20 December 1535.
Grace and peace in Christ. Honorable, good friend! You will undoubtedly have good knowledge of how your son, M. Andreas, here in Wittenberg, got himself into an affair with Bernhardus von Barlitz's daughter, and this in such a way and with such words and writings, which nevertheless move me, since your writing, which I have read, does not almost strive against this, that such an engagement for marriage has gained a semblance. Now it is true that we teach here and also hold that no child should get engaged behind the parents' knowledge and will: about this you can well respect yourselves, it is unkind, if not worse, that an apprentice, so diligent, should not be engaged.
The man who displays his father's will and brings scripture with him, thus tempting a good man with his child and leading him onto the fool's rope. There are not good thoughts. For that should be, where he does not know nor could have his parents' will, also to leave a pious, poor virgin unprotected and not to put her in such a disgrace that the honor of the women, which is her only treasure, is endangered. If they then want to protect themselves with their parents' violence to escape, they will not boast of their parents' violence in the end, nor will they present it when they desire betrothal. Therefore, my request is that you should let your son's violence, be it foolishness or otherwise, protect you.
and think that nevertheless the good virgin is not slightly wronged by your son and scripture, because such disgrace may be interpreted by the world to her disadvantage. So it is hard for me to hear people praising my teaching that no child's vow is valid behind the father's will, and yet despising the other teaching that no child should deceive another man's child and put his honor in danger. For it would become too rough with the way, and the abuse would break in too far, that I would again have to let go of the pope's right and let your son and his like be stuck in the prison of their writing and word. If they want to enjoy my teaching and be free from the papal law, they must do so without harm and danger to others, or remain under the pope. For my gospel permits no one such freedom.
The people shall be free, but not contrary to the commandments of God and the law of love. They shall be free, but not against the commandments of God and the law of love. I am writing this so that you may help to bring this evil matter to an end or settle it amicably, so that such ill will and unwillingness will not become worse. For what I am writing for the sake of this thing, I am doing for the good of both of you and for peace, because otherwise, praise God, I have enough to deal with without this and might well be overburdened by such writing and thoughts. I hope, however, that because I have noticed in your writing that you, by the grace of God, are not a hard man, but a kind man, you will do your best and think that such displeasure will be put away and amicably resolved. Hereby commanded by God, Amen. Monday after Valeriani, 1535.