 CHAPTER VIII of Anne of Geyerstein, Volume II, by Sir Walter Scott. I humbly thank your highness and am right glad to catch this good occasion most thoroughly to be winnowed where my chaff and corn shall fly asunder, King Henry VIII. Calvin the English officer to whom the Duke of Burgundy, with splendid pay and appointments committed the charge of his artillery, was owner of the tent assigned for the Englishman's lodging, and received the Earl of Oxford with the respect due to his rank, and to the dukes as special orders upon that subject. He had been himself a follower of the Lancaster faction, and, of course, was well disposed towards one of the very few men of distinction whom he had known personally, and who had constantly adhered to that family through the train of misfortunes by which they seemed to be totally overwhelmed. A repast of which his son had already partaken was offered to the Earl by Calvin, who omitted not to recommend by precept and example the good wine of Burgundy, from which the sovereign of the province was himself obliged to refrain. His grace shows command of passion in that, said Calvin, for sooth to speak, and only conversing betwixt friends, his temper grows too headlong to bear the spur which a cup of cordial beverage gives to the blood, and he therefore wisely restricts himself to such liquid as may cool, rather than in flame, his natural fire of disposition. I can perceive as much, said the Lancastrian noble, when I first knew the noble Duke, who was then Earl of Charloy. His temper, though always sufficiently fiery, was calmness to the impetuosity which he now displays on this smallest contradiction. Such is the course of an uninterrupted flow of prosperity. He has ascended by his own courage and the advantage of circumstances from the doubtful place of a futatory and tributary prince to rank with the most powerful sovereigns in Europe and to assume independent majesty. But I trust the noble starts of generosity which atoned for his willful and wayward temper are not more few than formerly. I have good right to say that they are not, replied the soldier of fortune, who understood generosity in the restricted sense of liberality. The Duke is a noble and open-handed master. I trust his bounty is conferred on men who are as faithful and steady in their service as you, Calvin, have ever been, but I see a change in your army. I know the banners of most of the old houses in Burgundy. How is it that I observe so few of them in the Duke's camp? I see flags and penins and peninselves, but even to me who have been so many years acquainted with the nobility both of France and Flanders their bearings are unknown. My noble lord of Oxford, answered the officer, it ill becomes a man who lives on the Duke's pay to censor his conduct, but his highness hath of late trusted too much, as it seems to me, to the hired arms of foreign lovies, and too little to his own native subjects and retainers. He holds it better to take into his pay large bands of German and Italian mercenary soldiers than to repose confidence in the knights and squires who are bound to him by allegiance and feudal faith. He uses the aid of his own subjects, but as the means of producing him sums of money, which he bestows on his hired troops, the Germans are honest naives enough while regularly paid, but heaven preserve me from the Duke's Italian bands, and that compo basso their leader, who waits but the highest price to sell his highness like a sheep for the shambles. Think you so ill of him, demanded the Earl, so very ill indeed, that I believe, replied Calvin, there is no sort of treachery which the heart can devise, or the arm perpetrate, that hath not ready reception in his breast, and prompt execution at his hand. It is painful, my lord, for an honest Englishman, like me, to serve in an army where such traitors have command, but what can I do, unless I could once more find me a soldier's occupation in my native country? I often hope it will please merciful heaven again to awaken those brave civil wars in my own dear England, where all was fair fighting, and treason was unheard of. Lord Oxford gave his host to understand that there was a possibility that his pious wish of living and dying in his own country, and in the practice of his profession, was not to be disbared of. Meantime he requested of him that early on the next morning he would procure him a pass and an escort for his son, whom he was compelled to dispatch forthwith to Nancy, the residence of King Renee. What, said Colvin, is my young lord of Oxford, to take a degree in the court of love, for no other business is listened to at King Renee's capital save love and poetry. I am not ambitious of such distinction for him, my good host, answered Oxford, but Queen Margaret is with her father, and it is but fitting that the youth should kiss her hand. Enough spoken, said the veteran Lancastrian, I trust though winter is fast approaching, the red rose may bloom in spring. He then assured the Earl of Oxford to the partition of the tent which he was to occupy, in which there was a couch for Arthur also, their host, as Colvin might be termed, assuring them that, with peep of day, horses and faithful attendants should be ready to speed the youth on his journey to Nancy. And now, Arthur, said his father, we must part once more, I dare give thee in this land of danger no written communication to my mistress, Queen Margaret, but say to her that I have found the Duke of Burgundy wedded to his own views of interest, but not averse to combine them with hers. Say that I have little doubt that he will grant us the required aid, but not without the expected resignation in his favour by herself and King Renee. Say I would never have recommended such a sacrifice for the precarious chance of overthrowing the House of York, but that I am satisfied that France and Burgundy are hanging like vultures over province, and that the one or other, or both princes, are ready on her father's demise to pounce on such possessions as they have reluctantly spared to him during his life. And accommodation with Burgundy may, therefore, on the one hand, ensure his active cooperation in the attempt on England, and on the other, if our high-spirited princess complies not with the Duke's request, the justice of her cause will give no additional security to her hereditary claims on her father's dominions. Bed Queen Margaret, therefore, unless she should have changed her views, obtained King Renee's formal deed of session, conveying his estates to the Duke of Burgundy with Her Majesty's consent, the necessary provisions to the King and to herself may be filled up at her grace's pleasure, or they may be left blank. I can trust to the Duke's generosity to their being suitably arranged. All that I fear is that Charles may embroil himself in some silly exploit necessary for his own honour and the safety of his dominions answered a voice behind the lining of the tent, and by doing so attend to his own affairs more than two hours. Ha! Sir Earl! At the same time the curtain was drawn aside and a person entered, in whom, though clothed with the jerken and bonnet of a private soldier of the Walloon Guard, Oxford instantly recognised the Duke of Burgundy's harsh features and fierce eyes as they sparkled from under the fur and feather with which the cap was ornamented. Arthur, who knew not the Prince's person, started at the intrusion and laid his hand on his dagger, but his father made a signal which stayed his hand, and he gazed with wonder on the solemn respect with which the Earl received the intrusive soldier. The first word informed him of the cause. If this masking be done in proof of my faith, noble Duke, permit me to say it is superfluous. Nay, Oxford, answered the Duke, I was a courteous spy, for I ceased to play the eavesdropper at the very moment when I had reason to expect you were about to say something to anger me. As I am a true knight, my Lord Duke, if you had remained behind the heiress, you would only have heard the same truths which I am ready to tell in your Grace's presence, though it may have chanced they might have been more bluntly expressed. Well, speak them then in whatever phrase thou wilt. They lie in their throats that say Charles of Burgundy was ever offended by advice from a well-meaning friend. I would then have said, replied the English Earl, that all which Margaret of Anjou had to apprehend was that the Duke of Burgundy, when buckling on his armor to win province for himself, and to afford to her his powerful assistance to assert her rights in England, was likely to be withdrawn from such high objects by an imprudently eager desire to avenge himself of imaginary affronts offered to him, as he supposed, by certain confederacies of alpine mountaineers over whom it is impossible to gain any important advantage or acquire reputation, while on the contrary there is a risk of losing both. These men dwell amongst rocks and deserts which are almost inaccessible, and subsist in a manner so rude that the poorest of your subjects would starve if subjected to such diet. They are formed by nature to be the garrison of the mountain fortresses in which she has placed them for heaven's sake, metal not with them, but follow forth your own nobler and more important objects without stirring a nest of hornets, which once in motion may sting you into madness. The duke had promised patience and endeavoured to keep his word, but the swollen muscles of his face and his flashing eyes showed how painful to him it was to suppress his resentment. You are misinformed, my lord, he said. These men are not the inoffensive herdsmen and peasants. You are pleased to suppose them. If they were, I might afford to despise them. But flushed with some victories over the sluggish Austrians, they have shaken off all reverence for authority. Assume