To the honorable and wise Mayor and Council in Goettingen, my favored lords and friends.
Grace and peace in Christ. Honorable, wise, dear lords and friends! So here comes the preacher whom I recently announced to you, Ew.W. (you wise ones), and his name is Johann Bernstiel. And although he is not entirely fluent in the lower German (saechischer can mean both high and low German but see following) I am hoping that he will be acceptable as in Braunschweig high German (Oberlandische Sprach) was tolerated. The other one, Licentiat Basilus, will soon follow. He has field-work and cattle which are not so easily sold and for which he must be present and difficult to bring along. Head-pastors here are scarce (duenne?). The harvest is great but the laborers are few; that is something you should also consider. I hope, however, Ew.W.(your wisdom) will have two learned and skilled men in them; Mr. Basilius can do well both low German and high. I commend (them) to your wisdom (Ew.W.) with all confidence.I request that you compensate them for the journey; for the time I have loaned them something. God grant that they will bring forth much fruit among you to the praise and glory of God and to the blessedness of all, Amen. In Wittenberg on the 11th of January 1531. Martin Luther.
NOTES: Birnstiel made it as pastor of the Marienkirche but only until July 27 likely because of the language problems. He was said to speak plainly at times but then very softly so that he could not be understood. He was in Coburg in 1542 and died in 1559. Birnstiel did receive some travel funds for himself and his wife and a departure gift.
Basilius Schumann never made it to Goettingen.
ML would understand well the frustrations of being a Circuit Counselor or District President, yes?
Maybe I should check with Luther Index on the languages. St. Louis Editors say it was "hochfrankische Sprach" for "oberlandische".
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