To the highly-honorable brother in Christ, Joahnn Weber, servant of the Word in Neustadt and faithful and pure superintendent.
Grace and peace in the LOrd! I have, worthy man, counseled Johann Nicolai in his marriage matter that he should do thus: First, that he should according to divine example summon her to judgment, that is, through a posted bill on the doors of churches in the vicinity admonish and summon her to answer to you or to him why she has fled and forsaken her husband, breaking her faithfulness, and commiting robbery and thievery etc. If she would not come, the same bill she would warned that there will bejudgment of her and she will be separated by divorce and permission given that the husband is free to take another. If this should happen the entire matter should be proclaimed to the people in a sermon by you. After this has been determined and the matter terminated through divorce it should be announced to her that Johann is free to take another as he explicitly makes it known. The offense of Satan must be countered in a public witness and work. Be it well with you and pray for me. The 16rh of January 1531. Martin Luther.
NOTE: Joh. Nicolai, pastor in Dreitzch, took Eva Erbes, a widow, to wife in 1527. She left him in October 1527. After numerous citations were posted in the vicnity of Wuerzburg and she failed to appear a court judgment of divorce was declared in October of 1531 and Nicolai permitted to marry again.
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