errors of independence, form leagues, make inroads, storm towns, doom and execute men of noble birth at their pleasure. Thou art dull and locus'd as if thou dost not apprehend me. To rouse thy English blood and make thee sympathize with my feelings to these mountaineers, know that these Swiss are very scots to my dominions in their neighborhood. Poor, proud, ferocious, easily offended, because they gain by war, ill to be appeased because they nourish deep revenge, ever ready to seize the moment of advantage and attack a neighbor when he is engaged in other affairs, the same unquiet, perfidious and inveterate enemies that the Scots are to England, are the Swiss to Burgundy and to my allies. And say you, can I undertake anything of consequence till I have crushed the pride of such a people? It will be but a few days' work. I will grasp the mountain hedgehog-prickles and all with my steel gauntlet. Your grace will then have shorter work with them, replied the disguised nobleman, than our English kings have had with Scotland. The wars there have lasted so long and proved so bloody that wise men regret we ever began them. Nay, said the Duke, I will not dishonor the Scots by comparing them in all respects to these mountain churls of the cantons. The Scots have blood and gentry among them, and we have seen many examples of both. These Swiss are a mere brood of peasants, and the few gentlemen of birth they can boast must hide their distinction in the dress and manners of clowns. They will, I think, scarce stand against a charge of honulters, not if the honulters find ground to ride upon, but, nay, to silence your scruples, said the Duke, interrupting him. I know that these people encourage, by their countenance and aid, the formation of the most dangerous conspiracies in my dominions. Look here, I told you that my officer, Sir Archibald the Hagenbach, was murdered when the town of Brissac was treacherously taken by these harmless Swissers of yours, and here is a scroll of parchment which announces that my servant was murdered by doom of the Vemgaric Aband of Secret Assassins whom I will not permit to meet in any part of my dominions. Oh, could I but catch them above ground as they are found lurking below. They should know what the life of a nobleman is worth. Then look at the insolence of their attestation. The scroll bore with the day and date adjected that judgment had been done on Archibald the Hagenbach for tyranny, violence, and oppression by order of the Holy Vem, and that it was executed by their officials who were responsible for the same to their tribunal alone. It was counter-signed in red ink with the badges of the Secret Society, a coil of ropes, and a drawn dagger. This document I found stuck to my toilet with a knife, said the Duke, another trick by which they give mystery to their murderous jugglery. The thought of what he had undergone in John Meng's house and reflections upon the extent and omnipresence of these secret associations struck even the brave Englishman with an involuntary shudder. For the sake of every saint in heaven, he said, forbear, my lord, to speak of these tremendous societies whose creatures are above, beneath, and around us. No man is secure of his life, however guarded, if it be sought by a man who is careless of his own. You are surrounded by Germans, Italians, and other strangers. How many amongst these may be bound by the secret ties which withdraw men from every other social bond to unite them together in one inextricable, though secret compact, beware noble prince of the situation on which your throne is placed, though it still exhibits all the splendor of power and all the solidarity of foundation that belongs to so august a structure. I, the friend of thy house, were it with my dying breath must needs tell thee that the Swiss hang like an avalanche over thy head, and the secret associations work beneath thee like the first throes of the coming earthquake, provoke not the contest, and the snow will rest undisturbed on the mountainside. The agitation of these subterranean vapors will be hushed to rest, but a single word of defiance, or one flash of indignant scorn, may call their terrors into instant action. You speak, said the Duke, with more awe of a pack of naked churls and a band of midnight assassins than I have seen you show for real danger, yet I will not scorn your counsel. I will hear the Swiss envoys patiently, and I will not, if I can help it, show the contempt with which I cannot but regard their pretensions to treat as independent states. On the secret associations I will be silent till time gives me the means of acting in combination with the emperor, the deot, and the princes of the empire that they may be driven from all their boroughs at once. Ha, Sir Earl, said I well. It is well thought, my lord, but it may be unhappily spoken. You are in a position where one word overheard by a traitor might produce death and ruin. I keep no traitors about me, said Charles, if I thought there were such in my camp I would rather die by them at once than live in perpetual terror and suspicion. Your highness's ancient followers and servants, said the Earl, speak unfavorably of the count of Campo Basso, who holds so high a rank in your confidence. I, replied the Duke, with composure, it is easy to decry the most faithful servant in a court by the unanimous hatred of all the others. I warrant me, your bullheaded countryman, Calvin, has been railing against the count like the rest of them. For Campo Basso sees nothing amiss in any department, but he reports it to me without fear or favor. And then his opinions are cast so much in the same mold with my own that I can hardly get him to enlarge upon what he best understands if it seems, in any respect, different from my sentiments, add to this a noble person, grace, gaiety, skill in the exercises of war, and in the courtly arts of peace. Such is Campo Basso, and being such is he not a gem for a prince's cabinet. The very materials out of which a favorite is formed, answered the earl of Oxford, but something less adapted for making a faithful counselor. Why, thou mistrustful fool, said the Duke, must I tell thee the very and most secret respecting this man, Campo Basso, and will nothing short of it stay these imaginary suspicions which thy new trade of an itinerant merchant hath led thee to entertain so rashly? If your highness honors me with your confidence, said the earl of Oxford, I can only say that my fidelity shall deserve it. Know then, thou misbelieving mortal, that my good friend and brother, Louis of France, let me private information through no less a person than his famous barber, Oliver Le Diable, that Campo Basso had for a certain sum offered to put my person into his hands alive or dead. You start. I do indeed recollecting your highness's practice of writing out lightly armed and with a very small attendance to reconnoiter the ground and visit the outposts, and, therefore, how easily such a treacherous device might be carried into execution. Chas, answered the Duke, thou seest the danger as if it were real, whereas nothing can be more certain than that if my cousin of France had ever received such an offer he would have been the last person to have put me on my guard against the attempt. No, he knows the value I set on Campo Basso's services and forged the accusation to deprive me of them. And yet, my lord, replied the English earl, your highness, by my counsel, will not unnecessarily or impatiently fling aside your armor of proof or ride without the escort of some score of your trusty waloons. Chas, man, thou wouldst make a carbonato of a fever-stirred wretch like myself betwixt the bright iron and the burning sun, but I will be cautious, though I jest thus, and you, young man, may assure my cousin Margaret of Anjou that I will consider her affairs as my own, and remember, youth, that the secrets of princes are fatal gifts, if he to whom they are imparted blaze them abroad, but if duly treasured up they enrich the bearer, and thou shalt have cause to say so, if thou canst bring back with thee from aches the deed of resignation of which thy father hath spoken. Good night, good night, he left the apartment. You have just seen, said the earl of Oxford to his son, a sketch of this extraordinary prince by his own pencil. It is easy to excite his ambition or thirst of power, but, well, nigh impossible to limit him to the just measures by which it is most likely to be gratified. He is ever like the young archer startled from his mark by some swallow crossing his eye, even careless as he draws the string. Now irregularly and offensively suspicious, now unreservedly lavish of his confidence, not long since the enemy of the line of Lancaster and the ally of her deadly foe, now its last and only stay and hope. God mend all. It is a weary thing to look on the game and see how it might be won, while we are debarred by the caprice of others from the power of playing it according to our own skill. How much must depend on the decision of Duke Charles upon the morrow, and how little do I possess the power of influencing him, either for his own safety or our advantage. Good night, my son, and let us trust events to him who alone can control them. My blood hath been too cold and temperate, unapped to stir at these indignities, and you have found me, for accordingly you tread upon my patience. Henry IV. The dawn of mourning roused the banished earl of Oxford and his son, and its lights were scarce abroad on the eastern heaven, ere their host, Colvin, entered with an attendant bearing some bundles which he placed on the floor of the tent, and instantly retired. The officer of the Duke's ordinance then announced that he came with a message from the Duke of Burgundy. His highness he said has sent four stout yeoman, with a commission of credence to my young master