Luther was tired of the discussions with the March, Henry VIII. repHedto the Schmalkalden document, saying he could onlyagree to it ifthe AugsburgConfession and the Apologia were toned down.
Frederick repliedthat if he would not admit pure doctrine into his kingdom, it was no use concludinga treaty with him.
We have received your Grace's directions in regardto the English, and will give the articles of agreement to the ViceChancellor,Franciscus,from which you may see how far we have got.
But as they do not know if their King may be pleasedwith them, especially the last four, we have first announced the matter to him, leaving a loophole for escape.
Majestyaccept the conditions, the alliance shall be ratified, for the articles harmonise with our teaching, and afterwards,if desired, an embassy may be sent to explainthingsmore fully to the King.
Majestywill not accept, or wishes alterations in these articles, then we cannot for his sake launch our Church into fresh trouble when we have scarcelygot it into smooth waters.
Electoral Highness can from all this draw your own conclusions as to the royalmarriagequestion, or say if it w^ould not be as well for us to defend ourselves in as far as we have approved of it.
In Herzog George'saffair our peoplehave acted most imprudently, which has incensed me greatly.But your Grace has a good conscience,having offered to drop all enmity ; God will not forgetit.
But this quarrelsome, revengefulman continues bloodthirstyand longs for murder, so that one day *' his mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealingshall come down upon his own pate."
But the best of it is,he cannot even join in prayer with those who cleave to him, for he does not need prayer, so proud is he
; while,God be praised, we can pray, for we seek peace and forgiveness, which God will grant if we humbly confess our sins and seek
His glory. May our dear Highnessesheart againstthe devil's threats and sour looks.
Caspar Cruciger begs me to ask your Electoral Highness graciously to grant him the use of Schloss Eulenburgfor his marriage,as he knows of no other placeto celebrate it,as it cannot be at Grace will know how to act graciously.For one must helpin such matters.
About agreement with the English.
Chancellor,that as my lord wishes to know how far we may giveway to the English King regardingthose articles, that we cannot concede more.
If theywish to have the articles expressed in other language I shall permit no alterations in the matter of faith and teaching, otherwise we might rather have seen eye to eye with Pope and Emperor at Augsburg, and even now it would be disgraceful to concede more to the King than we would do to No doubt people should have patience,for in England thingsconnected with doctrine cannot so speedily be put into practice
; still,the principalarticles must not be changed or given up.
The ceremonials are temporary things, which will arrange themselves through time with the help of sensible rulers,so it is useless disputing or worrying over them tillthe rightfoundation is laid.
But if the alliance with the King is to be entered into,although the King does not agree with us as to all the articles, then
I shall leave it to the dear lords,alongwith my gracious lord,for it is a worldlymatter ; stillI consider it to be a