(2281 is summarized as letter from Georg to Luther stating the delay in settiling the matter between the Cardinal of Mainz and Antoninus Schoenitz is not the fault of the Cardinal nor of Georg himself who has been sick and busy but that of Schoenitz. Luther is asked to intervene with Schoenitz so he doesn't introduce something new and Prince Georg will do his best to bring the matter to a settlement. #2281a following is ML's reply to #2281.)
To the highly rewnown and illustrious,sincere Prince and Lord,Herr Georg,Prince of Anhalt,Graf of Ascanien,Lord in Bernburg,Probst of the Church in Magdeburg,his very gracious Lord.
Grace and peace in Christ! I have never in the very least doubted the faithfulness of
EFG, illustrious Prince so it is not necessary that EFG be concerned to excuse himself but I must always be suspicious of that very bad man because of many things which I have not learned from Schoenitz but from Rome and out of the Roman world. And I fear only for our Deutschland that you Princes may be too late in beginning to sigh and sorrow over your security; since it is the secret of evil that we do not become wise before the damage is done. If it is possible I plead that EFG would not trust this monstrosity. "If it however does not happen, it will go as it goes." We have here no abiding city (civitatem) but I only wish that out of this Egypt and Babylon(in which we are imprisoned) may have peace and well-being. "However, EFG will graciously regard me as well-intentione"; I cannot believe, or even grant the conjecture, that this man in any way is dealing in earnest or speaks. That I wish very much that EFG would be free of this horror "that God knows. May EFG see" how God will grant it. Concerning this petition all of us stand together also at this time happy with EFG but with fear, yet in serving "May God make it better than we think,Amen." Since the devil always makes it worse than we think. Herewith,Amen. The Monday after Bartholomew (28 August)1536.EFG's willing Martinus Luther,D.
NOTE: Um der Bitten willen aller der Unsern stelle ich mich daher auch EFG gern,aber mit Furcht,zu Dienst,doch "Gott mache es besser, denn wir denken,Amen. This is the second to last sentence of which you see my problematic translation above.
The Cardinal of Mainz,Albrecht, is not named but understood to be the bad guy.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
#2280-To Franz Burkhard,Vice-chancellor in Saxony
To the highly-renown man, Herr Franz Burkhard,the Vice-Chancellor oF Saxon,his special friend in the LOrd.
Grace and peace in Christ! My dear vice-chancellor Fran, I appeal to you that you make it known whether I could with success make an petition for the insane, old woman,"the cross-bound woman", (die Kreuzbinderin). Her daughter here cries pitifully and it is nothing new that she continues to rage as Licentiat Blank,her neighbor,can also attest. At whom we also have laughed because he quarrled with her over the fence between them and they continued to be enraged with each other until she put him to flight with a large spear. It is not praiseworthy if the Prince severly punishes this intractable (male sanam) woman (especially a widow)whom the whole city thinks senseless; she was once expelled from Halle for almost the same reason."She is a fool by my understanding whom you must point out to my most gracious lord; and when she is sufficiently punished my most gracious lord would do well to free
her; she will not become wiser or better by it." Some consideration must also be given to the young woman, her daughter who has been exceedingly harmed by the rages of her mother though she is a completely mature woman and very understanding and I myself wish for her a worthy husband.However because of this tragedy (calamitatibus), which involves her as well as her mother she is becoming increasingly strange to the one she would likely marry; it is an inner-twined chain yet mercy must loose the fetters. Let me know then whether there is a time that I may intrvene and I will do it; what troubles me is not the mother or the son-in-law but the daughter who is in need of mercy. Be it well with you in the LOrd. On the Tuesday after Agapitos (22 Aug.) 1536. Your Martin Luther,D.
Grace and peace in Christ! My dear vice-chancellor Fran, I appeal to you that you make it known whether I could with success make an petition for the insane, old woman,"the cross-bound woman", (die Kreuzbinderin). Her daughter here cries pitifully and it is nothing new that she continues to rage as Licentiat Blank,her neighbor,can also attest. At whom we also have laughed because he quarrled with her over the fence between them and they continued to be enraged with each other until she put him to flight with a large spear. It is not praiseworthy if the Prince severly punishes this intractable (male sanam) woman (especially a widow)whom the whole city thinks senseless; she was once expelled from Halle for almost the same reason."She is a fool by my understanding whom you must point out to my most gracious lord; and when she is sufficiently punished my most gracious lord would do well to free
her; she will not become wiser or better by it." Some consideration must also be given to the young woman, her daughter who has been exceedingly harmed by the rages of her mother though she is a completely mature woman and very understanding and I myself wish for her a worthy husband.However because of this tragedy (calamitatibus), which involves her as well as her mother she is becoming increasingly strange to the one she would likely marry; it is an inner-twined chain yet mercy must loose the fetters. Let me know then whether there is a time that I may intrvene and I will do it; what troubles me is not the mother or the son-in-law but the daughter who is in need of mercy. Be it well with you in the LOrd. On the Tuesday after Agapitos (22 Aug.) 1536. Your Martin Luther,D.
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