To Count Albrecht of Mansfeld [Wittenberg,] December 6, 1545 In 14201 the Grafschaft Mansfeld, which Luther often called his fatherland or his native land, had been divided between the two sons of the then ruling count, and in 1501 it was once more divided into three parts, whereby Count Albrecht III received the area around Eisleben, the town in which Luther had been born. Notwithstanding these divisions, the rich mining business of the territory (as well as other business matters) was jointly administered by the whole ruling family. This proved a constant source of irritation to the various members of the three branches of the Mansfield dynasty especially since, much to the dismay of the other counts, Albrecht (the most capable ruler among the counts) operated with farsighted, innovative, perhaps even ruthless administrative policies. In addition Albrecht supposedly usurped the rights and property of one of the members of another branch of the family, founded a new town for the miners outside Eisleben (which the other counts thoroughly disliked), and jeopardized the law of patronage of one of the wealthy churches in Eisleben. Real and imagined rights and privileges were violated by Albrecht, real and imagined advantages were gained by him. Notwithstanding constant negotiations, mediations, and partial compromises, there was ever increasing bitterness dividing the ruling family of Mansfeld. The situation was right for one of those private, local feuds which were typical of Germany at that time.
Luther was genuinely distressed by these developments.2 After 1540 he became increasingly involved in these matters, first by way of the personal affairs of relatives and friends "back home,"3 and then officially, because of the patronage law of the church in Eisleben4—and apparently also because Count
Albrecht wanted him as mediator. At the beginning of October, 1545, Luther, Melanchthon, and Jonas were, therefore, in Mansfeld, but accomplished nothing since some of the counts were absent.5 In a pleading letter6 Luther urged Counts Philip and John George to make peace with Albrecht, who in turn, so Luther assured the counts, would also be willing to come to terms. Luther also offered his further services to help bring the quarreling parties together.
In the following letter Luther informs Count Albrecht of the willingness of Counts Philip and John George to make peace, and tells of their request that he, Luther, set the date for a meeting. As a result of this request, Luther says, he is changing his plans to go to Eisleben now and then on to Mansfeld for Christmas. He promises to come to Eisleben after January 1 in order to get the mediation negotiations started in spite of other pressing tasks. He expresses his confidence that Count Albrecht will stand by his offer to negotiate, and thus demonstrate his good will toward ending this quarrel.
On Count Albrecht, see LW 49, 103, n. 6.
Text in German: WA, Br 11,225–226.7
To the Magnanimous, Noble Lord, Sir Albrecht, count and lord at Mansfeld, my gracious and dear lord of my [native] land Before all else, grace and peace in the Lord, and my poor Pater noster!8 Gracious Lord: I was willing to be with Your Grace once again9 this coming Monday,10 as I had offered. Yet today, at this hour, a letter11 from my gracious lords, Count Philip and Count John George,12 arrived in which they give me a very gracious answer to my previous letter;13 I am extremely pleased with this. The counts very kindly offer to participate in negotiations with Your Grace. They indicate that I am to name a [meeting] day after the upcoming Leipzig Fair.14 Therefore, once again I have to remain here, though I had made up my mind to spend this Christmas at Mansfeld. Since the counts demonstrate such kindness toward Your Grace and such graciousness toward me, I shall appear in Mansfeld soon after the close of the Leipzig Fair; I shall let you, the two parties, yourselves name a day, and shall summon whomever you wish to appear or have present. I am ready to give up eight days, one way or the other, for this matter—though I have very much to do—so that I may lie down in my coffin with joy, having previously been able to reconcile the dear lords of my native land and having seen unity of hearts established.15 I have no doubt that Your Grace will comply with Your Grace's [previous] offer,16 and that [Your Grace] would like to see this quarrel settled.
With this I commend Your Grace to the dear God.
Your Grace's willing [servant],