of Oxford, and an ample purse of gold, to furnish his expenses to ex, and while his affairs may detain him there. Also a letter of credence to King René to ensure his reception, and two suits of honour for his use, as for an English gentleman, desirous to witness the festive solemnities of Provence, and in whose safety the Duke deans to take deep interest. His further affairs there, if he hath any, his highness recommends to him to manage with prudence and secrecy. His highness hath also sent a couple of horses for his use, one an ambling jenet for the road, and another a strong barbed horse of flanders, in case he hath ought to do. It will be fitting that my young master change his dress, and assume a tire more near his proper rank. His attendants know the road, and have power, in case of need, to summon in the Duke's name assistants from all faithful Burgundians. I have but to add, the sooner the young gentleman sets forward, it will be the better sign of a successful journey. I am ready to mount the instant that I have changed my dress, said Arthur, and I, said his father, have no wish to detain him on the service in which he is now employed. Neither he nor I will say more than God be with you. How and where we are to meet again, who can tell? I believe, said Colvin, that must rest on the motions of the Duke, which perchance are not yet determined upon. But his highness depends upon your remaining with him, my noble lord, till the affairs of which you come to treat may be more fully decided. Something I have for your lordship's private ear when your son hath parted on his journey. While Colvin was thus talking with his father, Arthur, who was not above half dressed when he entered the tent, had availed himself of an obscure corner in which he exchanged the plain garb belonging to his supposed condition as a merchant, for such a riding suit as became a young man of some quality attached to the court of Burgundy. It was not without a natural sensation of pleasure that the youth resumed an apparel suitable to his birth, and which no one was personally more fitted to become. But it was with much deeper feeling that he hastily and as secretly as possible flung round his neck and concealed under the collar and folds of his ornamented doublet a small thin chain of gold curiously linked in what was called morisco work. This was the contents of the parcel which Anne of Geierstein had indulged his feelings and perhaps her own by putting into his hands as they parted. The chain was secured by a slight plate of gold on which a bodkin or a point of a knife had traced on the one side indistinct, though light characters adieu forever, while on the reverse there was much more obscurely traced the word remember a von G. All who may read this are have been or will be lovers, and there is none therefore who may not be able to comprehend why this token was carefully suspended around Arthur's neck so that the inscription might rest on the region of his heart without the interruption of any substance which could prevent the pledge from being agitated by every throb of that busy organ. This being hastily ensured a few minutes completed the rest of his toilet and he kneeled before his father to ask his blessing and his further commands for eggs. His father blessed him almost inarticulately and then said with recovered firmness that he was already possessed of all the knowledge necessary for success on his mission. When you can bring me the deeds wanted, he whispered with more firmness, you will find me near the person of the Duke of Burgundy. They went forth of the tent in silence and found before it the four Burgundian yeoman, tall and active-looking men, ready-mounted themselves and holding two saddled horses, the one accoutered for war, the other a spirited genet for the purposes of the journey. One of them led a Sumter horse on which Calvin informed Arthur he would find the change of habit necessary when he should arrive at eggs, and at the same time delivered to him a heavy purse of gold. Tybalt, he continued, pointing out the eldest of the attendant troopers, may be trusted. I will be warrant for his sagacity and fidelity. The other three are picked men who will not fear their skin-cutting. Arthur vaulted into the saddle with a sensation of pleasure, which was natural to a young Cavalier who had not for many months felt a spirited horse beneath him. The lively genet reared with impatience. Arthur, sitting firm on his seat, as if he had been a part of the animal, only said, ere we are long acquainted, thy spirit, my fair Rhone, will be something more tamed. One word more my son said his father and whispered in Arthur's ear as he stooped from the saddle. If you receive a letter from me, do not think yourself fully acquainted with the contents till the paper has been held opposite to a hot fire. Arthur bowed and motioned to the elder trooper to lead the way, when all giving rain to their horses rode off through the encampment at a round pace, the young leader signing an adieu to his father and Calvin. The Earl stood like a man in a dream following his son with his eyes in a kind of reverie, which was only broken when Calvin said, I marvel not, my Lord, that you are anxious about my young master. He is a gallant youth, well worth of fathers caring for, and the times we live in are both false and bloody. God and St. Mary, be my witness, said the Earl, that if I grieve it is not for my own house only, if I am anxious it is not for the sake of my own son alone, but it is hard to risk a last stake in a cause so perilous. What commands brought you from the Duke? His grace, said Calvin, will get on horseback after he has breakfasted. He sends you some garments, which, if not fitting your quality, are yet nearer to suitable apparel than those you now wear. And he desires that observing your incognito as an English merchant of eminence, you will join him in his calvocade to Dejeune, where he is to receive the answer of the estates of Burgundy concerning matters submitted to their consideration, and thereafter give public audience to the deputies from Switzerland. His highness has charged me with the care of finding you suitable accommodation during the ceremonies of the day, which he thinks you will, as a stranger, be pleased to look upon. But he probably told you all this himself, for I think you saw him last night in disguise. Nay, look as strange as you will. The Duke plays that trick too often to be able to do it with secrecy. The very horse boys know him, while he traverses the tents of the common soldiery, and subtler women give him the name of the spied spy. If it were only honest Harry Calvin, who knew this, it should not cross his lips. But it is practiced too openly and too widely known. Come, noble lord, though I must teach my tongue to forego that courtesy will you along to breakfast. The meal according to the practice of the time was a solemn and solid one, and a favored officer of the great Duke of Burgundy lacked no means. It may be believed of rendering due hospitality to a guest having claims of such high respect. But ere the breakfast was over, a clamorous flourish of trumpets announced that the Duke, with his attendance and retinue, were sounding to horse. Philipson, as he was still called, was in the name of the Duke, presented with a stately charger, and with his host mingled in the splendid assembly which began to gather in front of the Duke's pavilion. In a few minutes the Prince himself issued forth in the superb dress of the Order of the Golden Fleece, of which his father Philip had been the founder, and Charles was himself the patron and sovereign. Several of his courtiers were dressed in the same magnificent robes, and with their followers and attendants displayed so much wealth and splendor of appearance as to warrant the common saying that the Duke of Burgundy maintained the most magnificent court in Christendom. The officers of his household attended in their order, together with heralds and pursuance, the grotesque richness of whose habits had a singular effect among those of the high clergy in their albs and dalmatiques, and of the knights and crowned vassals who were arrayed in armor. Among these last, who were variously equipped according to the different character of their service, rode Oxford, but in a peaceful habit, neither so plain as to be out of place amongst such splendor, nor so rich as to draw on him a special or particular degree of attention. He rode by the side of Colvin, his tall muscular figure and deep marked features forming a strong contrast to the rough, almost ignoble cast of countenance and stout thick set form of the less distinguished soldier of fortune. Ranged into a solemn procession, the rear of which was closed by a guard of two hundred-picked archibacers, a description of soldiers who were just then coming into notice, and as many mounted men at arms. The Duke and his retinue, leaving the barriers of the camp, directed their march to the town or rather city of Dijon, in those days the capital of all Burgundy. It was a town well-secured with walls and ditches, which last were filled by means of a small river named the Auche, which combines its waters for that purpose with a torrent called Suzan. Four gates with appropriate barbecans, outworks and drawbridges, corresponded nearly to the cardinal points of the compass, and gave admission to the city. The number of towers which stood high above its walls and defended them at different angles was thirty-three, and the walls themselves, which exceeded in most places the height of thirty feet, were built of stones, hewn and squared, and were of great thickness. This stately city was surrounded on the outside with hills covered with vineyards, while from within its walls rose the towers of many noble buildings, both public and private, as well as the steeples