I will resist such entertainment, till
My enemy has more power.
The Tempest.
“That blast was but feebly blown,” said de Hagenbach, ascending to the ramparts, from which he could see what passed on the outside of the gate; “who approaches, Kilian?”
The trusty squire was hastening to meet him with the news.
“Two men, with a mule, an it please your excellency; and merchants I presume them to be.”
“Merchants? ‘sdeath, villain! pedlers you mean. Heard ever man of English merchants tramping it on foot, with no more baggage than one mule can manage to carry? They must be beggarly Bohemians, or those whom the French people call Escossais. The knaves! they shall pay with the pining of their paunches for the poverty of their purses.”
“Do not be too hasty, an please your excellency,” quoth the squire; “small budgets hold rich goods. But, rich or poor, are our men, at least they have all the marks; the elder, well-sized and dark-visaged, may write fifty-and-five years, a beard somewhat grizzled; — the younger some two-and-twenty taller than the first, and a well-favored lad, with a smooth chin and light-brown mustaches.”
“Let them be admitted,” said the governor, turning back in order again to descend to the street, “and bring them into the folter-kammer of the toll-house.”
So saying, he betook himself to the place appointed, which was an apartment in the large tower that protected the eastern gateway, in which were deposited the rack, with various other instruments of torture, which the cruel and rapacious Governor was in the habit of applying to such prisoners from whom he was desirous of extorting either booty or information. He entered the apartment, which was dimly lighted, and had a lofty Gothic roof which could be but imperfectly seen, while nooses and cords hanging down from thence, announced a fearful connection with various implements of rusted iron that hung round the walls, or lay scattered on the floor.
A faint stream of light, through one of the numerous and narrow slits, or shot-holes, with which the walls were garnished, fell directly upon the person and visage of a tall swarthy man, seated in what, but for the partial illumination, would have been an obscure corner of this evil-boding apartment. His features were regular, and even handsome, but of a character peculiarly stern and sinister. This person’s dress was a cloak of scarlet; his head was bare, and surrounded by shaggy locks of black, which time had partly grizzled. He was busily employed in furbishing and burnishing a broad two-handed sword, of a peculiar shape, and considerably shorter than the weapons of that kind which we have described as used by the Swiss. He was so sleeply engaged in his task, that he started as the heavy door opened with a jarring noise, and the sword, escaping from his hold, rolled on the stone floor with a heavy clash.
“Ha! Scharfgerichter,” said the Knight, as he entered the folter-kammer, “thou art preparing for thy duty?”
“It would ill become your excellency’s servant,” answered the man, in a harsh deep tone, “to be found idle. But the prisoner is not far off, as I can judge by the fall of my sword, which infallibly announces the presence of him who shall reel its edge.”
“The prisoners are at hand, Francis,” replied the Governor; “but thy omen has deceived thee for once. They are fellows for whom a good rope will suffice, and thy sword drinks only noble blood.”
“The worse for Francis Steinernherz,” replyed the official in scarlet; “I trusted that your excellency, who have ever been a bountiful patron, should this day have made me noble.”
“Noble!” said the Governor; “thou art mad — thou noble! The common executioner!”
“And wherefore not, Sir Archibald de Hagenbach? I think the name of Francis Steinernherz von Blutacker will suit nobility, being fairly and legally won, as well as another. Nay, do not stare on me thus. If one of my profession shall do his grim office on nine men of noble birth, with the same weapon, and with a single blow to each patient, hath he not a right to his freedom from taxes, and his nobility by patent?”
“So says the law,” said Sir Archibald, after reflecting for a moment, — “but rather more in scorn than seriously, I should judge, since no one was ever known to claim the benefit of it.”
“The prouder boast for him,” said the functionary, “that shall be the first to demand the honors due to a sharp sword and a clean stroke. I, Francis Steinernherz, will be the first noble of my profession, where I shall have despatched one more knight of the Empire.”
“Thou hast been ever in my service, hast thou not?” demanded De Hagenbach.
