,
and to spread in the world the worship of the only true God, now is the
time, whilst the Priests and Pastors of the Christians are at variance,
and the common people are beginning to doubt the Faith. The Bishops and
Authorities oppress and persecute the poor to such an extent, that Your
Majesty's arrival is openly desired, so that Your Majesty may take
possession of the German empire and thus free the poor.'"

"The wretch," cried Frau Belier, whilst Erastus paced up and down in
concern. "Still worse," continued Belier. "He offers to give the
Grandturk advice by word of mouth. 'What further you may desire to know
concerning the Christians, I shall myself inform Your Majesty in
person.' He deserves the axe and that legally," said the Frenchman as
he folded the letter and returned it to Erastus. "I must not conceal it
from you, my friend," cried he excitedly as Erastus kept silence, "that
I am as strongly opposed to such blasphemies against the name of God as
is Master Calvin. To punish robbery, murder, extortion with death, but
to suffer the name of the Deity to be treated with contumely because
thereby men are not personally injured but only the worship of God,
would be to act in an unreasonable and godless manner. The laws of the
state must place the honor of God on as sure a basis as that of man. A
Pastor, who sets the Alkoran of Satan above the word of God, must be
rooted out of the community." Erastus shrugged his shoulders.
"Nevertheless," he said, "it is sad that the delirium of a drunkard
should be punished with the rack and execution. The man has a good wife
and a crowd of children. Other innocent persons will be punished
together with him. Ursinus' bachelors and licentiates are skipping
about with joy. This scandal suits them as if made to order. Already
they have given out as password that all opponents of the 'Geneva
interdict' and of the Presbyterian police are to be regarded as
accomplices of the Arians." He then added that he himself and Xylander
had been purposely shunned at the Hirsch. His best friends had
anxiously asked him, whether it was true, that they had often held
conferences at Ladenburg with Sylvan. Olevianus and his party evidently
intended to turn to their own benefit, the feeling against himself,
Xylander and Probus. Ursinus had stated to the students, and Olevianus
to the congregations, that the prisoners were only the "sharp-shooters
of Satan," the "generals" would soon be found out. "Sca