of magnificent churches, and of well-endowed convents attesting the wealth and devotion of the House of Burgundy. When the trumpets of the Duke's procession had summoned the burger-guard at the gate of St. Nicholas, the drop-bridge fell, the portcullis rose, the people shouted joyously, the windows were hung with tapestry, and as in the midst of his retinue Charles himself came writing on a milk-white steed attended only by six pages under fourteen years old, each with a gilded partisan in his hand. The acclamations with which he was received on all sides showed that, if some instances of misrule had diminished his popularity, enough of it remained to render his reception into his capital decorus at least, if not enthusiastic. It is probable that the veneration attached to his father's memory counteracted for a long time the unfavorable effect which some of his own actions were calculated to produce on the public mind. The procession halted before a large Gothic building in the center of Dijon. This was then called Masson du Duc as after the union of Burgundy with France it was termed Masson du Roy. The mayor of Dijon attended on the steps before this palace accompanied by his official brethren and escorted by a hundred able bodied citizens in black velvet cloaks bearing halfpikes in their hands. The mayor kneeled to kiss the stirrup of the duke and at the moment when Charles descended from his horse every bell in the city commenced so thundering a peal that they might almost have awakened the dead who slept in the vicinity of the steeples which rocked with their clanger. Under the influence of this stunning peal of welcome the duke entered the great hall of the building at the upper end of which were erected a throne for the sovereign seats for his more distinguished officers of state and higher vassals with benches behind for persons of less note on one of these but in a spot from which he might possess a commanding view of the whole assembly as well as of the duke himself Colvin placed the noble Englishman and Charles whose quick stern eye glanced rapidly over the party when they were seated seemed by a nod so slight as to be almost imperceptible to those around him to give his approbation of the arrangement adopted when the duke and his assistants were seated in order the mayor again approaching in the most humble manner and kneeling on the lowest step of the ducal throne requested to know if his highnesses leisure permitted him to hear the inhabitants of his capital express their devoted zeal to his person and to accept the benevolence which in the shape of a silver cup filled with gold pieces he had the distinguished honor to place before his feet in name of the citizens and community of Dijon Charles who at no time affected much courtesy answered briefly and bluntly with a voice which was naturally harsh and dissonant all things in their order good master mayor let us first hear what the estates of burgundy have to say to us we will then listen to the burgers of Dijon the mayor rose and retired bearing in his hand the silver cup and experiencing probably some vexation as well as surprise that its contents had not secured an instant and gracious acceptance i expect said duke charles to have met at this hour and place our estates of the duchy of burgundy or a deputation of them with an answer to our message conveyed to them three days since by our chancellor is there no one here on their part the mayor as none else made any attempt to answer said that the members of the estates had been in close deliberation the whole of that morning and doubtless would instantly wait upon his highness when they heard that he had honored the town with his presence go twice and day or said the duke to the herald of the order of the golden fleece bear to these gentlemen the tidings that we desire to know the end of their deliberations and that neither in courtesy nor in loyalty can they expect us to wait long be round with them sir herald or we shall be as round with you while the herald was absent on his mission we may remind our readers that in all feudalized countries that is to say in almost all europe during the middle ages an ardent spirit of liberty pervaded the constitution and the only fault that could be found was that the privileges and freedom for which the great vassals contended did not sufficiently descend to the lower orders of society or extend protection to those who were most likely to need it the first two ranks in the estate the nobles and clergy enjoyed high and important privileges and even the third estate or citizens had this immunity in peculiar that no new duties customs or taxes of any kind could be exacted from them saved by their own consent the memory of duke philip the father of charles was dear to the burgundians for during 20 years that sage prince had maintained his rank amongst the sovereigns of europe with much dignity and had accumulated treasure without exacting or receiving any great increase of supplies from the rich countries which he governed but the extravagant schemes and immoderate expense of duke charles had already excited the suspicion of his estates and the mutual goodwill betwixt the prince and people began to be exchanged for suspicion and distrust on the one side and defiance on the other the refractory disposition of the estates had of late increased for they had disapproved of various wars in which their duke had needlessly embarked and from his levying such large bodies of mercenary troops they came to suspect he might finally employ the wealth voted to him by his subjects for the undue extension of his royal prerogative and the destruction of the liberties of the people at the same time the duke's uniform success in enterprises which appeared desperate as well as difficult a steam for the frankness and openness of his character and dread of the obstinacy and had strong tendency of a temper which could seldom bear persuasion and never endured opposition still through awe and terror around the throne which was materially aided by the attachment of the common people to the person of the present duke and to the memory of his father it had been understood that upon the present occasion there was strong opposition amongst the estates to the system of taxation proposed on the part of the duke and the issue was expected with considerable anxiety by the duke's counselors and with fretful impatience by the sovereign himself after a space of about 10 minutes had elapsed the chancellor of burgundy who was archbishop of vien and a prelate of high rank entered the hall with his train and passing behind the ducal throne to occupy one of the most distinguished places in the assembly he stopped for a moment to urge his master to receive the answer of his estates in a private manner giving him at the same time to understand that the result of the deliberations had been by no means satisfactory by st. george of burgundy my lord archbishop answered the duke sternly and allowed we are not a prince of a mind so paltry that we need to shun the moody looks of a discontented and insolent faction if the estates of burgundy send a disobedient and disloyal answer to our paternal message let them deliver it in open court that the assembled people may learn how to decide between their duke and those petty yet intriguing spirits who would interfere with our authority the chancellor bowed gravely and took his seat while the english earl observed that most of the members of the assembly accepting such as in doing so could not escape the duke's notice passed some observations to their neighbors which were received with a half-expressed nod shrug or shake of the head as men treat a proposal upon which it is dangerous to decide at the same time toyson dior who acted as master of the ceremonies introduced into the hall a committee of the estates consisting of twelve members four from each branch of the estates announced as empowered to deliver the answer of that assembly to the duke of burgundy when the deputation entered the hall charles arose from his throne according to ancient custom and taking from his head his bonnet charged with a huge plume of feathers health and welcome he said to my good subjects of the estates of burgundy all the numerous train of courtiers rose and uncovered their heads with the same ceremony the members of the estates then dropped on one knee the four ecclesiastics among whom oxford recognized the black priest saint paul's approaching nearest to the duke's person the nobles kneeling behind them and the burgesses in the rear of the whole noble duke said the priest of saint paul's will it best please you to hear the answer of your good and loyal estates of burgundy by the voice of one member speaking for the whole or by three persons each delivering the sense of the body to which he belongs as you will said the duke of burgundy a priest a noble and a free burger said the churchman still on one knee will address your highness in succession for though blessed be the god who leads brethren to dwell together in unity we are agreed in the general answer yet each body of the estates may have special and separate reasons to allege for the common opinion we will hear you separately said duke charles casting his hat upon his head and throwing himself carelessly back into his seat at the same time all who were of noble blood whether in the committee or amongst the spectators vouched their right to be peers of their sovereign by assuming their bonnets and a cloud of waving plumes at once added grace and dignity to the assembly when the duke resumed his seat the deputation arose from their knees and the black priest of saint paul's again stepping forth addressed him in these words my lord duke your loyal and faithful clergy have considered your highness's proposal to lay a tallyage on your people in order to