admonish her to receive her daughteror grand-daughter, or if she refuse to do so, I shall see to her trousseau, which might perhapsafterwards offend her.
Farewell, and pray for me.
Four young noblemen,who blamed Luther for their sister's escape from their convent, were lyingin wait to murder him.
I be present at your wedding to rejoice with you, but a hindrance has come in the way, which I cannot overcome, viz. the tears of my wife,who believes you would be deeplygrievedwere my lifeimperilled.She has a presentimentthat my life is in danger,having dreamed last night that murderers were lookingout for me on the way.
I think this not unlikely,since I hear that the rescue of the Freiberg nuns has roused the wrath of the nobles in Herzog
Although well aware that, wherever I may be, I am under the Almighty'sprotection,without whom not a hair of my head can be injured, still I am full of pityfor my dear
Kathie, who would be half-dead with anxiety before So do not grieve that I cannot be with you on the occasion of your wedding. May
God's grace and blessing rest on you.
Elector's request, giveshis opinion as to how the Church livingsshould be visited and maintained.
God's grace and peace in Christ Electoral Grace has replied to my letter as to a generalvisitation of the I never meant that all the funds for their support should come out of your
Grace's treasury ; but beingasked for my opinion,I humbly venture to suggest that you should order all the churches in your dominions to be visited ; and where the people desire Evangelicalpreachers,and the funds are unable to maintain them, let them receive so much yearly,either from the town council or elsewhere.
For when the peopledesire pastors, it is your Grace's duty to see they reward them ** the workman is worthy of his hire,"as the Gospels say.
This visitation might be arrangedby your Grace dividingyour domains into five parts,and sendingtwo visitors either from the nobility or the officials to each part, to examine those livings, and find out what is necessary for the pastors ; and then arrange that so much of the yearlytaxation be set aside to augment their incomes.
But if this were too much trouble and expense to your Grace, then you could summon the citizens of certain towns and discuss the matter.
Only do what seems best in your eyes.
Also, one must consider the old pastors, and where these are pious men, and not disinclined to the gospel, they may be allowed to read the Gospels,alongwith the postils, themselves to the people (when they are not qualified to preach),thus ministering instruction to their flocks,so that they may be obligedto maintain them
; for it would be wrong to ejectthose who have been long in office,who are friendly to the gospel,without compensation.
I have taken the liberty of pointingout those thingsat you Grace's humble servant, Diet of Speyerthe Evangelical Princes rangedthemselves for the firsttime as adherents of the new doctrines,and it was agreedthat
"in religious matters each State shall live,govern, and behave itself as it shall answer to Majesty." Spalatinand Agricolapreached regularly before the Elector in his own house at Speyer.