Grace and peace, dear priest. N. N. is not convinced of his wife, nor is she divorced from him by judgment; but she herself with N. N. make themselves judge and divider, also execute the judgment, unheard and unconvicted N. N. Therefore she shall be summoned, interrogated, judged and punished as a public adulteress by my most gracious lord. If then N. N. does not want to have her, she must leave the country or otherwise be punished,
together with the one who took it away as befits, and then by such judgment he shall be allowed to take another.
Without and before such a judgment, he should have patience and do nothing, so that he does not spoil the matter and become his own judge. You may inform him of this and have it read to him, as I have also reported to him verbally. Gratia tecum (mercy be upon you). Anno 1526.
Martinus Luther.
3. of all kinds of dorsal marriages and marriage cases when entering into matrimony.