CHARLES OF fEROTIN

323

His corre2erotin has left voluminous writings. spondence, to which I have already alluded, was very Continued, as it was, during the whole of his life, it of course, of the greatest value for the history of his time. Zerotin has also left several volumes of memoirs, referring principally to the doings of the Diet of Moravia during the period that he presided over that assembly. He also wrote very curious work entitled Obrana or Apology, addressed to George, Lord of Hodic, appears that Hodic had blamed Zerotin publicly for having temporarily retired from political life. This work, written in pure but eloquent manner, showing traces of profound study of the classical writers, recognised masterpiece of Bohemian prose. The original great reluctance of the members of the Brotherhood to enter the stormy arena of political life had indeed decreased since many nobles and other influential persons had joined their Church, but traces of this He writes " You feeling appear in Zerotin's work. were pleased, my Lord of Hodic, to remark of me at the meeting of the Estates that act wrongly in stifling the gifts which God has given to me.' By these words — few and quickly spoken, yet containing much meaning — you were pleased to attack me sharply and to deal me severe blow for what else stifling God's gift but refusing to remain in that state in which God has And what, again, not remaining in the placed us state in which God has placed us but not being as What conclusion then can be drawn other should be am not as should be, then — though than that am lover of my country, her true son, declare that an own limb of her body, sharing her wounds — in fact, her twin-brother, who was born with her and will die

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