To Wolfg. Fues, pastor at Colditz. 1526.
To the worthy Mr. Wolfgang Fues, pastor at Colditz, my favorable master and friend.
Grace and peace in Christ, worthy, dear priest, I have read the acts concerning the marriage of N. N. and N. N. together with your writing. And because you want my judgment on this, this is my answer: If the virgin Anna refuses, as her report says, then you should let her go on her conscience and release N. N. and free him to change elsewhere, as he wants and God gives him. Just as I am here with this scripture with you, and if you want to publicly declare it, I absolve him before everyone on God's word, since St. Paul says, 1 Cor. 7:16: "If the unbeliever separates, let him go; the brother is not imprisoned in such a case." And methinks, yea, I see almost well, that on the virgin's side are juristic fellows. But where the witnesses, as their report gives, say true, the virgin has no pretense at all nor
It is a remedy, because she should not only be obedient to her parents, especially to her mother, as a natural daughter, but also because she condemns herself for keeping silent, since she has well heard and known that she was trusted. Therefore it does not help her that she now cries out; she should have cried out before, when she learned it, and contradicted the mother in time. Quia qui tacuit, consentire videtur (i.e. he who is silent about something gives himself the appearance of consenting). Well, will it go well with her, let it be done by God, because she neither wants to follow nor to hear. However, I ask you to take good care of this writing of mine and also of the acts, so that the matter will not grow with time, and the devil will start something through such fellows, so that we may encounter such lawyers and protect ourselves from them. Hereby commanded by God. Caetera curabo. Salutat te mea Keta. (I will take care of the rest. My Käthe sends her regards.) Wittenberg, Monday after Martinmas, Anno 1526. Martinus Luther.