ames, have by great efforts prevailed upon the
king to suspend the carnage and extinguish the fires until Melanchthon's
arrival. Should the hopes of these good people be disappointed, the
bloodhounds may succeed in creating even greater bitterness, and proceed
with burning and strangling. So that I think that Master Philip cannot
with a clear conscience abandon them in such straits, and defraud them
of their hearty encouragement."[371]

[Sidenote: The elector refuses to let him go.]

But even the great theological doctor's intercession was unavailing. The
very day the elector received "Master Philip's" application, he wrote to
Francis explaining his reasons for refusing to let Melanchthon go to
Paris. It is true that the letter was not actually sent until some ten
days later;[372] but no entreaties could move the elector to reconsider
his decision. Melanchthon indignantly left the court and returned to
Jena.[373] Here he subsequently received a written refusal from John
Frederick, couched in language far from agreeable. The elector expressed
astonishment that he should have permitted matters to go so far, and
that he continued to apply for permission even after his prince's desire
had been intimated. The danger to be apprehended for the peace of
Germany was far greater than any possible advantage that could be
expected from his mission. And the writer hinted very distinctly that
little confidence could be reposed in Francis's professions, where the
Gospel was concerned, as public history sufficiently demonstrated.[374]

[Sidenote: Melanchthon's chagrin.]

The most ungrateful of tasks was reserved for Melanchthon himself--the
task of explaining his inability to fulfil his engagement. In a letter
to Francis, he expressed the hope that the delay might be only
temporary, and he exhorted the king to resist violent counsels, while
seeking to promote religious harmony and public tranquillity by
peaceable means. To Du Bellay and Sturm he complained not a little of
the "roughness" of his prince, whom he had never found more "harsh." He
thought that the true motive of the elector's refusal was to be found in
the exaggerated report that he had given up everything, merely because
he had spoken too respectfully of the ecclesiastical power. "I am called
a deserter," he writes. "I am in great peril among our own friends on
account of this moderation; as moderate citizens are wont in civil
discords to be badly received by both sides