To Katherine,Luther’s wife letter 3 - Martin Luther
TO KATHERINE, LUTHER’S WIFE (FROM LEIPSIC) Luther writes asking his wife to sell his house, and retire to Zulsdorf.
July 28, 1545.
Grace and peace, dear Kathie! Hans will give you all the details of our journey; but as I am not yet sure whether I shall not keep him with me, then Dr. Caspar Cruciger and Ferdinand will give you all the particulars. Ernest von Schonfeldt entertained us most hospitably at Lobnetz, and Hainz Scherle still more royally at Leipsic. I would gladly arrange not to return to Wittenberg. My heart is so cooled towards the place that I do not care to live there any longer, so I would like you to sell garden, land, house, and courtyard; and then I shall restore the large house to my most gracious lord, and it would be your best plan to retire to Zulsdorf while I am in life, and could help you to improve the property with my income. For I trust my most gracious lord would continue my salary for at least one year of
my closing life. For after my death the four elements will not suffer you to remain in Wittenberg; therefore it would be better to do during my life what would be necessary afterwards. Perhaps the powers at Wittenberg may eventually find themselves seized not with St. Vitus’s dance, nor with St. John’s, but with the beggar’s dance, now that they are permitting the wives and maidens to expose their necks and shoulders before and behind, and no one forbids it, thereby bringing the Word of God into derision. Only to get away and clear of this Sodom! I have heard more in the country of the proceedings in Wittenberg than there; hence I am weary of the town, and shall not return, God helping me. The day after tomorrow I drive to Merseburg, where Prince George has warmly urged me to come. Therefore I shall wander hither and thither, and rather eat the bread of penury than make my last days miserable through the disorderly proceedings at Wittenberg, with the loss of all my hard work. Do as you like about letting Dr. Pommer and Magister Philip know of this, and if Dr. Pommer herewith pronounces a blessing on Wittenberg I have no objection, for I cannot control my indignation and grief any longer. I herewith commit you to God. Amen.
MARTIN LUTHER . (De Wette.)