make war on the confederate cantons in the country of the alps the quarrel my liege lord seems to your clergy and unjust and oppressive one on your highness's part nor can they hope that god will bless those who arm in it they are therefore compelled to reject your highness's proposal the duke's eye lowered gloomily on the deliverer of this unpalatable message he shook his head with one of those stern and menacing looks which the harsh composition of his features rendered them peculiarly qualified to express you have spoken sir priest was the only reply which he deigned to make one of the four nobles the sire dame myer bow then expressed himself thus your highness has asked of your faithful nobles to consent to new impulse and executions to be levied through burgundy for the raising of additional bands of hired soldiers for the maintenance of the quarrels of the state my lord the swords of the burgundian nobles knights and gentlemen have been ever at your highness's command as those of our ancestors have been readily wielded for your predecessors in your highness's just quarrel we will go farther and fight firmer than any hired fellows who can be procured whether from France or Germany or Italy we will not give our consent that the people should be taxed for paying mercenaries to discharge that military duty which it is alike our pride and our exclusive privilege to render you have spoken sire dame myer bow were again the only words of the duke's reply he uttered them slowly and with deliberation as if afraid lest some phrase of imprudent violence should escape along with what he proposed to say oxford thought he cast a glance towards him before he spoke as if the consciousness of his presence was some additional restraint on his passion now heaven grant he said to himself that this opposition may work its proper effect and induce the duke to renounce an imprudent attempt so hazardous and so unnecessary while he muttered these thoughts the duke made a sign to one of the tears atat or commons to speak in his turn the person who obeyed the signal was martin bloch a wealthy butcher and grazier of dejan his words were these noble prince our fathers were the dutiful subjects of your predecessors we are the same to you our children will be alike the liegemen of your successors but touching the request your chancellor has made to us it is such as our ancestors never complied with such as we are determined to refuse and such as will never be conceded by the estates of burgundy to any prince whatsoever even to the end of time charles had born with impatient silence the speeches of the two former orators but this blunt and hearty reply of the third estate excited him beyond what his nature could endure he gave way to the impetuosity of his disposition stamped on the floor till the throne shook and the high vault rung over their heads and overwhelmed the bold burger with reproaches beast of burden he said am I to be stunned with thy brain too the nobles may claim leave to speak for they can fight the clergy may use their tongues for it is their trade but thou thou that hast never shed blood save that of bullocks more stupid than thou art thyself must thou and thy herd come hither privileged for soothe to bellow at a prince's footstool no brute as thou art that steers are never introduced into temples but to be sacrificed or butchers and mechanics brought before their sovereign save that they may have the honor to supply the public wants from their own swelling hordes a murmur of displeasure which even the terror of the dupes wrath could not repress ran through the audience at these words and the burger of Dijon a sturdy plebeian replied with little reverence our purses my lord duke are our own we will not put the strings of them into your highness's hands unless we are satisfied with the purposes to which the money is to be applied and we know well how to protect our persons and our goods against foreign ruffians and plunderers charles was on the point of ordering the deputy to be arrested when having cast his eye towards the earl of oxford whose presence in despite of himself imposed a certain degree of restraint upon him he exchanged that piece of imprudence for another i see he said addressing the committee of estates that you are all leaked to disappoint my purposes and doubtless to deprive me of all the power of a sovereign save that of wearing a cornet and being served on the knee like a second charles the simple while the estates of my kingdom divide the power among them but you shall know that you have to do with charles of burgundy a prince who though he has deigned to consult you is fully able to fight battles without the aid of his nobles since they refuse him the assistance of their swords to defray the expense without the help of his sordid burgers and it may be to find out a path to heaven without the assistance of an ungrateful priesthood i will show all that are here present how little my mind is affected or my purpose changed by your seditious reply to the message with which i honored you here toys and dior admit into our presence these men from the confederated towns and cantons as they call themselves of switzerland oxford and all who really interested themselves in the duke's welfare heard with the utmost apprehension his resolution to give an audience to the swiss envoys pre-possessed as he was against them and in the moment when his mood was chafed to the uttermost by the refusal of the estates to grant him supplies they were aware that obstacles opposed to the current of his passion were like rocks in the bed of a river whose course they cannot interrupt while they provoke it to rage and foam all were sensible that the die was cast but none who were not endowed with more than mortal prescience could have imagined how deep was the pledge which depended upon it oxford in particular conceived that the execution of his plan of a dissent upon england was the principal point compromised by the duke in his rash obstinacy but he suspected not he dreamed not of supposing that the life of charles himself and the independence of burgundy as a separate kingdom hung quivering in the same scales end of chapter nine chapter ten of an of geierstein volume two by sir welter scott this libra vox recording is in the public domain recording by dion giants salt lake city utah why tis a boisterous and cruel style a style for challengers why she defies us like turk to christian as you like it the doors of the hall were now opened to the swiss deputies who for the preceding hour had been kept in attendance on the outside of the building without receiving the slightest of those attentions which among civilized nations are universally paid to the representatives of a foreign state indeed their very appearance dressed in coarse gray frogs like mountain hunters or shepherds in the midst of an assembly blazing with diverse color garments gold and silver lace embroidery and precious stones served to confirm the idea that they could only have come hither in the capacity of the most humble petitioners oxford however who watched closely the deportment of his late fellow travelers failed not to observe that they retained each in his own person the character of firmness and indifference which formerly distinguished them rudolf donner hugel preserved his bold and haughty look the banner at the military indifference which made him look with apparent apathy on all around him the burger of solar was as formal and important as ever nor did any of the three show themselves affected in the slightest degree by the splendor of this scene around them or embarrassed by the consideration of their own comparative inferiority of appointments but the noble landman on whom oxford chiefly bent his attention seemed overwhelmed with a sense of the precarious state in which his country was placed fearing from the rude and unhonored manner in which they were received that war was unavoidable while at the same time like a good patriot he mourned over the consequences of ruin to the freedom of his country by defeat or injury to her simplicity and virtuous indifference of wealth by the introduction of foreign luxuries and the evils attending on conquest well acquainted with the opinions of arnold beaterman oxford could easily explain his sadness while his comrade bond stettin less capable of comprehending his friend's feelings looked at him with the expression which may be seen in the countenance of a faithful dog when the creature indicates sympathy with his master's melancholy though unable to ascertain or appreciate its cause a look of wonder now and then glided around the splendid assembly on the part of all the forlorn group accepting donner hugel and the landman for the indomitable pride of the one and the steady patriotism of the other could not for even an instant be diverted by external objects from their own deep and stern reflections after a silence of nearly five minutes the duke spoke with the haughty and harsh manner which he might imagine belonged to his place and which certainly expressed his character men of burn of schwitz or of whatever hamlet and wilderness you may represent know that we had not honored you rebels as you are to the dominion of your lawful superiors with an audience in our own presence but for the intercession of a well-esteemed friend who has sojourned among your mountains and whom you may know by the name of philipson and englishman following the trade of a merchant and charged with certain valuable matters of traffic to our court to his intercession we have so far given way that instead of commanding you according to your demerits to the gibbet and the wheel in the place de morremont we have condescended to receive you into our own presence sitting in our core plenière to hear from you such submission as you can offer for your outrageous storm