Page:Rambles and Researches in Thuringian Saxony.djvu/237

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“It is just three hundred years, come the day of the blessed Virgin, that the Nuncio of the Holy Father, Gregory IX., appeared at the court of the Emperor Frederic at Naples, urging him, by a new Crusade, to rescue the holy city from the infidels. Alarmed at the Pontiff’s threats, the Emperor summoned the Princes of the Empire, and assembled a numerous band of valiant warriors. In the imperial suite was the Landgrave of Thuringia, Lewis the Holy, with his knights and followers. Joyfully the warriors set out; one only was sad and mournful, the noble Count of Gleichen. Lewis inquiring the cause of his settled melancholy, the Count replied: ‘Doubt not my courage or devotion to the sacred cause! but I leave my dear Ottilia, with our infant children, perhaps for ever.’ ‘Console yourself,’ said the Landgrave, ‘I likewise parted with sorrow from my true and gracious Elizabeth, but I grieve no more, for, while we try the combat, our wives will pray to God that we return in safety,’ &c. &c.”

[It appears, however, from the MS., that the Landgrave died soon after at Otranto, naming the Count leader of his vassals. They arrived at