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diff --git a/old/61788-0.txt b/old/61788-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 757763f..0000000 --- a/old/61788-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3265 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Swiss Heroes, by A. A. Willys - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Swiss Heroes - An Historical Romance of the Time of Charles the Bold - -Author: A. A. Willys - -Translator: George P. Upton - -Release Date: April 8, 2020 [EBook #61788] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SWISS HEROES *** - - - - -Produced by D A Alexander, Stephen Hutcheson, and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - [Illustration: _After the capture of Castle Granson_ - (_After a woodcut in an old Swiss chronicle_)] - - _Life Stories for Young People_ - - - - - SWISS HEROES - - - AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE OF THE TIME - OF CHARLES THE BOLD - - _Translated from the German of - A. A. Willys_ - - BY - GEORGE P. UPTON - _Translator of “Memories,” etc._ - - WITH THREE ILLUSTRATIONS - - [Illustration: A · C · M^cCLURG] - - CHICAGO - A. C. McCLURG & CO. - 1907 - - Copyright - A. C. McClurg & Co. - 1907 - Published September 21, 1907 - - THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A. - - - - - Translator’s Preface - - -The period of the “Swiss Heroes” romance is in the days of Charles the -Bold, Duke of Burgundy; and the sentiment of its title is to be found in -the careers of the three heroes, Hans Vögeli, his brother Heinrich -Vögeli, who gave his life to establish his Swiss citizenship, and Walter -Irmy. A short sketch of the relations of Charles the Bold to the Swiss -is all that is needful as a preface to the stirring story which the -German author has told so well and so accurately. - -Charles the Bold, son of Philip the Good, of Burgundy, and Isabella of -Portugal, one of the most conspicuous figures at the close of the Middle -Ages, was born in 1433. He became Duke of Burgundy in 1467 and shortly -afterwards took as his second wife Margaret, the sister of Edward IV of -England. After years of war with Louis of France, which eventually ended -in his success, and urged on by his inordinate ambition, he determined -to erect an independent kingdom under his own sovereignty. With this end -in view he entered into negotiations with Emperor Frederick, offering to -marry his daughter to the Emperor’s son, in case he himself were elected -king of the Romans. The Emperor proposed, however, to make him king of -Burgundy at Treves, but the scheme was thwarted by the Electors, who -persuaded the former to leave the city secretly. Four years previously -(1469), Sigismund, Duke of Austria, had sold Alsace to Charles, and the -latter appointed Peter von Hagenbach its governor. His career of cruel -oppression and the vengeance which the people wreaked upon him are -vividly described in this little romance. Charles was so enraged that he -gave up the country to waste and slaughter. But meanwhile powerful -allies were united against him. Louis of France had secured the alliance -of the Swiss; and Sigismund, who was anxious to get Alsace back, joined -the French. The English deserted him and signed a treaty of peace with -Louis. Battle after battle was fought, in which the Swiss were -victorious; and at last the troops of René, the dispossessed duke of -Lorraine, aided by the Swiss troops, won a great victory under the walls -of Nancy, January 5, 1477. The Burgundians were routed and Charles was -killed. The heroism of the Swiss stands out conspicuously in this -romance; but among all the characters in the stirring drama none is more -alluring, more pathetic, more glorious, than Heinrich Vögeli, who won -his restoration to citizenship by his heroic death. - - G. P. U. - -Chicago, June, 1907. - - - - - Contents - - - Chapter Page - I Saint Jacob’s Day 13 - II At The Bears 31 - III The Entry of the Princes 47 - IV The Lost Found 59 - V The Emperor’s Flight 69 - VI The Rising at Brisach 76 - VII Death of the Governor 98 - VIII The Battle of Granson 105 - IX The Hero of Murten 112 - X Faithful unto Death 123 - XI Death of Charles the Bold 130 - Appendix 139 - - - - - Illustrations - - - Page - After the Capture of Castle Granson _Frontispiece_ - The Battle of Saint Jacob 28 - Hagenbach’s Execution 100 - - [Illustration: Swiss Heroes] - - - - - Chapter I - Saint Jacob’s Day - - -On the twenty-sixth of August, in the year 1473, a lively party passed -out through the gate of the old city of Basle[1] and briskly took their -way along the road to Saint Jacob, following the course of the river -Birs. First came two sturdy burghers, Councillor Hans Irmy, a merchant -of some consequence, and the head of a large and wealthy house, the -revenues of which were constantly being increased by agents in Venice, -Genoa, Augsburg, and Nuremberg; and Ulrich Iseli, landlord of The Bears -of Basle, the largest tavern in the city. Iseli was a good customer of -Irmy’s in foreign wines and provisions. Following them was a band of -youths, led by a young apprentice of the house of Irmy, Heini Süssbacher -of Aarau.[2] Walter, the Councillor’s only son, was the central figure -of this group, the others crowding closely about him. He was a lad of -some sixteen years, with a frank, good-natured countenance, and of a -size and strength beyond his years. - -Up hill and down dale they went, till perspiration streamed from the -brow of the corpulent Councillor and he could scarcely keep pace with -his more youthful companion Iseli, who, unlike the most of his calling, -was tall and spare and had preserved much of the elasticity of youth. - -“Gently! gently! my friend,” said Irmy at length. “Make haste slowly. We -shall still reach our journey’s end before night.” - -“As you please,” replied the other, “but I would fain be home again in -good season. The dignitaries of the town will mark my absence from the -guests’ room and, doubtless, distinguished persons will have arrived by -the time we return. Methinks you are wont to be quick enough in other -respects.” - -“That indeed,” returned Irmy, “and well has my quickness served me in -life; wherefore it troubles me the less that I can no longer follow you -either with my legs or with my hopes and thoughts.” - -“Nay, let us not return to the French,” said the innkeeper, “for on that -point we shall never agree. I maintain that Switzerland cannot do better -than to place herself under the protection of the French crown. Never -has the house of Austria dealt fairly by us, nor should we forget what -Tell and his companions did for their country.” - -“True,” replied the magistrate; “but I greatly doubt if we should meet -with any better treatment from France than we did from Gessler and his -accomplices in those days. Moreover, you must remember ’tis but thirty -years since Austria and France formed an alliance against us that might -have proved our destruction. You should be ashamed to speak the word -‘France’ on this day, the anniversary of the battle of Saint Jacob. -Those who sleep here would turn in their graves, could they hear you -talk so. Think you I bear these scars in vain? Never can I forget the -wrongs France has inflicted upon our Confederation, and if need be I -will prove to her that my arm is still of use, not only to keep account -books and handle pepper sacks, but also to smite French helms till the -sparks fly.” - -“Methinks that will scarcely be needful,” answered his companion; “your -Walter here is already quite capable of taking your place should -occasion demand.” - -“I should be glad to have him at my side,” said Irmy; “he is a good lad, -and it pleases me not a little that he seems to take as kindly to the -use of arms as I did in my younger days.” - -The youths by this time had overtaken them. - -“Father,” called Walter, “are those vineyards we see over yonder on the -hill?” - -“Truly, my son; and they yield a wine more precious to us Swiss than any -in all the world, for upon that hill some of the noblest sons of -Switzerland lie buried. From the vines that grow above them is made a -wine we call ‘Switzer’s blood’ and drink in remembrance of the battle of -Saint Jacob, to honor the fallen and as an inspiration to the present -generation to emulate their fathers in courage and devotion to the -Fatherland.” - -“You have often promised to tell us,” said Walter, “what happened thirty -years ago, when you were so sorely wounded by the French.” - -“Come then; let us go up the hill and seat ourselves; from there we -shall have a better view of the battle-field,” replied the Councillor. -When this had been done he began as follows: - -“Thirty years ago matters stood with us much as they now do. The -Confederates were never in harmony: cities and cantons conspired against -one another, and the nobles were the enemy of both. Schwyz was at strife -with Zurich over some hereditary question; and Zurich, being powerless -to cope single-handed against the older cantons, did not scruple to ally -herself with Austria, the hereditary foe of the Confederation. Civil -strife, the worst of all wars, broke out; many towns and castles were -destroyed. One of our most formidable enemies was Thomas von -Falkenstein, who from his stronghold at Farnsburg committed constant -depredations upon us Confederates, and at last seized upon one of my -father’s pack-trains going from Genoa to Basle, laden with Indian -spices. This roused the people to fury, and together with a force from -other cantons we young men of Basle camped before Farnsburg, toward -which we sent salute after salute with our carbines. - -“Then a report reached us that the Dauphin of France was approaching -with a vast army, some said of a hundred thousand, others a hundred and -fifty thousand, and still others two hundred thousand men, fierce -marauders who had grown wild and lawless during the Thirty Years’ War -between France and England. ‘Arme Gecken,’[3] or miserable beggars, the -people called them, because though they subsisted on pillage and plunder -they still looked ragged and half starved. Wild confusion arose in camp -at this news, and all were eager to rush at once against the foe. There -were six thousand of us stout Switzers; why should we fear one hundred -thousand Frenchmen? The leaders had hard work to make us listen to -reason and consent that the main part of our force should remain before -the beleaguered castle, while twelve hundred of us went down into the -valley of the Birs to learn the truth of the report. - -“Hemmann Seevogel was placed in command, and we rode briskly off down -the hill. When we reached the Birsthal we were warned that the enemy was -much too strong for us, but we laughed to scorn all caution, and the -mighty herdsmen of Schwyz and Uri smote the trees as they passed with -their iron-spiked clubs till great pieces flew from them, to show how -much stronger they were than any foe could possibly be. A few of the -leaders would have turned back, but the scoffs and jeers of their -comrades forced them to keep on. - -“At Pratteln we found the vanguard of the enemy posted, eight thousand -strong, under Count von Dammartin, but it was not long before they -abandoned the position and took to their heels, leaving a thousand dead -and wounded on the field. They fled to Muttenz, where ten thousand -Armagnacs were waiting to receive the fugitives. But we were close -behind, and our gigantic herdsmen laid about them with their heavy -weapons so lustily that the hearts of the Frenchmen sank into their -tattered hose. Out of Muttenz we twelve hundred drove these eighteen -thousand so easily there was little pleasure in it. - -“Our leaders now were for making a halt, declaring we had won enough and -should only lose by a further advance, for the Dauphin with the main -army was stationed beyond the Birs at Saint Jacob; and as the bridge -over the river had been destroyed, it would be foolhardy to attempt to -cross. But intoxicated with our previous successes, we were determined -to push on. - -“‘We will sup in Basle to-night, cost what it may!’ we shouted. ‘The -Evil One with all his legions shall not keep us from the town. He who -hangs back is a traitor! No commands shall turn us from our duty to the -Fatherland!’ - -“The Armagnacs had long since disappeared from view. We reached the Birs -unmolested, waded through the stream, and gained the further bank. -There, however, we were met by such a hail of iron from the French guns -that it was impossible to keep our ranks, while all attempts to rally -the scattered forces were quickly defeated by the enemy’s heavy -horsemen. Many now repented their rash determination, but there was no -help for it—retreat was no longer possible with honor. Forward we must -go to meet the forty thousand men opposed to us. They offered a stout -resistance. German knights fought in their front ranks, and there were -traitorous noblemen of our country among the enemy; but they did us no -harm. - -“Five hundred of our number retreated to a meadow which was protected by -the river from attack by horsemen, but they were shot down one by one. -Another five hundred took refuge in the leper hospital of Saint Jacob, -which was over yonder where the little chapel now stands. About the -building lay a large orchard surrounded by a wall, which would check for -a time the enemy’s assault. I was with this party, and glad enough to -find myself safe, as I thought, behind this barrier. Soon, however, the -muzzles of their guns were pointed toward us; the garden wall and -building were quickly demolished, and when the firing had ceased we were -attacked by the German knights, who had sworn to slay us all, burgher -and peasant. Thrice indeed we repulsed them, and many a high-born lord -lay weltering in his blood; but our number was fast diminishing, and as -I received the blow on the head to which this scar still bears witness, -the enemy burst into the burning hospital over the bodies of the five -hundred Switzers. - -“When I came to my senses again it was dark; above me shone the stars, -and all was silent save for an occasional groan from one of the wounded, -or the crackling of flames, which still fed upon the heavy timbers of -the building. The night was cold, but by good fortune I lay in such a -position among the ruins of the garden wall that I was somewhat -sheltered from the wind and almost hidden from sight. Gradually the -events of the past day came back to me, and my bosom swelled with pride. -We had shown how men should fight who are guardians of their fatherland, -their homes, and their families. Not a man lay there that was not -covered with wounds: each had fought as long as strength remained in him -to smite the foe. Had I not been so weak and faint I could have shouted -aloud because of the victory won by the Swiss burgher-folk over the -political craft and power of princes. The overwhelming odds had been too -much for us, but even in death and defeat we had shown that something -higher than the Armagnacs’ lust for spoil, or the pride and ambition of -the knights, had urged us to battle. - -“I had plenty of time to indulge these thoughts, for I was not disturbed -for many long hours. At last, toward morning, it seemed to me I heard -stealthy footsteps among the debris. Nearer and nearer they came, till -in the dim light I saw quite near to me the figure of a man stooping -down to give water to one of my wounded comrades. Parched with fever -from my wound, I also feebly besought him for a drink. He took a few -steps to the angle of the wall where I lay, and stopped short, unable to -suppress a low cry of astonishment. ‘You here, young sir,’ he exclaimed, -‘and in such a plight?’ - -“‘Quick! give me some water,’ I begged; ‘my father will reward you for -it. Greet him for me and tell him I died as all true citizens of a free -State should die—on the tottering bulwark of freedom and justice.’ - -“‘Nay, you are a long way yet from death,’ replied the man; ‘with good -fortune I shall fetch you safely back to Basle this very night.’ - -“‘Who may you be,’ I asked, ‘that talk of such impossibilities?’ - -“He laughed. ‘That, methought, you would have known long since, for we -have met many times in your father’s house. I am Gerard, the smuggler of -Neuchâtel, and have carried many bales of merchandise to him. Indeed I -have a pack with me now, which I have just brought through the French -camp; but perchance he will not take it amiss if I leave that here and -carry you to Basle in its place. Once under your mother’s wing you will -soon forget these thoughts of death.’ - -“By this time I had satisfied my thirst, and Gerard stole softly away to -reconnoitre, as he said. It was now light, and from my corner I could -look over all the surrounding country. The battle-field was deserted -save for a few scattered bands of horsemen moving hither and thither. -Three of them at length drew near my hiding-place, whom I quickly -recognized as Swiss nobles, traitors to their country, and rejoicing in -the sufferings of their fellow-countrymen. One, named Werner von -Staufen, laughed scornfully as he surveyed the ruins piled with corpses, -when suddenly one of my mortally wounded comrades started up, seized a -stone from the shattered wall, and with a last effort flung it full at -the knight, hurling him to the ground, where he expired together with -his assailant. - -“The others now began to pry about among the debris to see if there -might be other Switzers still alive. Burghard Mönch, of Landskrön, -stepped forward and, pointing to the crimson blood-stains, cried to his -companion, ‘Look at the roses that have blossomed in the night!’ At -this, Captain Arnold Schick of Uri lifted himself painfully, a heavy -stone in his right hand. ‘Here—take this rose!’ he cried, and dashed it -at the head of the knight, who fell headlong, his armor clanging sharply -against the stones. The third quickly abandoned the pleasures of a -search for still breathing foes, and, mounting his horse, galloped away -so swiftly that the sparks flew. - -“Scarcely had he disappeared when Gerard returned. ‘We must be quick, -young sir,’ he said, ‘for in another half-hour the whole army will be -back again to avenge the death of yonder knights. I have hidden my pack -and will come for it again in a few days. Quickly, now, and hold tight -to my neck, for I must needs run if we are to reach the Birs in safety.’ - -“So saying, he lifted me carefully upon his back and started off, -picking his way cautiously over the stones. He must have been about -thirty years old at that time, and was as strong as a giant; yet I -doubted much if we should escape, for a couple of horsemen not more than -a thousand paces away caught sight of us and gave chase. Luckily the -Birs was not far, and Gerard well-nigh flew over the ground with me. -Almost swooning, I still heard clearly the thundering hoof-beats behind -us, as even now after all these years I often hear them in my dreams. -Suddenly Gerard stumbled, and I fell heavily to the ground and rolled -down a short declivity into the river. I thought all was over, but the -cold water instantly restored me to consciousness. I was dipping it up -with both hands and pouring it over my fevered brow and wounds, when my -pursuer appeared above me on the bank. Finding his horse unable to -clamber down the steep incline he dismounted. Again I took to flight and -struggled on till the water rose to my breast; but by that time Gerard -was once more at my side. Gaining the farther shore we looked back and -found that our pursuer had not ventured into the water at all, but had -already remounted and was making his way back to the camp. But my last -remnant of strength was exhausted. My senses left me; and when I awoke -to consciousness some days later under my father’s roof, my mother told -me how Gerard had borne me along the river bank to a thicket, where he -had waited till darkness fell; then, crossing the stream once more, he -had brought me safely to the gates of the town. - -“The French had experienced quite enough of Swiss valor, and the Dauphin -ordered a retreat, having no wish to sacrifice his people in a war which -brought them small thanks from Austria, in whose behalf it was -undertaken.” - -“Father,” asked Walter thoughtfully, “why did not the people of Basle -come to your aid? Surely there were enough men there to help you, and -together you could have defeated the enemy.” - -“At first,” replied the Councillor, “they did not know of our approach, -and when the news reached them the Burgomaster and Council hastily met -to decide what should be done. But some of the Councillors at that time -were not of the bravest, and their first thought was for the safety of -their own town. The report of our victories at Pratteln and Muttenz was -said to have been spread by the enemy to draw away from Basle all who -were capable of defending it. The burghers sat too long in debate, -however. A workman in the public square snatched the banner of the town -from the banneret’s hand in the corn market, shouting to the assembled -throng, ‘Follow me, all who are true citizens of Basle!’ - -“More than three thousand burghers hastened to join him, and the rest -soon followed. Hans Roth, the Burgomaster, placed himself at the head of -this valorous band, each of whom had stuck a wisp of straw in his belt -as a badge, and away they marched through the Saint Alban’s Gate to -attack the foe. Anxiously the magistrates and remaining citizens watched -their departure, for none were left within the walls that could wield a -weapon or had courage enough to look the enemy in the face. Who was -there to protect the town in case of sudden attack? Scarcely a quarter -of an hour had passed, when one of the Councillors galloped madly after -the champions, with word that an assault had been made on the city and -an ambuscade laid for them by the enemy. Thereupon they turned back, -only to learn, when too late, that the faint-hearted Council had -deceived them. Truly it was no great honor in those days to be a -Councillor in the good city of Basle, and it is only within a few years -that they have earned the right to be held in respect once more.” - -“Shame on them!” exclaimed Walter. “Father, if the French should come -now, I do not believe _you_ would hold the burghers back. You would let -me go with them.” - -“Aye, and go myself withal,” said Hans Irmy. “We have that within us -which time cannot destroy or change. They thought to tear away a portion -of our Confederation, and not the worst part either; but we kept faith -with the German Empire and held fast to the soil from which we sprung. -No Frenchman shall take that from us, not even our language, which like -ourselves has been German from the beginning.” - - [Illustration: _The Battle of Saint Jacob_ - (_After Holbein_)] - -“Do not be too hard upon the French,” interposed Iseli; “the French -language is by no means to be despised, while French wines and -manufactures suit us very well. Nor should we scorn the profit that -comes to us therefrom.” - -“That may all be,” said Irmy; “everything in its proper place and -manner; but as to your liking for the French, it does not please me. We -are still citizens of the German Empire; and deeply as the house of -Austria has injured us, we should not forget from what stock we spring, -and that cat and dog will sooner be friends than a German and a -Frenchman. In individual cases it might happen,—there are good men in -both countries,—but in our hearts and in our politics we shall never be -one with France.” - -“Something may be said on that point also,” replied Iseli. “What of the -Duchy of Burgundy? Are not French and Germans united there under one -rule?” - -“True, my friend; but if you think it is a voluntary union you greatly -err. Nothing but the iron hand of Charles the Bold holds them together. -They would separate in an instant, should the powerful Duke chance to -close his eyes.” - -“Well—at least,” said Iseli, “I am glad to find you are an admirer of -this great man, who appears to me like a rising star in the firmament of -the world’s history.” - -This conversation had brought them back to the gate of the good city of -Basle, and at the first turning the friends took a kindly leave of each -other, their difference of opinion having no effect upon a friendship -which had united them for years. Walter was full of curiosity and -interest. He wanted to hear more of Charles the Bold, and besieged his -father with questions till he could stand it no longer and sent the boy -to bed. - - - - - Chapter II - At The Bears - - -An unwonted stir pervaded the streets of Basle, as if some festival were -being celebrated. No signs of traffic were visible, and the people were -in holiday attire. The streets were full of strangers, who were easily -distinguished by the curious glances with which they regarded the houses -and public buildings; while at every corner burghers might be seen -directing men-at-arms with swords at their sides through the maze of -narrow lanes. - -Two horsemen slowly made their way through the throng, the foremost of -whom wore the uniform of an officer and displayed the badge of the Duke -of Burgundy. The other, a few paces behind, was a groom. At length they -reined in their steeds. - -“Ho there! my friend,” cried the officer in good Swiss dialect to a -citizen, “can you direct me to an inn called The Bears?” - -“Aye, truly, sir,” was the answer; “you have only to ride up this -street, then turn to the right; again to the left at the next cross -street, and you cannot miss it.” - -“Thank you,” said the officer as he rode off followed by his servant, -the horses carefully picking their way over the rough pavement, through -the centre of which a row of large stones had been laid. Indeed, it was -scarcely safe for the riders themselves to leave the middle of the -passageway, for long iron bars protruded from the houses, bearing signs -denoting the trade of their occupants, such as glass work for a glazier, -the horseshoe for a smith, and the key for a locksmith. At one place the -signboard of an alehouse almost carried away the officer’s iron helm. -They turned to the right and then to the left, according to their -directions, and found themselves in a street somewhat wider than the -rest, where they soon discovered The Bears, a new and well-built tavern, -over the door of which hung a sign emblazoned with the beasts that gave -the inn its name. A serving man sprang from the huge gateway to assist -the officer to dismount, and led his horse away to the stables, while -the host himself, Ulrich Iseli, came forward to escort his guest up the -stairs. - -“This is a fine place you have here,” said the latter. “Inns like this, -whether Swiss or German, are seldom to be found.” - -“You are quite right, sir,” replied the landlord. “I conduct my business -after the French fashion. Having been much in Paris in my younger days, -I learned how distinguished guests should be accommodated; and I try to -keep my own house accordingly. Will you go to the public room for the -time being? The private parlor is unfortunately occupied by some -deputies from the various Swiss States who are holding a council there, -and they would doubtless be ill pleased were I to bring a stranger in -upon them. A chamber shall be made ready for you at once. I have a -houseful of guests, to be sure, but room shall be found for you, depend -on it.” - -He pushed open the door of the public room. “Here, Werni!” he called to -a servant, who was engaged at that moment in delivering one of the -latest patriotic songs to a number of country people, who crowded about -him with shouts of applause, “come and place yourself at this -gentleman’s service.” Then, taking leave of the newcomer, he hastened -away to see about a lodging for his guest. - -The officer’s attendant soon appeared, bringing his master’s luggage, -and after depositing it in the neatly appointed room assigned to him, -went back to the stables, where, ranged in long rows, stood a hundred -horses enjoying their fodder. When the latest arrival had also been -provided for, the groom betook himself to the public room, where he -found his master already partaking of a good breakfast. The officer -ordered something to be brought for him at once, and he modestly seated -himself at another table where two Burgundian soldiers were vainly -endeavoring to enjoy the sour Swiss wine. - -Meanwhile it was getting very noisy up in the private parlor, the envoys -disagreeing violently in their views regarding France, Germany, and -Burgundy. - -“We are sent here,” declared Hans Vögeli, the deputy from Freiburg, “to -welcome the Emperor in the name of our country. What is it to us what -schemes he may be entertaining? Let him answer for those himself. We -will defend our own lives if they attempt to meddle with us.” - -“That is what you are always saying,” objected another of the envoys, -who was said to be secretly in the pay of the King of France. “I claim -that it is far from being a matter of indifference to us whether the -Emperor and Burgundy agree or no. Think of the force they could assemble -on our borders, and the Burgundian is a violent man. It would almost -seem that he intended to insult us by sending the Governor, Hagenbach, -hither to welcome the Emperor in his name, for he must know how we hate -him. Did you hear of the insulting speech Hagenbach made against the -Bernese? He declared he would strip the skins from their bears to keep -himself warm therein.” - -“Those were indeed insolent words,” declared the deputies from Berne, -“and he shall yet make amends to us for them. Moreover we will make -complaint of him to the Emperor.” - -“Much good will that do!” retorted the lame magistrate, Heinrich -Hassfurter, of Lucerne. “In truth you had best be on your guard against -this Hagenbach. I had somewhat to do with him at Salz, when I was sent -there a short time ago to negotiate certain matters. What think you? He -declared scornfully that the Confederates must lack able-bodied men, -since they made envoys of cripples and hunchbacks! ‘That I am a -cripple,’ I answered, ‘is the will of God; but I shall yet prove myself -able-bodied enough for you.’” - -“Nay, be not so sure,” interposed another, “that the Emperor is in -league with Burgundy. It is true indeed that he would gladly marry his -son Maximilian[4] to the Duke’s only daughter Maria for the sake of -acquiring Burgundy as her marriage portion, but Charles the Bold asks -too much in return. To be King of Burgundy is not enough; he would fain -extend his kingdom to the banks of the Rhine and claim as his own Alsace -and Lorraine, which he now holds in fee only.” - -“It is shameful,” yet another declared, “the way the Alsatians are -treated. A worse Governor than Hagenbach could not be found; and to add -to that, the Duke employs none but foreign mercenaries there, who abuse -the people cruelly.” - -“There are many Switzers also among them,” said Hans Vögeli; “indeed my -runaway brother Heinrich is said to command a body of Hagenbach’s -soldiers.” - -“It is disgraceful,” cried old Hassfurter, “that so many Switzers should -desert their own land to seek service in foreign armies.” - -“Who can blame them for it?” replied Iseli the innkeeper. “Are they to -sit idle here at home and increase the number of those who find it hard -enough already to gain a livelihood in this impoverished land? What -would have become of your brother, Herr Vögeli, had he stayed at home? I -do not know the gentleman myself, it is true, but travellers have told -me that he is popular among the Alsatians, and stands high in the favor, -not only of Hagenbach, but also of Duke Charles himself. It is well -known to foreign princes that there are no more loyal people to be found -than we Switzers.” - -“And we well know,” burst out Vogeli, “that these foreign lords never -repay our loyalty. French, Burgundian, or Austrian, they would not long -keep their hands off us, had they not so great a respect for our ability -to protect ourselves.” - -“Is it true,” asked a deputy, seeking to put an end to the discussion, -“that the Emperor and the Burgundians are to unite in an expedition -against the Turks?” - -“So it is said,” replied old Hassfurter, “but who can tell whether it -will come to pass? You know how vacillating the Emperor is, and it is -certain Charles the Bold will not join him in this enterprise, unless he -be made King; and that the princes of the Empire will not consent to, -for fear that the Electorate of Treves and other portions of their -domains might be included in the new kingdom.” - -“Once more I say,” interrupted Vögeli, “that all this is nothing to us. -Let the princes do as they will; we are a free and independent people, -and should take no part in their affairs.” - -“But we already belong to the German Empire,” some one objected. - -“Even so,” retorted Vögeli; “but that does not compel us to comply with -all the Emperor’s demands. Let us not burn our fingers meddling with -things that do not concern the safety of the Confederation.” - -“He is a poor citizen,” said old Hassfurter, “who will not help to -extinguish the fire that is consuming his neighbor’s house. If the -Burgundians treat Alsace in this manner, it will not be long before they -attempt to crush us also. Might we not be added to the kingdom that is -to be formed for Charles the Bold?” - -Thus the discussion went on, while below in the large public room the -country folk who had assembled from far and near discussed the same -subjects after their own fashion. Coarse as these peasants were in -appearance, their great size and strength lent them an air of proud -self-consciousness, and they wore their patched hose and jerkins and -heavy hobnailed shoes with as much dignity as many a nobleman his silken -doublet. Here, too, the conversation soon became heated, and frequent -hostile glances were cast toward the Burgundian officer as well as his -servant and the two soldiers at the other table; some even hummed to -themselves the song Werni had been singing—which contained various -contemptuous allusions to Burgundy and its Duke. - -These soldiers, who from their appearance might have been Switzers also, -were in uniforms of fine gray cloth. They seemed to ignore the scoffs -and jeers of the peasants, and as if in defiance of them, turned the -sleeves of their jerkins about to show more plainly the badge of the -Duke of Burgundy, a pair of dice, displaying the two spots and the five -spots. At length, however, as the peasants became more and more -audacious, one of the two imitated the lowing of a heifer. This form of -insult was familiar to the Switzers and roused them to instant fury. One -tall fellow rose, and crossing over to the table where the men in gray -were sitting, intentionally stumbled over the legs of one of them, and -assailed him with a torrent of abuse. The soldier merely shrugged his -shoulders indifferently, which seemed to infuriate the peasant still -more; with legs outspread, he planted himself before the Burgundian. - -“Truly!” he drawled, “that is a curious ornament you have there on your -sleeve! Perchance there was not cloth enough and your lord put those -dice on for patches!” - -“You scoundrel!” burst out the man in gray, “I will teach you respect -for my noble master’s arms; and as for patches, look at your own jerkin, -you Bärenhäuter[5]!” - -The bold mountaineer looked abashed, and was about to turn away without -reply, when another Switzer strode to his side. “And those French words -above your noble master’s arms, what do they signify?” - -“_Je guette_,” replied the Burgundian; “that is to say, ‘I watch.’ One -could hardly expect cow-herds to understand French.” - -“Now you shall not watch long for a flogging!” shouted the Switzer -furiously. “Up, all who call themselves men! We will soon put a stop to -his insolence.” - -“Good friend,” said the other, slowly drawing his sword, “take your -milking stool between your horns and get you gone, else I will hack that -hide of yours till it looks as patched as your jerkin.” - -“Am I a bull,” roared the herdsman, “that I should have horns to carry a -milk stool? You shall pay dearly for that, you dog!” - -At this moment the officer brought the flat blade of his sword down upon -the table with such a clang that all turned to look at him. He sternly -bade the soldiers hold their peace and ordered them from the room. But -the passions of the Switzers were now fully aroused. One of them seized -a heavy oaken stool. “Here, you good for naught!” he cried, “take this -milking stool between your horns!” and dashed it violently at the head -of the Burgundian. At the same instant the officer flung himself between -the combatants just in time to receive the full weight of the blow, -which stretched him bleeding on the floor. A wild tumult at once arose -that speedily brought the landlord to the spot, closely followed by a -throng of curious deputies. Peace was at once restored, and the -Burgundians with Iseli rushed to the relief of the victim, Hans Vögeli -following. - -“Good God!” cried the latter suddenly, “it is my brother Heinrich. I -might have known the vagabond would come to some such end.” - -“For shame!” said old Hassfurter, “to speak in such a way of your own -brother.” - -“Nay, preach not to me,” retorted Vögeli; “this man who lies here before -us is no longer my brother. I long ago cast him from my heart, and the -city of Freiburg has banished all who did not return when they were -summoned thither.” - -“That was no loss to you, methinks,” answered Hassfurter, “since you -thereby acquired sole possession of your father’s house and properties, -to which otherwise Heinrich would have been entitled to a share.” - -“Nonsense!” cried Vögeli furiously; “all the world knows that my father -had already disinherited Heinrich.” The old man made no reply. He knelt -down by the wounded officer, and after carefully examining his injury -shook his head gravely, to the innkeeper’s great alarm. - -“Merciful Heaven!” he cried, “the town guard will soon be here, and I -shall be punished for permitting this affray in my house. Hagenbach, -too, will not fail to remember what has happened here to his officer.” - -“Have you no friend?” asked Hassfurter; “I mean one on whom you can -rely, who would take care of this fellow for you? As for the -Burgundians, gold will keep them silent concerning the affair. They are -not altogether guiltless themselves, and would not escape punishment if -the facts were known.” - -“I have indeed such a friend,” replied the innkeeper in a tone of -relief, “Hans Irmy, a magistrate of our town. Our places adjoin, and we -can easily carry the man thither.” - -The peasants lent willing aid, and Irmy gladly offered the use of a -secret room in his house to the wounded officer. There he lay -unconscious for three days; but nature finally triumphed, and his -progress toward recovery was rapid, thanks to Walter, Irmy’s son, who -tended him with the greatest care. - -“It does not please me,” said the father one day, “that you should sit -the whole day at that foreign soldier’s bedside; such service could be -performed quite as well by the servants.” - -“But, father,” cried Walter, “he is such a fine fellow and can tell such -splendid tales of war and the battles he has fought in. It almost makes -one long to go away with him.” - -“Has the stranger suggested that to you?” asked Irmy. - -“No, not he,” was the answer; “but Iseli, your friend, is always saying -that I might make a great success if I were to go out into the world; he -seems to think there is something unusual about me.” - -“Iseli is a fool,” growled the old man, “to put such ideas into your -head. Stay in your own country and earn an honest living, that is my -advice; and if you must be a soldier, no doubt there will be -opportunities enough for you to begin your career in the service of the -Fatherland, instead of entering that of any foreign prince.” - -Crestfallen, Walter slipped away, but half an hour later he was sitting -beside the officer again, listening with eager interest to his tales. -Heini Süssbacher was often in the sick chamber also, and the two boys -soon determined to follow their hero out into the world to seek their -fortunes. Not long after this the Captain took leave of the Councillor, -with kindly thanks for his hospitality, and set out for Treves to join -the Governor, who had already reached Strassburg with the Emperor. He -was a considerable distance away from Basle, when suddenly the lads -sprang out from the roadside and besought him to take them with him to -the ducal court that they too might become soldiers like himself, -promising to do their best. Heinrich Vögeli reproved them sharply; but -what was he to do with them, as they absolutely refused to return home -even if he sent them away? There seemed no alternative except to take -them along. At the next town, therefore, he hired two horses for them, -that the journey to Strassburg might be more quickly accomplished, and -also despatched a messenger secretly to old Irmy to reassure him as to -his son’s whereabouts. - -But old Irmy was not to be appeased so easily; he stormed and grumbled -continually about the runaways. “And Heini, too,” he always ended with, -“that rascal! as if his father had not already injured me enough in my -business by selling his goods at a loss, that he must now lead my son -astray, the only child I have in the world, and induce him to become a -vagabond and a traitor like that Vögeli!” - -But as week after week passed and the boys did not return, the -Councillor at length determined, come what might, to go in search of -them; he set out also for Treves, where in a few days the Emperor -Frederick, with his son Maximilian and Duke Charles the Bold, was to -make his formal entry. - - - - - Chapter III - The Entry of the Princes - - -Irmy’s journey was not accomplished so easily as he had expected; he was -frequently obliged to wait, as all the horses obtainable were needed for -the use of those travellers who, as members of the Emperor’s household -or as envoys or functionaries of the Empire, could claim first -consideration. Nor was this a small matter, for fully seven hundred -deputies from the various cities assembled at Treves to greet the -Emperor, all of noble birth, not to mention the curiosity-seekers. - -It was late in the evening of the twenty-ninth of September when the -Councillor at last entered Treves. The Emperor had already arrived that -morning, and the city was so crowded with strangers that only by paying -a large sum was Irmy able to secure even the poorest kind of a lodging. -Charles the Bold was expected to appear the following morning, when the -Emperor was to ride out to meet him, and the people were eagerly looking -forward to the coming spectacle. - -“It is there I shall be most likely to find the lad,” thought Irmy. “I -will rise early and go out to meet the procession; Vögeli will be with -the Duke, and wherever he is, Walter will surely not be far away.” - -He was the first to awake in the house the next morning; quickly rising, -he peered out through the round leaded window panes, as well as their -dinginess would permit, at the gray sky above. “Everything is dirty -here,” he growled—“the bed and the furniture as well as the room; and -these panes might be any color.” - -He flung open the sash in a rage and thrust his head out into the cool -morning air. Nothing was stirring as yet in the street below, and he -might still have enjoyed several hours of slumber without losing -anything; but anxiety for his only child had disturbed his natural -serenity of mind and made him restless. - -“Now I can make my way through the town easily,” he thought. He dressed -himself and went carefully down the dark stairs of his lodging house, -the garret of which had never before been honored by a guest of Irmy’s -wealth and standing. When he reached the sidewalk he looked up once more -at the dark gray sky, then took his way through the deserted streets -that reëchoed to the sound of his footsteps. No one was in sight but a -watchman pacing his rounds. - -“It is an old city,” said Irmy to himself, “and not so badly built, but -it cannot compare with Basle.” - -At the gate of the town, a small fee procured him ready egress, and the -guards showed him the way to the camp that had been pitched for the Duke -and his followers. Slowly he wandered about among the tents, sure that -here he must find his son, since Hagenbach and his officers had already -taken possession of the quarters assigned to them as part of the Duke’s -retinue. As yet, however, all was still both without and within the -tents, and the Councillor turned his steps toward a sutler’s wine shop, -on the wooden front of which was a large shield bearing in Italian the -name and calling of its occupant. A servant with black hair and -unmistakably Italian cast of countenance was brushing away the dried -leaves from before the door and strewing the path with white sand. -Addressing him in his own tongue, Irmy asked for a breakfast of meat, -bread, and porridge, with a draught of good wine. - -“I ought not to give you anything,” replied the Italian, “since you are -not of the Burgundian soldiery nor yet in the Duke’s service, it is -plain. But since none of the soldiers are stirring, belike you may -enter.” - -This the Councillor gladly did, and to pass the time chatted with the -friendly waiter, who had been much in Venice and Genoa in former days, -and knew of many of the great mercantile houses with which he was -connected. He asked him about two lads who must have arrived in camp -with one of the Burgundian captains, but the Lombard could tell him -nothing of them. - -“We came hither with some Italian cuirassiers, levied for Duke Charles -in Italy,” he replied, “and know nothing of his other followers. But if -you will station yourself by the roadside against yonder tree, no part -of the procession can escape you.” - -By this time signs of life began to appear about the camp. Tents were -thrown open here and there, and the soldiers could be seen busied with -the various offices of their toilet. But none had any news to give of -Vögeli and the two boys. One man remembered that the Captain had been -sent to Basle, but further than that he knew nothing. - -Soon a trumpeter emerged from one of the tents and sounded a call, -whereat the whole camp instantly sprang to life. All was bustle and -activity as each man bestirred himself to make ready for the day—a more -difficult task than usual, for on this occasion everything must appear -at its very best. The cuirassiers had already burnished their arms and -mail to spotless brilliancy on the previous day, but there still -remained more to be done than could well be accomplished in the short -time left them. Swiftly they rubbed down the horses, standing in long -rows tethered to a rope. The horses of the Italians were magnificent -creatures, and each was the individual property of its rider. These -cuirassiers were for the most part men of quality; each was entitled to -a mounted esquire and one foot-soldier as his escort. None but the rich -were permitted to join their ranks; and many nobles, survivors of the -old knighthood, were to be found serving in this troop of mercenaries, -whose pay was at least thrice that of a lieutenant in these days. - -At length all was finished, and it was an imposing array that rode past -the wine shop toward the high-road along which the train of the Emperor -was already seen approaching. A band of drummers and musicians led the -way, and next, preceded by waving banners and pennons, came Frederick -himself, followed by a long and brilliant cavalcade, among which Irmy -looked in vain for Vögeli. Hagenbach was there indeed; but even had the -merchant forced himself to ask for the Captain he would have met with no -reply from the haughty Governor, who, riding to-day in attendance on the -Emperor, looked even more arrogant and pompous than usual. The -Burgundian cuirassiers brought up the rear of the procession, during the -passage of which Irmy maintained the position pointed out to him, beside -the tree, which afforded him an excellent view. - -By this time he was no longer the only spectator. Crowds had been -pouring out from the gates of the city and assembling from all the -surrounding villages, until the whole road on both sides was lined with -sightseers. For hours they waited cheerfully while the two princes, who -had met after half an hour’s ride, were engaged in a friendly dispute -over a question of honor. Frederick wished the Duke to ride at his side, -while Charles insisted that he as the lesser potentate should modestly -follow. At length the heavens, which had lowered for a full hour upon -this ceremonious pretence, opened their flood gates and deluged Duke and -Emperor, noble and henchman alike; for Nature at such times is no -respecter of persons. Especially inopportune was it now, however, for -all were in their most sumptuous array; and many looked upon it as an -evil omen. - -But sunshine followed close upon the rain, and fair weather smiled upon -their entry into the city, their approach to which was greeted by a -clashing peal of bells from every church tower, and heralded by the -blare of trumpets and the rattle of drums long before anything could be -seen of the procession. On it came at last,—first, the musicians, then a -long train of archers brought by the Duke of Somerset from England, with -whose royal house Charles the Bold was connected through his wife. These -were followed by a group of heralds. And now, amid the deafening shouts -and acclamations of the multitude, appeared the Emperor and the Duke, -riding side by side. - -Old Irmy’s somewhat elevated position enabled him to look over the heads -of the intervening spectators. That rider glittering with gold and -jewels, his embroidered doublet thickly set with pearls, sitting his -horse so stooped and carelessly—the man with the listless, indifferent -expression and heavy, protruding under lip—could he be the ruler of the -Holy Roman Empire? Alas! what could be hoped for from one whose utter -lack of strength and firmness was so evident? It was far pleasanter to -look on the youthful figure behind him, the Grand Duke Maximilian, whose -handsome and intelligent face was framed with a mass of fair curling -hair. Clad all in velvet and silver, he rode between the Archbishops of -Mayence and Treves. Accompanying these Princes of the Church was a -singular companion, designated by the onlookers as “the Turk.” This was -a son of the Sultan, who had been taken captive by the Christians and -received the baptismal name of Calixtus. He lived at the Austrian court -and was fond of appearing in costumes of startling gorgeousness. These -personages did not claim attention long, however, for all eyes quickly -turned to the centre of interest, the man who rode at the Emperor’s -side. - -Charles the Bold could certainly never have been called handsome, -whatever his flatterers might claim; but fire and energy gleamed in his -dark eyes, proud self-confidence, inflexible will, and haughty defiance -were stamped upon his countenance. The personality of the Prince denoted -an overbearing imperiousness that seemed to challenge at once admiration -and repugnance, affection and antipathy. Magnificent, indeed, was the -Duke’s attire. Over the breastplate of polished steel he wore a cloak so -covered with pearls, diamonds, and rubies that the merchant from Basle -estimated its value at two hundred thousand gold florins, while in his -velvet cap sparkled a single jewel that was priceless. The Duke’s -charger also called forth universal admiration. It was a black horse of -matchless strength and beauty, equipped in full mail and decked with -gold and jewelled housings that swept the ground. Behind the princes -followed a long train of German and Burgundian nobles, among them the -privy councillors of the Emperor and of the Duke, and the envoys of -Albert of Brandenburg, who was called Achilles.[6] - -“Why is he not there himself?” the people asked of one another; “he is -deemed the bravest and wisest prince in all the Empire, and they say the -Emperor can do nothing without him.” - -“How think you,” asked another, “it would please the Elector to ride -modestly behind the Burgundian among all those princes and counts?” - -There seemed no end to the cavalcade. Following the Duke’s bodyguard, -all sumptuously arrayed, both horse and man, came the flower of the -Burgundian army, every man clad in new and glittering armor, their -banners floating above them in the blaze of the Autumn sunlight, the -whole making a scene of splendor such as the people had never before -beheld. Pennon after pennon passed old Irmy, and still the end was not -yet in sight, although the two princes had already entered the market -place in Treves. There a second discussion arose between them as to -which should have the honor of escorting the other to his lodgings, the -Emperor as governor of the city wishing to act the part of host, and the -Duke protesting. At length they agreed to separate at the market place, -and the Duke rode at full speed back to the gates, which the last of his -followers were just entering. - -Once more the Duke passed Irmy while on his way to the Abbey of Saint -Maximin, of which his ancestors had been patrons, and where he had taken -up his quarters rather than in the town. This time, however, he rode too -swiftly, and the people were too full of all the sights they had seen -for him to excite the attention that he had received half an hour -before. His retinue, the English archers, the Italian cuirassiers, and -the native Burgundians with their varied equipment, followed through the -gates. Six culverins were also included in the train, mounted on the -wooden carriages which the Duke was accustomed to carry with him in the -field, and which had been set up here in the camp also. - -Dejected and disheartened, the old man turned his steps toward the camp -once more. He had seen nothing of Captain Vögeli nor of his son, and had -small hope of finding them here now. Exhausted with the fatigues of the -day, and faint with hunger, for he had eaten nothing since morning, his -first thought was to seek rest and refreshment, and then continue his -search. Slowly he walked on through the camp. Artisans of all sorts had -set up their workshops near the tents, bakers and butchers were offering -their wares for sale, and there were tap-houses by the dozen. The -cuirassiers had removed the trappings from their horses and with -handfuls of straw were busy rubbing the foam and sweat from their -flanks. The Italian’s hospitable wine shop stood open; but the tables -were already well filled with soldiers, and the Councillor was about to -pass on when the friendly servant beckoned to him and, leading him -around to the rear, whispered: “This way; enter with me and seat -yourself behind the counter; the soldiers will take you for one of us -and make no objection to your presence.” - -The tired and hungry Irmy gladly followed this suggestion. A good and -substantial meal revived his strength; but his unwonted exertions proved -too much for him, and he offered the waiter a good sum if he would -provide him with a place where he might rest for a short time. - -“Come right in here, sir,” replied the Italian, leading him to a small -compartment; “you can lie down on my bed and no one will disturb you.” - - - - - Chapter IV - The Lost Found - - -As old Irmy slept, the wine shop gradually filled, while in the large -tavern room the landlord was kept equally busy supplying the Burgundian -officers with wine, cards, and dice. Duke Charles would permit no -gambling among the