of our town of la ferrette the slaughter of many of our legemen and the deliberate murder of the noble knight archibald of haugenbach executed in your presence and by your countenance and device speak if you can say ought in defense of your felony and treason either to deprecate just punishment or crave undeserved mercy the landmen seemed about to answer but rudolf donner hugel with his characteristic boldness and hardy hood took the task of reply on himself he confronted the proud duke with an eye unappalled and a countenance as stern as his own we came not here he said to compromise our own honor or the dignity of the free people whom we represent by pleading guilty in their name or our own to crimes of which we are innocent and when you term us rebels you must remember that a long train of victories whose history is written in the noblest blood of austria has restored to the confederacy of our communities the freedom of which and unjust tyranny in vain attempted to deprive us while austria was a just and beneficent mistress we served her with our lives when she became oppressive and tyrannical we assumed independence if she has ought yet to claim from us the descendants of tell fast and stuff acre will be as ready to assert their liberties as their fathers were to gain them your grace if such be your title has no concern with any dispute betwixt us and austria for your threats of gibbet and wheel we are here defenseless men on whom you may work your pleasure but we know how to die and our countrymen know how to avenge us the fiery duke would have replied by commanding the instant arrest and probably the immediate execution of the whole deputation but his chancellor availing himself of the privilege of his office rose and doffing his cap with a deep reverence to the duke requested leave to reply to the misproud young man who had he said so greatly mistaken the purpose of his highness's speech charles feeling perhaps at the moment too much irritated to form a calm decision threw himself back in his chair of state and with an impatient and angry nod gave his chancellor permission to speak young man said that high officer you have mistaken the meaning of the high and mighty sovereign in whose presence you stand whatever be the lawful rights of austria over the revolted villages which have flung off their allegiance to their native superior we have no call to enter on that argument but that for which burgundy demands your answer is where for coming here in the guys and with the character of peaceful envoys on affairs touching your own communities and the rights of the duke subjects you have raised war in our peaceful dominions stormed a fortress massacred its garrison and put to death a noble night its commander all of them actions contrary to the law of nations and highly deserving of the punishment with which you have been justly threatened but with which i hope our gracious sovereign will dispense if you express some sufficient reason for such outrageous insolence with an offer of due submission to his highness's pleasure and satisfactory reparation for such a high injury you are a priest grave sir answered rudolf donner hugel addressing the chancellor of burgundy if there be a soldier in this assembly who will avouch your charge i challenge him to the combat man to man we did not storm the garrison of la ferrette we were admitted into the gates in a peaceful manner and were there instantly surrounded by the soldiers of the late archibald de haugenbach with the obvious purpose of assaulting and murdering us on our peaceful mission i promise you there had been news of more men dying than us but an uproar broke out among the inhabitants of the town assisted i believe by many neighbors to whom the insolence and oppression of archibald de haugenbach had become odious as to all who were within his reach we rendered them no assistance and i trust it was not expected that we should interfere in the favor of men who had stood prepared to do the worst against us but not a pike or sword belonging to us or our attendance was dipped in burgundian blood archibald de haugenbach perished it is true on a scaffold and i saw him die with pleasure under a sentence pronounced by a competent court such as is recognized in west failure and its dependencies on this side of the rime i am not obliged to vindicate their proceedings but i aver that the duke has received full proof of his regular sentence and in fine that it was amply deserved by oppression tyranny and foul abuse of his authority i will uphold against all gainsayers with the body of a man there lies my glove and with an action suited to the language he used the stern swiss flung his right hand glove on the floor of the hall in the spirit of the age with the love of distinction in arms which it nourished and perhaps with the desire of gaining the duke's favor there was a general motion among the young burgundians to accept the challenge and more than six or eight gloves were hastily doffed by the young knights present those who were more remote flinging them over the heads of the nearest and each proclaiming his name and title as he proffered the gauge of combat i said at all said the daring young swiss gathering the gauntlets as they felt clashing around him more gentlemen more a glove for every finger come on one at once fearless equal judges of the field the combat on foot with the weapons two handed swords and i will not budge for a score of you hold gentlemen on your allegiance hold said the duke gratified at the same time and somewhat appeased by the zeal which was displayed in his cause moved by the strain of reckless bravery evinced by the challenger with a hardy hood akin to his own perhaps also not unwilling to display in the view of his core pleniere more temperance than he had been at first capable of hold i command you all toy send your gather up these gauntlets and return them each to his owner god and saint george forbid that we should hazard the life of even the least of our noble burgundian gentry against such a churl as this swiss peasant who never so much as mounted a horse and knows not a jot of nightly courtesy or the grace of chivalry carry your vulgar brawls elsewhere young man and know that on the present occasion the place morremont were your only fitting lists and the hangman your meat antagonist and you sirs his companions whose behavior in suffering this swagger or to take the lead amongst you seems to show that the laws of nature as well as of society are inverted and that youth is preferred to age as gentry to peasants you white bearded men i say is there none of you who can speak your errand in such language as it becomes a sovereign prince to listen to god forbid else said the landman stepping forward and silencing rudolf donner hugel who was commencing an answer of defiance god forbid he said noble duke that we should not be able to speak so as to be understood before your highness since i trust we shall speak the language of truth peace and justice nay should it incline your highness to listen to us the more favorably for our humility i am willing to humble myself rather than you should shun to hear us for my own part i can truly say that though i have lived and by free choice have resolved to die a husbandman and a hunter on the elps of the underworld i may claim by birth the hereditary right to speak before dukes and kings and the emperor himself there is no one my lord duke in this proud assembly who derives his descent from a nobler source than geierstein we have heard of you said the duke men call you the peasant count your birth is your shame or perhaps your mother's if your father had happened to have a handsome plowman the fitting father of one who has become a willing serf no serf my lord answered the landman but a free man who will neither oppress others nor be himself tyrannized over my father was a noble lord my mother a most virtuous lady but i will not be provoked by taunt or scornful jest to refrain from stating with calmness what my country has given me in charge to say the inhabitants of the bleak and inhospitable regions of the alps desire mighty sir to remain at peace with all their neighbors and to enjoy the government they have chosen as best fitted to their condition and habits leaving all other states and countries to their free will in the same respects especially they desire to remain at peace and in unity with the princely house of burgundy whose dominions approach their possessions on so many points my lord they desire it they entreat it they even consent to pray for it we have been termed stubborn intractable and insolent contenders of authority and headers of sedition and rebellion in evidence of the contrary my lord dupe i who never bent a knee but to heaven feel no dishonor in kneeling before your highness as before a sovereign prince in the core pleniere of his dominions where he has a right to exact homage from his subjects out of duty and from strangers out of courtesy no vain pride of mine said the noble old man his eyes swelling with tears as he knelt on one knee shall prevent me from personal humiliation when peace that blessed peace so dear to god so unappreciably valuable to man is in danger of being broken off the whole assembly even the duke himself were affected by the noble and stately manner in which the brave old man made a genuflection which was obviously dictated by neither meanness nor timidity arise sir said charles if we have said odd which can wound your private feelings we retract it as publicly as the reproach was spoken and sit prepared to hear you as a fair meaning envoy for that my noble lord thanks and i shall hold it a blessed day if i can find words worthy of the cause i have to plead my lord a schedule in your highness's hands has stated the sense of many injuries received at the hand of your highness's