this devil,the secret oath,so that poor parents may be able to train and retain their children in security.
I pleadthat CasparBeier,who has appealed from the Consistorium to your Grace,should be set free before you leave for the Diet,for it has been a slow process.
I could have arrangedit in a day,but theyhave been at it since Whitsuntide,and have merelydiscovered a privatevow and the weak will of the father,who declares that he never wished it should take place, but they seemed determined not to understand.
Certainly the son in his four years'engagement neither asked his parents' consent nor that of the maiden's parents,which is unusual when young men are in love ; but let the vow fall into abeyancetill the maiden's peopleappealto the father.
Stillallthis isnothing so longas the poisoned vow, the oath,remains unrefuted.
Electoral Grace will act wisely, for in this insignificant work your Grace will be doing a gloriousservice to God and to many others, besidesaffording consolation to allparents and preventing numberless dangers to many souls.
May the Father,Son, and Holy Ghost, to whom be praise to all eternity, help your Electoral Grace in allsuch matters.
Electoral Grace's humble servant, Luther accounts for delayin printing a littlebook,etc.
You sometimes write in an annoyed tone, dear Spalatin, as if you did not know where your littlebook was.
I do not take your love towards the fruit of your humour {witz)in bad part,seeingyou joke about your love for me.
I must inform you that the book is in the hands of the printers.But the press is so full that it cannot be finished as quickly as you wish.
You perhapsdo not know how we are driven,but