#1770-To Elector Johann in Saxony

Most Gracious Lord! The Council in Zwickau has dismissed their preahcer, Herr Lorenz Soran, which is most troubling to both their head-pastor (Hausmann) and the preacher because they have undertaken this without the knowledge of the head-pastor and without cause against the preacher. Now Your Electoral Grace (abbreviated: E.chur.G)could well consider that this may be an example that incites the placing and disposing of preachers contrary to the head-pastor and they might today or tomorrow install a Muenzer or a Carlstadt whether the head-pastor agrees or not. Such Your Electoral Grace is not to suffer since every institution and office is in the hand of Your Electoral Grace because of the emergency-need of and absence of Bishops and a city may not exercise as their own perrogative institution and offices. Should that succeed a city may dispose of preachers and head-pastors when they want and what is worse without complaint and without conviction and that they would receive such punishment to their harm so that they are expelled and pushed into misery and thus Your Elector Grace will not be able to maintain preachers in the land. The punishment should not precede the proof of guilt and without the stating of cause. Therefore in complete obedience I want Your Electoral Grace to have the realization that the city of Zwickau will have the reputation that they will not tolerate any preacher and that they are very stubborn (hard-headed) and that while wanting to be evangelical they do little to honor the Gospel. Further, the head-pastor will report himself to Your Electoral Grace. Herewith be commended to God, Amen. 4 March 1531. Your Electoral Grace's Obedient One, Martinus Luther.
NOTES: Princes are addressed as "gracious" and Electors as "Most Gracious". One wonders that in being so deferential to nobility their address is always abbreviated as above using "E.chur.Gr" for Your Electoral Grace.
Hausmann has survived for quite a time in Zwickau seeing many come and go but his days are numbered.Zwickau "the land of the heavenly prophets" earlier did not tolerate the visitation of ML. He remembers.