This was in the mid-twenties if I correctly recall. Sorge = worry here or anxious care?
NOTE: The Latin of the last sentence seems to be missing something but the sense seems to be that anxious care does not impede what was worried about.
Brisger, along with Spalatin, former colleagues of Luther at Wittenberg, were sent to help the transition to the Evangelical at the Stiftkirche in Altenburg by the Elector. This was in the mid-twenties if I correctly recall. Sorge = worry here or anxious care?
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