"God reward you, gracious Prince, for making the council of evil doers of no avail."
"Justice must be on both sides," said the Prince thoughtfully. "What I am about to say to you now will perhaps not meet with so much approval from you." Saying this he took up another bundle of papers, while his brow became overcast. "The Church Council informs me that it has been forced to issue the ban of excommunication over you, which as a spiritual court it has the authority to do, through the power given by Christ to his Church, without asking the consent of the Sovereign of the land, nay more even against him in person."
"To his Church," cried Erastus. "Since when however do the few counsellors mentioned by the Sovereign, constitute the Church."
"Let us drop that matter for the moment," replied the Kurfürst. "For the present let us inquire into the cause of this step. Here is the deposition of Dr. Pigavetta, accusing you of being the especial head of the Arian conspiracy."
"Pigavetta," ejaculated Erastus.
"Calm yourself; if I doubted you, you would not be sitting here but in the great Tower. The facts adduced by the italian Doctor, do not amount to much. That you went often to Ladenburg with Xylander and even drove out with him, that Sylvanus also as he was being brought in here begged you to warn Neuser, that you in every case have taken under your care and protection the imprisoned blasphemers does not prove anything to me. Here however is the sworn assertion that you have concealed Neuser's papers and hidden them in your apartment, as they would never be sought for in the Castle itself." The Kurfürst stopped short.
"Will Your Gracious Highness order my apartment to be searched from cellar to garret; if a line of Neuser's be found, let my head be laid between my feet," said Erastus coldly.
"For your sake I am sorry, but not to draw down on myself the reproach of partiality, I could not spare you this." The Prince summoned a page by knocking on the table, and ordered the Amtmann Hartmann Hartmanni to be admitted. The Amtmann appeared at the door holding a bundle of papers under his arm. From his remarks it could be gathered that he had already fulfilled his commission whilst Erastus was being retained in audience. The astonished physician fixed his eyes on the Prince. This proceeding during his absence was new to him. It showed him, how low he had already fallen.
"You have completed the search of the papers belonging to my Counsellor?" asked the Kurfürst.
"No great search was necessary," replied Herr Hartmann. "Neuser's papers laid on the top."