common soldiers, and regarded it with great disfavor -for the officers also; but to-day the players had no fear of discovery. - -“You are on duty to-day, Vögeli?” asked one of the men from Freiburg. - -“Yes; that is why I was not in the procession. It is a pity I was forced -to miss it.” - -“Nay, waste no regrets on that,” was the answer; “between dust and sweat -we almost perished. What say you,—shall we have a game?” - -“I do not care much for play,” replied Vögeli, “but as you please.” - -They seated themselves accordingly and began to play, while the other -tables were lively with all kinds of sport. - -“Do you know,” said one, “why the Duke sent that magnificent diamond -ring to his new page? Faith, it was because he wished the Prince good -luck in his pursuit of Fortune.” - -“All do not get such rich rewards,” said another; “the Duke is often -displeased by such things.” - -“Do you remember Lord de Comines?” asked a third; “he stood high in -Charles’s favor, was his private secretary, and presumed more than any -favorite ever had dared, yet even he once excited the wrath of the Duke. -After a banquet, one night, he bethought him ’twould be a rare jest to -sleep off his drunkenness in his master’s bed. But Charles soon awakened -him. - -“‘Good friend,’ he said, ‘you have forgotten your boots,’ and kneeling -down he drew them off himself; then he flung them at the head of the now -sobered secretary, and ordered him from the room to finish his slumbers -in his own bed. Comines was known ever after as ‘Puss in Boots,’ and was -received with scoffs and jeers whenever he ventured to show his face. -Now he hobnobs in Paris with King Louis and weaves intrigues against -us.” - -Vögeli had been winning steadily, and not wishing to take any more of -his comrade’s money, he arose and left the tavern to attend to his -duties as officer of the day. Meanwhile it had been getting very noisy -in the wine shop. The good Burgundy dispensed by Giacomo, the host, was -greatly enjoyed by the cuirassiers, and they applied themselves to it -industriously. Here, too, dice were thrown and cards dealt, but with -more caution than the officers displayed. At length the door opened and -six English archers entered, who quietly took their places at a table -and called for wine. - -“What business have they here?” asked the cuirassiers of one another. -“Giacomo, you are our sutler and shall serve no others.” - -As the tavernkeeper paid no heed to this, however, but prepared to -supply the wants of the newcomers, one of the esquires, a Lombard of -graceful but almost boyish figure sprang up from a table. “Hark you, -Giacomo!” he shouted, “if you dare to serve these English curs we will -run you through and afterwards burn your shop over your head!” - -This threat was approved by loud shouts and vigorous oaths from all -sides. - -“All honor to my countrymen!” said the Italian, deprecatingly, “but the -English must also live; nor do they lack good gold.” - -“Nay—they have far too much, the dogs, the slanderers!” - -The archers meanwhile, scarcely comprehending the import of this -discourse, sat waiting patiently for the liquor they had ordered. - -“Ralph,” said one of them to his neighbor, “can you make out what that -little devil yonder is saying?” - -“Never a word,” was the reply. “I only know I have a precious thirst and -am kept waiting too long for my wine.” - -With some difficulty the host succeeded in making his way to the -Englishmen’s table; but before he could set down the jugs two Lombards -planted themselves before him and shouted threateningly: “The Devil take -you, Giacomo! Give them nothing, or it shall be the worse for you, do -you hear?” - -At this Giacomo lost his patience. “Nay, go to the Devil yourselves, -dear countrymen,” he retorted, “or whither you please! As for me, the -Englishmen’s gold is as good as your own. Give way!” - -By this time the archers had grasped the situation, for they had been -once praised by the Duke and held up as examples to the disorderly -Lombards, who ever since had been their bitter enemies; and when the two -cuirassiers proceeded to knock the jugs from Giacomo’s hand, spilling -the wine upon the floor, Ralph with another tall archer sprang up, -seized them by the throat in their iron grasp, and hurled them against -the door with such violence that it burst open, and the Lombards rolled -out head over heels just at the feet of Captain Vögeli, who was making -his rounds through the camp to see that all was in order. This -unexpected encounter was far from pleasing to the cuirassiers, for any -breach of peace was severely punished. They attempted to explain, but -the uproar within was so great, Vögeli did not stop to listen. Hastily -entering the tavern he found the Englishmen surrounded on all sides with -threatening fists and gleaming knives. Instant silence followed his -appearance, for the strictness of the Duke’s discipline was well known -among his followers, and the officer of the day was therefore a person -much to be feared. Each man gave a different account of what had -happened; but as all agreed that the two Lombards who had been flung out -of the door and who by this time had picked themselves up out of the -dust were the chief offenders, the Captain concluded to keep the affair -to himself for this once, and merely ordered the archers to leave the -wine shop. Before they had departed, however, the door of the servant’s -sleeping-room opened and old Irmy made his appearance, roused at last by -all the commotion. - -“What! you here at last?” exclaimed Vögeli, holding out his hand to -greet the merchant. “Truly you have kept us waiting long. But how came -you here?” - -“That is no concern of yours,” growled Irmy, refusing the proffered -hand. “Where is my child, whom you enticed away from me in return for -the hospitality I showed you?” - -“My good sir,” said the officer, “’twas but in kindness to your friend, -the host of The Bears, that you took me in, for it would have fared ill -with him had news of that affair become known. As for your son, nothing -was farther from my thoughts than to persuade him to leave you. I did -not believe the lad would return to his home even had I refused to take -him with me, and then you might have searched for him, who knows where? -If you will go with me to the city, he shall be restored to you at once. -Moreover, I have managed already to disgust him with the idea of -soldiering. The other youth refuses to be converted, however, and is in -a fair way to become a pikeman.” - -“I care naught for him,” replied Irmy, as they left the wine shop; “he -was always a good-for-naught. His father settled in the village of -Aarau, and thought to ruin us merchants of Basle by his low prices; and -when he finally died, himself a bankrupt, nothing would do but I must -have the boy brought up in my house. But he never could be taught -anything; he is as full of foolish pranks as a donkey is of gray hairs, -though not altogether bad at heart,—not so bad as his father was.” - -“Now you are talking sensibly,” said Vögeli. “Methinks you might have -spared me your abuse just now.” - -“Nay, do not judge me too harshly,” answered the old man; “it is my -nature to grumble, and in a large business like mine one is vexed by so -many people every day, one becomes used to quarrelling. Consider, too, -that I had lost my only child, the boy who is to succeed to my name and -to my business when I no longer have time or strength to carry it on. I -am glad to find him here with you, and thank you with all my heart for -the wisdom and prudence you have shown.” - -“Truly that has a different sound,” declared the officer; “but let us -turn up this street. My lodgings are yonder on the market place, and -there we shall find the lad.” - -Old Irmy hurried on in advance of his companion, till he reached the -doorway of the house Vögeli had pointed out; he rushed up the stairway, -and the next moment father and son were clasped in each other’s arms. -The Councillor’s forgiveness was easily won, for he had already given -his anger full vent, and when, half an hour later, the two Irmys found -themselves seated with the Captain at the well spread table of the best -inn the town afforded, the last trace of his resentment vanished. - -“You ought to remain here with us a few days longer and see all the -festivities,” said Vögeli—“the tournament, at least.” - -But Irmy refused, declaring he must return at once to look after his -people, who would be out of all bounds were he too long absent. - -“It is a gay life you lead here,” he continued, “and one cannot much -blame a lad of sixteen for longing to join in it.” - -“All is not gold that glitters,” replied the Captain. “I often feel a -distaste for my profession; indeed, I should never have left my native -land had I been on better terms with my brother Hans. He was always -domineering and, being the elder, determined to have his own way in -everything. Moreover, he well understood how to win over our father by -his flattery, while I with my straightforward disposition could not get -on with him at all. I was obliged to submit myself dutifully to my -brother’s orders and weigh raisins and pour vinegar in my father’s -grocery shop, with no prospect of ever becoming anything more than a -clerk—for Hans always reserved the profits for himself. So I said to -myself, ‘You had better try some other country,’ and though I well knew -how deserters were despised, I left my home and took service with -Burgundy. Nor have I reason to regret it, for in truth I have prospered -better than most. My father disinherited me, it is true, and the city of -Freiburg has banished all deserters, but I care little for that. I -willingly yield to Hans my share of our inheritance, and should I ever -return to Freiburg to visit the graves of my parents, as a Burgundian -officer, I shall enter and depart without question. Yet for many reasons -I do not like this service, for there is much wrong and injustice, and -it often revolts me to be forced to obey Hagenbach’s commands. Moreover, -it is a sad life to be always wandering among strangers, without a -country, without a home, without a family. Here one lives from hand to -mouth, and to save enough from one’s pay to return at last to the -Fatherland to end one’s days in peace is scarcely to be thought of.” - -“Then why not quit this service and go with us?” said Irmy; “surely some -place can be found for you, in your own land, that will suit you.” - -“Nay, I am forbidden to return to Freiburg, and you know I am a Switzer. -It must go hard with us before we abandon the masters to whom we have -pledged ourselves.” - -So their talk ran on till the shades of evening began to fall, when they -parted, Irmy returning with Walter to what had hitherto been the -Captain’s lodgings, while the latter hastened back to the camp and took -up his quarters in the tent that had been assigned to him there. - -On the following morning the merchant and his son bade farewell to their -friend and, riding out through the gate of the city, took their way -along the highroad that led from Strassburg to Basle. - - - - - Chapter V - The Emperor’s Flight - - -Festivities of all sorts, tournament, parades, and banquets followed in -rapid succession in the city of Treves. Even the festivals of the Church -afforded the clergy an opportunity of displaying their wealth and -magnificence. The Archbishop, however, was not altogether pleased with -what was going on within the walls of his court; for the people talked -openly of Charles’s coronation, an event as much opposed to the -interests of the ecclesiastical Elector of Treves as of all the princes -of the German Empire. Either the Elector of Brandenburg or the Elector -of Saxony could lay quite as just a claim to a king’s crown as could the -Burgundian. Moreover, was it not whispered that the Electorate of Treves -was to form part of the new kingdom? The Archbishop a vassal of Charles -the Bold! Nay, that must be prevented at any cost. - -Meanwhile the negotiations between the two potentates made little -progress. Week after week went by, and still the Councillors could come -to no agreement concerning the Turkish war, as it was given out, but in -reality, as to the marriage of Maximilian and the coronation of Charles -the Bold, though this was known only to the initiated. At last, however, -the end seemed near: the Councillors met to complete the final -arrangements; that evening the contracts were to be signed; and the next -morning Charles would awake as King, Maximilian as the betrothed of -Burgundy’s heiress. - -The Emperor reclined contentedly in his armchair. He had been repeatedly -annoyed by the Duke’s arrogance and extravagance of display, but -comforted himself with the reflection that all Charles’s wealth and -possessions would eventually fall to his own son and heir by marriage -with the much courted Maria of Burgundy. That here in this old city -events were to prove propitious to him had been foretold by the stars. -His entry had been made under a fortunate conjunction, and since then -there had been no change in the favorable aspect of the planets. Yet he -could not permit this night to pass without again consulting the heavens -as to the further progress of his affairs. Rising listlessly, therefore, -from the writing table upon which he was wont to scribble and had to-day -scrawled with especial conviction fully a hundred times the words, “The -whole earth is a vassal of Austria,” he was about to seek a private -conference with the court astrologer, when a light knock was heard at -the door, and the venerable Archbishop of Treves entered, evidently in -great agitation. Approaching the Emperor, he bowed respectfully and -said: - -“May a faithful servant crave leave to speak a few words with Your -Majesty?” - -“We were about to retire,” replied Frederick indifferently, “but will -not refuse you, if it be on a matter of great import.” - -“Not otherwise, sire, would I have presumed to intrude myself in the -chamber of our most illustrious Emperor,” said the Archbishop. Then -standing erect before the monarch and assuming a resolute expression, he -began: - -“For many weeks past, in our good city of Treves, great preparations -have been made both in the cathedral and on the market place, and people -in the streets talk of a coronation. The Princes and Electors of the -Empire have paid no heed to this idle chatter, nor deemed that aught -else was in question than another of those splendid pageants of which we -feel we have already seen more than enough. But reliable news has just -reached us that these rumors are not entirely without foundation, and I -have hastened hither to implore Your Majesty in the name of my -fellow-princes to put an end to our apprehensions with one word of -assurance.” - -“What if we cannot speak that word?” asked Frederick calmly. - -“Then God help the unhappy Empire, and the illustrious house of Austria -as well! But I can scarce believe that His Roman Majesty has formed a -decision or pledged himself as yet in so weighty an affair as this. To -create a King without a council of the chief members of the Empire! That -were unheard of. But no! pardon me, Your Majesty, if I have gone too -far.” - -“Nay, go on,” replied the Emperor. “What you say is nothing new. All -these objections have been laid before us a thousand times by our loyal -subject and Privy Councillor, Count Werdenberg.” - -Thus encouraged, Archbishop John continued: “Were it merely the question -of a new kingdom, of what countries would you form it? Powerful princes -of the Church forced to submit to Burgundian sovereignty? Lorraine?—I -cannot believe you would wrest that from the knightly young Duke René. -Nay, should Your Imperial Majesty permit such a crime against a minor, -’twould justify the pettiest freebooter’s unlawful depredations.” - -Here Frederick looked away, unable to meet the stern glance of the -prelate, who continued: “And in the end, even should Your Majesty -succeed, contrary to all precedent, in forming a new kingdom, and making -the proud Burgundian your ally, would not all his enemies and backbiters -then become the foes of Austria likewise? I beseech Your Majesty to -consider: cut off from all the members of the Empire, menaced by foes -from without, the Lord of Christendom will be forced to yield to the -commands or desires of the King he has created.” - -“That may all be true,” answered Frederick, quite unmoved; “but since -you discourse so sagely of these things mayhap you can show us some way -out of the tangle; for ourselves, we can find none.” - -“Nothing easier,” returned the Archbishop. “Speak of this to no one: at -midnight we will take a boat and depart secretly from Treves. You will -thus escape from your dilemma. Duke Charles will not be crowned, the -Empire will suffer no wrong, and Your Majesty will be freed from all -obligations and once more master of your own actions.” - -Frederick was speechless with surprise, but after some deliberation he -agreed to follow this counsel. An emissary was secretly despatched to -the Imperial Councillors, who were still arguing with the Burgundians. -To the amazement of the latter, Count Werdenberg suddenly declared -negotiations broken off, nor were all their efforts to secure a future -resumption of the discussion of any avail. Half an hour later the -Burgundian Chancellor stood beside the Duke’s bed in the Abbey of St. -Maximin and related what had passed, his report being frequently -interrupted by outbursts of fury from his lord. - -Just at this time a door of the archiepiscopal palace in Treves was -softly opened and Archbishop John issued forth followed by young -Maximilian and Frederick, with a few attendants. Silently and cautiously -they crept away and betook themselves with all speed to the banks of the -Moselle, where a boat was waiting for them. Like fugitives the princes -silently embarked, and protected by the veil of night that still hung -heavy over the old city, the boat glided smoothly down the dark river -toward the green waters of the Rhine. - -Half an hour after their departure a troop of horsemen approached the -spot where the skiff had been moored. They were Burgundian cuirassiers, -led by Captain Vögeli, who had been on guard in the Duke’s antechamber. -“The Devil!” he growled, “could I but have carried the Roman Emperor -prisoner to my Duke, I need have yearned no longer to end my days -comfortably in the Fatherland.” - - - - - Chapter VI - The Rising at Brisach - - -Since the days of Tell and Gessler there had been no alliance between -Austria and the Swiss