Ottinger, on the order of the Landgrave, informs that the armaments set up by him are not directed against the Emperor or his brother, but merely aim at the reinstatement of the expelled Duke Ulrich of Würtemberg; also, his lord is not attached to any rotieret or sect, such as that of the Anabaptists.
According to a simultaneous copy in the Weimar Archives, Reg. C, fol. 644. P. (without date, but according to the facts at least at the beginning of 1534) printed by Burkhardt, p. 221.
Venerable, highly respected Doctor! I have no doubt that through various cries of this dangerous time has also come before you, as that our gracious Prince and Lord Philips, Landgrave of Hesse 2c., is in an armament of which, because of your dignity, perhaps 2) might be unjustly reported, as if his F. G. wanted to do something against Imperial Maj. (or what else might be said by the unintelligent and ignorant), which, as far as I am aware, is not his F. G.'s intention and opinion, but because King Ferdinand of Imperial Maj. Mas. is not further enfeoffed with the Duchy of Würtemberg, which the Electors do not deny, but publicly confess, because^) with reservation of any justice to the land of Würtemberg, according to which the by!, highborn Prince and Lord, Duke Ulrich (Huldrich) of Würtemberg has the highest right to defend himself against Imperial Maj. If, however, such an offer is unseen and cannot be granted by King Ferdinand to the right and to his hereditary land, then our F., G. and Lord intend to introduce the noble, highborn Prince and Lord Duke Ulrich, according to the content of all equity before God and Imperial Majesty, to the right. Maj. to introduce and establish him in the right way, and F. G. has, as far as I know
1) Cassel is divided by the Fulda into the old town and the new town, therefore we have given above "old town" by "old town".
2) With Burkhardt: "from which because of your became, perhaps" 2c.
3) Burkhardt: "den".
aware of no other objection, either against Imperial Majesty or his brother, than the election of Ferdinand as Roman King. Maj. or his Maj. brother than the election of Ferdinandi as Roman King, but only for the sake of this matter, as stated above. That also his dignity is not or does not want to be dependent on any Rotterianism or sect, as the sect of the Anabaptists or others in any way, that your dignity shall provide and promise to his dignity completely and certainly. I do not want your dignity, as by order of his F. G., to be of good opinion, so that you, whether you would perhaps be reported differently in these fast runs/) know how to hold yourself against his F. G. in all due measure.
E[uer] w[illiger]
Conradus Ottinger, pastor in the old city of Cassel.
No. 2029.