"His majesty requests you to discontinue the preachings," said Ferdinand. On hearing these words the two old princes (the Elector and the Margrave) turned pale and did not speak;[438] there was a long silence. [438] Die beede alte Fürsten zum höchsten entsetz.--(Ibid.) At last the Landgrave said: "We entreat your majesty to withdraw your request, for our ministers preach only the pure Word of God, as did the ancient doctors of the Church, St. Augustin, St. Hilary, and so many others. It will be easy for your majesty to convince yourself of it. We cannot deprive ourselves of the food of the Word of God, and deny his Gospel."[439] [439] Se non posse cibo verbi Dei carere, nec sana conscientia Evangelium negare.--(Corp. Ref. p. 115.) [Sidenote: THE EMPEROR'S SILENCE.] Ferdinand, resuming the conversation in French[440] (for it was in this language that he conversed with his brother), informed the Emperor of the Landgrave's answer. Nothing was more displeasing to Charles than these citations of Hilary and Augustin; the colour mounted to his cheeks, and he was nearly getting angry.[441] "His Majesty," said Ferdinand in a more positive tone, "cannot desist from his demand."--"Your conscience," quickly replied the Landgrave, "has no right to command ours."[442] As Ferdinand still persisted, the Margrave, who had been silent until then, could contain himself no longer; and without caring for interpreters, stretched out his neck towards Charles, exclaiming in deep emotion: "Rather than allow the Word of the Lord to be taken from me, rather than deny my God, I would kneel before your Majesty and have my head cut off!" As he uttered these simple and magnanimous words, says a contemporary,[443] the prince accompanied them with a significant gesture, and let his hands fall on his neck like the headsman's axe. The excitement of the princes was at its height: had it been necessary, they would all four have instantly walked to the scaffold. Charles was moved by it: surprised and agitated, he hastily cried out in his bad German, making a show of checking the Landgrave: "Dear prince, not the head! not the head!" But he had scarcely uttered these few words, when he checked himself. [440] In Französischer Sprache.--(Ibid. p. 107.) [441] Sich darob etwas angeröt und erhitzt.--(Corp. Ref. ii. p. 115.) [442] K. M. gewissen sey aber kein Herr und meyster uber ihr gewissen.--(Ibid. p. 115.) [443] Ut simpliciter, ita magnanimiter, says Brenz.--(Ibid.)