Confederation. Occasionally, it is true, the Swiss -had shown a friendly spirit toward the Emperor, who was a member of that -royal house, and they had never really ceased to regard themselves as -belonging to the German Empire. About this time, however, a peace was -concluded between the two countries, called the “Everlasting Compact,” -which has never been broken from that day to this. - -The Swiss States had advanced to the Austrian Archduke Sigismund the sum -required to redeem his Alsatian possessions, and notified Charles the -Bold, who held them in pledge, that it was awaiting his acceptance in -Basle. But Charles continually made evasions. While at Treves, he had -visited these mortgaged lands and concluded they would form a valuable -addition to his own dominions. He urged the Hapsburger to defer a -settlement of the affair until he should have time to receive the money -at Besançon or some other designated place; under no circumstances would -he come to Basle. This was brief and to the point; in reality he had no -notion of granting a release at any time. - -The Alsatians themselves were far from content with this state of -things, for while Duke Sigismund was by no means a model sovereign, the -harsh rule of Peter von Hagenbach pleased them still less. The hated -Governor resided at Brisach, and on this particular evening had summoned -all his officers to a council. Striding restlessly up and down the -spacious apartment where a number of fierce bearded soldiers, Walloons -and Picards for the most part, were already assembled, he at last burst -out: “Where is that fellow Vögeli? Can he mean to play us false, as I -have been warned? Pah! I know my Switzers very well. They will lend -themselves to anything, provided they are but paid and managed -properly.” - -Scarcely had he uttered the words, when Vögeli entered and, passing the -Governor and his fellow-officers with a respectful greeting, took his -place at the lower end of the table. - -“Marry, sir!” cried Hagenbach smiling, “’tis plain you are no fool and -know how to make yourself of importance. By right you should no longer -be entitled to share our councils, for I have released your disorderly -followers from their oath.” - -“Nevertheless, until they have been paid their arrears I am still their -Captain and yours,” quietly answered Vögeli. - -Hagenbach darted an evil glance at the bold speaker, but made no reply, -and turning at once to the matter in hand, addressed his leaders as -follows: “You are all well aware of the mutinous spirit that exists -among the inhabitants of this cursed country. If we delay they will soon -be in open revolt. It is our business to maintain the allegiance due our -mighty lord, the Duke, may God preserve him, and to seize by force -whatever towns or castles may be necessary.” - -The foreign captains here expressed their lively approval, but Vögeli -was silent. Hagenbach continued: “What these churls have in mind is -plain from the fact that even to-day, on the holy Easter festival, they -went fully armed to church. But, by my soul, it shall not be! This good -city of Brisach must be held for our lord at any cost. There is no lack -of provisions, and the stores would suffice for a year were there fewer -mouths to devour them. This, then, is my plan: Early on the morrow a -proclamation shall be made to the citizens, that their refusal to aid in -the work of fortification will avail them naught; all those who are not -outside the gates by midday prepared to labor in the trenches shall be -dragged thither by force, be they men or women. For the execution of -this order, gentlemen, you will answer to me, and if any one can suggest -a better plan—let him speak.” The Governor paused. - -“Pardon me, my lord,” said Vögeli deprecatingly, “but if the burghers -are forced to do this work, will they not return to their homes -exasperated by the indignity inflicted on them and yet more determined -upon mischief?” - -“Have no fear, my friend,” replied Hagenbach with a sinister smile, -“they will make no trouble for us in Brisach, for the reason that when -all are without the walls the gates shall be closed and none permitted -to return again at night.” - -“And their children and their property?” inquired Vögeli. - -“God-a-mercy! What does that concern you? Their brats shall be sent -after them, and their possessions serve as a reward to our brave -followers. Those who stay behind shall be strung up as rebels; and -should there be too many of these, faith, our good friend Joseph Broschi -[here he nodded to one of the officers] well understands how to dispose -of a superfluous population.” - -The details of this cruel scheme were listened to in silence and without -a sign of disfavor from those present; no objections were made, for all -were accustomed to obey. Moreover, the Governor was in the right in one -respect. Only the most extreme measures could break the rebellious -spirit of the Alsatians; so the city of Brisach must be made a warning -example. The conference therefore was soon ended, and the captains -separated with many coarse jests. Hagenbach clapped Vögeli roughly on -the shoulder, saying: - -“What is the matter with you to-day? You are as soft-hearted as an old -woman. But hark you, sir! I have no use for such officers, nor yet has -our lord of Burgundy.” - -Vögeli looked inquiringly at the Governor. “Does that mean I am -dismissed, my lord?” he asked. - -“Nay, methinks we shall stick together for some time yet; for if you -intend to remain in the Duke’s service till your men are paid, you are -like to wait till Doomsday!” - -With these words Hagenbach turned abruptly to one of the Italians, with -whom he conversed for some time in an undertone. - -“Keep a watchful eye on him,” said Hagenbach to the others, as Vögeli -left. “Heretofore I have turned a deaf ear to all whispers against him; -now I no longer trust him. I will consider the matter to-morrow. He is a -good soldier, and the people like him; but be on your guard as befits -the service of our most noble Duke.” - -Thoughtfully Vögeli took his way back to the dwelling of his friendly -host, Hans Wild, where a cordial reception awaited him. The children -came running out to meet the soldier guest who could tell such fine -tales of war and adventure, and hailed him with shouts of joy; but -to-night he was gloomy and silent and paid no heed to them. Tearfully -the little ones hastened to their mother, who chided them gently for -troubling the Captain, although she herself was concerned at his -appearance, as he moodily bade her good-evening. Woman-like, she -endeavored by kindly questioning to discover the cause of his trouble, -and abused the Governor for denying his officers an Easter holiday, but -all to no purpose; Vögeli continued in a silent and gloomy mood. Indeed, -when Frau Katharine pressed him too closely his brow grew so dark that -saucy little Anne Marie cried out: “Oh see, mother! What an old growler -he looks like! He is not so nice after all. The Duke is wicked, and the -Governor is wicked, and now the Captain looks as if he wanted to eat us -all up, you and me and little Peter too!” - -The mother would have punished the child for her pertness, but she fled -for protection to Vögeli, who stroked her smooth yellow locks as he -pacified Frau Katharine. “Children know not what they say,” he -graciously declared. “Alas! did we elders but know always what was best -to do or say—No!” he cried out suddenly, “I will not do it, come what -may!” And he brought his fist down on the table with such force that the -dishes rattled and Anne Marie and her mother looked at each other in -surprise. At that moment Hans Wild, a respectable rope-maker, entered. - -“Let your family leave the room,” commanded Vögeli sternly. “I must -speak with you alone.” - -“God help us!” wailed Frau Katharine, “our lives must be at stake. It is -true that my good husband went to the minister and did not lay aside all -his arms; but be merciful to him, sir! Surely he is not more to blame -than the other citizens.” - -“If it be a sin to fulfil an honest man’s duty toward the welfare of our -good city, then I am guilty,” said Hans calmly. “Proceed! God sends no -man more than he can bear, and the God of our fathers still lives, -despite Hagenbach and his Duke.” - -When the door was closed, Vögeli approached his host and held out his -hand, saying: “You have a stout heart, I know; how is it with the other -citizens?” - -Hans gave him a searching glance. “Doubtless through you the Governor -seeks to find me out and ruin me. But this I tell you frankly: you may -do with me as you will; but when the others strike, the blow will be a -cruel one.” - -Vögeli smiled kindly. “Rest assured, my friend, I mean you no harm. But -since you are already so certain of success, perchance you will not need -the aid of myself and my two hundred men—should you come to blows.” - -“What!” cried Master Hans, in astonishment, “do you mean that you would -help us?” - -“Certainly, and without delay—to-morrow, in truth, else it may be too -late,” replied the Captain quickly. - -“To-morrow? Impossible! We are all armed, it is true, but must wait for -reënforcements from Ensisheim and other towns.” - -“Very well then, wait, and perish! But first listen to what I tell you. -To-morrow morning you and your wives will be driven from the city to -work in the trenches. Once gone, you with all the rest will be forbidden -to reënter the gates; if you stay behind you will be slain. Your -property will be divided among the foreign mercenaries, and your -children perchance sent after you, should the spoilers see fit to spare -them. Take tender leave to-night of Anne Marie and Peter. You may never -see them again, Master Hans.” - -In answer to his anxious questions, Vögeli explained the extent and -imminence of the danger. - -“But what would you advise us to do? We are not yet prepared to strike,” -said Hans. - -“Trust to our help, my friend; it shall not fail you. Early in the -morning, before the proclamation can be published, I will go to the -Governor and once more demand of him the pay for my men. If he refuse, -as he surely will, sound the great drum and be ready. We will take him -prisoner.” - -“If that is done,” cried Hans joyfully, “you will have the city’s -lasting gratitude. You may depend upon us to do our part. For some weeks -we have had a secret understanding among ourselves, so that any news, -good or bad, can be spread throughout the town like wildfire. I will see -to that, but do not leave us in the lurch, sir Captain!” - -Vögeli repeated his assurances, and the two men parted with a firm -hand-clasp, the one to seek his fellow citizens, the other to kindle the -increased anger of his men, who were already quarrelling in a tavern -over their discharge. - -The citizens spent an anxious night. Would the morrow bring freedom or -ruin?—Scarce had the iron tongues of the bells sounded their first -summons to the faithful, when Vögeli betook himself to Hagenbach’s -quarters. The guard at the door refused to admit him, but Vögeli with -one sweep of his muscular arm hurled the man aside and walked -unannounced into the bedchamber of the Governor, who, reclining half -dressed in a deep armchair, was meditating upon his plans for the day. -His thoughts had just turned to Vögeli and he was debating whether it -would not be best to have him placed under immediate arrest, when -suddenly the Captain himself stood before him. - -“In God’s name, Vögeli,” he shouted, “what are you doing here at this -hour? and why do you enter unannounced? In future wait till you are -summoned.” The veins on his forehead swelled and his voice shook with -rage. But Vögeli did not move. - -“Be not angry with me, my lord,” he said. “I come not of my own will, -nor on my own errand; but my men will give me no peace.” - -“Send them to the Evil One, whose children they are!” roared the -Governor. - -“It would be a hard task to get the two hundred ready,” retorted Vögeli -with seeming good-nature; “moreover the evil one of dice and drink, to -whom I should send them, loves full pockets, as your lordship well -knows.” - -“How should I know that, scoundrel? You are hounding me again for your -fellows’ beggarly pay. Know, sir, that our lord Duke has not a farthing -for lukewarm or treacherous servants like yourself. But I will give you -and them the kind of pay you well deserve!” - -“So? What will you give us?” asked Vögeli deliberately. - -“Something that will proclaim you all vile curs,” shouted Hagenbach. -“And now begone, if you would not have the Evil One take you likewise!” - -Vögeli looked steadily at the Governor. He was inwardly raging and on -the point of uttering a fatal threat, but controlled himself in time, -and merely answered: “May you never repent this, my lord. I go as you -command.” - -The Governor hurled some furious oaths after him, then flung himself -back in his chair and pondered afresh. “’Twere better, methinks, had I -kept the fellow here. Who knows what mischief he may breed?” Sir Peter -on this occasion seemed to have lacked his wonted decision, for he -hesitated and delayed putting his scheme against the people into -execution, until much precious time had been irrevocably lost. - -After leaving the Governor, Vögeli repaired directly to the market -place, where his followers were anxiously awaiting him. “Have you -brought us our pay?” shouted one boisterous fellow, as soon as he caught -sight of the Captain. - -“Fine pay indeed,” was the reply. “Our noble lord told me to send you -all to the Evil One.” - -A storm of angry shouts arose. “Let us go and get it ourselves!” yelled -one. - -“He shall give us a ton of gold and his life to boot!” cried another. - -“Peace!” commanded Vögeli. Silence ensued, when lo, a singular spectacle -presented itself. At the beat of a drum throngs of armed citizens began -to issue from all the houses; rapidly the number increased, being -swelled by women and half-grown lads also, bearing any sort of implement -that would serve as a weapon. - -“To the Governor! To Hagenbach’s quarters!” was the general cry. “Long -live the illustrious House of Austria!” and therewith the Hapsburg -banner floated lightly in the breeze. Renewed shouts greeted the -well-known emblem—“Long live our noble lord, Duke Sigismund! hurrah! -hurrah!” On they moved toward their destination, when suddenly a troop -of glittering horsemen blocked the way. They were nobles from the -surrounding country on their way to complain to the Governor of injuries -on the part of the Burgundian officers. - -“Stay, in God’s name!” shouted the foremost of the riders. “What would -you do?” - -“Long live Austria! Long live Archduke Sigismund!” was the only -response. - -“The Archduke himself would be the first to condemn such action on your -part. Bethink you how long he has been allied to Burgundy. He is Duke -Charles’s friend and would never countenance any act of hostility toward -him.” - -“He will not readily pardon the use of his name for your unlawful -purposes,” added another of the nobles. “Desist, I charge you, nor -presume to lay violent hands on the Duke’s most distinguished officer, -else you will—” - -Here his words were drowned by a roar of indignation from the populace; -and Hans Wild, raised aloft by two of his fellow tradesmen, shouted in -ringing tones: “Give way, my lords! You have lent us no aid in the past, -nor will we brook interference from you now. Our crime, if such you deem -it, be on our own heads. Long live Austria, say I, and down with the -Governor!” - -Thundering applause greeted these words. The horsemen fell back -dismayed, and on swept the throng. Soldiers stood in the doorways -looking on in amazement, at first unable to comprehend the meaning of -it. They had received no orders. Access to Hagenbach’s quarters was -already cut off; and finally, seeing what was afoot and that they stood -no chance against the infuriated citizens supported by Vögeli’s -followers, they deemed it best to abandon the scene of their offences, -and took to their heels, singly or in small companies, without even -stopping to gather up their belongings or their booty. The insurgents -paid no heed to them, intent only on capturing the person of the -detested Governor. He should be made to atone for all his crimes and -cruelties, and woe to him if he should be found in his quarters! - -Greatly to their rage and chagrin, however, the nest was empty. -Hagenbach had been warned in time to make his escape by a side door. -Could he be already beyond their reach? The discovery of the open wicket -left no doubt as to the direction of his flight; and some of the more -active burghers, quickly mounting, hastened in pursuit, the others, with -the soldiers, following and carefully searching every house along the -roadside. - -Suddenly a triumphant shout arose: “We have him, we have him!” and at -the same moment the Governor, accompanied by one faithful attendant, was -seen dashing out from a farmyard. Forcing his way through the crowd, he -crossed the road and set off at full speed across the fields, thinking -to escape that way. A lively chase followed; but Hagenbach, who had -flung himself on an ordinary cart horse, had small chance against the -better mounted burghers, and was soon overtaken. A few powerful but -well-parried sword strokes, and he was a prisoner. But even then his -insolence did not desert him. - -“Make haste and fling me to the bloodthirsty dogs that they may gorge -themselves! Marry, ’tis far too noble game for such folk,” he cried. -Then turning on Vögeli, who with a dozen of his followers had hastened -to the spot, he sneeringly exclaimed: “So this is Swiss loyalty and -valor, sir Captain! A hundred against one! And for a few paltry florins -you forsake the colors to which you swore allegiance. I wish you joy of -the reward this peasant rabble will doubtless pay you for your -treachery.” - -Vögeli was silent, but one of the soldiers shouted angrily: “Why do we -stand gaping here? Is there no one to silence the scoundrel’s vile -calumnies? If not, I will teach you to insult my master!” Raising his -arm he was about to deal the Governor a mighty blow, when one of the -burghers restrained him, saying: “Nay, my good friend, to make such -short work of it were to lose half the pleasure. This is matter for the -executioner.” - -At these words Hagenbach turned pale and said no more. But he was not to -go immediately to the scaffold. With frenzied shouts of joy, they took -their way back to Brisach, which had been entirely deserted by its -inhabitants, women and children, who now accompanied the