To those from Starschedel 1) is determined another legal day in the matter of engagement.
The Weimar archive contains the unfinished fair copy, Reg. O, fol. 49. 423 . Printed by Burkhardt, p.390.
Des durchlauchtigsten, hochgebornen Fürsten und Herrn, Herrn Johans Fridrichen 2c. 2c. We, Martin Luther, Johann Bugenhagen, Doctores of the Holy Scriptures, and the ordered Commissars of the Consistorii at Wittenberg, the subsequently mentioned matters of S. ch. G., offer you, the strict and firm Ernsten von Starschedel, together with the honorable and virtuous virgin Annen, your daughter, our friendly services and greetings beforehand, and hereby submit to your knowledge: Since there are misunderstandings and afflictions due to a marriage ceremony, which took place between your 2c. Prince and Lord, Ernsten, Duke of Brunswick, on the one hand, and you, Maiden Annen, on the other, should have taken place, because of which the also illustrious 2c. Philips, Duke of Brunswick, also our gracious, as the father, had a contradiction and declaration of his F. G. unwillingness legally brought before us on the appointed date by his F. G. attorneys, also you, the von Starschedel, have objected to it before us on another court day, which we have sent to the highly respected Duke. When, however, H. F. G. has further requested our most gracious 2c. Lord for further promotion of the matters and S. ch. G. has graciously ordered us to set and determine another legal day, then, by virtue of the order received before and now, we hereby appoint you von Starschedel, as father and daughter, all and each in particular, a final peremptory date and court day on Monday after Bartholomew [Aug. 29], to appear before us here in Wittenberg at an early hour of the day, sent to the most reverend of our gracious Lord.
1) In this document the name "Stharstödel, Stahrstödel and Starstödel" is written.
The court shall have the Duke of Philips and the Duke's attorneys file a complaint, petition, or search, which the Duke shall have made on the basis of the following opinion, put your answer and legal necessity from your mouth into the pen, and bring it to the court. For when, after his F. G. has had credible experience that you, father and daughter of Starschedel, let yourselves be heard and spread among the people, then S. F. G.'s son, our gracious lord, shall be allowed to take the decision. son, our gracious lord, Duke Ernst, have made a marriage vow to you, virgins of Anne, and have promised to marry each other, inasmuch as you, the von Starschedel, as the father, have had this clarified in your letter, so that you may reach our most gracious lord beforehand, and also in the next writing, which you have handed over to us in Wittenberg, then S. F. G. would have considered their marriage vows. F. G. would be anxious to carry out their contradiction against it, and that there could be no lasting, strong marriage agreement between F. G.'s son, Duke Ernsten, and you, the virgins Annen von Starschedel, even if the matters had in fact and in fact been according to your pretence, as F. G. did not believe. F. G. did not believe, because S. F. G. as the father did not consent to it, as such should be further suggested and brought forward by S. F. G. attorneys at the appointed date. And we hereby assure you, if you appear at the appointed court date or not, that nothing less will be done on the obedient part's request, as much as is in the right and due, according to which you are to abide. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our Petitions and the Consistorial Seal, hereunto imprinted, sealed. Done at Wittenberg, Tuesday after Chiliani [July 12] Anno 1541.
No. 2815.