“Under what other master,” replied the executioner, “could I have enjoyed such constant practice? I have executed your decrees on condemned sinners since I could swing a scourge, lift a crow-bar, or wield this trusty weapon; and who can say I even failed of my first blow, or needed to deal a second? The term of the Hospital, and his famous assistants, Petit Andre, and Trois Eschelles, 8 are novices compared with me in the use of the noble and knightly sword. Marry, I should be ashamed to match myself with them in the field practice with bowstring and dagger, these are no feats worthy of a Christian man who would rise to honor and nobility.”
“Thou art a fellow of excellent address, and I do not deny it,” replied De Hagenbach. “But it cannot be — I trust it can — not be — that when noble blood is becoming scarce in the land, and proud churls are lording it over knights and barons, I myself should have caused so much to be spilled?”
“I will number the patients to your excellency by name and title,” said Francis, drawing out a scroll of parchment, and reading with a commentary as he went on, — “There was Count William of Elvershoe — he was my assay-piece, a sweet youth, and died most like a Christian.”
“I remember — he was indeed a most smart youth, and courted my mistress,” said Sir Archibald.
“He died on St. Jude’s, in the year of grace 1455,” said the executioner.
Go on — but name no dates,” said the Governor.
“Sir Miles of Stockenborg — ”
“He drove off my cattle,” observed his excellency.
“Sir Louis of Riesenfeldt” — continued the executioner.
“He made love to my wife,” commented the Governor.
“The three Yung-herren of Lammerbourg — you made their father, the Count, childless in one day.”
“And he made me landless,” said Sir Archibald, “so that account is settled. Thou needest read no farther,” he continued; “I admit thy record, though it is written in letters somewhat of the reddest. I had counted these three young gentlemen as one execution.”
You did me the greater wrong,” said Francis; “they cost three good separate blows of this good sword.”
“Be it so, and God be with their souls,” said Hagenbach. “But thy ambition must go to sleep for a while, Scharfgerichter, for the stuff that came hither to-day is for dungeon and cord, or perhaps a touch of the rack or strappado — there is no honor to win on them.”
“The worse luck mine,” said the executioner. “I had dreamed so surely that your honor had made me noble; — and then the fall of my sword?”
“Take a bowl of wine, and forget your auguries.”
“With your honor’s permission, no” said he executioner “to drink before noon were to endanger the nicety of my hand.”
“Be silent, then, and mind your duty,” said De Hagenbach.
Francis took up his sheathiess sword, wiped the dust reverently from it, and withdrew into a corner of the chamber, where he stood leaning with his hands on the pommel of the fatal weapon.
Almost immediately afterwards, Kilian entered at the head of five or six soldiers, conducting the two Philipsons, whose arms were tied down with cords.
“Approach me a chair,” said the Governor, and took his place gravely beside a table, on which stood writing materials.
“Who are these men, Kilian and wherefore are they bound?”
“So please your excellency,” said Kilian, with a deep respect of manner which entirely differed from the tone, approaching to familiarity, with which he communicated with his master in private, “we thought it well that these two strangers should not appear armed in your gracious presence; and when we required of them to surrender their weapons at the gate, as is the custom of the garrison, this young gallant must needs offer resistance. I admit he gave up his weapon at his father’s command.”
“It is false!” exclaimed young Philipson; but his father making a sign to him to be silent, he obeyed instantly.
“Noble sir,” said the elder Philipson, “we are strangers, and unacquainted with the rules of this citadel; we are Englishmen, and unaccustomed to submit to personal mishandling; we trust you will have excuse for us, when we found ourselves, without any explanation of tile cause, rudely seized on by we knew not whom. My son, who is young and unthinking, did partly draw his weapon, but desisted at my command, without having altogether unsheathed his sword, far less made a blow. For myself, I am a merchant, accustomed to submit to the laws and customs of the countries in which I traffic; I am in the territories of the Duke of Burgundy, and I know his laws and Customs must be just and equitable. He is the powerful and faithful ally of England, and I fear nothing while under his banner.”
“hem! hem!” replied De Hagenbach, a little disconcerted by the Englishman’s composure, and perhaps recollecting, that, unless his passions were awakened (as in the case of the Swiss, whom he detested), Charles of Burgundy deserved the character of a just though severe prince — Fair words are well, but hardly make amends for foul actions. You have drawn swords in riot, and opposition to the Duke’s soldiers, when obeying the mandates which regulate their watch.”
