#2183-To Justus Jonas

Grace and peace in the LOrd! So that I am not forced myself, my dear Jonas, to see that everything is written accurately I am sending to you, as advised by my sloth, the written matter itself which you will send back to me. The Augsburg messenger had gone just before your letter arrived. I will send it to Leipzig etc.when I can.

As to the robbers(see #2181) the matter is as follows. As he (the messenger) left Magdeburg and after he was about three miles into the bishop's region near Andersleben he fell among the robbers who after the Mass at Magdeburg had laid an ambush. They held "the deadly thing" under his nose and forced him to give up his horse and also the draught animal which the Augsburgers were sending as a present to Duke Ernst and after taking his trip money of 13 Gulden tied him to a tree and after they received his sworn acceptance that he would not make any outcry or complaint for three hours they went away. So he was abandoned in the woods for two hours long beset by the wild animals; finally after twisting and turning the bindings he got loose and came on foot to certain commander of a fortress. He sent him to the Prince who provided him with clothing and travel money and also sent a horse along. Once more these robbers ventured alot. I am sending to you also the report of the wedding ostentation of the Polish bride. Besides that there is nothing I can write. Schnepf will by his letter bring you to the attention of your blacksmith (fabrum).However, that faithless Jew for whom we procured 10 Gulden is carrying this out. Phillippus in his letter describes him as very bad. Magister Sehusen was buried yesterday; the pest ravished him and he has followed his wife. My driver has put the whole house in fright but as one pondered the matter he is immediately better; he was afflicted by a light fever. Otherwise everything is well and they are pure although likely not all; yet one swallow does not make a summer. My lord Kaethe greets you and yours. She is making an evening meal because it is the evening of my completing 23 years of my doctorate and I am beginning the 24th. Christ grant that this year I may go into heaven,Amen. Anno 1532 (1535). Your Martin Luther.
NOTE: Luther was promoted to the doctorate on 19 October 1512 so the M.D. X X X II. is a mistake and 1535 is correct. This is also corroborated to be 1535 by the previous letter on the robbery of the messenger.No going to heaven granted before 1546-eleven years hence. "Although not all" may be an allusion to Christ's words at the Last Supper referring to Judas. Or not?

#2182-Melanchthon to Luther

To the venerable Herr Martin Luther, Doctor of Theology,his very dear father.
Heil! After the departure of the Prince we here have very little news; Also Christoph, the English messenger has not returned. Therefore I will write only of personal matters. There is here such a great shortage in many things so that as far as I can determine and foresee we will not be able to maintain our household this winter. Therefore and soon as we convene I advise deciding about our return. Since Cruciger and the legal scholars are also now away. We are suffering, mostly I, for for our foolishness in following out side judgment rather than our own in leaving.

Regarding your compensation Brueck has reminded the Prince. If you do not receive the same, let me know. The orders of the Prince are extraordinaily neglectful. Blank (?Plucus) does not pay us. Also the others belonging to the school(scholastici=students)from whom the school is to receive money send nothing. Therefore you can easily judge the circumstances of our situation. What can you say since the Prince is taking away people from our Academy those whose absence from the studies does not a little harm.However I will stop. You have it right well and be happy and respectfully greet your very honorable wife. On the day before Luke (17 October) Philippus.

#2181-To Caspar Huberinus in Augsburg

To the faithful disciple and servant of Christ,Caspar Huberinus, his dear brother in Christ the LOrd.
Grace and peace in Christ! Perhaps the matter about which you questioned has meanwhile been resolved especially since the messenger was delayed for so long. The messenger has fallen amongst robbers who took everything from him and left him tied to a tree. I have had many thoughts during the time since he was so long away and did not immediately come again. But now to the matter at hand. It seems to me that the Council at Augsburg has special interest in wanting you to become assistant to Maeuslin (Wolfgang)namely that therwith they would have public testimony that we are united with them in doctrine.I am not contrary to that nor does it make me angry especially in the light of newly brought about Concord. Therefore it is my honest opinion that you comply in this matter. Right now I know of nothing more to write to you since at the close of winter, as I hope, to come together in a conventicle and face to face deal with the various matters. Meanwhile, bear and endure as much as you can so that we are not a reason for hindering this newly begun friendship. God defend you and pray for me. The LOrd with His rich Spirit of blessing be with you at all times, Amen. 5 Oct.1535. Martinus Luther.
NOTE Maeuslin was a Sacramentarian.

