report of the spiritual members of the Church Council on
the arian clergymen has been sent in," began the Kurfuerst. "Before
discussing your matter. I should like to hear what you think about it?"

"The theological gentlemen have not deemed it necessary to send me a
copy," said Erastus coldly.

"Did you not attend the preliminary meetings as to the result of the
inquiry?"

"What advantage would it have been to me?" replied Erastus bitterly.
"In Your Gracious Highness' Church Council there are three kinds of
Counsellors. The Jurists read the documents and report their contents.
The learned Doctors do not read yet nevertheless report on them, the
Theologians read them and report totally differently to what is written
in them. When I saw that I remained away."

"Your old song," growled the Kurfuerst fretfully. "But now I must read
you a report instead of your doing so to me. First of all then," he
said turning over the leaves of the report above mentioned, "these
gentlemen enjoin on me, that whosoever acquits those blasphemers, is as
much an abomination in the sight of God, as the blasphemers
themselves." Erastus shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. "The first
part refers to the blasphemies, invectives, and repudiation of the
Christian dogmas by these clergymen, as well as their endeavours to
unite themselves with the Turks. All the points in Sylvanus' libel are
clearly marked out, and it is thus evident, that the Inspector intended
to taint the world with his blasphemies. Do you differ from this
opinion?"

"No," answered Erastus, "Sylvanus' letter deserves punishment. But I
cannot possibly look upon Neuser's ridiculous composition as a serious
production, more especially as it is endorsed: _potest omitti_. I
believe that the foolish man wrote it in a drunken mood, and though he
read it again when more sober, he was too lazy to burn the document and
wrote instead: 'need not be forwarded.' Sylvanus has been however
severely punished by his long imprisonment and regrets his aberration
sincerely. Most certainly those two cannot go unpunished, but the only
question is what punishment those gentlemen consider fitting?"

"That is just the point," said the Kurfuerst sorrowfully. "These
theologians continually refer to the divine law as it is written in the
Books of Moses. There it is commanded, to stone such blasphemers, to
pierce them with the sword, to burn them. The words of the Vth Book of
Moses Chapter 13 are clear