To Graf Albrecht or Albert von Mansfeld - Martin Luther

TO GRAF ALBRECHT OR ALBERT VON MANSFELD Luther intercedes for his brother-in-law.

May 24, 1540.

Grace and peace in Christ, most gracious lord! It is long since I asked for anything, but in case the highway of intercession should become overgrown with grass, I now approach you, humbly begging your Grace to listen to me, so that I may not be suspected of having incurred your displeasure, which I do not think I have deserved. Lately I was at Court, where I do not care to go, and, among other things, I heard that your Grace was treating the proprietors of the smelting-houses very harshly, who do not deserve this at your hands, and that, in consequence, the earldom might forfeit its prosperity; and much was being said on the subject which I do not think it right to conceal from you. I then asked how it affected my relations, and I was told that my brother-in-law, Mackerode, feared he would be reduced to beggary. “God cannot desire that,” I said, “for they have nothing but the furnace they inherited, so I shall write my lord on the subject”; for, my brother-in-law has not written to me about it, only it occurred to me at Court that I once called him in jest a dross-driver instead of a furnace- master (Schlackentreiber for Schlackenherren ), at which he laughed, and said the time might not be

far distant when such would be the case, and went away. Therefore I plea, most gracious lord, that you will grant my petition, and prove a gracious lord to the good Mackerode and his heirs, especially as

your Grace must see that so great and rich a lord can gain nothing through the poverty of good people, but would most surely draw down God’s wrath upon him, to whom it is a very small matter to make

the rich poor and the poor rich. I do not plead for justice (as I neither know nor wish to know the rights of the case), but for your favour, for your Grace also needs God’s favour and protection. For if we insist too much on our rights regarding our neighbours, without leaving room for mercy, then God will act in the same manner towards us, and mercy will be obscured. I hope my lord will see from this letter that

I truly love my sovereign Prince, and have his welfare at heart, therefore dislike hearing anything to his disadvantage, or be silent when I fear God may pour out His wrath upon him. I beg for a gracious answer. I commit you to God. Amen.

Your Grace’s most obedient MARTIN LUTHER . (De Wette.)