#2179-To the City Council in Esslingen

Grace and peace in Christ. Honorable, perceptive,dear Lords and Friends! I have heartfelt joy over your letter as I note that your heart and disposition is inclined by God's grace in the same way as ours so that there is secured an end to the offense of division. Our dear LOrd establish you in such grace and you should know that,God helping me, as much as possible, in all things,I will be found without reservation since I am of such hope that God has permitted such cracks and brakes among us to test and humble us. He can, however, from the evil make everything to good as He has created everything out of nothing. Would to God thereto that there be prayer, help and consideration given so that such unity be firm and constant and the devil has his vengeance stopped who screams: Hui,Victory!
I have written the other cities and preachers to determine whether it should be necessary that we preachers of each party should gather at one place to discuss orally this matter and others. Such I offer for your consideration and you will know well how to deal with the others and let us know here. I commend you herewitht to the loving, faithful God forever, Amen. Wittenberg quinto October 1535. Your willing Martinus Luther.

Scrofa-Symbol of Milano

#2177-To the Mayor and Council of Augsburg

To the honorable, discreet Lords, Mayor and Council of the Imperial City of Augsburg,my favored Lords and good Friends.
Grace and peace in Christ! Honora le, judicious ,dear Lords! I am certainly highly joyful in Christ about the writing of EF wherein I perceive how EF and your church-preachers,Elders, and community are heartily pleased with my answer via Herr Gereon,Doctor and thus earnestly inclined toward unity with us. Would that the Father of all consolation and peace will continue to give the Spirit of His dear Son Jesus Christ in all of our hearts in an increased and greater measure will continue sound and pure so that such unity will progress and remain constant and once and for all the sighing of many hearts whose spirit has been troubled for so long may cease and stop the vengance of the Papists which continually boasts: See, they are not one with one another among themselves and thereby excellently strengthened in their horrors. I (as I have written) will leave nothing lacking on my part,as God wills, so as to take away or hinder such consolation and joy which my God may yet demonstrate to me before my end comes and I stand in the right good hope that Christ will come among us with grace and drive out the divisive spirit and as EF pleads I will not believe what others say about you and I have previously indicated to EF and to them the same. What also I have written to your preachers of a covenant you will also note and EF Council will know how to use the same.
Christ,our dear LOrd, strengthen EF with the right Spirit to further His holy Name,Kingdom and good pleasure,Amen. Wittenberg,quinto October 1535. EF's willing one,Martinus Luther.
NOTE: Maybe EF= ehrbare,fuersichtig= honorable,discreet ones?

Luther Towns

Kaethe's burial place, St.Mary's,Torgau

#2174-To Johann Riedtesel

To the valiant,soundly-honorable,Johann Riedesel in Neumarkt, my favored Lord and dear god-father.
Grace and peace in Christ. valiant,honor-bound,dear Lord and god-father! I have nothing at this time to write except that I did not want to let Magister Jacob come empty handed, he will well say to you how everything goes and stands here. The deaths, as one says, should be very great here. Outside Wittenberg one knows everything better than we ourselves in the city. Yes, and the farther they are away from Wittenberg, the more certain they are they know how it is going: yes, the farther the lies wander, the fatter, the thicker, the greater,stronger, and finer (schoener=fuller-Ed.)they become. That you must grant. Otherwise all (truth) becomes slighter, meagre the farther it runs. Greet for me your dear (wife) and all of yours and also our student Johann Riedtesel, who might well have forgotten us and writes nothing to us. My Lord Kaethe and your god-child greet you in a friendly way. Herewith be commended to God; He gives His grace and graciously think on you as you desire,Amen. 1535 on the day of Franciscus (4 October). Martinus Luther,D.
NOTE: Believe the salutation is customary ro knights. Forgotten of which child of the Luther's Riedtesel is god-father.