procession with -jeers and taunts at the prisoner. - -“Hagenbach, you Judas! you bloodhound! at last we have you safe where -you can no longer torment us.” The executioner, usually an object of -aversion, was now hailed in the most friendly manner by all. “Master -Peter,” they shouted to him, “this is work for you!” and Peter, -grinning, tucked up his sleeves and struck at the air with his sword, -before the eyes of Hagenbach. - -“It seems I am to do that man one more favor,” he declared with a -sneering laugh. - -When they reached the gates of the city, the excited populace would have -conducted the prisoner at once to the place of execution, but some of -the more cool-headed citizens succeeded in dissuading them. “We are -Austrians,” they said, “and our lord Duke Sigismund must pronounce -sentence upon the Governor. It is not for us to judge him.” Accordingly, -four soldiers, four burghers, and four of the nobles were chosen to -guard the prisoner, while Vögeli with some of the citizens hastened to -Basle to acquaint Duke Sigismund with what had occurred. - -Two days later, toward evening, the Captain rode slowly through the -streets of that city on his way to the inn of The Bears. How things had -changed since he had come this way for the first time! Then he was an -honored and honorable officer, favored by the Duke, and a loyal servant -to Hagenbach. To-day he was a rebel. The Duke would never pardon his -disloyalty, and Hagenbach, who had formerly valued him for his ability, -was now his mortal enemy, and through his agency a prisoner. And all -this for a few paltry florins, as the Governor had said. Yet though he -well knew not one of his former comrades would credit him with any other -reason for his defection, he could not altogether reproach himself. Were -it all to be done again he knew he should act no differently. - -This time Iseli himself came out to meet his guest and assist him to -dismount. “I am glad,” said he, as they ascended the stairway together, -“to find that you bear me no ill will for what befell you in my house, -though truly it was through no fault of mine.” - -“Why should I be angry with you for that?” asked Vögeli. “But what news -of your neighbor, the good Councillor Irmy?” - -Thereupon the innkeeper proceeded to give a detailed report concerning -the welfare of his friend and Walter. “And you, Captain,” he continued -inquisitively, “what brings you to us again? Perchance you have been -sent by your Duke to collect the sum advanced by the Swiss States for -the redemption of Alsace?” - -“Hardly that,” said Vögeli; “but tell me, is it true that Duke Sigismund -comes hither to-morrow?” - -“So it is said,” replied Iseli. “Doubtless you have matters of -importance to lay before the Archduke?” - -Vögeli would fain have concealed his errand, but the innkeeper plied his -questions so adroitly that he soon succeeded in extracting the whole -story; and when the Captain, wearied with his long ride, retired to his -chamber to rest, the news quickly spread through the town that -Hagenbach, the oppressor of the Alsatians, the enemy of Switzerland as -of every right-minded man, had been taken prisoner and the Archduke was -to pronounce judgment on him. - -When Sigismund drew near the town the following morning, he found the -magistrates already at the gates to welcome him. - -Vögeli had been riding at the Duke’s side for half an hour, having gone -out earlier to meet him with the news of Hagenbach’s capture, and when -Sigismund dismissed him kindly, he turned his horse’s head toward The -Bears once more. But the acclamations that had followed the Duke were -now centred on the Captain, and his horse could make but slow progress -through the densely packed throngs that filled the streets. When he at -last dismounted he was raised aloft on the shoulders of the sturdy -burghers and borne into the inn, where a number of the patricians and -citizens of Basle had assembled to meet him. Among these were old Irmy -and Walter, with whom Vögeli soon retired to his own chamber to escape -the praise and adulation so distasteful to his modest nature. - -“Iseli shall bring us some wine,” said the Councillor, “and then I have -something to propose that I hope will please you.” - -The host soon appeared with brimming tankards and Irmy began: “First of -all, Captain, I beg you will do me the honor to make my house your home -as often and as long as you may chance to be in Basle. I have learned to -esteem you highly, and greatly desire that our friendship and our -relations in life should become closer. Walter is now seventeen years -old, and ever since I brought him back from Treves he has been faithful -and industrious, and has learned something of business. But he lacks a -knowledge of much that cannot be acquired by the fireside; the lad must -travel, first to Italy,—Genoa and Venice,—and when he has mastered the -Italian language and method of book-keeping I shall send him to -Nuremberg and Augsburg, to Anton Fugger. This will mean an absence of -some years; but I am still active and can perform the duties of my -position without difficulty. Walter is so young, however, that I am -unwilling to send him out into the world alone, and I should be very -glad if you would go with him and keep a curb on the reckless fellow so -that he shall not fall into bad company or play any foolish pranks. As -to money, you shall have all that is needful, and when you return there -will be room for you both in the business. Your experience in Freiburg -will serve you in good part there. I know Walter is attached to you and -will obey you as willingly as he does me. If you are agreed, let us -shake hands on it!” - -Vögeli gladly grasped the merchant’s extended palm, and the next morning -he took up his abode in the house, under whose hospitable roof he had -once been carried wounded and bleeding. The landlord of The Bears flatly -refused to accept any pay for board and lodging, declaring he was -already far too much in the Captain’s debt. - - - - - Chapter VII - Death of the Governor - - -Archduke Sigismund decreed that Hagenbach should be publicly tried for -his offences. Among the judges appointed from Basle were Hans Irmy and -Ulrich Iseli, and with them came old Hassfurter representing the city of -Lucerne. - -The judges assembled at Brisach, where they were welcomed by Sigismund, -who had already been there for a fortnight inquiring into the case of -the prisoner. Full confession had been extorted from Hagenbach by means -of the rack, but there were few proofs obtainable, even of his plot -against the lives and property of the citizens of Brisach. Multitudes -flocked thither from Switzerland, Alsace, and the Black Forest to -witness the trial of the hated Governor. Along the whole length of the -Rhine from Basle to Strassburg he had not a single friend. Little mercy -could be expected from his Alsatian judges, and even among the strangers -invited there were many whom he had greatly wronged. - -A platform had been erected in the public square for the judges and the -accused; and facing it a bench was placed upon which, shunned by all, -yet objects of universal interest, were seated seven headsmen, rivals -for the honor of executing sentence upon the country’s oppressor. Clad -alike in long red cloaks, they were in their places long before the -judges appeared. When these had finally assembled, Swiss, Alsatians, and -Sundgauers,[7] the accused was led thither, escorted by his guard and -surrounded by surging crowds. He walked with a firm step, not heeding -the taunts and jeers heaped upon him save by an occasional contemptuous -glance at the people. - -“Now you shall reap your reward,” shrieked a woman’s voice, “for -plotting to sink all the women and children to the bottom of the Rhine -in leaky boats!” - -“Ho! you would give our possessions as booty to your mercenaries, would -you?” cried a well-to-do baker, whose property was of considerable -value. “It shall go ill with you for that!” - -Pursued by such speeches, Hagenbach reached the market place and took -his seat while the tribunal was forming. The Austrian deputy appointed -Ulrich Iseli as advocate for Archduke Sigismund, while Peter von -Hagenbach himself chose Irmy, whose impartial love of justice was well -known to him. Thomas Schütz, the magistrate of Ensisheim, opened the -proceedings. About him were ranged the twenty-six judges, among whom -were included sixteen knights, though to judge by their looks the -presence of these equals in rank lent the prisoner but small hope of -their clemency. Slowly the trial proceeded. The advocate for the accused -did his best, but the verdict of death was certain from the beginning. - -A storm of applause rent the air as the magistrate of Ensisheim -announced the result. The executioners, who had hitherto remained -passive, almost indifferent spectators, suddenly became all attention to -learn in what manner the vengeance of their countrymen was to be wrought -upon Hagenbach. Meanwhile the knights present required that the -condemned should be publicly stripped of the dignities of his rank. -Whereupon the Imperial herald advanced and, causing the Governor to be -brought before him, demanded: - -“Who stands before me?” - -“The knight, Sir Peter von Hagenbach,” was the answer. - - [Illustration: _Hagenbach’s_ execution_ - (_After a woodcut in an old Swiss chronicle_)] - -Thrice the herald repeated: “That is false. No knight see I here, but a -miscreant and a liar. Let his sword be broken and his shield dragged in -the dust at a horse’s tail.” Then turning to the accused, he said: - -“Peter Hagenbach, your conduct has been far from knightly. It was your -duty to render justice; to protect the widow and orphan; to honor the -Church and its holy servants; to restrain all violence and outrage: but -you have yourself committed those crimes which you should have punished -in others. Having broken, therefore, the oaths which you have sworn, and -forfeited the noble order of knighthood, the knights here present have -ordained that you shall be deprived of its insignia. Let a true knight -come hither and take from him his arms and honors.” - -Sir Hermann von Eptingen advanced. “Peter Hagenbach, I proclaim you -unworthy knight of the holy order of Saint George, and deprive you of -your sword, ring, collar, poniard, and spurs.” Then seizing a gauntlet, -he struck the Governor on the right cheek, saying: “I pronounce you -dishonored and disarmed, and so shall you remain until your death.” - -Turning to the knights, he added: “Noble sirs, I have, according to your -decree, deprived Peter Hagenbach of his insignia and caused him to be -publicly degraded. May this punishment serve as an example to you, and -may you ever live in accordance with the dignity of knighthood and the -honor of your name.” - -At the conclusion of this scene, the composure displayed by the Governor -throughout the whole trial forsook him. The scornful gleam in his eyes -died out, his head sank upon his breast, and he seemed to lose all -consciousness of his surroundings. But as he clearly realized the -discussion concerning the mode of his death, he broke down completely, -groaning: “Mercy, mercy, your worships! Grant me honorable death by the -sword!” - -Shouts of triumph again rose from the people when they beheld the proud -nobleman bowed humbly to the dust, but some of those in the front ranks -were moved to pity, and many secretly shed tears. The judges unanimously -agreed on death by the sword. Preparations were made at once for the -execution of the sentence, which, greatly to his joy and the envy of his -fellows, was intrusted to the headsman of Colmar, a short, thickset -fellow, accounted an expert with the sword. - -Night had long since fallen and darkness covered the earth, when Peter -Hagenbach was conducted to the scaffold. The judges rode in advance. Two -priests walked beside the condemned man, urging him to confess his sins -that his soul might not perish with his body. Torches illuminated the -dismal scene. A vast crowd hemmed in the sad procession, which, passing -out through the Cooper’s Gate, reached an open meadow, where it halted. -Hagenbach conversed earnestly with the priests for some moments, openly -declared his repentance, and bequeathed to the church of Brisach his -sixteen horses, his valuables, and his gold chain, for absolution from -his sins. With a firm step he mounted the scaffold and, facing his -judges and the people, spoke thus with manly courage: - -“I fear not death. Too often have I faced it on the battle-field. I -regret alone the blood which mine will cause to be shed; for think not -my master will permit this day to pass unavenged. Grant me your -forgiveness, for Christ’s and Our Lady’s sake. I am not guilty of all -you have charged against me, yet I humbly confess myself a sinner. Pray -for me!” - -He knelt and received the death stroke. The executioner of Colmar -performed his duty well, but not a shout arose, not a murmur of applause -was heard. Peter Hagenbach had shown he knew how to die, and his death -atoned for all. - - - - - Chapter VIII - The Battle of Granson - - -For a time it appeared as if the death of Hagenbach were to remain -unavenged. His brother, it is true, made some attempt at retaliation and -laid waste parts of the country, but the cities felt secure behind their -walls, and laughed at the threats of the Burgundians. Charles himself -was occupied with other matters and had no time to punish the judges of -his faithful servant. With his whole army of sixty thousand men he lay -encamped for nine long months before the town of Neuss on the Lower -Rhine, wasting his time and his forces in a vain endeavor to reduce its -brave garrison to submission. The Emperor meanwhile collected an army -and, crossing the Rhine, advanced to meet him. But Frederick had no -intention of fighting; after a few skirmishes he deserted his allies, -the King of France, Duke René of Lorraine, and the Swiss Confederates, -and made peace with the Duke of Burgundy. Possibly he was not unwilling -to abandon them to Charles’s vengeance; moreover, Burgundy would thereby -acquire valuable additions to her territory; and Burgundy—so ran the -treaty—was to be the inheritance of Princess Maria, betrothed to the -young Archduke Maximilian. - -Charles’s first move was to take possession of Lorraine, after which he -marched into Switzerland and laid siege to Granson.[8] A large part of -his court had followed him to the camp, where the utmost luxury and -extravagance prevailed. The Duke’s table was laid with massive gold -plate, the costliest wines were drunk from golden beakers, and the -Burgundian knights and nobles vied with one another in splendor of -display. - -Far otherwise was it in the beleaguered town, where the wretched fare -and scanty rations grew daily less, and still the promised relief did -not appear. The commander lacked firmness and decision, moreover, while -the garrison, which consisted chiefly of the soldiers that had formerly -revolted at Brisach, looked back longingly on the flesh-pots of the -Burgundian camp. Meanwhile the Confederates were assembling their forces -with a deliberation strongly opposed by the more sagacious leaders, but -they were powerless against the obstinate independence of the free -Swiss. When the army finally moved to the relief of Granson, and was but -a day’s march from the enemy, it was only to learn that the town had -already surrendered, and that the entire garrison had been hanged, in -direct violation of the terms of the capitulation. - -Overwhelmed with shame and fury at the consequences of their delay, they -swore vengeance on the Duke; and the next day a battle was fought, in -which the Burgundians were totally defeated and driven out of -Switzerland in confusion, leaving the camp and all its treasures with -four thousand wagon-loads of provisions in the hands of the Swiss. The -first duty of the victors, however, was to bestow honorable burial on -the murdered garrison. By tens and dozens the Burgundians had hanged -them to the branches of trees,—here father and son or brothers side by -side, there friends and relatives together. In solemn procession the -bodies were borne to the monastery of the barefooted friars and laid in -a common grave, each with his arms beside him, according to an old -custom. - -On the following morning the spoils were divided; and great was the -amazement of the Confederates at the richness and splendor that -everywhere met their gaze. Here, piled in great heaps, was the massive -plate that had adorned the Duke’s board at Treves; there stood the -silver chair heavily inlaid with gold, valued at eleven thousand -florins, in which he was wont to receive foreign envoys; Charles’s -headpiece, and his magnificent sword set with priceless gems: all these -treasures were tossed about by the rough hands of the Switzers. Curious -throngs forced their way into the royal pavilion and marvelled at the -costly hangings interwoven with gold and silver, upon which were -depicted scenes from Roman mythology. Upon the wall gleamed Burgundy’s -escutcheon, emblazoned with the cross of St. Andrew, and above it the -Duke’s proud motto, “I Watch.” Watched? Aye, and lost! was but too -plain. - -“Who wants tin plates?” cried an honest countryman, contemptuously. “I -have plenty of those at home,” and he sold the silver plates that had -fallen to his share for two silver groschen apiece; while an archer -proudly exhibited a shirt of mail he had just received in exchange for a -jewelled diadem, saying, “What could I have done with such trumpery?” - -“There you were wise, my friend,” declared the dealer, who had willingly -made the trade, for the crown was worth thirty thousand thalers; “and if -any others find these shining things somewhat heavy to carry, come to -me. I will give you good round coin for them.” - -“So? Then mayhap we may strike a bargain,” said a Strassburger. “Would -ten florins be too much for these twelve bright goblets? They are much -too heavy for gold, but any one not knowing would easily buy them of you -for that.” - -The trader weighed the cups in his hand. They might have been worth -eighty marks in gold. “Truly they are heavy enough,” he said doubtfully, -“and I dare not overload my cart, for who knows what profitable bargains -are yet to be made? Yet I would not have your ill will, and since it is -you I will do the best I can for you. Come, let us say half a guilder -apiece.” - -The Strassburger looked doubtfully at his companions. “If they should be -gold, though—” - -“Nay, be not a fool, Thomas. You are not likely to have another offer as -good as that. What if they be really gold? Gold is as cheap here as -hazel nuts with us at Martigny.” At this the Strassburger hesitated no -longer, but gladly pocketed his six guilders, and the trader went on his -way. - -“’Tis like the masqueraders at carnival time,” he said to himself as he -met a group of cowherds with costly garments of velvet, silk, and cloth -of gold flung over their smockfrocks. - -“Look at Ruodi! Is he not fine?” gleefully shouted one, pointing to the -leader of the band, who wore on his head a costly cap with waving -plumes, while upon his breast gleamed the gold chain of the noble order -of the Golden Fleece. In another part of the camp a party of victorious -Switzers quarrelled and shouted over some casks of Burgundy which they -were drawing into gold and silver flagons. “Will you hold your -good-for-nothing tongues or shall I read you a text?” shouted one -drunken fellow, waving aloft the Duke’s own prayer-book, bound in red -velvet. - -“Give us a song, Werni,” cried several voices, “that will stop their -noise. Come, strike up!” - -“‘Strike up—strike up!’ That is easily said,” growled Werni; “for my -part I would rather drink than sing.” Nevertheless he felt flattered by -the challenge, and without further protest began: - - “Your camp with all its treasures rare - Has fallen to the Switzers’ share: - Oh fie! Duke Charles, for shame!” - - “Yes—fie! Duke Charles, for shame!” - -all joined in rousing chorus. - - “Should such disgrace not break your pride, - Come back, fresh armies at your side, - We’ll serve you just the same.” - - “We’ll serve you just the same,” - -echoed the singers enthusiastically. Then others gathering about the -rude minstrel took up the strain, till far and wide resounded the -triumphant notes of the ballad of the battle of Granson. How every heart -swelled as Werni, hoarse and weary, concluded: - - “The Confederation, whate’er betide, - Doth ever fast and firm abide, - As this day well hath proven; - The fame of Granson’s martial band - Shall ring triumphant through the land, - With praises interwoven.” - - - - - Chapter IX - The Hero of Murten - - -Before midsummer Charles the Bold had repaired his losses as well as his -means would permit, and levied a new army. His subjects had begun to -murmur and lose faith in his success, but the Duke himself remained -undaunted. He had advanced dangerously near to the Cantons of Berne and -Freiburg, and was now laying siege to Murten, a strongly fortified town -on the lake of that name. He expected it to share the fate of Granson; -but the commander, Adrian von Bubenberg, was a very different sort of -man from the leader of that ill-fated garrison. In vain the besiegers -shot arrows into the town wound with slips of paper bearing such -inscriptions as: “You are shut up here like rats in a hole. The Bernese -churls cannot save you, and all the gold in the world would not buy you -escape.” - -Threats and promises were alike of no avail. “The perjurers of Granson -will never find credence in Murten,” was the commander’s reply to all -proposals of surrender; nor was he less firm in suppressing all signs of -wavering within the walls. Summoning the citizens and soldiers before -him, he addressed them sternly: - -“Hark ye, all! I hereby proclaim that he who dares to whisper of -surrender, be he of the town or of the garrison, is a dastard and a -poltroon, and shall be struck down on the spot. So shall we separate the -wheat from the chaff. And if one word of fear or weakening escape my -lips, let me be made the first example.” This effectually silenced all -murmurs or complaints; and the Confederates at last assembled an army -and advanced to their relief. - -Rough, mountainous country and thick forests separated the Swiss from -the Burgundian camp, which had been pitched on the plateau of Grisach -behind rising ground, and was protected by a so-called “hedge,” a -palisade surrounded on the outside by a wide trench, while within the -earth had been thrown up to form a sort of breastwork for the defenders, -and only the narrowest openings were left for outlet in case of need; to -break through it in face of the mounted guns would seem well-nigh -impossible. Moreover, behind this fortification stood the English -archers ready with their deadly shafts to repulse any attempt at -approach. The position was not badly chosen, and was disadvantageous -only in that it afforded the cavalry no proper field for action. - -Through these mountains two travellers were making their way. One of -them was evidently laboring under some stress of mind, for he -alternately spurred on and abruptly reined in his fiery steed, which was -covered with foam, while the animal ridden by his more youthful -companion still appeared fresh. He spoke little and kept his eyes fixed -gloomily on the road that led to the camp of the Confederates. Soon they -were challenged by the outposts, and the elder rider asked to be guided -to the forces furnished by the city of Freiburg. A servant conducted -them to that part of the encampment, and Hans Vögeli, the Captain of the -band, stepped forward to learn their errand. Speech forsook him, -however, when his eyes fell upon the older of the two horsemen, who -reached down his hand kindly, saying, “You know me, then, brother Hans? -I have come hither to fight beside you. That I am an exile from my -native city, I well know, but to-morrow I hope to win back with my sword -my right to citizenship.” - -A scornful look came over the face of Hans Vögeli. “So!” he said -contemptuously, “now that your master is on the verge of destruction, -you deem it well to work with us for the Fatherland! Now the vagabond -comes back and expects us to believe that he means fairly by us—as -fairly, no doubt, as by his Duke and by the Governor whom he betrayed -for the sake of a few months’ pay.” - -Heinrich made no reply to these harsh words. He knew it was useless to -attempt to change his brother’s sentiments toward him, but turning to -his countrymen he reminded them of their boyhood days together; -explained his reasons for entering the service of Burgundy, and besought -permission to join them in the coming struggle, declaring he would prove -himself not unworthy to fight in their ranks. Many were inclined in his -favor, but Hans Vögeli cut matters short by roughly ordering both the -riders to leave the camp at once. Perceiving the fruitlessness of his -efforts, Heinrich turned his horse’s head. - -“Come, Walter,” he said simply, and they made their way back through the -camp to the outposts again. Walter Irmy, for he it was, did not venture -to address his moody companion, and they galloped off in silence to the -nearest farmhouse, where they obtained lodgings for the night. Early the -next morning they were again in the saddle and rode back to the camp, -only to find it already broken up and the army advancing to meet the -enemy. From some horseboys Vögeli learned that the Freiburgers were in -the vanguard and were to begin the attack that day. Slowly they followed -after, and soon overtook the Confederates, who had halted where a thick -forest concealed them from the eyes of the enemy, to observe their old -custom of knighting before battle those most deserving of the honor. The -first to receive it was René the dispossessed Duke of Lorraine, who had -joined the Confederates with three hundred faithful followers to fight -against Charles the Bold. - -The impatient Switzers loudly protested against this delay, the more so -as a heavy rain had been falling for some time. But the solemn -ceremonies were not to be curtailed, nor was Duke René, the new knight, -sparing in conferring the coveted honor. Many an honest fellow, indeed, -without the necessary means to maintain his dignities, was forced to -submit to the stroke of knighthood. It came to an end at last, however, -and the handsome young prince remounted and rode slowly back to join his -friends, followed by the admiring gaze of the Swiss. - -“’Tis a pity,” they declared, “the noble lord is not of German blood: we -cannot understand a word of his French gabble.” The delay that had been -so irksome to the Swiss proved to their advantage in the end, for the -Burgundians, after getting drawn up for battle in the drenching rain six -long hours, with no sign of the enemy’s approach, had been ordered to -return to the camp, where they quickly laid aside arms and armor and -dispersed in search of rest or refreshment. The jaded chargers were also -divested of their trappings and fed; even the Duke himself, usually so -vigilant, retired to his pavilion at some distance from the camp and -seated himself with his officers at the board. - -Suddenly the Confederates issued from the forest which had concealed -their approach and, halting once more, after the custom of their -forefathers, knelt to invoke the aid of the God of Battles. An old -gray-beard made the short prayer, all devoutly joining in the “Amen.” -Just at that moment the sun broke through the clouds. - -“Heaven has heard our prayer!” shouted the leaders joyfully. “Comrades, -be stanch and bold! Think of your wives, your children, and your -sweethearts! Forward, Confederates!” - -They fling themselves furiously against the breastwork, but the enemy’s -guns tear great gaps in their ranks, and arrow after arrow is sped with -deadly aim by the English bowmen. Vainly the assailants strive to -surmount or demolish the sharp palisades. The bannerman of Freiburg is -struck down. Suddenly the sound of galloping hoofs approaches, and the -powerful voice of Heinrich Vögeli is heard shouting encouragement to his -wavering countrymen. Hailing his appearance with shouts of joy, they -rally, and like a torrent the Swiss vanguard sweeps through a gap in the -“hedge,” Vögeli at their head. Hans is forgotten; all eyes are fixed on -the gallant soldier fighting so bravely in the foremost rank, as gun -after gun is captured and turned against the enemy’s camp. On clatter -the squadrons of Lombard cuirassiers, but the deadly fire of their own -guns, and a furious assault from the Swiss foot soldiers, led by Vögeli, -soon put them to rout. - -Still the Confederates pour through the intrenchment. Charles retreats, -hoping to obtain a better position, but close upon him press the -Freiburgers, Vögeli bearing their banner aloft in his left hand while -with the right he wields his victorious sword. The English archers rally -once more; but their ranks are thinning fast, and when their leader, the -Duke of Somerset, is slain they break and give way. Only one band still -holds its ground, the Swiss pikemen, who will not yield. Vögeli, loath -to continue this unnatural warfare, promises them pardon, but they -reject his offer and fight on more fiercely than before. Suddenly one of -them, whom both he and Walter Irmy—who has never left his side—recognize -as Heini Süssbacher, springs at Vögeli. - -“Traitor!” he shouts, and with one blow brings Heinrich’s horse to the -ground. Others now have recognized the Captain, and he and Walter are -instantly surrounded and cut off from their comrades. Heini’s hand is -already outstretched to seize the banner when Vögeli’s sword cleaves his -helm and down he falls. Like a wounded boar, the Freiburger struggles to -defend his standard, and Walter keeps stoutly at his side, while the -Swiss strive to come to their rescue. Hacking and hewing madly, they cut -their way through the throng that presses about the two heroes, and -reach them just as Heinrich, mortally wounded, sinks beside his horse, -still clutching firmly the banner of his native city, while the enemy -turn and flee. - -Hans Vögeli kneels beside his dying brother and, taking the hand that -holds the banner, implores forgiveness for all the wrongs he has done -him. Tightly clasping the other, young Irmy, speechless with grief, -awaits the death of the man who for two years has been the best and -kindest of friends to him. - -“Hans,” says Heinrich faintly, “will you acknowledge now my right to -citizenship?” - -“Aye, truly, Heinrich,” his brother assures him, sobbing, and in hushed -tones the Freiburgers standing by confirm the promise. With a sigh of -content the dying man sinks back and soon expires, his pallid features -lit with a smile of blissful peace. - -Meanwhile the victorious Confederates had reached the shore of Lake -Murten, where a singular spectacle met their eyes. The Burgundians, -finding their retreat by the south shore cut off, were endeavoring by -wading and swimming to reach the other side and join the Count de -Romont’s force, which had been lying before the city of Murten, but was -now skirting the shore of the lake in rapid retreat. It was a mad -attempt. Already hundreds of the heavily armed soldiers were sticking -fast in the oozy bed of the lake, while those who succeeded in reaching -deep water soon sank or were slain by the arrows despatched at every -head that showed above the surface. Even the trees afforded no safety. -Many of the despairing Lombards had sought concealment among the dense -foliage, but they were soon discovered. - -“Ho, look at the crows,” shouted the pursuers, jocularly, “and yonder -are some squirrels!” and the unfortunate fugitives were remorselessly -shot down, despite their prayers for mercy. - -That night the conquerors camped upon the field of battle, rejoicing -over their easy and decisive victory, but much disappointed at the lack -of plunder. The following morning the Freiburgers and all who had loved -Captain Vögeli assembled about his bier. Supported by a band of his -faithful followers, the body was borne in solemn procession to Freiburg, -whither news of the event had already preceded them. Beside the bier -rode Hans Vögeli and Walter Irmy. Tolling of bells greeted their -approach to the city, at the gates of which the Mayor and Council -awaited the return of the wanderer; and when some days later all that -was mortal of Heinrich Vögeli was laid to rest in the family vault, the -banner of Freiburg was draped about his coffin, while at the dead man’s -head lay a certificate of citizenship placed there by order of the -Council. Thus was Vögeli’s dearest wish accomplished, and in his beloved -Fatherland he rested forever from the storms of life. - - - - - Chapter X - Faithful unto Death - - -Duke René was pacing restlessly to and fro in the guest room of the inn -of The Bears at Basle. “Nancy will surely hold out,” he murmured half -aloud; “it must. The burghers know I am coming to their relief as soon -as possible. In truth it has been no easy matter to induce the Swiss to -repay the assistance I have lent them; but at last all is ready, and I -must find some way of warning my good subjects of Nancy that relief is -at hand. But neither Siffrein nor yet the youth from Basle shall risk -his life in such an attempt.” - -At that moment the door opened and Siffrein de Baschi, the Duke’s -faithful steward, entered. He was dressed as for a journey, and his dark -eyes gleamed triumphantly as he said to his master: “How does my new -travelling costume please Your Highness? Truly, ’tis somewhat soiled; -but a minstrel must not be too fine, and tarnished finery will attract -the less suspicion.” - -René gazed in astonishment at the transformation. Had not every feature -of the handsome face with its winning smile been so familiar to him he -would never have recognized the knight. - -“In travelling dress! What means this, Siffrein? Surely you will not -persist in your mad resolve to go to Nancy? Abandon it, I charge you. -Think of the grief it would cause me were any harm to befall you!” - -“Nay, gracious lord,” entreated Siffrein, “grant me leave to go. Even -should they capture me I shall not lose my head upon the spot, and they -will do well if they catch me, I promise you. Young Irmy waits without. -Will you not hear his plan at least?” - -Without waiting for an answer he flung open the door and beckoned to -Walter to enter. The Duke’s eyes rested approvingly on the youth’s -stalwart figure and honest German face. Extending his hand to him, he -said kindly: “Methinks, sir, we are already acquainted. I saw you fight -beside Heinrich Vögeli at Murten.” - -“As I, too, saw Your Highness,” replied Walter; “and there is not a -Switzer but would gladly serve you.” - -“For those fair words I give you thanks,” said the Duke, “but this -service you now would render me I cannot accept; ’tis a foolish and a -useless risk.” - -“Craving Your Highness’s pardon, I do not think it so,” answered the -youth. “Old Gerard has agreed to get us safely into Nancy, and he may be -depended on to keep his word. He is a smuggler by trade and has often -fetched merchandise for my father through the enemy’s camp. The -Burgundian mercenaries know him well, and he is quite safe among them.” - -“If there is the slightest risk of danger I cannot consent to your -going,” declared the Duke, “for it is not needful.” - -“Nay,” interposed Siffrein, “surely it is most imperative that the -citizens of Nancy be informed that relief is at hand; else they may -surrender the town, and so through our fault be delivered over to the -vengeance of Charles the Bold, who will not easily pardon them that the -siege has already lasted well into the winter.” Walter also continued to -urge the dependence that might be placed on old Gerard, till the Duke -finally yielded and reluctantly gave them leave to depart. - -Siffrein had donned the garb of a troubadour with a lute slung over his -shoulder, deeming that the safest guise in which to make his way through -the enemy’s camp; but Walter convinced him that it would be of little -avail, since even a minstrel would scarcely be permitted to pass the -outposts. Accordingly, when they set out on their errand an hour later, -it was in ordinary travelling dress, but each was well armed. At -Vandemont they met Gerard with some of his comrades, who for high pay -had been engaged to smuggle powder into the besieged city, and were -therefore accustomed to risking their lives. The two newcomers were also -given a leather sack of powder to carry on their shoulders, and when -night had fallen the little band set forth. Following silently one -behind the other, they crept along sword in hand, ready to sell their -lives dearly if need were, until they reached an abbey in the depths of -the forest. Here Siffrein made himself known, and they were given a -ready welcome by the monks, who offered refreshments to the adventurers -to fortify them for the last stage of their perilous journey. Old Gerard -vanished, to reappear half an hour later with the information that there -were no sentries visible on that side of the camp, and there seemed a -good chance of their reaching the town unobserved. - -Preparations for departure were hastily completed, and the little band -cautiously made their way to the camp. True enough, the sentries had all -vanished, either because the bitter cold had driven them into their -tents or because Gerard had won them over. The old man whistled softly -three times, which may have been a prearranged signal. At all events the -silent figures glided unmolested through the rows of tents. Not so much -as a head was thrust forth into the cold air to spy on the nocturnal -visitors, and they soon reached the outworks. - -“Yonder is the spot,” whispered Gerard, pointing to a bulwark the dark -outlines of which stood out against the walls of the city. Now the moat -lay before them. - -“Vive Lorraine!” shouted Siffrein, as Gerard carefully lowered himself -to its icy surface. - -But the thoughtless cry aroused the sentries, who came running from all -sides. Walter and the smugglers were already climbing up the wall and -Siffrein had sprung upon the ice to follow them, when alas! it gave way. -Down he sank to his shoulders in the water, and before help from Nancy -could reach him the Burgundians had dragged him forth and borne him back -to the camp shaking in an ague from his icy bath. - -Gerard tried to reassure Walter as to the fate of his companion. “Have -no fear,” he said soothingly; “he is a nobleman and Duke René’s steward. -They will not dare to harm a hair of his head. Had it been one of us, -now, they would have made short work of us.” - -Great were the rejoicings in Nancy at the news of speedy relief, and at -daybreak one of the cannoniers loaded his gun with some of the powder -brought by the smugglers, muttering to himself: “It is long since I was -able to feed this big fellow. Much good may it do the Burgundians,” he -added, and thrusting a ball into the mouth of his cannon, took long and -careful aim. “In God’s name,” he said, doffing his cap, while a gunner -held the match to the touchhole. Crash! went the shot, and a cloud of -dust and splinters rose as it struck one of the enemy’s batteries. The -Burgundians were slow in responding, for they too were short of powder. -Charles’s army had suffered greatly. The siege of Neuss, and the battles -of Granson and Murten, together with the severity of the weather and the -lack of proper provisions, had reduced the number of his troops to six -thousand. - -Toward evening a rumor spread through the city that Siffrein de Baschi -had been hanged by order of Charles the Bold. It was scarcely credited, -but the next morning brought melancholy proof. The Burgundians were -induced with difficulty to deliver up the corpse of the faithful -steward, which was drawn up the walls in a silken cloth amid the tolling -of bells, and buried with solemn ceremonies. Great was the mourning of -the people over his untimely end, for the favorite of their adored young -Duke was universally beloved and had no enemies. - - - - - Chapter XI - Death of Charles the Bold - - -Night had fallen and silence brooded over the Burgundian camp, upon -which the snow was falling in heavy flakes. In the forest near the abbey -a man stood leaning against a tree striving to penetrate the thick snow -clouds that filled the air. “Why does not Giacomo come?” he muttered to -himself in Italian. “It is too cold in this cursed country to wait -long.” - -“You shall not have to,” replied a voice near him, “for I am here -already and have brought with me as much as I could carry away from my -canteen. It will soon be up with them over yonder,” he added, motioning -toward the camp, “and methinks we shall do well to join the Swiss. Then -at least there will be some hope of getting back to our own beautiful -land.” - -The first speaker wore the uniform of a cuirassier, and was no other -than the former servant in the wine shop at Treves. “I wonder,” he said -musingly, “how long our comrades will stand by the Duke. It is long -since he gave us any pay. Our fare is wretched, and the cold unbearable -to us all.” - -Giacomo produced some food from his bundle, and the two men walked on -through the forest, eating as they went. Suddenly they paused. Was that -the trampling of horses’ hoofs they heard? The cuirassier laid his ear -to the ground. Yes, there was no doubt a large body of horsemen was -approaching. - -“Can they be following us?” asked Giacomo anxiously. - -“Surely not,” replied his companion, “but something must be afoot. It -may be a night attack on the Swiss. In any case we shall do well to -conceal ourselves behind these juniper bushes.” - -Nearer and nearer came the horsemen, the hard-frozen ground reëchoing to -the heavy tread of armored steeds. Deeper into the thicket shrank the -two deserters, as the clang of arms resounded so close to them they -almost feared to be trampled upon. But the troop passed on. - -“Did you recognize any one?” asked Giacomo. - -“No,” replied the other, “but it seemed to me I heard the voice of our -commander, Campo Basso.” - -“So I thought too,” said the sutler. “Can it be that they are deserting? -It is said the Count has been mortally offended by the Duke of Burgundy, -and it is possible they are going over to the Swiss.” - -They said no more but followed the riders along the road to Saint -Nicholas. On their arrival the next day they found the wildest -excitement prevailing. The Confederates had occupied the town on the -preceding day, and the Count of Campo Basso with one hundred and eighty -lances had come early that morning to proffer his services to Duke René. -The offer had been accepted, so Giacomo and his companion returned to -the society of their comrades. - -At daybreak on the fifth of January, 1477, the Burgundians prepared for -battle, for Duke René and the Swiss were close at hand. As Charles the -Bold was arming himself, the golden lion of Burgundy fell from his helm -into the dust. “It is a sign from Heaven,” he said gloomily; and so -indeed it proved, for at the first onslaught of the enemy, panic seized -the Burgundians and they fled in confusion, while the citizens of Nancy -sallied forth to attack them in the rear. - -Walter Irmy was one of the first outside the gates of the city and soon -found ample opportunity to prove his valor; for the combined forces of -the Swiss, with Duke René and the Alsatians, drove the whole of -Charles’s fast diminishing army back upon Nancy. Most of the faithless -mercenaries followed Count Campo Basso’s example; but the Burgundian -nobles, who formed a large part of the army, still fought on with the -courage of despair. Many a stroke did Walter parry and return ere the -burghers of Nancy could gain any advantage; but at last the foe began to -weaken. Smiting one of the Burgundian knights from his horse, Walter -swung himself into the empty saddle from whence he could overlook the -scene of conflict. The Swiss and Alsatians were now but a few hundred -feet away, and the enemy took to flight, hotly pursued by the conquerors -on horse and foot. - -Suddenly the shout arose, “Yonder is the Duke! Stop him, stop him!” and -on still faster pressed the pursuers. But Charles was better mounted -than most of his foes, and soon but a handful of riders were left in -pursuit of the flying Prince, whose followers had by this time dwindled -to some thirty men. - -“Can no one capture the Duke?” cried one of the Alsatian leaders in -despair. - -“I will try,” said Walter; “he must reckon with me for the death of -Siffrein de Baschi,” and spurring to furious speed the superb animal he -had just captured, he soon overtook the fugitives. Paying no heed to the -others, he urged his steed close beside that of the Duke, and the next -moment their swords had crossed. In the frantic flight no one thought of -the Duke, and the two antagonists now found themselves on a meadow, the -icy surface of which had been thawed out by the noonday sun, so that the -horses’ feet sank deep into the ground at every step. Charles dealt one -mighty blow at his assailant, but it was his last, for the next instant -the Switzer’s blade had pierced his helm, and the great Duke sank -lifeless to the ground. Walter had no time to rejoice over his victory, -however; the Prince’s followers now attacked him, and after exchanging a -few blows he too fell sorely wounded. - -By this time others of the pursuers had come up and a hand-to-hand -conflict began, in which fifteen more of the Burgundian nobles were -slain. But no one heeded the fallen, and when the survivors again took -to flight the conquerors raced after, still supposing the Duke to be -among them. - -After sundown it grew bitter cold. Walter tried to shield himself from -it, but in vain. He was too weak even to loosen a cloak from the saddle -of a horse that lay beside him. Between cold and hunger and the pain of -his wounds he fell into a sort of stupor. Visions of the past floated -through his mind. Now he seemed to see his own father lying with his -brave comrades among the ruins of the hospital at Saint Jacob; again, he -was a boy at home in his own warm bed, while the mother, whom he had -followed to her grave seven years before, bent over her loved one to -kiss him good-night. He could see her eyes shining down upon him—but no! -it was not his mother’s warm breath he felt upon his cheek. He started -up in terror, and the wolf whose eyes he had seen shining above him in -the darkness slunk away scared. By good fortune Walter had his sword -beside him. - -The visions and phantasies that had haunted his brain were swept away by -the frightful reality. He was lying wounded and alone amid a pile of -corpses, upon which the wolves had already begun to appease their -hunger. No longer conscious of pain or weakness, he sat upright and -grasped the handle of his sword, firmly resolved to defend his life to -the last against the horrible beasts. But the dead horses were -sufficient prey for the wolves, and it was only now and then that one -came to sniff at the wounds of some fallen knight. They held aloof from -the young Swiss, and as the morning light dawned at last, they slunk -away one after another to their lairs in the dark ravines of the -mountains. Walter fell back senseless, and was still unconscious when -some hours later he was lifted in strong arms and carried back within -the walls of Nancy, whither he had come a few weeks previously to bring -the glad tidings of relief. - -It was long before the body of Charles the Bold was discovered. It had -been so mutilated by the wolves that none but a page and the Duke’s own -physician, who had been taken prisoner, could identify it. Enveloped in -a white cloth, the corpse was borne to the city on a bier by some of the -nobles of Lorraine. The following day all that remained of Charles the -Bold was laid upon a black velvet bed of state, ornamented with a cross -of white satin and six escutcheons. The dead man was wrapped in a white -satin robe, the jewelled ducal coronet upon his head, over which a red -cap had been drawn to conceal its disfigurement. The feet were encased -in scarlet hose, with golden spurs. Between two heralds stood two -magnificent stools, on which a consecrated cushion and a red cross were -placed. Four other heralds stood with lighted torches at the corners of -the bed of state. The room was hung with black, and two tapers burned on -an altar before which the services for the dead were to be performed. -Ranged about the walls were seats, also draped in black, for the use of -René and the nobles of Alsace and Lorraine, who were to assist at the -ceremonies. - -Beside the bed, and bowed with grief, knelt Anton, a half-brother of -Charles. Though reviled by the Duke as a bad and ungrateful kinsman, he -now refused to be parted from the dead. His sobs, the outpouring of the -grief of a brave soldier, penetrated the hearts of all who entered the -room. Last came Duke René clad in deepest mourning, but wearing, in -accordance with the old knightly custom, a long beard of spun gold, in -token of victory over a princely foe who had fallen in battle. With deep -emotion he grasped the hand of the dead, saying in a low voice: “God -rest your soul, fair cousin! Much sorrow and trouble have you caused us, -yet ’twas by no will of ours that you were brought to this.” - -After sprinkling the corpse with holy water he knelt before the altar, -where he remained in prayer while the knights and courtiers of Burgundy -and Lorraine paid the last honors to Charles the Bold. - -On the twelfth of January, 1477, the last Duke of Burgundy was laid to -rest in St. George’s Church at Nancy, whence he was removed in 1550 by -his mighty great-grandson the Emperor Charles the Fifth, who wished that -the remains of his ancestor might be buried in his native town of -Bruges. - -Freed at last from their bitterest enemy, and crowned with victory, the -Swiss returned to their homes and exchanged the implements of war for -those of peace. With his youth and strength, Walter Irmy was soon -restored to health and to the arms of his father, whose large business -he conducted to the entire satisfaction of the worthy Councillor. -Honored by his fellow-citizens and beloved by his people, he lived long -and happily with his good wife, surrounded by a group of children who -were the joy and delight of their grandfather. - -Who knows? Perchance his spirit lingers yet about the good city of -Basle, ready to prove to the enemies of his country that the victors of -Granson and Murten have not perished, but still live on in the courage -and valor of their descendants. - - - - - Appendix - - -The following is a chronological statement of the principal events in -the life of Charles the Bold during the period described in this volume: - - 1444 The French troops defeated at Saint Jacob. - 1469 Charles the Bold secures Sigismund’s possessions. - 1469 Charles appoints Hagenbach governor. - 1473 Sigismund becomes an ally of Louis of France. - 1473 Flight of Emperor Frederick from Treves. - 1474 The “Everlasting Compact” signed. - 1474 Hagenbach captured and put to death. - 1474 Swiss Confederates declare war against Charles. - 1476 Massacre of garrison at Granson. - March 2, 1476 Charles defeated at Granson. - June 9, 1476 Charles defeated at Murten. - January 5, 1477 Charles defeated and killed under the walls of Nancy. - - - - - Footnotes - - -[1]Basle, or Basel, is the largest city in Switzerland. It has a - university, and is the commercial and financial centre of the - country. It is also noted for its art and literary culture. - -[2]Aarau, the capital of the canton of Aargau, in Switzerland, is - twenty-four miles southeast of Basle. Although a small town, it is of - considerable manufacturing importance. - -[3]“Arme Gecken” is evidently a play upon the word _Armagnac_. These - Armagnacs were mercenaries from the county of Armagnac in France. - Charles VII, wishing to get rid of them, sent them to aid Frederick - III in enforcing his claims against the Swiss, at the time of this - story. - -[4]Maximilian, son of Frederick III, was born in 1459 and died in 1519. - He married Maria, daughter of Charles the Bold, in 1477, and was - elected King of the Romans in 1486, and Emperor in 1493. In 1499 he - waged an ineffectual war with the Swiss Confederation which resulted - in its practical independence. - -[5]“Bärenhäuter, he of the bear’s hide, a nickname for a German private - soldier.” Scott, “Anne of Geierstein.” - -[6]Albert, Elector of Brandenburg, third son of Frederick I, was born - November 9, 1414, and died March 11, 1486. He was the author of the - ordinance providing for the separation of Brandenburg and - Ansbach-Baireuth, and establishing primogeniture in each, which, - according to the historians, is the first instance of the legal - establishment of the custom of primogeniture. He was surnamed - Achilles, and Ulysses, because of his valor and sagacity. - -[7]Sundgau is a name given to the southern part of Alsace. - -[8]Granson is a village in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, on the Lake - of Lucerne, not far from Lausanne. - - - - - LIFE STORIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE - - - _BIOGRAPHICAL ROMANCES - TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY_ - GEORGE P. UPTON - - _A new, interesting, and very useful series that will be found -especially suitable for school libraries and for supplementary reading_ - -The books in this series are translated from the German, because in that -country a specialty is made of really desirable reading for the young. -Sixteen titles are now ready and more will follow. - -Their simplicity and accuracy make them very useful for every school -library in the grades. - -For parents who feel disposed to give their children books that provide -a mild element of historical information, as well as first-class -entertainment, the little books will prove a veritable find. - -The “life-stories” retain the story form throughout, and embody in each -chapter a stirring event in the life of the hero or the action of the -time. The dramatis personæ are actual characters, and the facts in the -main are historically correct. They are therefore both entertaining and -instructive, and present biography in its most attractive form for the -young. - - A FULL LIST OF THE TITLES IS GIVEN ON THE NEXT PAGE - -The work of translation has been done by Mr. George P. Upton, whose -“Memories” and Lives of Beethoven, Haydn, and Liszt, from the German of -Max Müller and Dr. Nohl, have been so successful. - - _Each is a small square 16mo in uniform binding, with from one to four - illustrations. 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He has translated these little -histories from the German in a way that the reader knows has conserved -all the strength of the original.”—_Chicago Evening Post._ - -“They are written in simple, graphic style, handsomely illustrated, and -will be read with delight by the young people for whose benefit they -have been prepared.”—_Chicago Tribune._ - -“The work of translation seems to have been well done, and these little -biographies are very well fitted for the use of young people.... The -volumes are compact and neat, and are illustrated sufficiently but not -too elaborately.”—_Springfield Republican._ - -“These books are most entertaining and vastly more wholesome than the -story books with which the appetites of young readers are for the most -part satisfied.”—_Indianapolis Journal._ - - _OF ALL BOOKSELLERS OR OF THE PUBLISHERS_ - - - A. C. 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