I.

Most Reverend Archbishop and Elector, Most Gracious Lord, Lord.

Will Your Electoral Grace deign to listen to the complaint that when Court Singer Schwachhofer was commanded in obedience to an order of His Excellency Baron von Belderbusch to alternate with Jacobina Salomon in the singing of the solos in the church music as is the custom, the said Schwachhofer in the presence of the entire chapel impertinently and literally answered me as follows: I will not accept your _ordre_ and you have no right to command me.

Your Electoral Grace will doubtless recall various _disordre_ on the part of the court chapel indicating that all respect and _ordonance_ is withheld from me, each member behaving as he sees fit, which is very painful to my sensibilities.

Wherefore my humble prayer reaches Your Electoral Highness that the public affront of the Schwachhofer be punished to my deserved _satisfaction_ and that a decree issue from Your Highness to the entire chapel that at the cost of Your Gracious displeasure or punishment according to the offence my _ordre_ shall not be evaded.

Your Electoral Grace’s Humble and Most Obedient Servant Ludovicus van Beethoven.