Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/489

 that will be suitable or proper (as you who are experts can well understand), it is therefore our gracious desire that you will yourselves consider ways and means by which harmony and unity may be reached. . ..

839. LETTER WRITTEN BY ORDER OF JOHN MATTHEW GIBERTI, BISHOP OF VERONA, TO MARK CONTARINL

Brown, 1527-33, no. 1086. Verona, July i6(?), 1529.

Understands, by advices from Trent, that the Diet of Spires has been dissolved, and it was determined to take the silver vessels from the churches, to make money ; and that pro nunc, all men are to profess what religion they please ; and the Luth- erans are more in favor.

Erasmus has quitted Basle.^

In the neighborhood of Frankfort, a priest carrying the sac- rament to a communicant, the Lutherans dashed it to the ground with great ignominy, and the priest was beaten.

An agreement has been concluded between the Pope and the Emperor,' and the Lord Chancellor of Spain [Gattinara] is made cardinal.

84a LUTHER TO THE MARGRAVE GEORGE OF BRANDEN- BURG. DeWette, iii, 485. German. (WrrrENBEBG), July 18, 1529.

Grace and peace in Christ. Serene, highborn Prince, gracious Lord. I have long delayed my answer* to your Grace, though unwillingly; for at first, when the messenger was urging me, I had no leisure, and afterwards I had no trust- worthy messenger. Your Grace will graciously pardon me. But now that I have got this George Schlegd,* who is a re- liable messenger, I shall tell your Grace what I consider the best thing to do in this matter, after having advised with Master Philip Melanchthon.

In the first place, we think it well that the monasteries and foundations should be left as they are until they die out, for

1 For Freiberg in the Breisgau, April, 1529. Cf. supra, p. 469, n. 5. ' The treaty of Barcelona, signed June 23 ; vide supra, no. 835. 1549. In 1542 and 1548 mentioned as pastor at Erlangen.
 * The Margrare's letter is dated June 15 (Enders, vii, 118).
 * A student of Gunzenhausen, who matriculated at Wittenberg Januaiy 40»

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