officers and those of romant count of savoy your strict ally and advisor we have a right to suppose under your highness's countenance for count romant he has already felt with whom he has to contend but we have as yet taken no measures to avenge injuries affronts interruptions to our commerce from those who have availed themselves of your highness's authority to intercept our countrymen spoil our goods impress their persons and even in some instances take their lives the affray at la ferrette i can vouch for what i saw had no origin or abetance from us nevertheless it is impossible an independent nation can suffer the repetition of such injuries and free and independent we are determined to remain or to die in defense of our rights what then must follow unless your highness listens to the terms which i am commissioned to offer war a war to extermination for so long as one of our confederacy can wield a halberd so long if this fatal strife once commences there will be war betwixt your powerful realms and our poor and baron states and what can the noble duke of burgundy gain by such a strife is it wealth and plunder alas my lord there is more gold and silver on the very bridal bits of your highness's household troops than can be found in the public treasures or private hordes of our whole confederacy is it fame and glory you aspire to there is little honor to be won by a numerous army over a few scattered bands by men clad in mail over half armed husbandmen and shepherds of such conquest small were the glory but if as all christian men believe and as it is the constant trust of my countrymen from memory of the times of our fathers if the lord of host should cast the balance in behalf of the fewer numbers and worse armed party i leave it with your highness to judge what would in that event be the diminution of worship and fame is it extent of acilage and dominion your highness desires by warring with your mountain neighbors know that you may if it be gods will gain our baron and rugged mountains but like our ancestors of old we will seek refuge in wilder and more distant solitudes and when we have resisted to the last we will starve in the icy waste of the glaciers i men women and children we will be frozen into annihilation together air one free switzer will acknowledge a foreign master the speech of the landmen made an obvious impression on the assembly the duke observed it and his hereditary obstinacy was irritated by the general disposition which he saw entertained in favor of the ambassador this evil principle overcame some impression which the address of the noble beaterman had not failed to make upon him he answered with a lowering brow interrupting the old man as he was about to continue his speech you argue falsely sir count or sir landman or by whatever name you call yourself if you think we war on you from any hope of spoil or any desire of glory we know as well as you can tell us that there is neither profit nor fame to be achieved by conquering you but sovereigns to whom heaven has given the power must root out a band of robbers though there is dishonor in measuring swords with them and we hunt to death a herd of wolves though their flesh is carrion and their skins are not the landmen shook his gray head and replied without testifying emotion and even with something approaching to a smile i am an older woodsman than you my lord duke and it may be a more experienced one the boldest the heartiest hunter will not safely drive the wolf to his den i have shown your highness the poor chance of game and the great risk of loss which even you powerful as you are must incur by risking a war with determined and desperate men let me now tell what we are willing to do to secure a sincere and lasting peace with our powerful neighbor of burgundy your grace is in the act of engrossing Lorraine and it seems probable under so vigorous and enterprising apprentice your authority may be extended to the shores of the Mediterranean be our noble friend and sincere ally and our mountains defended by warriors familiar with victory will be your barriers against Germany and Italy for your sake we will admit the count of savoy to terms and restore to him our conquests on such conditions as your highness shall yourself judge reasonable of past subjects of offense on the part of your lieutenants and governors upon the frontier we will be silent so we have assurance of no such aggressions in future nay more and it is my last and proudest offer we will send 3000 of our youth to assist your highness in any war which you may engage him whether against louis of France or the emperor of Germany they are a different set of men proudly and truly may I state it from the scum of Germany and Italy who form themselves into mercenary bands of soldiers and if heaven should decide your highness to accept our offer there will be one core in your army which will leave their carcasses on the field air a man of them break their plighted trough a swarthy but tall and handsome man wearing a corset richly engraved with arabesque work started from his seat with the air of one provoked beyond the bounds of restraint this was the count de compo basso commander of charles's italian mercenaries who possessed as has been alluded to much influence over the duke's mind chiefly obtained by accommodating himself to his master's opinions and prejudices and placing before the duke specious arguments to justify him for following his own way this lofty presence must excuse me he said if i speak in defense of my honor and those of my bold lances who have followed my fortunes from italy to serve the bravest prince in christendom i might indeed pass over without resentment the outrageous language of this gray-haired churl whose words cannot affect a knight and a nobleman more than the yelling of a peasant's mastiff but when i hear him propose to associate his bands of mutinous misgoverned ruffians with your highness's troops i must let him know that there is not a horse boy in my ranks who would fight in such fellowship no even i myself bound by a thousand ties of gratitude could not submit to strive abreast with such comrades i would fold up my banners and lead five thousand men to seek not a nobler master for the world has none such but wars in which we might not be obliged to blush for our assistance silence compobaso said the duke and be assured you serve a prince who knows your worth too well to exchange it for the untried and untrustful services of those whom we have only known as vexatious and malignant neighbors then addressing himself to arnold beaterman he said coldly and sternly sir landman we have heard you fairly we have heard you although you come before us with hands die deep in the blood of our servant sir archibald the hog and buck for supposing he was murdered by a villainous association which by saint george shall never while we live and reign raise its pestilential head on this side of the rine yet it is not the less undeniable and undenied that you stood by in arms and encouraged the deed the assassins performed under your countenance return to your mountains and be thankful that you return in life tell those who sent you that i will be presently on their frontiers a deputation of your most notable persons who meet me with halters around their necks torches in their left hands and their right their swords held by the point may learn on what conditions we will grant you peace then farewell peace and welcome war said the landman and be its plagues and curses on the heads of those who choose blood and strife rather than peace and union we will meet you on our frontiers with our naked swords but the hills not their points shall be in our grasp charles of burgundy flanders and lorraine duke of seven dukedoms count of seventeen earldoms i bid you defiance and declare war against you in the name of the confederated cantons and such others as shall adhere to them there he said are my letters of defiance the herald took from arnold bederman the fatal denunciation read it not toys and dior said the haughty duke let the executioner drag it through the streets at his horse's tail and nail it to the gibbet to show in what account we hold the paltry scroll and those who sent it away sirs speaking to the swiss trudge back to your wildernesses with such haste as your feet can use when we next meet you shall better know whom you have offended get our horse ready the council is broken up the mayor of dijon when all were in motion to leave the hall again approached the duke and timidly expressed some hopes that his highness would deign to partake of a banquet which the magistrate had prepared in expectation he might do them such an honor no by saint george of burgundy sir mayor said charles with one of the withering glances by which he was want to express indignation mixed with contempt you have not pleased us so well with our breakfast as to induce us to trust our dinner to the loyalty of our good town of dijon so saying he rudely turned off from the mortified chief magistrate and mounting his horse rode back to his camp conversing earnestly on the way with the count of compo basso i would offer you dinner my lord of oxford said colvin to that nobleman when he alighted at his tent but i foresee ere you could swallow a mouthful you will be summoned to the duke's presence for it is our charles's way when he has fixed on a wrong course to wrangle with his friends and counselors in order to prove it is a right one mary he always makes a convert of yon supple italian colvin's augury was speedily realized for a page almost immediately summoned the english merchant phillipson to attend the duke without waiting an instant charles poured forth an incoherent tide of reproaches against the estates of his duke them for refusing him their countenance in so slight a matter and launched out in explanations