g the first to be here.

Accordingly, since even here at Augsburg at the very beginning of the
Diet, Your Imperial Majesty caused to be proposed to the Electors,
Princes, and other Estates of the Empire, amongst other things, that the
several Estates of the Empire, on the strength of the Imperial edict,
should set forth and submit their opinions and judgments in the German
and the Latin language, and since on the ensuing Wednesday, answer was
given to Your Imperial Majesty, after due deliberation, that we would
submit the Articles of our Confession for our side on next Wednesday,
therefore, in obedience to Your Imperial Majesty's wishes, we offer,
in this matter of religion, the Confession of our preachers and of
ourselves, showing what manner of doctrine from the Holy Scriptures and
the pure Word of God has been up to this time set forth in our lands,
dukedoms, dominions, and cities, and taught in our churches.

And if the other Electors, Princes, and Estates of the Empire will,
according to the said Imperial proposition, present similar writings,
to wit, in Latin and German, giving their opinions in this matter of
religion, we, with the Princes and friends aforesaid, here before Your
Imperial Majesty, our most clement Lord are prepared to confer amicably
concerning all possible ways and means, in order that we may come
together, as far as this may be honorably done, and, the matter between
us on both sides being peacefully discussed without offensive strife,
the dissension, by God's help, may be done away and brought back to
one true accordant religion; for as we all are under one Christ and do
battle under Him, we ought to confess the one Christ, after the tenor
of Your Imperial Majesty's edict, and everything ought to be conducted
according to the truth of God; and this it is what, with most fervent
prayers, we entreat of God.

However, as regards the rest of the Electors, Princes, and Estates,
who constitute the other part, if no progress should be made, nor some
result be attained by this treatment of the cause of religion after the
manner in which Your Imperial Majesty has wisely held that it should be
dealt with and treated namely, by such mutual presentation of writings
and calm conferring together among ourselves, we at least leave with
you a clear testimony, that we here in no wise are holding back from
anything that could bring about Christian concord,--such as could be
effected with God and a good conscie