Answer to the complaint of the abbess about the interference with her rights.
Handwritten in Cod. chart. 451. fol. Bibl. Goth. Printed in the Leipzig Supplement, p. 73, no. 126; in Walch, vol. XXI, 366; in De Wette, vol. IV, p. 501 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 55, p. 37.
To the venerable, well-born Domina, Anna, Fräulein von Limpurg, Abbatess of the free noble convent at Herford, our gracious Domina.
Grace and peace through our Lord Jesus Christ. Venerable, benevolent Domina! After Your Grace has complained that some in Herford are subject to encroach upon Your Grace's jurisdiction, to take money and other justice by force. Your Grace knows that I, Doctor Martinus, have always written and taught with the utmost diligence that one should keep the difference of the authorities, and that no one should command in another's dominion, nor should anyone take or withdraw interest or the like from another. For this reason, we do not approve of the action of which E. G. writes; we would also like from the bottom of our hearts that those who
We have also written to Doctor Johann Dreger 1) and admonished and asked him not to participate in violence and injustice, but rather to make those who practice violence abhorrent. For this reason, we have also written to Doctor Johann Dreger 1) and admonished him and asked him not to make himself a party to violence and injustice, but rather to instruct those who practice violence and to admonish them to Christian love, as he, as the preacher, is obligated to do. However, we have considered that E. G.'s request to write to the city council might not be fruitful, although we do not really know how things stand with the church order in Herford. Nevertheless, we ask the Council, as far as the necessary appointment of the church offices is concerned, that the Council be patient after this time, and not seek its right in all matters equally sharply, since the Council knows that in many places the churches have been poorly supplied with people in part, and in part with the maintenance of the people. Where in such cases some unfortunate changes have been made to the need of the churches, we ask that Your Lordship nevertheless be patient for the sake of public peace; but that some should plan to build the city walls with the church property, contrary to the permission of their authorities, is not considered just. God preserve E. G. at all times. The 11 fl. that God sent to us, we send to God again, and we are willing to serve God. G. we are willing to serve. Date Wittenberg, Thursday the 15th of Jan. Anno 1534. Martinus Luther.
Philip Melanchthon.
No. 2032.