would be against it. Pray for me, and farewell in the Lord.
Eve and the children.
PhilipMelanchthon, servant of the You could not credit, my Philip,what a swarm of verbal and written complaints I received after I got your letter,and very specially concerningyourself
I tell you this most unwillingly, for I am tenderlysolicitous not to grieveyou in the slightest, for you should receive only consolation from me, who ought to helpyou to bear your burden.
I have alwaystried to do so.
I have our people's letters and the other party to contend with.
Augsburg friends sent me very different accounts.
I am determined rather to believe you than others, and hope you will conceal nothingpertaining to the cause from me.
I am convinced that you will concede nothing which could injurethe confession and the gospel.
But to begin with, it is not necessary to explain explicitly what the gospeland our confession really are But we must abide by our old agreement
" to concede everythingin the interests of peace which is not at variance with the gospel and our recent confession.
I have no fear for the good cause, but dreaded force and cunningon your account.
Pray write,via Narnberg,all that has happened since I got your last letter.
For the tragiclettersof our people would make us fancy that our affairs have assumed a serious aspect.
The nightbefore last some one mumbled somethinglike this before the Prince at supper, but I said, with assumed indifference, that no one had written me about it.
Give me a true account to stop their mouths.
They pay no attention to me.
Lord guideand maintain you.
Luther relates the course of negotiations since the As you wish to hear all that has taken placein Augsburg since the Prince's departure, dear
Nicolas,I shall briefly relate everything.
You know that certain umpireshave been chosen to deliberate over unity of doctrine and peace, and But as they could not agree they againreferred the matter to the Emperor, and now await his decision,althoughin the last letter they said the way was beingpaved for an agreement.
In our former peace negotiations our opponents demanded we should permit privatemasses, retain both canons with the glossary, and the word sacrifice, etc., and call it an open questionwhether one takes the sacrament under both kinds or not, and allow the married monks to leave their wives and return to the cloister,and cease beingconsidered married men.
If we concede these,then theywill tolerate the sacrament in both kinds,and acknowledge the wives for the sake of the children tilla future council.
Satan's presumption, dear Nicolas, in making such disgraceful proposals to those whom he leads captiveat his will.
But our people have not yielded,althoughthey have offered to restore the jurisdiction to the bishopsif theywill permitthe preaching, and do away with the abuses and some of the fast days.
But nothing has yet been done.
I write,lettershave come from the dear Elector saying the Emperor permitshim to leave to-day. The Christian who seeks to establish peace and unity,but whether he may be able to do so I know not, as he is surrounded by so many masked devils (devilsin disguise).Farewell.