75/2511 [House of Orange]. William of Orange-Nassau (1533-1584) and August, elector of Saxony (1526-1586). Manuscript letter signed "Wilhelm printz zu Uranien" and "Augustus" to "Allerdurchlauchtigsten (...) Keij. Mayt" [emperor Ferdinand I], dated Leipsic, August 31, 1561, pen and ink, 2p., w. 2 blindstamp seals (wax seals worn off).

= A request to Holy Roman emperor Ferdinand I to set free the minor nobleman and patrician Lorentz von Kühedorff. The request was made after a plea by the brother of Lorentz, "Hannsen von Kuhdorff" when William of Orange was in Leipsic after his wedding to Anna of Saxony. Von Kühedorff was a young robberbaron who especially plagued the Nürnberg merchants. He was arrested and held prisoner by "Graff Hansenn vonn Nassau" (prob. count Johann IV of Nassau-Saarbrücken) and banned to Hungary. "Wir seindt von (...) Hansenn vonn Kuhdorff itzo alhier underthenig (...) ersucht (...) wordenn, bei Euer Key. Mayt. underthenigste vorbitt zuthun, das die Rechtferttigung so die von Nurnberg wider seinen Bruderen Lorentzen vonn Kuhdorff welcher unter Graff Hanssen von Nassau gefangenn ligt möchtte abgeschafft unnd er Inn betrachtung seiner Jugent undd das sich diese Hendel Inn vehdes zeittenn zugetragenn Er auch zum theil vonn denen von Nurnbergh dartzu vorursacht sein soll, auss gnaden erledigt werden möchtte (...)". Von Kühedorff was eventually forgiven and made a cavalry captain in Augsburg. He died as the last of his house, childless and with large debts. SEE ILLUSTRATION PLATE CX.