dominions,and althoughyoung in years is very learned and sensible and of pleasingmanners, and may achieve much good in your
Christ may have much fruit through this man, whom Majestywill appointto an office.
Holy Spiritrichlybless all your Royal Highness'sdeliberations and undertakings. Amen.
Luther begs her to consent to her son marrying a To the honoured and virtuous Schneiderwein, citizen of Stolberg.Grace and peace in Christ,my graciousgood friend !
I have alreadywritten you concerning your son John, who has fallen in love with an excellent maiden, and I hoped for a favourable answer
; but no attention having been paid to your son's request, I am constrained to write again,for I do not wish him to lose heart and sink into despair. But as he loves the girlso dearly,and she is quitehis equalin station, besides beinga gentle, quietcreature, I think you ought to be satisfied that he has shown his child-like obedience in humblinghimself to ask your consent to the marriage, as ; and now do your part, as a lovingmother, by givingyour consent thereto.
For although we have written that children should not become engagedwithout their parents' consent, stillparents should not hinder their children from marrying those theylove.
The son must not bring a daughter to his parents againsttheir will,but the father must not force a wife upon his son.
They must both giveway, else the son's wife becomes the father's daughter againsthis will.
And who knows what happinessGod may grant him throughthis maiden, a happiness which he might never experienceotherwise,because the good damsel, who is in his own position, might in her distress utter an In short,I trust you will not withhold your consent any longer, so that the good fellow may be at rest.
I could wait no longer for your letter, but thoughtit my duty to write again. But pray do not tell your son of this letter tillall is settled, in case he should become too confident and bold
; for,I love him on account of his virtues,and would not wish him to be badlyadvised.
Therefore,do you also act like a mother, and helphim out of his martyrdom, so that he may not fallinto despair.
I herewith commend you to Herzog George, who died April 17, havingoutlived all his family.
Knowing how plentiful the gold guldensare with you, I am all the more delighted that the littlegiftI sent your wife through Herr
Stromer should have accomplishedits object,and appeased your wrath, and stopped your threats.
Your long harangue was certainly of no avail ; stillwe must excuse you, justas if you had been justified in complainingof my silence.
So we might dailylisten to similar declamations here, and they do as littlegood as the gold guldenwith you, only furnishing us with material for mirth.
At the same time you order me or my Kathie to say what we wish in return.
If you are determined to send something, let it be a lamp, but not a common one, such as we used as monks, but one upon which two or three candles could be placed; and let it be strong enough to stand all the knocks it may receive in cleaning, or when it is thrown downstairs,or even only sent on in advance
; or, better still, if you could find one which does not requirecleaning(foryou know the ways and love of ease of the servants of the day),then it would be secure againstthe ill-treatment of the maids when theyare in the sulks or have a fit of laziness.
There is nothingnew here that you do not alreadyknow.