Winged Lindwurm

#2173-To Gabriel Zwilling, Pastor in Torgau

Grace and peace in Christ. My dear Magister Gabriel! It makes me sad that your Torgauers have so unthankfully placed themselves against the Gospel and dare in their own thirst to make parish-heads and cappelans their servants and demand their pleasure from the community administration.Who has taught them such arbitrary use of authority and that it is not right for them to rob? Is this the fruit of faith? Well then since they have become so forgetful and fallen away from the faith you should on the other hand do nothing that they want. We have with great effort and work rescued them from in sufferable tyranny of the Pope and are yet striving without ceasing for their freedom and they go on to trample us under their feet, and strengthen the Pope and shame us: may their undertaking be cursed,Amen. No other city does so except for a few of the nobility. If they want to make the parish-head their slave, then they must provide for all necessities of food,housing and every need. You have nothing from them so hold back from your support as a citizen and be in no way under oath or obligated; and you should be just as other citizens and moreso. In addition I want that they should lose the selection of a parish-head. This is appropriate for the Prince that he should provide a stork to hack away at the head of the gross frogs. Are these unreasonable fellows such that they must have chruch-servants free of charge and be free apart from assistance from the Pope? And Halle,Leipzig, Dresden and others would gladly give much money and take these preachers off their hands. I must come and on the pulpit rub my knuckles on the bristles (beard) of the Farchmutter (?). So you stay with the community-administration and don't mix both regimens (church and state) together and also don't let them mix them up; since it might offensive to the common man and intolerable to the Prince if he learns that his servants, who have benefits and everything from him should be made servants to foreign lords. They have become coarse,proud, and unreasonable and they want God to be blind to their unbelief; thus we must not follow them nor consent. Herewith be commended to God,Amen.Martinus Luther.
This writing was given in Wittenberg on the day after St.Michael's (Sept.30)between the sixth and seventh hour before noon Anno 1535 and Doctor Luther said that this writing may be made known to the Prince and Lords.
NOTE" White storks are said to love frogs. Storks along the Elbe? or on the rooftops delivering babies?

Storks and Frogs

#2172a-To the Elector Johann Friedrich

To the illustrious, highborn Prince and Lord, Herr Johan Friedrich, Duke in Saxony, and Elector, Arch-marshall of the Holy Roman (h.rom.) Empire, Landgraf in Thuringia and Markgraf in Meissen, my most gracious Lord.
Grace and (G.u.)peace in Christ and my poor Paternoster etc. Illustrious, high-born Prince, most gracious Lord! Antonius Schenitz wrote ECFG about the letters of the Bishop of Halle whether they could be officially verified and has requested me to also write to him about the same.I see that the good people are trampled upon with the great difficult case of the evil dragon (Lindwurm=wingless legendary dragon) and well could use counsel and consolation. Therefore I very humbly would that ECFG would give good advice to them how they should proceed with the official verification of the letters. Whether it is up to the Court's discretion I do not know
and whether good or evil should result if perhaps everything of the Bishop including the content of the letters are made known as the world is now quiet and full of trust, unfortunately! I am unexperienced in the matter and know what a Krautlein (little Kraut) the Pfaff is. ECFG will graciously and consolingly indicate to the people so shamefully hounded etc. Christ, our LOrd be with ECFG graciously here and there, Amen.Vigilia Michaelis (28 Sept.)1535. ECFG's obedient Martinus Luther.
NOTES; The official certification of comparing a copy of the original document and if and to what extent the copy was accurate could be done by various officials. The process was called "Vidimirung".
In a letter to ML on 6 October 1535 the Elector promises protection to Schoenitz and advises him to put the letters in print. Pfaff is an ecclesiastic of high position I believe Albrecht is now a cardinal. Check it out.

#2171-Elector Johann Friedrich in Saxony to Luther, Jonas,Buegenhagen, Melanchton and Cruciger

To begin with our greetings. Reverend and Celebreated,dear devout ones and faithful ones! Since it is no secret to you that recently the King of England has with us his Orator, Doctor Antonius Barnes and made several solicitations; because same Doctor among several others has learned that the above mentioned King is sending a state embassy who will meet with you as our theologians to discuss, talk and have a colloquy over several articles and the mentioned King has sought us to commend you to hear upon their arrival their presentation and to speak and confer with you. Since we are inclined to assent to the King in this and have and consented to with the above mentioned orator it is our gracious wish that you would, when the embassy arrives in Wittenberg hear their concern or, if it is likely that because of the deaths in Wittenberg are prevalent or if it is difficult to undertake in such place that you would, at our expense, go to Torgau to meet with them and listen to them with good-will and you with discretion let it be known to us what should be provided to you graciously as fitting and fair.What you discuss and perceive from the embassy you would helpfully provide to us before the embassy arrives here so that we may provide the embassy with an answer to their presentation. This we did not want to keep from you and it is our pleasure and we are graciously inclined toward you. Date.
Zettel: Because we consider that there will be no final resolution between you and the embassy regarding the concerned Articles and that you also would not make any assent to any agreement nor consent to it until in the future we make our report, God willing, and we make a written report of our thoughts and this also did not want to keep from you.