ion of our community, assembled anew concerning this
business, that we will still, and so long as you act in a Christian
manner and faithfully, according to the Divine Word, place our lives
and property at your disposal. For although, if we thought to complain
much were fit and proper and would help us, we would lay certain
grievances and articles before you, yet, on the other hand, we remember
the teachings of the holy Evangelists and Apostles--which warn you and
us, and show how one part ought to conduct itself toward the other--and
your diligence, love, concern and labor with and toward us, though we
therein have perceived that you have also slackened somewhat; so, then,
we live in hope that you will continue to act as true fathers are bound
to do toward their sons, masters toward faithful servants and pious
rulers toward their subjects; and establish whatsoever is profitable,
peaceful and Christian, and, on the other hand, that you will blot out
and uproot whatsoever is ungodly, unjust and unfair, and therefore, we
commit the whole business to you, as our loving lords; for such we
esteem you according to the flesh, and in conclusion, pray you take not
our delay amiss."

Our last quotation will be from the memorial of a general assembly in
Freiamt, which contains the following singular passage: "After we
learned from you, our Lords, many articles of the bailiwicks 'beyond
you,' we find in them some things, which please us, and some which do
not. But yet it is our wish to remain as aforetime, and be obedient to
you, our Lords. But as several things have been referred to us by the
other bailiwicks, they ought to be discussed at Metmenstetten, and
arbitrators, who will act for the best, in all these matters sent
thither. We wish to keep free from sedition with our persons and
property, as much as we can, and trust that you will treat us also as
you treat the other bailiwicks. Furthermore, we hope that you will
suffer that article to remain to us, whereby no man may be seized or
ridden over, who has law on his side, as the bailiff's roll shows, and
also, as regards army-service in conjunction with the confederates,
that it may continue as hitherto. How you treat with the cities,[3] it
does not concern us. Touching the clergy, this is our opinion: If we
give to them as heretofore, then they also ought not to deprive us of
anything. They often go away and visit each other, by which we lose the
administration of the several