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1536 LETTERS OF MARTIN LUTHER 325 will never, in accordance with their present attitude, either advance or retreat unless God wills it. And as the expense is too great for your Grace to bear alone, as they them- selves admit, they are anxious to support themselves. Your Grace will know in this case also what is best. And I would respectfully inform your Highness that the Strassburg and Augsburg people have appealed to me to fix a time for us to hold the consultation. I wished first to consult your Grace as to the answer I shall give them, for this " Concord " cannot be concluded till we have discussed it thoroughly among ourselves ; and they write that many wish to come, among whom would be some quarrelsome people, who would spoil all ; so I respectfully beg you to fix a place for the gathering, for they are willing to go anywhere except to Coburg and its vicinity, where they would have to submit to the foreign rule of the bishops ; otherwise, no spot in Hesse or in your Grace's lands would be too remote for them. I herewith commit you to the dear God. Amen. Your Electoral Grace's obedient Martin Luther. (De Wette.) cccxxxix To Nicolas Hausmann Luther writes of Herzog Philip of Pomerania's marriage at Torgau to the Elector's sister. March 1 1, 1536. Grace and peace in Christ, beloved brother ! I highly commend to you the bearer of this letter, who hopes to get a school with you, and wished me to recommend him. I am the more willing to do this as he has a testimonial from Count Hoya in Westphalia addressed to me, to remove suspicion. So if you require any such person, do your utmost for him. There is nothing new here except that I purpose publishing a pamphlet against the crocodile in Halle. I wrote to him, calling him the dragon and the devil's cardinal. Pray that Christ, who has begun to pour out judgment upon him, may finish the work,