of the necessity which he alleged there was for punishing the audacity of the swiss and thou too oxford he concluded aren't such an impatient fool as to wish me to engage in a distant war with england and transport forces over the sea when i have such insolent mutineers to chastise on my own frontiers when he was at length silent the english earl laid before him with respectful earnestness the danger that appeared to be involved in engaging with a people poor indeed but universally dreaded from their discipline and courage and that under the eye of so dangerous arrival as louis of france who was sure to support the duke's enemies underhand if he did not join them openly on this point the duke's resolution was immovable it shall never he said be told of me that i uttered threats which i dared not execute these boars have declared war against me and they shall learn whose wrath it is that they have wantonly provoked but i do not therefore renounce thy scheme my good oxford if thou canst procure me this same session of province and induce old renay to give up the cause of his grandson farrand of ottomont in lorraine thou wilt make it well worth my while to send thee brave aid against my brother blackburn who while he is drinking health's pottle deep in france may well come to lose his lands in england and be not impatient because i cannot at this very instant send men across the seas the march which i am making towards new chateau which is i think the nearest point where i shall find these churls will be but like a morning's excursion i trust you will go with us old companion i should like to see if you have forgotten among yonder mountains how to back a horse and lay a lance in rest i will wait on your highness said the earl as is my duty for my motions must depend on your pleasure but i will not carry arms especially against those people of helvetia from whom i have experienced hospitality unless it be for my own personal defense well replied the duke even be it so we shall have in you an excellent judge to tell us who best discharges his devour against the mountain clans at this point in the conversation there was a knocking at the entrance of the pavilion and the chancellor of burgundy presently entered in great haste and anxiety news my lord news of france and england said the prelate and then observing the presence of a stranger he looked at the duke and was silent it is a faithful friend my lord bishop said the duke you may tell your news before him it will soon be generally known said the chancellor louis and edward are fully accorded both the duke and the english earl started i expected this said the duke but not so soon the kings have met answered his minister how in battle said oxford forgetting himself in his extreme eagerness the chancellor was somewhat surprised but as the duke seemed to expect him to give an answer he replied no sir stranger not in battle but upon appointment and in peace and amity the site must have been worth seeing said the duke when the old fox louis and my brother black i mean my brother edward met where held they their rendezvous on a bridge over the sane at picquigny i would though has been there said the duke looking to oxford with a good axe in thy hand to strike one fair blow for england and another for burgundy my grandfather was treacherously slain at just such a meeting at the bridge of montereau upon the eon to prevent a similar chance said the chancellor a strong barricade such as closest the cages in which men keep wild beasts was raised in the midst of the bridge and prevented the possibility of their even touching each other's hands ha ha by st george that smells of louis craft and caution for the englishman to give him his due is as little acquainted with fear as with policy but what terms have they made where do the english army winter what towns fortresses and castles are surrendered to them in pledge or in perpetuity none my liege said the chancellor the english army returns into england as fast as shipping can be procured to transport them and louis will accommodate them with every sale and or in his dominions rather than they should not instantly evacuate france and by what concessions has louis bought a piece so necessary to his affairs by fair words said the chancellor by liberal presence and by some 500 tons of wine wine exclaimed the duke hurtest thou ever the like signor philipson why your countrymen are little better than isa who sold his birthright for a mess of potage mary i must confess i never saw an englishman who loved a dry lipped bargain i can scarce believe this news said the earl of oxford if this edward were content to cross the sea with 50 000 englishmen merely to return again there are in his camp both proud nobles and haughty commons enough to resist his disgraceful purpose the money of louis said the statesman has found noble hands willing to clutch it the wine of france has flooded every throat in the english army the riot and uproar was unbounded and at one time the town of amiens where louis himself resided was full of so many english archers all of them intoxicated that the person of the king of france was almost in their hands their sense of national honor has been lost in the universal revel and those amongst them who would be more dignified and play the wise politicians say that having come to france by connivance of the duke of burgundy and that prince having failed to join them with his forces they have done well wisely and gallantly considering the season of the year and the impossibility of obtaining quarters to take tribute of france and return home in triumph and leave louis said oxford at undisturbed freedom to attack burgundy with all his forces not so friend philipson said duke charles know that there is a truth betwixt burgundy and france for the space of seven years and had not this been granted and signed it is probable that we might have found some means of marring the treaty betwixt edward and louis even at the expense of affording those voracious islanders beef and beer during the winter months sir chancellor you may leave us but be within reach of a hasty summons when his minister left the pavilion the duke who with his rude and imperious character united much kindness if it could not be termed generosity of disposition came up to the lancastrian lord who stood like one at whose feet a thunderbolt has just broken and who is still appalled by the terrors of the shock my poor oxford he said thou art stupefied by this news which thou canst not doubt must have a fatal effect on the plan which thy brave bosom cherishes with such devoted fidelity i would for thy sake i could have detained the english a little longer in france but had i attempted to do so there were an end of my truce with louis and of course to my power to chastise these paltry cantons or send forth an expedition to england as matters stand give me but a week to punish these mountaineers and you shall have a larger force than your modesty has requested of me for your enterprise and in the meanwhile i will take care that blackburn and his cousin archers have no assistance of shipping from flanders tush man never fear it thou wilt be in england long are they and once more rely on my assistance always thou knowest the session of province being executed as in reason our cousin margaret's diamonds we must keep for a time and perhaps they may pass as a pledge with some of our own for the godly purpose of setting at freedom the imprisoned angels of our flamish users who will not lend even to their sovereign unless on good current security to such straits has the disobedient avarice of our estates for the moment reduced us alas my lord said the dejected nobleman i were ungrateful to doubt the sincerity of your good intentions but who can presume on the events of war especially when time presses for instant decision you are pleased to trust me let your highness extend your confidence thus far i will take my horse and ride after the landman if he have already set forth i have little doubt to make such an accommodation with him that you may be secure on all your southeastern frontiers you may then with security work your will in lorraine and province do not speak of it said the duke sharply thou forgettest thyself and me when thou proposes that a prince who has pledged his word to his people can recall it like a merchant chaffering for his paltry wears go to we will assist you but we will be ourselves judge of the time and manner yet having both kind will to our distressed cousin of anju and being your good friend we will not linger in the matter our hosts have orders to break up this evening and direct their march against new chateau where these proud swiss shall have a taste of the fire and sword which they have provoked oxford sighed deeply but made no further remonstrance in which he acted wisely since it was likely to have exasperated the fiery temper of the sovereign to whom it was addressed while it was certain that it would not in the slightest degree alter his resolution he took farewell of the duke and returned to colvin whom he found immersed in the business of his department and preparing for the removal of the artillery and operation which the clumsiness of the ordinance and the execrable state of the roads rendered at that time a much more troublesome operation than at present though it is even still one of the most laborious movements attending the march of an army the master of the ordinance welcomed oxford with much glee and congratulated himself on the distinguished honor of enjoying his company during the campaign and acquainted him that by the special command of the duke he had made fitting preparations for his accommodation suitable to the disguised character which he meant to maintain but in every other respect as convenient as a camp could admit of end of chapter 10