“Surely, sir,” answered Philipson, “this is a severe construction of a most natural action. But, in a word, if you are disposed to be rigorous, the simple action of drawing, or attempting to draw a sword in a garrison town, is only punishable by a pecuniary fine, and such we must pay, if it be your will.”
“Now, here is a silly sheep,” said Kilian to the executioner beside whom he had stationed himself, somewhat apart from the group, “who voluntarily offers his own fleece to the clipper.”
“It will scarcely serve as a ransom for his throat, Sir Squire,” answered Francis Steinernherz; for, look you, I dreamed last night that our master made me noble, and I knew by the fall of my sword that this is the man by whom I am to mount to gentility. I must this very day deal on him with my good sword.”
“Why, thou ambitious fool,” said the esquire, “this is no noble, but an island pedler — a mere English citizen.”
“Thou art deceived,” said the executioner, “and hast never looked on men when they are about to die.”
“Have I not?” said the squire. “Have I not looked on live pitched fields, besides skirmishes and ambuscades innumerable?”
“That tries not the courage,” said the Scharfgerichter. “All men will fight when pitched against each other. So will the most paltry curs — so will the dunghill fowls. But he is brave and noble who can look on a scaffold and a block, a preast to give him absolution, and the headsman and good sword which is to mow him down in his strength, as he would look upon things indifferent; and such a man is that whom we now behold.”
“Yes,” answered Kilian, “but that man looks not on such an apparatus — he only sees our illustrious patron, Sir Archibald de Hagenbach.”
“And he who looks upon Sir Archibald,” said the executioner, “being, as yonder man assuredly is, a person of sense and apprehension, looks he not upon sword and headsman? Assuredly that prisoner apprehends as much, and being so composed as he is under such conviction, it shows him to be a nobleman by blood, or may I myself never win nobility!”
“Our master will come to compromise with him, I judge,” replied Kilian; “he looks smilingly on him.”
“Never trust to me then,” said the man in scarlet; “there is a glance in Sir Archibald’s eye which betokens blood, as surely as the dog-star bodes pestilence.”
While these dependants of Sir Archibald de Hagenbach were thus conversing apart, their master had engaged the prisoners in a long train of captious interrogatones concerning their business in Switzerland, their connection with the Landamman, and the cause of their travelling into Burgundy, to all which tile senior Philipson gave direct and plain answers, excepting to the last. He was going, he said, into Burgundy, forthe purpose of his traffic, — his wares were at the disposal of the Governor, who might detain all, or any part of them, as he might be disposed to make himself answerable to his master. But his business with the Duke was of a private nature, respecting some particular matters of commerce, in which others as well as he himself were interested. To the Duke alone, he declared, would he communicate the affair; and he pressed it strongly on the Governor, that if he should sustain any damage in his own person or that of his son, the Duke’s severe displeasure would be the inevitable consequence.
Dc Hagenbach was evidently much embarrassed by the steady tone of his prisoner, and more than once held counsel with the bottle, his never-failing oracle in cases of extreme difficulty. Philipson had readily surrendered to the Governor a list or invoice of his merchandise, which was of so inviting a character, that Sir Archibald absolutely gloated over it. After remaining in deep meditation for some time, he raised his head, and spoke thus : — “You must be well aware, Sir Merchant, that it is the Duke’s pleasure that no Swiss merchandise shall pass through his territories; and that, nevertheless, you have been, by your own account, some time in that country, and having also accompanied a body of men calling themselves Swiss Deputies, I am authorized to believe that these valuable articles are rather the property of those persons, than of a single individual of so poor an appearance as yourself, and that should I demand pecuniary satisfaction, three hundred pieces of gold would not be an extravagant fine for so bold a practice; and you might wander where you will with the rest of your wares, so you bring them not into Burgundy.”
“But it is to Burgundy, and to the Duke’s presence, that I am expressly bound,” said the Englishman. “If I go not thither my journey is wrecked; and the Duke’s displeasure is certain to light on those who may molest me. For I make your excellency aware, that your gracious Prince already knows of my journey, and will make strict inquiry where and by whom I have been intercepted.”
Again the Governor was silent, endeavoring to decide how he might best reconcile the gratification of his rapacity with precaution for his safety. After a few min............