��OTHER CONTEMPORARY LETTERS
��difficult case. For the people at Wittenberg undertook to do many strange things, and were not agreed among themselves about the matter. The members of the chapter* were not agreed in all respects, nor were the men of the university. At Wittenberg and outside of it, in places where the Witten- bergers had followers, one man was saying mass one way, another another way; one with a chasuble and one without; even though both ways were equally good, it was, to say the least, unseemly. Many students left because of it, and some of the princes simmioned their subjects away from the Univer- sity at Wittenberg.*
His Grace, therefore, knew not what the best thing was to do, and since he writes that his Grace shall be wise and prudent and not judge according to reason or outward appearances, his Grace graciously asks that he will tell his Grace what he thinks his Grace ought to do and what he ought not to do in these matters, and that he will give his Grace an answer; for his Grace would not willingly do or attempt anything that mig^t be contrary to God's will and His holy Word. Nor does his Grace wish any improper measures to be taken, which might give rise to rebellion and other difficulties. . . .
And since at the end of his letter he said that he would himself, God willing, soon be there, and his Grace should not take his part, his Grace does not know whether he wishes to \ If that is what is in his mind, it is his Grace's opinion that for ^ the present he ought by no means to go there, for his Grace cannot conceive that it would be good for him to show himself publicly under present circumstances. If it were known that he was at Wittenberg and the Pope and his Imperial Majesty were to proceed further against him in pursuance of their published edict, and were also to command and summon his ; Grace to cause him to make answer, when his Grace had not yet reason to believe that this ought to be done, since he has not yet been convicted ; this would cause his Grace the greatest embarrassment, especially if injustice were done him.
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��1 /.#.. the clergy attached to the Castle Church.
'Dakc George of Saxony ividg supra, no. 535), Joachim of Brandenburg and Henry of Brunawick (S]>alatin in Mencke, ii, 611).
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