the safe-conduct granted me by the emperor expires.  I am sorry that, as you write me, there is an intention to apply the very severe [imperial] edict also for the purpose of exploring men’s consciences; not on my account, but because they [the papists] are ill-advised in this and will bring misfortune on their own heads, and because they continue to load themselves with very great odium.  Oh, what hatred will this shameless violence kindle!  However, they may have their way; perhaps the time of their visitation is near.  —­So far I have not heard from our people either at Wittenberg or elsewhere.  About the time of our arrival at Eisenach the young men [the students] at Erfurt had, during the night, damaged a few priests’ dwellings, from indignation because the dean of St. Severus Institute, a great papist, had caught Magister Draco, a gentleman who is favorably inclined to us, by his cassock and had publicly dragged him from the choir, pretending that he had been excommunicated for having gone to meet me at my arrival at Erfurt.  Meanwhile people are fearing greater disturbances; the magistrates are conniving, for the local priests are in ill repute, and it is being reported that the artisans are allying themselves with the student-body.  The prophetic saying seems about to come true which runs:  Erfurt is another Prague. [There was rioting in Prague in the days of Hus, whom Rome burned at the stake.]—­I was told yesterday that a certain priest at Gotha has met with rough treatment because his people had bought certain estates (I do not know which), in order to increase the revenue of the church, and, under pretext of their ecclesiastical immunity, had refused to pay the incumbrances and taxes on the same.  We see that the people, as also Erasmus writes, are unable and unwilling any longer to bear the yoke of the Pope and the papists.  And still we do not cease coercing and burdening them, although—­now that everything has been brought to light—­we have lost our reputation and their good will, and our former halo of sanctity can no longer avail or exert the influence which it exerted formerly.  Heretofore we have increased hatred by violence and by violence have suppressed it; however, whether we can continue suppressing it experience will show.” (15, 2510.) To Melanchthon he wrote about this time:  “I hear that at Erfurt they are resorting to violence against the dwellings of priests.  I am surprised that the city council permits this and connives at it, and that our dear friend Lang keeps silent.  For although it is good that those impious men who will not desist are kept in check, still this procedure will bring the Gospel into disrepute, and will cause men justly to spurn it.  I would write to Lang, but as yet I dare not.  For such a display of friendliness to our cause as these people show is very offensive to me, because it clearly shows that we are not yet worthy servants in God’s sight, and that Satan is mocking and laughing at our efforts [of reform].  Oh, how I do fear that all this is like the fig tree in the parable, of which the Lord, Matt. 21, predicts that it will merely sprout before the Day of Judgment, but will bear no fruit.  What we teach is, indeed, the truth; however, it amounts to nothing if we do not practise what we preach.” (15, 1906.)